(FOR LAO NATIONAL ONLY) Individual Consultancy: Legal Advisor for the development of Implementation Guideline for the operationalization of the recent decree on Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) in Lao PDR

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for a Lao National Individual Consultant to review the BMS decree to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses for legalizing the monitoring of BMS decree, to propose a legal framework and enforcement approaches for the implementation guideline as well as ensure that the legal language of this decree is appropriate.

The consultant will be base in Vientiane and schedule of the assignment (full-time) requires from October to December 2020.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• To review the national legislation (decree on Food Products and Feeding Equipment for Infants and Toddlers) to identify potential legal loopholes and gap to be clearly addressed in the development of the implementation guideline particularly regarding penalties including any legal action for health sector/government staff, fees for code violators from private sector and more.
• To review of existing implementation guidelines, arrangements and monitoring frameworks for tobacco, alcohol and food law and to identify opportunities to leverage these for the enforcement of the recent legislation (decree on Food Products and Feeding Equipment for Infants and Toddlers)
• To propose the arrangements and monitoring frameworks for the enforcement of the decree including identifying existing or new enforcement mechanisms to be leveraged and clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of the various partners in a clear overview including an organogram.
• To propose more detailed articulation of the legal actions to be included in the implementation guideline.
• Facilitate consultation meetings with key partners (organised by Government) to discuss and agree on proposed monitoring framework and develop implementation guideline
• Engage closely with those with any relevant mandate for inspection, monitoring or enforcement.
• Compile inputs and lead the review discussions with all parties involved on implementation guideline draft with consensus among partners
• Write the first draft of implementation guideline in Lao language using the correct legal language
• Revise and finalise implementation guideline with agreement from key partners in MOH.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

 

Qualifications and Experience

 

•        Advanced University Degree in Law

 

•        Experience of working within relevant areas of public legislation (e.g. public health, agriculture or commerce)

 

•        Demonstrated experience in development of guidance documents related to public legislation

 

•        Experience related to enforcement preferred but not required

 

•        Other: the candidate should have: a flexible nature and ability to adapt to changing directions/thinking that may occur during the assignment.

 

Competencies

 

·       Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

 

·       Flexible nature and ability to adapt to changing directions/thinking that may occur during the assignment.

 

·       Able to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.

 

 

Languages

 

·       Excellent written and oral communication skill in English and Lao.

 

  1.     Submission of applications: 

 

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents in our Talent Management System (TMS) together with:

 

·        Letter of Interest (cover letter)

 

·        CV or Resume

 

·        Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available) 

 

·        Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

 

  The deadline for applications is Friday, 2 October 2020

 

 2.     Assessment Criteria:

 

A two-stage procedure shall be utilized in evaluating proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared.

 

Applications shall therefore contain the following required documentation: 

 

1. Technical Proposal, including a cover letter, updated CV, and copies of 2 relevant evaluations performed earlier by the consultant.

 

2. Financial Proposal: Lump-sum offer with the cost breakdown: Consultancy fee, travel costs (economy class), per-diem to cover lodging, meals, and any other cost related to the consultant’s stay in Vientiane, including transportation inside the city and other costs. The travel (if involved) shall be based on the most direct and economy fare.

 

No financial information should be contained in the technical proposal.

 

For evaluation and selection method, the Cumulative Analysis Method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment:

 

a) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %

 

• Degree Education in 30 (30 points)
• Knowledge of 20 (20 points)
• Experience in 40 (40 points)
• Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (10 points) 

 

b) Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 %

 

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

 

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

View our competency framework at:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.