Mission and objectivesThe United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-HABITAT helps governments and the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live in with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. In Lao PDR, the UN-Habitat country office was opened in 2005, and now operates as a regional hub for water and sanitation programmes in the Mekong sub-region in South-East Asia. The office works in close collaboration with several different Ministries on various urban topics and community-based initiatives in urban and peri-urban areas throughout Lao PDR.
ContextAdaptation planning is a critical priority for strengthening local resilience across Lao PDR. While the country has made notable progress in reforming policies and frameworks to enhance resilience and environmental sustainability, recent assessments have highlighted persistent challenges in measuring adaptation progress. These challenges stem largely from the limited integration of climate change adaptation across policy levels, the absence of multisectoral strategies, and insufficient focus on human settlements. To address these gaps, the revised 2021 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) emphasizes stronger mainstreaming of adaptation through results-based management approaches. Effective adaptation planning requires an integrated understanding of risk and vulnerability across socio-economic, physical, and ecological systems. Analyzing how these systems are affected by climate-related shocks enables local authorities and partners to better understand interactions between vulnerability, exposure, and risk, supporting informed decision-making and resource mobilization. Strengthening capacity for risk analysis in Lao human settlements is therefore essential, particularly to improve adaptation planning for marginalized and vulnerable communities. The proposed intervention seeks to bridge gaps between knowledge and implementation by advancing vulnerability and risk assessment tools and strengthening institutional and technical capacities. Its overall objective is to enhance disaster risk management and climate resilience by integrating adaptation planning into policies, development plans, and strategies, while also strengthening access to public and private adaptation finance. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested UN-Habitatโs support to strengthen vulnerability and risk assessment methodologies for human settlements, improving climate change understanding and supporting sub-national adaptation planning. By focusing on vulnerability assessments, the intervention will help prioritize areas with the greatest capacity gaps, promote area-based and integrated planning approaches, strengthen stakeholder engagement and governance, address the needs of marginalized communities, and enhance risk-informed development planning and investment over the medium and long term. Given that previous adaptation efforts in Lao PDR have largely followed a project-based approach, this initiative aims to address institutional and cross-sectoral capacity gaps that hinder holistic advancement of the National Adaptation Plan. Ultimately, it will support the Government of Lao PDR in achieving national and local adaptation targets, strengthening resilience to climate change impacts, and advancing sustainable development outcomes.
Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of the UN-Habitat Head of Office in Lao PDR, the Contractor will liaise with the Government, UN Agencies, other development partners and colleagues to support the implementation of ongoing projects and other relevant activities. The tasks to be developed by the Contractor include research; preparation of technical documents; support to the organization of workshops and consultations; and monitoring and reporting, in addition to any other assignment(s) requested by the Head of Office. Some of the key actions in line with the assigned projects mentioned above are: Project Management and Implementation - Support the implementation, regular monitoring, and reporting on all project activities (substantive and financial) with partners and stakeholders to ensure a high quality of outputs being delivered within the agreed upon time frame. - Coordinate with internal and external partners and stakeholders to identify a way forward including the potential opportunities of the project funded by the Green Climate Fund including coordinating technical meetings, reporting, and developing of bankable climate action proposal. - Liaise with partners and provide substantive inputs in relevant meetings with other development partners and government counterparts. - Coordinate and participate in project missions and meetings at regional, national and subnational levels as appropriate. - Provide the written and oral translation and interpretation support as appropriate. Knowledge Management and Communication - Communicate with other project teams and partners to ensure alignment of projects' activities with broader strategic initiatives for project knowledge management. - Support the coordination of outreach activities by preparing and delivering presentations on assigned topics/activities, web articles, etc. Country Office Support - Undertake other assignments as required to support climate change objectives.
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Creativity โข Judgement and decision-making โข Planning and organising โข Professionalism โข Self-management
Living conditions and remarksLiving conditions in the Lao capital, Vientiane, are comfortable but residents must make concessions due to the tropical climate and under-developed infrastructure, including health facilities. Houses or apartments are usually of good standards. All basic commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate vicinity. Vientiane is a relatively safe place to live in, with violent crime incidents rare. However, single females should exert vigilance if moving alone during the dark and it is best advised to move in groups. The biggest hazards relate to traffic accidents, hence utmost care should be exerted when in traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. The Vientiane entertainment scene is still quiet and in order to avoid feeling lonely the person should be proactive in forming friendships, and hence should be ready to make the best of e.g. the UNV Buddy Programme. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.โ Other information Inclusivity statement United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a personโs race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status. Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entityโs policy UNV Beneficially: - Monthly Living Allowance (MLA): USD 816,33 - Entry Lumsum: USD 400 - Exit Lumsum: USD 68.02 (Paid on successful completion of the assignment) - Health & Life insurance (can be cover maximum 3 dependents)