Background

Lao PDR’s tourism sector remains an important contributor to jobs, income and wealth, despite having been heavily affected by international border closures and travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism receipts are expected to pick up after the country fully reopened its borders to international tourists in May 2022. By June, more than 170,000 international arrivals were reported according to a recent ADB study, suggesting that the sector is well placed to support economic recovery and diversification in line with the country’s development targets, as embodied in its 9th NSEDP. To do this, Lao PDR must take advantage of opportunities to expand in cross-border areas/economic corridors with potential for sustainable tourism and enterprise development (i.e., nature-based). However, challenges associated with the current urban infrastructure landscape and transport connections in hinterlands and outside major tourism areas are limiting the country’s tourism potential

UNDP Lao PDR aims to respond to the challenges through the “Inclusive Planning and Sustainable Development” (Project Initiation Plan) as part of its post-pandemic recovery response and broader poverty reduction and economic sector support. It is aligned with UNDP’s efforts to develop solutions at the national and subnational levels for sustainable management of tourism as a strategy for inclusive economic development

The project requires the engagement of an international consultant to deliver a two-part report on (a) Tourism and Enterprise Development Mapping and (b) Urban Infrastructure Feasibility Assessment, providing specific attention to links to broader women’s economic empowerment, nature-based/eco-tourism sites, and communicate key results to the appropriate audiences

OBJECTIVE

Working under the overall guidance of the Head of the Poverty Reduction Unit, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

  1. Produce the Tourism and Enterprise Development Mapping (Baseline/Scoping)
  2. Produce Urban Infrastructure Feasibility Assessment Report (main deliverable)
  3. Provide recommendations to UNDP on potential areas of support in strategic economic corridors

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant is expected to be responsible for the following:

1. Produce the Tourism and Enterprise Development Mapping (Baseline/Scoping)

The report will involve a socio-economic profiling in major tourism areas (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse) and strategic economic corridors/frontiers (i.e., Phongsli, Phonsavanh, Sam Nuea and Muang Sing) and gap analysis between these two groups in terms of transportation (i.e., connectivity, integration), tourism facilities (i.e., hotels, accommodations), level of local community engagement (as beneficiaries i.e., local jobs creation, skill and enterprise development) and tourism networks (i.e., overland tours, community-based); and requirements for financial and capacity resources to narrow this gap. It will in addition undertake a stock take of existing projects (supported through concessional financing, grant, technical assistance, and private funding/non-concessional) in these areas, particularly in said frontiers, and identify which ones can be complemented and supported with new and additional financial assistance. The consultant is expected to make use of secondary data from publicly available sources.

2. Produce Urban Infrastructure Feasibility Assessment Report (main deliverable)

Building on the results of the scoping work (Activity 1), the consultant will undertake feasibility assessment, including technical and economic, for urban infrastructure development in said frontiers, focusing on transport, more specifically the following priority tourism circuits of development: Chiang Kong - Houay Xai, Nong Khai - Vientiane, Mukdahan - Savannakhet, and Ubon Ratchathani - Pakse. The consultant will make use of secondary data from publicly available sources and collect primary data through field visit/ surveys, as necessary.

3. Provide recommendations to UNDP on potential areas of support in strategic economic corridors

Review existing desk review papers UNDP has prepared on economic transformation and tourism sector development.The consultant will provide a recommendation to UNDP building on the scoping work and results of Feasibility Assessment, which can complement the existing support provided by other development partners in the tourism sector.

Competencies

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a consultative manner, good networking and capacity to deal well with people;
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct adaptive research and surveys in Lao PDR.
  • Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality baseline scoping and feasibility assessments;
  • Excellent writing, analytical and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Master’s Degree in Economics, Urban Development, Tourism and Transport or related field.   
  • At least 7 years of experience in tourism planning, urban development or related field;
  • Demonstrated experience working with international development agencies
  • Preferably with experience of working with government counterparts, national or international financial institutions, research institute in the field of tourism, transport and urban development;

LANGUAGE :   Excellent working knowledge of written and spoken English is required

Requirements for submission of proposals 

All interested and qualified International or National Individual Consultants should apply online using the following links: 

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.undp.org/laopdr/jobs

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

  1. TOR (Annex I)
  1. IC General Terms and Conditions _ Annex II 

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; 

      2. 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; 

      3. Financial proposal:  Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable. Please use this template  Offerors Letter to UNDP

Instructions for online submissions: 

  • Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically. 
  • 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

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