Technical Specialist
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The National Planning and Financing for Inclusive Development (NPFID) project is UNDP`s flagship initiative in supporting the Government of Lao PDR in development policies. Its main objective is to harmonize different aspects of national development planning processes. Specifically, the project aims to improve coordination between the Ministry of Planning and Investment, responsible for planning, and the Ministry of Finance, responsible for financing. Additionally, the project strives to enhance the involvement of Sector Working Groups in the national development planning process to ensure a unified approach to defining priorities and implementing strategies.
Operating with a catalytic approach, the project`s ultimate goal is to empower the government to operate independently, reducing dependence on external aid, especially as the country progresses towards graduating from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026. In line with this objective, the project is charting a new development path that prioritizes people, drawing insights from UNDP`s human development reports and initiatives. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the project aims to mainstream human development considerations into national development plans, promoting a more inclusive and sustainable development approach. Furthermore, the project supports the alignment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation with the National Socio-Economic Development Plans (NSEDPs) and the establishement of conducive conditions to increase government’s public revenue for development through increased tax income and promoting quality private sector investments.
The NPFID project plays a crucial role as an integrator in the formulation and implementation of national development strategies, aiming to strengthen the government`s institutional capacity in both planning and executing development plans. The project has been pivotal in supporting the Mid-Term Review of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and is actively shaping the upcoming 10th NSEDP to be more attainable, with an integrated financing framework that aligns with the country`s upcoming graduation from LDC. The project is currently supporting the operationalization of the 9th NSEDP Financing Strategy, with expectation that a similar framework will be integrated into the 10th NSEDP.
Through various capacity-building initiatives, such as Results-based Management, research capacity building, and foresight capacity, the project aims to equip government’s planning bodies with the necessary skills and tools to formulate development plans that are resilient, risk-informed, and shock-responsive. These initiatives are essential for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of development plans in the country.
The NPFID project represents the first project by UNDP to bring together three crucial ministries involved in development strategy formulation: the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This collaboration underscores the project`s commitment to strengthening the government`s capacity in planning and executing development initiatives, ultimately contributing to the country`s sustainable development goals.
Reporting line: The Technical Specialist will report to the Team Leader, Inclusive Growth Unit and work in close coordination with the Department of Planning, Ministry of Planning and Investment.
The Technical Specialist will be responsible for all aspects of the project as outlined in the project document, to the required standards of quality and taking into account the implications of time and cost.
Scope of Work
Coordinate the integration of national development planning procedures with the Round Table Process (RTP) mechanism
- Collaborate with the RTP secretariat and the NPFID project management team to establish effective linkages between the RTP mechanism and national development planning activities; Provide advice and guidance to Sector Working Groups (SWGs) on aligning sectoral development plans with National Socio-Economic Development Plans (NSEDPs) to ensure meaningful engagement and support the implementation of NSEDPs at the national and sectoral levels.
- Work with the RTP secretariat and the NPFID project management team to facilitate the seamless integration of SWG priorities and strategies into broader national development agendas.
Provide advisory support to the formulation of the 10th NSEDP.
- Work with international experts and relevant government entities to enhance the 10th NSEDP draft and its results framework, i.e. outcome and output indicators.
- Work closely with the Department of Planning to gather inputs from line ministries, SWGs, development partners and other stakeholders for the formulation of the 10th NSEDP.
- Collaborate with the Development Research Insitute, UNDP, local academia and other research institutes to ensure resilience, shock responsiveness, and risk-informed approach in the 10th NSEDP formulation; Provide strategic guidance and innovative thinking to embed resilience, shock responsiveness and risk-informed principles into the 10th NSEDP.
Advise and coordinate operationalization of the 9th NSEDP Financing Strategy
- Collaborate with UNDP to provide technical assistance and expertise to support the functioning of the 9th NSEPD Financing Strategy governance structure and facilitate its implementation.
- Compile insights, identify capacity gaps and assess the efficacy of the 9th NSEDP Financing Strategy to enhance future iterations in the 10th NSEDP.
- Facilitate coordination between the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to ensure alignment of the 10th NSEDP with the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework.
- Provide technical support to the integration of budgetary consideration and financing framework into the development of the 10th NSEDP.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent liaises closely with the national authorities working in the thematic area of the project, the donor community, and other UNDP programmes and projects in the country. The incumbent works with the project experts and counterparts of the Government beneficiary institution(s), as well as engages with other national institutions, international organizations, and other relevant actors.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Business Direction & Strategy |
System Thinking |
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system |
| Business Development | Collective Intelligence Design | Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions |
| Business Management | Project Management | Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. |
| Business Management | Risk Management | Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks |
| Partnership Management | Resource Mobilization | Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements |
| Partnership Management | Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding | Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms |
| Partnership Management | Strategic Engagement | Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives |
Minimum Education requirements
- Advanced university degree (master`s degree or equivalent) in Public Policy and Economic Development, Public Finance, Economics, Development Studies, International Development or field related to National Development Planning is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in supporting development planning, conducting research, formulating policies, and / or developing and managing complex projects in relation to national development planning, development coordination or public finance management is required.
Required skills
- Familiar with the development context, processes, and challenges in Laos at both central and sub-national levels
- Experience with development planning and supporting stakeholder consultations.
- Experience in fostering networks and partnerships and ability to provide coordination with government entities, UN agencies and other development partners.
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Experience in providing policy and / or programme advice and leading policy dialogues and actionable development plans.
- Experience in coordination with the govemrent counterpart, line ministries, and development partners to ensure effective coordination and collaboration
- Proven experience and understanding of the operation mechanism and protocol of the government of Laos
- Proven records of good judgement on information and situation, official notice/change of laws, decrees and related notice from the government including development sector, policy, economics, planning and financing.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in the UN language (English) of the duty station is required.
- Fluency in the national language (Lao) of the duty station is required.
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