UNDP Jobs - 63881- National Consultant for Review and Assessment of t

National Consultant for Review and Assessment of the Programme of Support to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Location :

Vientiane Capital, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

03-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Ten (10) weeks (20 working days)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Ten (10) weeks (20 working days)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Lao PDR is a Least Developed Country (LDC) located in Southeast Asia and comprising a relatively small population of approximately 6.5 million inhabitants. Poverty reduction is one of the key priorities outlined in the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) of Lao PDR. Poverty rate decreased from 27.6 percent in 2008 to 23.2 percent in fiscal year 2012-2013. The 7th NSEDP (2011-2015) set out targets aimed to achieved sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty, while gradually transforming Lao PDR into a more open, private sector led economy and prioritising the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The 8th NSEDP sets the national vision of meeting the eligibility criteria of LDC graduation by 2020. Despite evident progress, inequality remains a concern, as evidenced by the increase in Gini coefficient from 32.6 in 2002 to 36.2 in 2012 . Disparities between urban and rural areas are particularly manifest. Thus, it is essential to ensure the country’s balanced growth and to address the potential impacts of its key initiatives, especially in terms of preventing rising inequality and benefitting the poorest.

2016 is an important crossroad in Lao development journey with the Chairmanship of the ASEAN, a transition from the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) to the implementation of the new 8th NSEDP and a transition from MDGs to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the implementation of the outcomes of the 12th High Level Round Table Meeting and the Vientiane Declaration on Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, and the launching of the NHDR report on LDC graduation. These constitute an important milestone for the Government with support from its development partners toward the graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2020.

Lao PDR has also been selected as a pilot country for the SDG implementation. Therefore, identifying strategic means of implementation is the main priority for the Government which will be done within the framework of the 8th NSEDP. In particular, the Government acknowledges the imperative of greater partnership - an intensive engagement in support of implementation of all the goals and targets, bringing together Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations system and other actors and mobilizing all available resources. The scale and ambition of the new agenda require the inclusion of new partners such as national parliaments, regional and local authorities, academia and volunteer groups.

Within the United Nations in Lao PDR, the current United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2012-2015) has ended. Currently, the UN Country Team has conducted an UNDAF Evaluation and is developing together with its partners a new Lao PDR – UN Partnership Framework for 2017-2021 in support of the realisation of the 8th NSEDP’s goals and targets. In this context, UNDP is developing a new Country Programme Document for 2017-2021.

Under the outcome 1 of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF, 2012-2015), UNDP together with other UN agencies has been supporting the Government of Lao PDR in pursuing its development objectives in an equitable and sustainable manner. The UNDAF outcome 1 states that ‘by 2015, the government promotes more equitable and sustainable growth for poor people in Lao PDR’. Indicative outputs were established in UNDP’s Country Programme Document 2012-2015 to contribute to this goal: to strengthen local capacity for MDG-based, results-oriented and gender-responsive NSEDP implementation and M&E; achieve better coordinated ODA through the Round Table Process; enhance data quality (incl. gender disaggregated data); and have a better system and monitoring of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening and a funding facility to address critical economic governance issues.

One of UNDP’s flagship programmes with the Government of Lao PDR in support of these objectives is the programme on ‘Realizing the MDGs in Lao PDR – consolidated Programme of Support to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) for the Achievement of the valuable Goals of the Seventh NSEDP 2011-2015/6’ (the programme has been extended by one year to 2016)

This programme consists of four components:

Support to consultative planning, implementing, monitoring, assessing and reporting on the NSEDP/MDGs (“NSEDP”; Project ID: 00078225). This component is implemented by Department of Planning, MPI and Department of International Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Support to effective monitoring and evaluation of progress towards goals of NSEDP/MDGs via LaoInfo (“LaoInfo”; Project ID: 00078227). This component is implemented by Lao Statistics Bureau, MPI;
Support to strengthening the Round Table Process for achievement of NSEDP/MDGs (“RTP”; Project ID: 00078226). This is implemented by Department of International Cooperation, MPI;
Support to advancing Human Development through policy-informing research on Human Development issues especially relevant for achieving NSEDP/MDGs (“NHDR”; Project ID: 00078228). This is implemented by National Economic Research Institute, MPI

The Purpose of the review

This review will provide a strategic review of how the MPI programme has become the driving force for the achievement of the 7th NSEDP objectives including the MDGs at the macro level. In particular, the review will focus on the programme’s relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.

The review will also generate recommendations to guide future direction of the UNDP supported programme to both Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially in view of the priorities of the forthcoming 8th NSEDP including SDGs. This forward-looking exercise will also need to align with the UNDP corporate Strategic Plan. A special focus will be on making strategic make it fit for purpose for the fast-changing development context. This will allow the Round Table Process to accommodate new actors and financing landscape keeping in mind a departure from the traditional divides between North and South and the transition towards the sustainable development agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work and Objectives:

This is an independent strategic review which will cover the four components of the MPI-programme for the period between 2011 and 2015. It will be based on the four evaluation criterion: relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability;
A special focus will be on reviewing and assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Round Table Process including the functionality of Sector Working Groups and the role of UNDP in supporting the Process for effective development cooperation (achieving the objectives of the 7th NSEDP);
The strategic review will focus on providing forward looking recommendations to further strengthen the Round Table process, as well as directions for the design of the new phase of the MPI programme covering the next CPD/UNDAF period.

Responsibility:

Assist in arranging meetings with relevant stakeholders and be a holder of mission programme/schedule;
Translate into English documents provided by the evaluation expert and that are only available in Lao;
Interpret discussions and/or communications into English/Lao as necessary to support the effective conduct of the evaluation
Further support the evaluation expert as necessary and within the framework of his/her qualifications to work towards the most effective conduct of the evaluation.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent writing and speaking knowledge of Lao and English languages;
Good knowledge of Lao PDR, in particular, social, economic and development context;
Some knowledge of development challenges and issues would be an asset;
Excellent report writing skills in English;
Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least, Master Degree in Development, Economics, Public Policy, Communications, English, Social Sciences, Humanities or any other relevant field.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications, journalism, advocacy or in related roles;
Demonstrated extensive experience of research including translation/interpretation assignments especially for the UN;
Extensive experience working in the development context in Lao PDR;
Extensive experience working with a review of a project or programme;
Extensive experience working in relations with the government of Lao PDR;
and/or development partners in Lao PDR would be an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English language required;
Knowledge in Lao is an asset.

Requirements for submission of proposals:

All interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line using the following links:

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/

Or UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm

In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents which are also available on our website:

TOR (Annex I;
Individual Contract & General Terms and Conditions (Annex II);
Offeror's letter to UNDP to UNDP confirming interest and availability(Annex III).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical and Financial Proposal as per Annex III “Offeror's letter to UNDP confirmin interest and availability”;
Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverables;
Some samples of teaching syllabus that you have used in the past;
CV including past experience in similar projects and contact reference of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services.

Note:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.

Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:

Project’s background;
Scope of work and Responsibilities;
Deliverables;
Requirements for Experience and Qualifications.

Evaluation of Proposals:

Cumulative analysis: The award of the contract will be made to a consultant who offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria;
Technical Criteria weight; [0.7];
Financial Criteria weight; [0.3].

Only a consultant obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical rating would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Note: Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail:anongly.phimmasone@undp.org with CC to phadthakone.sophavilay@undp.org.

UNDP Lao PDR will respond in writing by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

The copies of the response will be also placed on our web-site at: http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ and linked to the current Procurement Notice.

All interested candidates are encouraged to visit the above web-site for updates

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more detailed information about UNDP Lao PDR please visit our website at http://www.la.undp.org/lao_pdr/en/home.html