TITLE: Senior Environmental Safeguards Specialist – Lao PDR (Consultant) 

CONTRACT TERM: Eight months (with possibility of extension)

LOCATION: Vientiane, Lao PDR (required)

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Asia Foundation’s Lao PDR office is seeking a qualified Senior Environmental Safeguards Specialist – Lao PDR (SESS) to support USAID and the Australia Mekong Safeguards Program (Mekong Safeguards) with activities in Lao PDR. The SESS is required to work in Lao PDR and focus on strengthening the Department of Environment (DOE) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) staff’s capacity on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) review and monitoring process. The initial period for this position is eight months, with the possibility of extension. This position is tentatively set as part-time of 50 - 75 percent.

The USAID and Australia Mekong Safeguards Program is a five-year, $10.6 million project working with major banks, governments, and developers in Thailand, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China on large energy and transportation infrastructure investments to strengthen environmental and social standards and adopt clean technologies in Southeast Asia’s Lower Mekong region. The program provides an exciting opportunity to support new and improved ways governments, financiers, developers, and civil society organizations (CSOs) can invest and build sustainable energy and transportation infrastructure.

REPORTING & SUPERVISION

The SESS will report directly to the Director for Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar, USAID, and Australia Mekong Safeguards based in Lao PDR.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Mekong Safeguards’ objective is to improve and strengthen capacity of staff at DOE within MONRE to undertake ESIA review and monitoring responsibilities of infrastructure projects. This also includes developing, implementing, monitoring, and enforcing relevant regulations and plans such as Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plans (ESMMPs) according to the required Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) safeguards standard and the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) responsibilities in project development.

The SESS will be required to develop a comprehensive capacity development program to expand environmental quality management capacity and capability within DOE. Capacity development will focus on the DOE’s managerial and procedural capacity for their environmental management responsibilities as well as technical capacity to review, monitor, and enforce obligations under ESIA reports. Other responsibilities may include, as required by DoE and in consultation with the Director of Lao PDR, expert advice for ESIA review and monitoring. This will include integrating social safeguards as well as gender and social inclusion (GESI) issues in ESIA procedures and technical guidelines; issuing environmental compliance certificates; overseeing the operational and monitoring phase of the ESMMP; coordinating with experts on integration of heritage impact assessment (HIA) in the ESIA process; and other compliance monitoring. The detailed scope of work includes the following:

• Conduct an institutional mapping of environmental management needs and requirements, including a technical capacity needs assessment within DOE.
• Prepare a capacity development action plan for staff at DOE.
• Support and supervise the implementation of environmental and social safeguard processes based on, but not limited to, the ESIA process.
• Lead and advise on applied ESG improvements and implementation to policies, standards, and regulations related to DOE’s environmental management responsibilities and the ESIA review process.
• Lead the training activities for staff at DOE under MoNRE and PoNREs for the ESIA review and monitoring process.
• Assist with coordination of the relevant ministries involved in the ESIA review process.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, or similar disciplines.
• Expertise in ESIAs, particularly with energy and transportation infrastructure projects and with environmental issues in Lao PDR.
• Demonstrated experience conducting training and/or technical assistance on ESIA implementation, review, and monitoring.
• Extensive knowledge of the ESIA legal framework in Lao PDR.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing project-related documents and deliverables for omissions and entry points related to environmental and social safeguards.
• Experience conducting, producing, and/or reviewing the following documents and deliverables:
  • ESIAs, ESMMPs, resettlement action plans, and stakeholder engagement plans.
  • Infrastructure project development documents and contracts (including feasibility studies, work plans, contractor action plans, performance monitoring plans, Engineering Procurement & Construction contracts, and facility agreements).
  • Infrastructure project procurement documents (such as terms of reference, technical specifications, and other bidding documents).
• Fluency or advanced professional proficiency in written and spoken Lao and English. Experience with USAID and/or Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) projects.
• Ability to work under pressure and against deadlines. 

How to Apply

Send CV/résumé and cover letter to Mekong.Safeguards@Asiafoundation.org. Please note application for Position “Senior Environmental Safeguards Specialist – Lao PDR” in email subject title. The closing date for this solicitation is December 16, 2022. Please indicate your preferred daily rate in USD. (Only short-listed candidates will be notified.) 

This recruitment is open to both Lao PDR citizens and foreign nationals residing in Lao PDR, though work permit / visa restrictions may apply for non-Lao citizens.