Background

Over the last fifteen years, the Government of Lao PDR has made great strides in improving its capacities to cope with accelerated economic growth, increased demand for social services to provide the foundation for future development, and the changing nature of the regional and national economy. However, the challenges of graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) Status by 2020 and SDG achievement by 2030 require further strengthening of institutional and individual capacities.

 

The Programme build on the successes of the previous programme and focus on developing and strengthening individual and institutional capacities which will enable the Government to successfully implement the 8th NSEDP to address the challenges related to LDC graduation, MIC transition and achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The focus on capacity development will result in an enhanced ability of the Government to formulate and implement plans, strategies, and policies to achieve graduation and cope with transition impacts. It will also support the fulfilment of the vision of Agenda 2030, which advocates for policy coherence across sectors and across policy domains to ensure that sustainable development is advanced in its social, economic and environmental dimensions in an integrated manner. It calls for improving coordination and breaking down of silos between different national institutions involved in the implementation of Agenda 2030 including local authorities, with Sooth-South partners, civil society and the private sector becoming increasingly important actors.

 

The development challenge the Programme seeks to address relates to strengthening the institutional and individual capacities needed for NSEDP implementation aimed at smooth LDC graduation, successful MIC transition and SDG achievement. This challenge has three dimensions. Firstly, there will be strong demand, at central and local levels, for clearer linkages between planning and budgeting to enable authorities meeting increased demands for higher quality services. Secondly, the traditional relationship between Government and development partners will change in nature and is expected to evolve into a more mature relationship as partners in development. And thirdly, the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 calls for a focused planning and implementation effort by the Government and its partners. To meet this trio of challenges, the capacities of the Government need to be strengthened, and further developed. The programme supports Outcome 1 of the 8th NSEDP: Continued firm and inclusive growth by consolidating strong economic foundations and reducing economic vulnerability; and contributes to Outcome 1 of UNDP’s Country Programme Document: All women and men have increased opportunities for decent livelihoods and jobs.

 

One of the main lessons from the previous programme is that capacity development needs to be approached in a systematic way rather than ad-hoc and driven by short terms needs. Moreover, individual capacity building efforts need to be embedded in a long-term capacity development program, which includes institutional arrangements, leadership, knowledge and skills and accountability. Terms of references of consultants need to reflects this, while the recruitment of consultants need to better emphasize these skills.

 

Another lesson to be considered is that the provision of supplementary capacity, a short- to medium- term measure to make up for the capacity deficit in the Government, remains necessary but needs to be made more explicit to distinguish it from capacity development in terms of design, inputs and expected results. In a number of areas, notably the Round Table Process and certain aspects of planning, it remains unavoidable that consultants will continue to support the Government in some of its routine work. Clear plans for capacity development to address this specific deficit will be an integral part of the Programme. Under the Programme, capacity development needs will be identified in MPI (DIC, DOP, LSB), NERI or its successor entity, MOFA and other institutions involved in key aspects of the Programme. These needs will be identified by the institutions with support from UNDP, external experts if required, following an agreed upon methodology. This will lay the foundation for a longer-term capacity development program which will prepare the Government for the very different demands that will be placed on it post LDC graduation, in particular. Individual capacity development and training needs will also be identified as part of the process, leading to a more effective training program, with clear objectives whose achievement can be monitored.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

There are 19 tasks in total of this assignment for a Technical Advisor from mid-2017 to mid-2018. These tasks are clustered by five objectives of the assignment:

  • Four tasks for objective 1

  • Three tasks for objective 2

  • Four tasks for objective 3

  • Four tasks for objective 4

  • Four tasks for objective 5

Detailed description of each task is highlighted as follow:

Objective I - Round Table Process including Sector Working Groups and Vientiane Declaration Country Action Plan (2016-2025)

            Task 1 - An effective follow up and implementation of the policy areas as discussed during the RTMs/RTIMs

  • Guide DIC and SWGs to report on the follow up and actions on policy areas as discussed emerged from the RTMs/RTIMs

  • Support DIC in promoting that the policy areas are translated into actions and implemented at national, sectoral and provincial levels

  • Identify and monitor the progress of key activities relating to RTMs/RTIMs (work plan, concept note, roadmap, pre-consultations and other related documents)

    Task 2 - An effective linkage between the RTMs/RTIMs and the SWG mechanism

  • Coach and provide guidance to DIC’s Desk Officers who manage SWGs to ensure what is discussed at the national level is actually translated to the sectoral level and vice versa.

  • Provide technical inputs for the organisation of meetings of Chairs and Co-Chairs of SWGs and other meetings related to the RTP.

  • Provide quarterly update (or regular update as needed) on issues relating to the linkage between the RTMs/RTIMs and SWG mechanism

  • Providing support and oversight to ensure the Round Table Process Website is kept up to date and of high quality, with balanced information provided in an easily digestible manner.

          Task 3 – Monitoring and reporting on implementation of the Vientiane Declaration Country Action Plan (2016-2025)

  • Provide technical inputs to support DIC in drafting the VDCAP monitoring framework and its monitoring

  • Support and provide technical inputs for the application of the VDCAP (2016-2025) at national, sectoral and provincial levels

  • Train and support DIC colleagues for carrying out monitoring and reporting on implementation of the VDCAP 2016-2025

  • Support DIC to carry out tasks needed for linking the VDCAP with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation

    Task 4 – Capacity development on the effective development cooperation issues

  • Provide trainings to DIC technical staff on aid coordination and greater partnership for effective development cooperation

  • Act as resource person to support DIC in dealing with national and international counterparts on issues relating to greater partnership for effective development cooperation

Objective II - Results-Based National Planning Process – monitoring and reporting on implementation of the 8th NSEDP

           Task 5 – Result Based Planning

  • Provide technical support to Department of Planning (DOP)/MPI on results-based planning

  • Support DOP/MPI in the preparation of result based management training with line ministries and provinces

    Task 6 – The application of the 8th NSEDP M&E framework at the sectoral and provincial levels and the reporting on the 8th NSEDP implementation including the SDGs

  • Provide technical support to Department of Planning (DOP)/MPI for the roll out of the 8th NSEDP M&E framework and preparation for the mid-term review of the 8th NSEDP

  • Support DOP/MPI in the preparation of an annual report on the implementation of the 8th NSEDP which could be used as main background document for RTMs/RTIMs

    Task 7 – The linkage between the national planning and budgetary processes

  • Provide recommendations for creating a better linkage between the national planning and budgetary processes

  • Facilitate south-south cooperation and exchange for the application of outcome based national planning and budgeting

    Objective III - SDG localization and reporting

           Task 8 – Provide technical support to DOP/MPI and DIO/MOFA for a preparation of a national roadmap for the achievement of SDGs by 2030 with costed Annual Work Plans and their implementation progress.

           Task 9 - Support DOP/MPI and MOFA for the SDGs reporting and monitoring based on the 8th NSEDP M&E framework, in particular working with an international consultant for production of 2018 SDG report.

          Task 10 – Support the functionality and operationalization of the SDG Secretariat

          Task 11 – Provide technical support to DOP/MPI and DIO/MOFA to ensure understanding among the central and provincial authorities of the National SDG Roadmap and their ability to contribute to its implementation.

Objective IV - Statistics, research and evidence based policy formulation

          Task 12 - Support key departments within MPI to identify key policy areas which require analytic support and research; provide suggestions and support on how the research and analytic work could be carried out

         Task 13 - Provide support on the strategic dissemination of the recommendation of the 5th Human Development Report and the Development Finance and Aid Assessment and their follow up actions

       Task 14 - Provide suggestions on what would be follow up actions on the latest Human Development Report on the LDC graduation

      Task 15 – Support the functionality of LaoInfo/its application and other key activities for the implementation of the national statistical development plan such as capacity building activities, statistical advocacy, key national surveys as appropriate.

Objective V - Technical support to the Programme Support Unit moving toward Programme Based Approach

     Task 16 - Provide technical inputs to PSU for drafting progress report of the UNDP-supported programme to Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Round Table Process, the National Planning and policy research and MDG implementation, including the transition to the SDGs.

 

    Task 17 - Provide technical inputs to PSU for drafting annual work plan and quarterly for the implementation of the new UNDP supported programme to MPI and MOFA

    Task 18 - Provide technical inputs for the organisation of various meetings and reviews relating to the UNDP supported programme

    Task 19 - Support DIC/MPI’s efforts to ensure the implementation of the UNDP support programme is in accordance to programme based approach.

Competencies

Competencies

Functional competencies:

  • Shares knowledge and experience.
  • Plan and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals. 
  • Builds and sustains relationships with key stakeholder groups and project team.
  • Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate.
  • Demonstrates excellent and effective written and oral communication skills
  • Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment.
  • Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands.
  • Uses information technology effectively as a tools and resource
  • Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in taking on this type of consultancy.

 

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; 
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

 

Technical competencies

  • Good facilitation and coordination skills

  • Good political and networking skills

  • Strong research, analytical and written skills

  • Result oriented, patient, and hands-on with good team work skills

  • Knowledge of Lao PDR’s development situation and key related issues

  • Knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures (desirable but not necessary)

  • Excellent computer skills (word, excel, power-point, internet, and other related matters)

  • Strong data collection and analytical skills

  • Capacity development techniques

  • Mature personality with experience working in mixed cultural teams

  • Strong interpersonal skill and experience in relation building

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • At Least Master Degree in Economics, Public Administration and Governance, Development and Public Policy, or Political Science.

Experience

  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in development related activities, advisory role on effective development cooperation, politics, governance, project/programme management, and capacity development
  • Strong research skills on issues relating to development, foreign aid, policy economy, economic development, public policy and other related fields
  • Experience in carrying research and preparing policy briefs
  • Experience in managing multi-stakeholder engagement and politics is desirable
  • Prior experience with government, UNDP/UN agencies and other international organisations is desirable
  • Knowledge and experience in the Round Table Process, Sector Working Group mechanism, MDGs/SDGs, partnership for effective development cooperation and other related matters.

Language requirement

Lao national with excellent verbal and written English skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment

In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents which are also available on our web-site here http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/: 

  • TOR (Annex I)

  • Individual Contract & General Terms and Conditions (Annex II);

  • OFFEROR’S LETTER 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:

  • Separate file for Technical and Financial Proposal as per Annex III “OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY”, financial proposal must be protected by password

  • 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/deliverable;

  • CV including past experience in similar project 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 monthly outputs, 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

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 49 points in the technical rating & interview includes a, b & c in the above table would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Note:  Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail: surith.sengsavang@undp.org  with CC to nils.christensen@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.

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