UNDP Jobs - 108126- International consultant

International consultant _ Conduct an Assessment of Diversity and Inclusion in Business in Lao PDR

Location :

Vientiane or Home-Based, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-Sep-2022

Application Deadline :

14-Aug-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

September - December 2022

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

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) and the UN Standards of Conduct for Business on “Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Intersex People (LGBTI)”, in Lao PDR, particularly through the implementation of the “Improving Performance, Accountability, Conduct, and Transparency of Business in Lao PDR” (IMPACT Biz) Project.

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, the 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 the business-focused Output 2, the UNDP CO and LNCCI will undertake an assessment of D&I in business in Lao PDR and, based on the findings and analysis, develop a tailor-made handbook for businesses to focus and guide their D&I efforts in the Lao context.

Objective

The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct an assessment of D&I in business in Lao PDR and develop a tailor-made “D&I in Business in Lao PDR” handbook

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

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

The tasks of the International Consultant will include:

Conduct a basic assessment of D&I policies and procedures of at least 30 businesses in Lao PDR, with the focus on the following research questions:

What is the level of awareness of D&I among both employers and employees in the selected businesses?
What are the attitudes to D&I among both employers and employees in the selected businesses?
What corporate D&I policies and procedures (commitment, workplace, marketplace, and community) are in place in the selected businesses?
If there are D&I policies and procedures in place, what drives the selected businesses to establish and implement them?

The selection of businesses for a basic assessment shall reflect the diversity of sizes, industries, locations, ownerships, and structures of businesses in Lao PDR. Simple quantitative methods should be prioritized for the basic assessment.

2. Conduct an in-depth assessment of D&I policies and procedures of at least three businesses in Lao PDR, and their alignment with the UNGPs and the UN Standards of Conduct for Business on “Tackling Discrimination Against LGBTI,” with the focus on the following research questions:

What is the employment profile, particularly the presentation of women, persons with disabilities, LGBTI persons, and representatives of ethnic groups, of the selected businesses?
What is the experience of inclusion of employees representing vulnerable and marginalized groups in the selected businesses (feeling of inclusion, impact of business characteristics on inclusion, experience of benefits of inclusion)?
What is the level of awareness of and attitudes to D&I among both employers and employees, particularly representing vulnerable and marginalized groups, in the selected businesses?
What corporate D&I policies and procedures (commitment, workplace, marketplace, and community) are in place in the selected businesses? How are they aligned with the UNGPs and the UN Standards of Conduct for Business on “Tackling Discrimination Against LGBTI”?
If there are any D&I policies and procedures in place, what drives the selected businesses to establish and implement them?
What D&I policies and procedures have the most impact on the selected businesses?

Qualitative data collection methods (stakeholder interviews and focus group discussions [FGDs]) shall be used in combination with simple quantitative methods for the indepth assessment.

3. Based on the findings and analysis of the basic and in-depth assessments, develop a tailor-made “D&I in Business in Lao PDR” handbook with concrete and practical tools for businesses in Lao PDR to focus and guide their D&I efforts in the Lao context, in line with the UNGPs and the UN Standards of Conduct for Business on “Tackling Discrimination Against LGBTI”.

Competencies

Strong analytical and writing skills
Ability to work independently and/or with very limited guidance

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification

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

Relevant Professional Experience

At least 8 years of professional experience in the fields of governance, the rule law, international development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), or a related field; working experience with businesses at the national and/or trans-national levels would be an asset
Demonstrated experience in conducting comprehensive research studies in the fields of equality, diversity and inclusion, human rights, responsible business, or a related field; experience in corporate assessments would be an asset
Experience within the UN system would be an asset
Experience in the ASEAN region would be an asset

Language English proficiency

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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:

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

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.