Details
Mission and objectives
Breaking the cycle of poverty in Lao PDR and graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) Status represents the heart of the Government’s development aspirations. UNDP has a key role in assisting the country with a smooth transition to non-LDC status, as well as the complex process to strategically raise needed funds for programs that benefit poor people.
UNDP Lao PDR works toward localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), implementation of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 and, more broadly, Lao PDR’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
UNDP supports to strengthen the Government’s capacity at central and local levels in ensuring the formulation and implementation of their development plan encompassing all key aspects, such as equitable growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, with special attention given to achieving the SDGs.
UNDP offers ground-breaking research on human development in Lao PDR through supporting the preparation of National Human Development Reports which advocate for policies placing people at the centre of the development process towards inclusive and sustainable growth and the achievement of the SDGs as well as LDC graduation.
UNDP Lao PDR works toward localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), implementation of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 and, more broadly, Lao PDR’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
UNDP supports to strengthen the Government’s capacity at central and local levels in ensuring the formulation and implementation of their development plan encompassing all key aspects, such as equitable growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, with special attention given to achieving the SDGs.
UNDP offers ground-breaking research on human development in Lao PDR through supporting the preparation of National Human Development Reports which advocate for policies placing people at the centre of the development process towards inclusive and sustainable growth and the achievement of the SDGs as well as LDC graduation.
Context
Persons with disabilities in Lao PDR continue to face barriers to equal participation in public life and access to services, social protection, education, employment, information and decision-making. Gender inequality and intersecting forms of discrimination can further limit access to decision-making, services, economic opportunities and protection, including for women and girls with disabilities. Lao PDR has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and has launched a National Action Plan for 2026-2030 to support implementation of CRPD recommendations. UNDP Lao PDR supports government institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society and UN partners to advance the rights of persons with disabilities and gender equality through institutional coordination, inclusive governance reforms, data and evidence, capacity development, and inclusive public services. The UN Volunteer will be placed within UNDP Lao PDR in Vientiane Capital and will support primarly the disability inclusion portfolio, as well as supporting gender equality mainstreaming across programmes and office practices. The assignment will be structured with an indicative allocation of approximately 70% disability inclusion work and 20% gender equality work, with the remaining 10% dedicated to supporting programme development and resource mobilization efforts, including contributions to project design, donor briefs, and pipeline development.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Governance Team Lead and guidance by the Disability Inclusion Officer, and in close coordination with the Gender Equality Focal Team or designated gender equality focal point, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
Disability inclusion:
• Support mapping and analysis of national policies, laws, strategies, data and institutional mechanisms related to disability inclusion, CRPD implementation, the CRPD National Action Plan, the 2030 Agenda, and the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy.
• Assist with day-to-day implementation of UNDP disability inclusion activities, including work planning inputs, partner coordination, meeting and event organization, documentation, and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to inclusive consultations, trainings and policy dialogues with government counterparts, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, UN agencies and development partners, helping to document and address accessibility and reasonable accommodation considerations.
• Support preparation of briefing notes, concept notes, talking points, presentations, meeting minutes and knowledge products on disability-inclusive governance, accessible public services, social protection and leaving no one behind.
• Support mainstreaming of disability inclusion across UNDP Lao PDR programmes and office operations, including accessibility checklists, reasonable accommodation awareness, inclusive communications and accessible event practices.
Gender equality (approximately 20 percent of the assignment):
• Support gender analysis and gender equality mainstreaming across selected UNDP Lao PDR programmes, including inputs to workplans, concept notes, briefing materials, communications and results reporting.
• Assist with gender-responsive consultations, coordination and knowledge products with government counterparts, organizations working on gender equality, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, UN agencies and development partners, with attention to women and girls with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Assist in collecting, organizing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative information, including sex-, age- and disability-disaggregated data where available, to inform programme planning, monitoring and reporting for disability inclusion and gender equality results.
Support programme development:
• Contribute to programme and project development and resource mobilization efforts, including drafting concept notes, supporting project design, preparing donor briefs, analysing funding opportunities, and engaging in stakeholder con-sultations.
Cross-cutting tasks:
• Contribute to monitoring and reporting on UNDP and UN system disability inclusion and gender equality commitments by tracking results, lessons learned, risks and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to partnerships and communications by maintaining contact lists, documenting good practices and human-interest stories, and supporting visibility activities aligned with UNDP and UNV guidance.
• Participate in learning opportunities, UNV and UNDP meetings, and field visits where relevant, and carry out other supporting tasks commensurate with the role and learning objectives.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan will reflect the indicative allocation of approximately 70 percent disability inclusion; 20 percent gender equality work, and 10% project development and will outline key objectives and activities. There will be regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
Disability inclusion:
• Support mapping and analysis of national policies, laws, strategies, data and institutional mechanisms related to disability inclusion, CRPD implementation, the CRPD National Action Plan, the 2030 Agenda, and the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy.
• Assist with day-to-day implementation of UNDP disability inclusion activities, including work planning inputs, partner coordination, meeting and event organization, documentation, and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to inclusive consultations, trainings and policy dialogues with government counterparts, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, UN agencies and development partners, helping to document and address accessibility and reasonable accommodation considerations.
• Support preparation of briefing notes, concept notes, talking points, presentations, meeting minutes and knowledge products on disability-inclusive governance, accessible public services, social protection and leaving no one behind.
• Support mainstreaming of disability inclusion across UNDP Lao PDR programmes and office operations, including accessibility checklists, reasonable accommodation awareness, inclusive communications and accessible event practices.
Gender equality (approximately 20 percent of the assignment):
• Support gender analysis and gender equality mainstreaming across selected UNDP Lao PDR programmes, including inputs to workplans, concept notes, briefing materials, communications and results reporting.
• Assist with gender-responsive consultations, coordination and knowledge products with government counterparts, organizations working on gender equality, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, UN agencies and development partners, with attention to women and girls with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Assist in collecting, organizing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative information, including sex-, age- and disability-disaggregated data where available, to inform programme planning, monitoring and reporting for disability inclusion and gender equality results.
Support programme development:
• Contribute to programme and project development and resource mobilization efforts, including drafting concept notes, supporting project design, preparing donor briefs, analysing funding opportunities, and engaging in stakeholder con-sultations.
Cross-cutting tasks:
• Contribute to monitoring and reporting on UNDP and UN system disability inclusion and gender equality commitments by tracking results, lessons learned, risks and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to partnerships and communications by maintaining contact lists, documenting good practices and human-interest stories, and supporting visibility activities aligned with UNDP and UNV guidance.
• Participate in learning opportunities, UNV and UNDP meetings, and field visits where relevant, and carry out other supporting tasks commensurate with the role and learning objectives.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan will reflect the indicative allocation of approximately 70 percent disability inclusion; 20 percent gender equality work, and 10% project development and will outline key objectives and activities. There will be regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
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