Download Senior Law Consultant (For Lao nationals only)

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VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR
Senior Law Consultant (For Lao nationals only)
Location:
LAO PDR, Vientiane Capital
Application deadline:
May 3, 2015
Languages Required:
Lao and English
Starting Date:
As Soon As Possible
Duration of the Contract:
80 days in six months period (May to October)
Background
Lao PDR is prone to a number of hazards such as floods, flash floods, droughts, storms, rodent infestations,
earthquakes, epidemics and UXO (National Risk Profile, NDMC/UNDP). These recurrent natural hazards often result
in human and economic losses, mainly affecting poor rural communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on
subsistence agricultural activities. In order for Lao PDR to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG), in
particular, MDG 1, Poverty Reduction, it is imperative to enhance disaster and climate risk management capacities
at all levels. Lao PDR has committed itself to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and ASEAN
Agreement for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Those international frameworks promote
the substantial reduction of disaster losses, in lives, and in the social, economic and environmental assets of
communities as well as support the promotion of good governance throughout the process i.e “Building the
Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters”.
UNDP has committed to contribute to the disaster risk management and climate change in Lao PDR. The Country
Programme Document (CPD) 2013- 2015 includes strengthening capacities of Government and vulnerable
communities to effectively respond to emergencies adapt to climate change and prepare for disasters as a priority
area. This project collectively runs by UNDP and the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Department of
Disaster Management and Climate Change (DDMCC), is built upon the past achievements and lessons learnt
especially the “Institutional Strengthening and capacity Development on Disaster Risk Management in Lao PDR 2010
– 2011” project and the recommendations from the Joint Damage, Losses and Needs Assessment of Typhoon Haima
August 2011. The duration of this project is 2.5 years (2013 -2015) in line with UNDAF and UNDP programming cycle.
This project aims to strengthen Lao PDR’s disaster risk management systems and link them with climate change
adaptation through multi-sectoral and multi-hazard approaches at all levels (national, provincial, district and village).
Through its two phases the project will focus on establishing effective disaster management and recovery systems in
the Typhoon Haima affected provinces as well as strengthening DRM at the national level.
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Phase 1 activities of the project seeks to operationalize the country’s National Disaster Management Plan, including
developing disaster management draft law, strengthening the country’s DRM information management and
communications system, implementing and testing hazard risk and vulnerability adaptation assessments (HRVA) and
early warning systems in two initial pilot provinces and districts, strengthening climate change adaptation and DRR
linkages, coordination and information exchange at the national, provincial and local levels, conducting disaster and
climate change risk management trainings for national and provincial Disaster Management Committees, and
researching and developing programs and training modules to enhance community based-disaster preparedness at
the village level. Addressing one of the important component of the project in drafting a comprehensive law
supporting disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures and activities, the project is looking for a
senior and highly qualified professional lawyer to join its team.
Scope of work
-
-
-
Conduct a comprehensive background study of the international, national and sub-national legislations,
policies and regulations related to disaster risk management and climate change
Review and assess the consultative and law-making process in Lao PDR with respect to implementing disaster
risk management and climate change legislations and regulations, in particular on the extent to which global
obligations including ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), Bali
Action Plan, Kyoto protocol and Hyogo Framework for Action will be addressed and taken into account in
national planning and law-making
Attend IFRC workshop, make contact and involve key governmental agencies in the development of the
project strategy to ensure strong national and local ownership
Based on all collected information, assessment, analysis as well as in close collaboration with key
governmental agencies take the lead and provide support in drafting the disaster risk management and
climate change draft law
Take the lead or support in conducting relevant consultation workshop on law making process
Support in producing policy brief where required to effectively communicate relevant issues related to the
law drafting process
Translate the English version of the draft law to Lao language
Any other tasks as assigned
Contract Supervision and Duration of Assignment
The Consultant will carry out the tasks under the overall supervision of the IDCRM project Manager based at the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in close coordination and consultation with the Regional Consultant
based in International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional office in Bangkok. The
assignment will take place in Vientiane, Lao PDR for 80 day in six month period starting May 4, 2015 ends October
20, 2015.
Qualifications


Post graduate degree in law
At least five years of experience in the area of law making process in Lao PDR with accurate understanding
of the Lao PDR government system
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


Expert in drafting laws in Lao PDR with minimum 10 years working with the government of Lao PDR
Familiarity with the government’s disaster risk management and climate change adaptation measures at the
national and sub -national contexts of and access to government policies; and familiarity with using related
international law
Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English and Lao languages
Deliverables and timeline
Scope of Tasks
Specific tasks
Deliverables
1) Review
documents and
draft the law’s
structure
1.1) Baseline study
 Review and document national
and sub-national legislations
and regulations in order to
better understand the context
of disaster risk management
and climate change adaptation
in Lao PDR, including the
relevance institutions who
responsible for disaster and
climate change management.
 Review and document related
laws, experiences and good
practices of other international
and regional countries
including the Asian and Pacific
countries which may be
adapted and made relevant to
the context within Lao PDR.
Baseline study
first draft
Tentative
number of
days
required
10
Submission Date
of deliverables
(tentative)
May 2015
1.2) Review and document the law’s
Baseline study
structure incorporating the project
second draft
team and stakeholders comments and
inputs specially after the upcoming IFRC
workshop
7
May 2015
Final baseline
study including
the law’s
structure
7
May-June 2015
1.3) Following the Ministry of Justice
handbook of legal terms and
National Assembly terms and
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conditions provide consistent
terminology in the law’s structure
2) Contribute to
the development
the draft law
3) Submit the draft
law to the Ministry
of Natural
resources and
Environment
(MoNRE), DDMCC
and the drafting
committee
2.1) Develop the first draft law in close
collaboration with the project’s team
and the project’s stakeholders
including IFRC and the Ministry of
Natural resources and Environment
(MoNRE), and collect/incorporate their
comments and inputs
First draft law
16
July 2015
2.2) Presenting the first draft law to the
project’s stakeholders
Second draft
law
30
August-September
2015
5.1) Provide support in developing the
final draft law and translate the draft in
Lao language
Final draft law
10
October 2015
Duty Station: Department of Disaster Management and Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment (MoNRE), Vientiane Capital. Detailed job description is available online from
http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/
The applicants are required to send by only email a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover
letter to Ms. Nang Nalinthone, [email protected] by May 3, 2015.
Telephone/Fax: (856 - 21) 255210. Only short - listed candidates will be contacted for the interview.
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