Consultant: International Consultant for Reviewing and Improving the Environment Impact Decree

In the 1990s, the government of Lao PDR became a party to three Rio conventions’ UN Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Putting these conventions into practice is required to better understand the dynamics behind the threats to Lao PDR environment vis-à-vis global environment management with support from UNDP GEF, the government under took a national self-assessment of its capacity to implement the Rio Conventions (NCSA Project) and recommended seven prioritized capacity needs to fulfill Lao PDR’s responsibilities and commitments associated with ratification of the three Conventions. 

A follow up project called Meeting the National Obligation to Implement Natural Resource Legislation (or NCSA Follow-up) was launched at the end of 2010 to strengthen national and local capacity to implement natural resources legislation with a focus on issues most relevant to the Rio Conventions. The project is coordinated by the Department of Forest Resource Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). The main outcome of the project are:

• Outcome 1: Key stakeholders in the two/three provinces are implementing and enforcing important components of the existing natural resource management legislation.
• Outcome 2: National level stakeholders have the capacity to implement and enforce natural resource legislation, and in particular are able to support all provinces in LAO PDR with legislation implementation and enforcement.
• Outcome 3: The legislation and policy with regards to the Rio Conventions in Lao PDR is more suitable to the national situation and more comprehensive.

UNDP wishes to recruit a qualified international national consultant for 2 months (April-June 2013) to carry out the evaluation of the implementation of the “Meeting the National Obligation to Implement Natural Resource Legislation Lao PDR Project” or well known as “NCSA Follow-up project (2011-2013)”, to assess achievements, progress, and key challenges in implementation, and make recommendations for a possible next phase or the similar future project 

Scope of work: 

In consultation with the Project Team and UNDP, the consultant will have the following responsibilities:

• Outline scope of the review, areas of focus and information needed;
• Propose methodology and steps in which the review will be carried out for different components;
• Undertake consultations with stakeholders including Government ministries, institutions, development partners, INGOs, academia and where possible local people;
• Based on the analysis, produce a draft evaluation report based on the objectives specified above; 
• Organize consultation workshops to seek comments from implementing Government partners and relevant ministries, development partners, private sector and non-government organizations on the draft report; and
• Incorporate comments and produce final evaluation report on the implementation of the NCSAFU by the final week of the evaluation. 

The final products for this assignment are: 

• Come to agreement on appropriate scope of review and areas of focus, based on the status of project activities at the time of the evaluation. Draft outline of the evaluation report and proposed mission time schedule circulated for comments to Project team and UNDP by week 1;
• Preparatory review of relevant documents and reports, weeks 1;
• In-country meetings and stakeholder consultations during weeks 2-3;
• A presentation to Project team and UNDP and other stakeholders organized by Week 3 on the initial evaluation results;
• Submission of first draft evaluation report by Week 4;
• Address comments from stakeholders on first draft report, by Week 5;
• Final evaluation report submitted to Project Team and UNDP by Week 6.

The final reports will be delivered in English. 

• In-depth understanding of common environmental and legislations enforcement issues faced by Lao or other countries in this region;
• Strong and proven research and analytical skills;
• Initiative and ability to organize his/her work independently, but also to work as part of a team;
• Proven ability to deliver quality output working under tight deadlines;
• Ability to communicate effectively and to facilitate discussions at the senior level with government officials and the development community.

• 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.

Education: 

•  Relevant post-graduate degree in environmental sciences, natural resource management, law or related; 

Experience:

• Proven experience in project evaluation;
• Specific experience with tracking Rio convention (UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC) implementation and management issues an advantage;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in carrying out high level analytical work on environmental governance, development policies and project implementation; preferably experience in Laos or Southeast Asia.

Languages:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of Lao language (spoken and/or written) an advantage 

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.undplao.org/vacancies/procurementnotice.php 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.undplao.org

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

• UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at http://www.undplao.org/vacancies/index.php or
• UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/

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 link above; 
• Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information:

• Cover letter explaining why he/she would be the most suitable candidate for the work, and including a brief methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the evaluation;
• CV including past experience in similar projects or assignments and at least 3 references;
• Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown (international travel, consultancy fee, and per diem).

Note: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. 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). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class ticket. 

During the online application it is recommended that all documents to be uploaded in one electronic file in PDF or Word formats. 

Evaluation of proposals and award criteria:

• Short listing of applications according to technical criteria (a to b),
• The 3-4 applications with the highest score will be interviewed
• Final evaluation includes interview scoring (criteria c) and financial proposal 

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract will be made to a consultant who offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a. responsive/compliant/acceptable, and 
b. 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 would be considered for the financial evaluation. 

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1- Terms of Reference (TOR). 

Note: Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail: chitlatda.keomuongchanh@undp.org