Background

Lao PDR is among the most heavily bombed countries per capita in the world, with over two million tons of munitions dropped on it during the Indochina War (1964-1973). This includes 270 million sub-munitions from cluster bombs, up to 30% of which failed to detonate.
While the number of accidents has dropped markedly from 302 in 2008 to 33 in 2020, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) contamination remains a threat for rural populations in poor and remote areas. It reduces safe access to their agricultural land and increases the amount of time, in many cases, that farmers have to spend on cultivating their land, as they are required to move more carefully and cautiously in light of the risk of accidents. Accidents often affect the main breadwinners in families and communities, which damages their families’ economic security and independence. In addition, UXO contamination impedes the safe use of land for socio-economic development activities, and where these activities can take place, it increases their costs. Around 80% of people in Lao PDR live in rural areas, where livelihood opportunities are often uncertain and food and nutrition security indicators are particularly poor. Many of the poorest districts in the country are also the most-contaminated, UXO contamination can lead to loss of livestock, restricted access to land, food insecurity, insufficient basic infrastructure, reduce crop production, increased transport costs, disability, employment shortages, and other negative socio-economic outcomes.

The exact total extent and location of contamination in the country is currently unknown. Although Lao PDR’s ratification of the Convention of Cluster Munitions obliges the country to clear known UXO contamination by 2020, without a clear baseline it is difficult to plan properly and to indicate timeframes for clearance throughout the country. Survey activities are underway to establish the extent of known contamination for clearance and to establish a national baseline.

The national baseline of contamination will allow the prioritisation and management of all remaining clearance tasks. The 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) includes an independent output for addressing the UXO issue by 2025, and Lao PDR has its own national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 18, Lives Safe from UXO, by 2030 to remove the UXO obstacle to national development. The National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector (NRA) has also approved a UXO Sector Five Year Work Plan, with targets relating to UXO survey and clearance, reduced casualties and victim assistance. These goals align with Lao PDR’s Sustainable Development Goals, as well as obligations contained under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

The UXO sector in Lao PDR consists of the National Regulatory Authority (NRA), Lao national Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao), humanitarian NGOs, several accredited commercial companies providing UXO services, and humanitarian clearance teams within the Lao People’s Army. The overall coordination/lead from the Government side is mandated to rest with the Ministry of Labour & Social Welfare (MLSW) and the Minister is also the Chairperson of the NRA Board.

The NRA has successfully regulated and coordinated a transition of the humanitarian operators from request-based to evidence-based land clearance. UXO Lao remains the largest clearance operator in Lao PDR and currently operates in 9 of the most heavily contaminated provinces. With the transition to evidence-based land clearance, UXO Lao has shown their ability to adapt to the change in methodology and have highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of all historical data when conducting non-technical survey.

UNDP has been one of the leading development partners supporting the UXO sector in Lao PDR since the mid-1990s. UNDP with other partners have helped create the two key state institutions in the UXO sector - UXO Lao and the NRA - and have been supporting the capacity development of these institutions from the beginning. UNDP serves as Co-Chair of the UXO Sector Working Group, together with the MLSW and the United States. The Government of Lao PDR and UNDP are in the process of developing and finalising new long-term sector strategies, including the next 10-Year Sector Strategy, Safe Path Forward III (SPF III, 2021-2030) and associated implementation/work plan (two 5-year plans) and the 5-Year Victim Assistance Framework (2021-2025).

In view of this, UNDP is designing a new UXO Project for 2022-26 that will ensure the aforementioned plans can be funded and implemented within the established timeframes. The International Consultant will support the drafting of UNDP’s Project Document 2022-26, ensuring its alignment with SPF III, national development strategies (9th NSEDP), United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF 2022-26) with Government of Lao PDR, UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD 2022-26), and Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) obligations. The Consultant will also be expected to incorporate findings from the Capacity Needs Assessment of the NRA (to be completed in September 2021), and recommendations and lessons learnt from the Mid-Term Evaluation (2019) and the Final Evaluation (to be completed in September 2021) of the current Project (2017-2021).

In this context, the Consultant, working under the direct supervision of the UXO Portfolio Team Leader, is responsible for providing drafting support and technical guidance for the new phase of the project for 2022-26. In this process, the Consultant will also work in very close coordination with the heads of NRA & UXO Lao.

To develop this Project Document (2022-26), the UNDP Laos Country Office (CO) is looking for an international consultant with expertise in project development and programme implementation in UXO or mine action-related issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the design, development and drafting of the UNDP and Government of Lao PDR (GoL) UXO Project Document 2022-26, including the M&E results framework and with Annexes (if necessary).

Activities

Under direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP Lao PDR, s/he will work closely with UNDP CO staff, government counterparts, and technical advisors in UNDP to formulate the Project Document and ensure it is fully compliant with UNDP rules and procedures.
The Project Document will build on UNDP experience in the unexploded ordnance (UXO) sector, and global examples and best practices across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The Project will need to be aligned with the new 10-year national UXO strategy - SPF III (2021-30), SDGs, UNPF 2022-26, UNDP CPD 2022-26, findings from the Capacity Needs Assessment of NRA, and recommendations and lessons learnt from the Mid-Term Evaluation and Final Evaluation of the current Project (2017-21). The Project will also need to be subject to consultations with the UNDP Laos CO, national partners, and other experts. This way, the proposal will incorporate inputs and needs identified by the Laos Government and others to ensure final approval on the draft.

During this consultancy, the following must be achieved:
- Develop a draft project document for approval by the UNDP CO management using UNDP templates, including relevant annexes, including work plan and budget, results framework, as well as implementation arrangements and capacity requirements, in line with the corporate quality standards.
- Identify and integrate global, regional, and national good practices in developing multi-year UXO or mine action programmes.
- Ensure the Project Document is aligned with the new 10-year national strategy, SPF III (2021-30), findings from the Capacity Needs Assessment of NRA and UXO Lao, and recommendations and lessons learnt from the Mid-Term Evaluation and Final Evaluation of the current Project (2016-21).
- Develop a brief project summary and timeline/PowerPoint presentation for dissemination to key stakeholders.
- Integrate feedback of national stakeholders, UNDP Laos Country Office, regional and global UNDP technical advisors.
- Identify implementation and execution mechanisms considering financial and institutional sustainability, and capacity requirements to successfully implement the project within the agreed timeline.
- Once the draft is consulted and approved by the CO, finalise the project document with all required annexes, in line with UNDP templates and quality standards.

Please find more details on the Expected Results and Deliverables on the TOR and Long Procurement Notice

Competencies

• Excellent analytical skills including ability to review and synthesise information rapidly, distinguishing major trends from minor details;
• Excellent writing skills including ability to prepare high quality reports, summaries and presentations
• Strong communication skills both spoken and written and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style; ability to conduct consultations and interviews;
• Extensive knowledge of UXO/Mine Action issues, with emphasis on the policy, regulatory and treaty issues;
• Ability to conceptualise and analyse problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming and Human Rights based Approach;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work under tight time constraints.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Political Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in research, analysis, evaluation or development related work, especially in UXO/Mine action;
• Experience in developing strategic/planning documents for international or national organisations;
• Extensive knowledge of UXO/Mine Action Issues, with emphasis on policy, implementation, and programme management issues;
• Demonstrated experience designing transformative initiatives and projects including development of risk frameworks, budgets, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks and social and environmental screenings;
• Understanding and professional experience in integrating gender equality and vulnerability considerations into policies, programmes and projects is an advantage;
• Excellent drafting skills; strong analytical, research, data gathering skills;
• Prior experience working with UNDP and local government partners is an advantage, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this consultancy.

Requirements for submission of proposals:

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

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html  or

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

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

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

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

1. Technical Proposal

            (i)  Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;

            (ii)  Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work

                  schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;

1. P11 Form  Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services.
2. Financial proposal:  Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable. Please use this template OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY _ Annex III

Instructions for on-line submissions:

Step 1:Please prepare all required documents electronically;

Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF. However Word format can be also accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using the links above;

Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs 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 emails:                               

surith.sengsavang@undp.org with copy to minyoung.kim@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

https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home.html