International Province Adviser in Bolikhamxay (LAO)

Title: International Provincial Adviser (IPA)

Services Designation: International Provincial Adviser for Project LAO/338 – “Local Development”

Location: Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR

Starting date: 01.05.2024

Duration: 24 months (renewable)

1. Background

The Lao and Luxembourg governments decided for the fifth Lao-Luxembourg Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP V) to maintain and deepen collaboration nationally, but with emphasis on the provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, through the following four sectoral programmes (2023-2027) with a total budget of approximately EUR 100 million:

·     Health and Nutrition (H&N) with a budget of EUR 32.5 million.

·     Local Development Programme (LDP) with a budget of EUR 33.9 million, including Swiss co-financing.

·     Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) with a budget of EUR 25 million, including Swiss and EU co-financing.

·     Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Good Governance (ROLAG) with a budget of EUR 9 million.

The expected outcome (EO) of the 2023-2027 Local Development programme (LDP) is “The well-being of Lao people is improved, leaving no one behind”. This EO reflects the priorities of the Lao government’s 9^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the goals of Luxembourg Aid & Development and Swiss Development Cooperation, who are jointly funding LDP. 

To achieve this outcome, the LDP builds on the strong working relationships that were established under its predecessor LAO/030 with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and its line agencies within the four target provinces. It continues to foster participatory planning (leaving no-one behind) and channel programme resources into realising priorities at the district and village level. Its focus on capacity development at national but primarily at sub-national levels assists central, provincial, district and village authorities (as duty-bearers) to improve public services for the benefit of local communities (as rights-holders). By improving capacity at all levels and engaging in policy dialogue, LDP intends to mitigate some of the threats facing rural communities in Lao PDR, which include land tenure insecurity, deforestation, and low education outcomes.   

The LDP focuses on the poorest villages and districts in the provinces of Bokeo, Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane, expanding operations under this phase to cover 20 districts and 226 villages in total, distributed across the partner provinces.   

Where and when relevant, the LDP works closely together with other bilateral and multilateral actors in the sector to ensure LuxDev interventions are harmonized, including in policy dialogue, practical collaboration, and coordination.

2. OBJECTIVES

The IPA advises and supports the Provincial Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) in the strategic implementation of the Local Development Programme; as well as acts as a geographical focal point for all other LuxDev programmes in their respective province. Also, the IPA leads and manages the Provincial Support Office (PSO) and represents LuxDev in the province.

Within the scope of their Local Development Programme advisory and implementation support duties, the IPA safeguards that the scope, content, and budget as described in the LDP’s TFD as well as change facilitation principles and corresponding annual workplans are adhered. This is done by linking the operational structure of the PSO with (i) the Senior Sectorial Adviser (SSA) providing overall supervision and technical guidance and (ii) two pooled services (operational and thematic crosscutting in Rights-Based Approaches (RBA), gender, D4D, climate and M&E).

In performing these duties, the IPA cooperates with relevant government counterpart agencies (approximately 10 in each province) coordinated by DPI, as well as mass organizations based in the province.

The IPA promotes LuxDev’s values and carries out LuxDev’s main mission, namely capacity development, and hence contributes to the implementation of the Agency’s strategic vision.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1. Support the execution of the Local Development Programme (LDP) (approximately 70% of deployment)

·     Provide strategic leadership and coordinate the preparation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of the LDP provincial action plans in close cooperation and collaboration with the Provincial Department of Planning and Investment (DPI); integrate crosscutting themes into action plans.

·     Advise and provide technical support to the DPI in preparing and updating the LDP annual provincial operational plans for approval by the Provincial Coordination Committee.

·     Based on the results of the capacity assessment conducted by LuxDev, support the planning and mobilization of resources for the capacity strengthening of provincial counterparts and collaborating organisations

·     Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the programme’s implementation in the province is conducted as per the M&E matrix and the M&E manual in close collaboration with the M&E Expert based at the Regional Office; contribute to data collection, analysis, and dissemination to ensure M&E follow-up.

3.2. Representation of LuxDev at the provincial level (approximately 10% of deployment)

·     Organise, participate and provide technical advice to the Provincial Coordination Committees (PCC) meetings and participate in other provincial technical and/or coordination meetings as required.

·     Represent LuxDev with Lao Government counterparts and with international development partners on matters related to the overall programme implementation in the province of assignment.

3.3. Supervision of the Provincial Support Office (approximately 10% of deployment)

In general, support the HR, IT, procurement, administrative and financial management of LuxDev’s interventions in the province, in coordination with the Operational Pool and in line with the ROF requirements.

3.4. Geographical focal point for other ICP-V programs (approximately 10% of deployment)

·     Stay informed of all other LuxDev programmes’ interventions in the province (through shared material and information) and consult with SSAs of the respective programmes to develop synergies and relevant collaboration opportunities.

·     Facilitate the analysis of socio-economic policies and strategic frameworks of the concerned province and related risks/mitigation for programme operations.

4. PROFILE

·     Postgraduate degree in development studies, business administration, international relations, rural development, and/or any related academic fields;

·     Minimum of 10 years’ work experience including 5 years in international development, ideally in Southeast Asia;

·     Experience and knowledge of the programme content areas i.e., health, nutrition, vocational skills development, local development, and justice sectors;

·     Experience in managing procurement and understanding of project cycle management and the principles of theory of change;

·     Ability to work in remote rural areas and live in provincial towns with limited facilities and social services.

·     Lao language skills (to a lesser degree, Thai language) are an advantage.

How to apply:

Please apply via our website: https://careers.luxdev.lu/job-invite/1475/

Deadline: 3^rd April 2024