National Adaptive Social Protection Consultant for Rural Poverty Reduction Project in Laos

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Ref. No. C1-IC-05: National Adaptive Social Protection Consultant (Project ID No. P178883, IDA Credit No. 7431-LA) The Government of Lao PDR (GOL) is implementing the Reducing Rural Poverty and Malnutrition Project II (RRPMP II) (P178883) from 2024 to 2029 with financing from the World Bank (WB). The RRPMP II will implement a nutrition-sensitive social protection program or a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program to address issues of poverty and malnutrition and develop and implement mechanism to ensure multi-sectoral coordination, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the nutrition convergence approach: the Reducing Rural Poverty and Malnutrition Project. The Project Management Unit (PMU) for the RRPMP II is the Department of Rural Development and Poverty Reduction (DRP) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) in Vientiane Capital, which has overall responsibility for operational aspects of the project at the national and sub-national level including contract administration, financial management, procurement, and monitoring and evaluation, as well as overseeing implementation. RRPMP II now intends to engage a part-time, suitably qualified, and experienced National Adaptive Social Protection to undertake tasks under Components 1 as described in the Terms of Reference (ToR). The full ToR for the assignment can be found at the following QR Code below or can be provided to interested candidates upon written request to the email address below. This assignment is intended as a part-time, lump sum contract with an individual consultant for up to 6 months. The assignment is expected to commence as soon as possible. The duty station will be at the RRPMP II Office in Vientiane, Lao PDR. RRPMP II now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested candidate should provide information (CV, Expression of Interest, other supporting information, if any) demonstrating that she/he has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. In order to qualify for this position, the candidates shall meet the following experience and competence requirements:

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in social policy, development economics, public administration, social protection, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in social protection program design, implementation, and reform
• Demonstrated expertise in adaptive or shock-responsive social protection, focused on building flexible systems for emergency response
• Strong background in cash transfer program operations, including operational manual development and business process design
• Strong analytical skills with ability to conduct systems diagnostics and gap analyses
• Proven ability to deliver capacity building and training to government counterparts
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently while maintaining effective collaboration with government agencies and development partners
• Proficiency in Lao and English (written and spoken)

The attention of interested consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” 4th edition of November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 11 March 2026, 16:00 o’clock Lao time (submissions via email are also acceptable). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Attention: Vongsavanh Vongkaysone,Ph.D. Deputy Director General, DRP – MAE Email: rrpmp2023@gmail.com with Cc: phonesavanh.tms@gmail.com and insonesaysombath@yahoo.com Address: Department of Rural Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ban Sibounheuang, Chanthabouly District, inside the Prime Minister complex office, Vientiane Capital, Lao P.D.R. Agency: Department of Rural Development Procurement method: Individual Consultant Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 15000.0 USD