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, MAF), 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. 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 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 Outputs 1 and 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 businesses and the Government of Lao PDR.

The Academy will take place in the period of September 2022 – March 2023 and will consist of:

  • Three (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for businesses in Lao PDR. Training sessions shall be informed by the findings of the Poll on Corporate Knowledge of International Standards for Responsible Business Practice, conducted by the LNCCI, and founded on the UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Guide and Tool;
  • Five (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for the Government of Lao PDR. Training sessions shall be informed by the findings of the Preliminary Assessment of the Regulatory Framework and Policy Coherence on Responsible Business Practice, conducted by another International Consultant, and founded on the Guidance on National Action Plans (NAPs) on Responsible Business Practice of the UN Working Group (UNWG).

SCOPE OF WORK

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

Deberes y responsabilidades

The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the IMPACT Biz Project, UNDP Team Leader for Governance, and the Global Project Coordination Team.

The tasks of the International Consultant will include: 

  1. Develop curriculum for three tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for businesses in Lao PDR:
  • Based on the analysis of the Poll on Corporate Knowledge of International Standards for Responsible Business Practice, and the UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Guide and Tool, develop a curriculum for three tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for State-owned, national and international private businesses in Lao PDR. The curriculum should cover, at a minimum, the following areas: (1) a business case for respecting international environmental and social standards; (2) an introduction to the UNGPs and their three pillars; (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 businesses in Lao PDR; and (5) the connection between remediation mechanisms and Human Rights Due Diligence.

      2. Develop curriculum for five tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for the Government of Lao PDR:

  • Based on the analysis of the Preliminary Assessment of the Regulatory Framework and Policy Coherence on Responsible Business Practice, and the UNWG’s Guidance on NAPs, develop a curriculum for five tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for MoIC, MPI, MoJ, MoLSW, MoNRE, MoEM, MAF and National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), including one session specific to sub-national level authorities. The curriculum should cover, at a minimum, the following areas: (1) the connection between trade, investments, and responsible business practice; (2) the UNGPs and their three pillars; (3) NAPs on Responsible Business; (4) global and regional trends on implementing the UNGPs and developing NAPs; (5) thematic areas of responsible business practice; (6) practical guidance on strengthening responsible business practice at the national and sub-national levels in Lao PDR.

      3. Deliver three tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for businesses in Lao PDR:

  • In accordance with the approved curriculum, deliver three (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for at least 70 representatives of State-owned, national, and international private businesses in Lao PDR. The training sessions shall last a total of no more than three working days, delivered over three separate training sessions.

      4. Deliver five tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for the Government of Lao PDR:

  • In accordance with the approved curriculum, deliver five (online and/or in-person) tailor-made training sessions on international standards for responsible business practice for at least 40 governmental officials from MoIC, MoJ, MPI, MoLSW, MoNRE, MoEM, MAF, and NHRC, including at the sub-national level. The training sessions shall last a total of no more than five working days, delivered either in one continuous training session or over 2-3 separate training sessions (to be agreed with UNDP CO and Global Project Coordination Team).

Competencias

  • Demonstrated understating of international standards for responsible business practice
  • 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 and governments
  • Experience within the UN system would be an asset
  • Experience with the private sector in South East Asia would be an asset

LANGUAGE

  • English proficiency and working-level Thai 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.