Antecedentes

UNDP CO in Lao PDR: Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026), the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP CO’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across four broad Priority Pillars: (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities; (2) UXO clearance and risk education; (3) natural resources, climate change, and disaster risk reduction; as well as (4) effective, responsive and accountable governance.

UNDP CO, Governance Unit: The UNDP CO’s programming on effective, responsive, and accountable governance, inter alia, focuses on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government to: (1) enhance the rule of law and access to justice; (2) strengthen the role and capacities of the National Assembly and People’s Provincial Assemblies; (3) streamline the public administration reform and national initiative on decentralization (Sam Sang Directive); as well as to (4) expand public participation in the national policy- and decision-making.

UNDP Governance Unit, Responsible Business Practice: In the area of the rule of law and access to justice, the UNDP CO partners with a number of line Ministries (MoIC, MPI, MoJ, MoLSW, MoNRE, MoEM), Lao National Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (LNCCI) and international Chambers, National University of Lao PDR, Non-Profit Associations (NPAs) and development partners to strengthen the understanding and capacity of the Government, private sector, civil society, and other non-profit stakeholders to uphold international standards for responsible business practice, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), in Lao PDR, particularly through the implementation of the “Improving Performance, Accountability, Conduct, and Transparency of Business in Lao PDR” (IMPACT Biz) Project, funded by the Government of Japan.

UNDP Governance Unit, IMPACT Biz Project: The UNDP-MoIC-LNCCI IMPACT Biz Project is a part of the global UNDP-Japan joint action on “Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains: Leveraging the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for a Just Recovery”, being implemented in 17 target countries in 2022-2023. The objective of the Project is to improve the ability and understanding of Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR to carry out Human Rights Due Diligence.

In the framework of the IMPACT Biz Project, UNDP CO seeks to achieve the following results:

  • (Output 1) Capacity of the Government of Lao PDR to prevent and address environmental and social impacts caused or contributed by business operations and relationships is enhanced;
  • (Output 2) Capacity of businesses, particularly Japanese, to avoid causing or contributing to environmental and social impacts through their business operations and relationships and to address such impacts when they occur is enhanced;
  • (Output 3) Capacity of civil society and other non-profit stakeholders to monitor and report on environmental and social impacts caused or contributed by business operations and relationships is enhanced.

To contribute to the delivery of the business-focused Output 2, UNDP CO will establish the Academy on Responsible Business Practice in Lao PDR, in which UNDP and Consultants will provide tailor-made training and guidance sessions to Japanese businesses in Lao PDR.

The Academy will focus on mitigating the most immediate environmental and social impacts and related risks faced by Japanese businesses in Lao PDR. It will take place in the period of September 2022 – March 2023 and will consist of:

  • Two (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice and Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR. Training sessions shall be informed by the findings of the in-depth Study on environmental and social impacts and related risks faced by Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR, conducted by another International Consultant, and founded on the UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Guide and Tool;
  • Up to 40 hours of (online and/or in-person) group and one-on-one in-depth guidance sessions on the key elements of Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR.

Deberes y responsabilidades

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen the understanding and capacity of Japanese businesses in Lao PDR to uphold international standards for responsible business practice.

SCOPE OF WORK

The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the IMPACT Biz Project, UNDP Team Leader for Governance, and the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) Global Coordination Team.

The tasks of the International Consultant will include: 

  1. Develop curriculum for two tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice and Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR:
  • Analyze the findings of the in-depth Study on environmental and social impacts and related risks faced by Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR;
  • Based on the analysis and the UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Guide and Tool, develop a curriculum for two tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice and Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR. The curriculum should cover, at a minimum, the following areas: (1) an introduction to the UNGPs and their three pillars; (2) a business case for respecting human rights for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR; (3) an introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence and an overview of its four aspects (identifying and assessing actual or potential environmental and social impacts; integrating and acting on findings; tracking the effectiveness of a company’s response; and communicating corporate actions); (4) a review of the current or upcoming mandatory norms that impact the conduct of Human Rights Due Diligence by Japanese businesses in Lao PDR; and (5) the connection between remediation mechanisms and Human Rights Due Diligence.

       2. Deliver two (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice  and Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR:

  • In accordance with the approved curriculum, deliver two training sessions for at least 40 representatives of Japanese businesses in Lao PDR. The training sessions shall last a total of no more than two working days, delivered either in one continuous training session or over two training sessions (to be agreed with UNDP Lao PDR and JSB Global Coordination Team).

       3. Deliver up to 40 hours of (online or in-person) group and one-on-one in-depth guidance sessions on the key elements of Human Rights Due Diligence for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR:

  • Deliver group and one-on-one in-depth guidance sessions to at least 10-15 Japanese businesses attending the tailor-made training sessions. Each guidance session shall last 90 minutes. In total, the International Consultant shall provide up to 40 hours of guidance sessions over the course of seven months. The composition and schedule of each guidance session shall be determined by UNDP Lao PDR and JSB Global Coordination Team.

 

Administrative Support

Administrative support for the International Consultant will be provided by the UNDP Governance Unit Programme Associate and UNDP Operations Team. The IMPACT Biz Project will ensure the liaison between the International Consultant, JSB Global Coordination Team, Japanese businesses, and other local stakeholders.

Reference Documents

Competencias

  • Demonstrated understating of international standards for responsible business practice and Human Rights Due Diligence
  • Strong facilitation skills
  • Ability to work independently and/or with very limited guidance 

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Qualification

  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s level) in business administration, governance, the rule of law, human rights, or a related field (e.g., international development, international law, international relations, political science, etc.)

Experience

  • At least 5 years of professional experience in the fields of governance, the rule law, international development, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or a related field
  • At least 3 years of professional experience in developing and delivering training sessions on responsible business practice to businesses
  • Experience within the UN system would be an asset
  • Experience with the Japanese private sector would be an asset

Language : English proficiency and working-level Japanese are required

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Requirements for Submission of Proposals 

All interested and qualified Individual Consultants should apply online using the following link: UNDP Lao PDR CO website.

In order to make a submission, please read the relevant documents available at the links below: 

  1. TOR (Annex I) 
  2. IC General Terms and Conditions _ Annex II
  3. IC contract template
  4. OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY _ Annex III
  5. P11 Form

Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: 

  1. Technical Proposal (Free-Form):
  • 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; 
  • P11 Form: Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least three references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services; 

       2. Financial Form (OFFEROR's LETTER): Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Instructions for Online Submissions: 

  • Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically; 
  • Step 2: Combine all the required documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF; however, Word format can also be accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs website using the link above; 
  • Step 3: After that, you will receive an auto-reply from the UNDP Jobs website if your offer is received successfully. 

Incomplete Proposals or Proposals received after the deadline will be rejected. 

Note:  Any request for clarification must be sent in writing before the submission deadline to the following email: surith.sengsavang@undp.org.