Position

Local consultant for Laos-Australia Sustainable Energy Partnership (LASEP)

Duration

May – September 2025 (15 days)

Location

LAO PDR

Reports to

Component 2 Lead and LASEP Team Lead

Closing date

20 May 2025

About P4I

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. P4I partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

P4I works with partners to strengthen infrastructure decision-making and practice across the transport, energy, utilities and telecommunications sectors. P4I’s focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle, including planning and prioritisation, financing strategy, and procurement.

The four main services offered by P4I are linkages with Australian government agencies and other institutions, technical and policy advice, infrastructure project advice and knowledge-sharing and learning. 

As the foundation of quality infrastructure, P4I also integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into all activities.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. P4I has a head office in Bangkok, with other staff located around the region.

Scope of Work

Under the direction of the Component 2 Lead, through the LASEP in-country team, the consultant will undertake the following activities under Component 2 of this Activity: 

• Engage with government stakeholders (MEM, EDL, and other relevant agencies) to confirm the scope and workplan for Component 2 to ensure alignment with national priorities and capacities. 
• Support establishment of a working group involving MEM, EDL, and other stakeholders to oversee and guide the implementation of Component 2 activities and/or participate in the working group established to oversee the project activities of Component 1 and 2 if appropriate. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in conducting a literature review and analysis of: 
  • existing practices, agreements, and institutional frameworks related to disaster management and operational continuity in the Lao power sector; and
  • regional and international guidance and best practices on institutional preparedness and continuity planning for the power sector. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in facilitating and delivering the capacity-building workshops to strengthen institutional knowledge and preparedness for energy sector continuity planning. Workshops will incorporate international best practices and tools tailored to the Lao PDR context. 
• Support the preparation and facilitation of knowledge exchange sessions to introduce and discuss global examples of effective energy sector resilience strategies and continuity planning. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in the preparation of a concept note for the Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP) which sets out the broad purpose, scope, principles, structure and level of detail, for consultation with the relevant working group(s) and other stakeholders. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in the finalisation of the COOP, including:
  • Facilitating a desktop exercise with relevant stakeholders to test the suitability of the draft COOP based on the most likely disaster scenarios and identify any gaps or challenges to be addressed. Refine the COOP based on feedback and results from this exercise. 
  • Facilitating a stakeholder workshop to present the finalised COOP, gather feedback, and provide recommendations for ongoing improvement, including potential areas for future collaboration and capacity building.

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia 

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Under the operation of the RT4D, the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising practice to advance gender equality within trade-related policies, technical cooperation, and development programming.

Project Summary

The General Department of Customs and Excise in Cambodia (GDCE) of the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to advancing gender equality throughout the whole organisation, at policy, culture, and practice level. TGEI is supporting the GDCE to implement the project Progressing gender equality for all, leading to greater gender equality and inclusion outcomes in GDCE’s policy, practices, and services. In 2024, the GDCE approved an eight-point Gender and Diversity Action Plan to achieve this objective. This work is being conducted in close cooperation with members of the GDCE’s Gender Equality Working Group. The RT4D Facility now seeks a firm/organisation (the Consultant) to support project implementation in line with the project objectives, beneficiaries, outcomes and activities outlined below.

TGEI is supporting the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) through the project “Progressing Gender Equality for All,” which aims to enhance gender equality and inclusion across GDCE’s policies, practices, and services. The project developed an Organisational Gender Equality and Diversity Action Plan for the period of July 2024 to December 2026 with the following intended outcomes:

1. Improved institutional capacity on gender equality and diversity (GED).

2. A safe workplace policy, practice, and culture for all staff and customers.

3. Gender responsive and inclusive trade facilitation for SMEs.

4. Internal recruitment system is prepared to employ and accommodate persons with disabilities in the workplace.

5. Staff and customers who live with disabilities can access GDCE facilities with a high level of safety and comfort.

6. Increased institutional capacity of GDCE to monitor and report the progress of GED initiatives.

7. Increased job satisfaction, particularly among female staff, staff with health conditions, and those with caregiving responsibilities, as well as the provision of flexible work options for all staff.

8. Improved capacity of GDCE staff to effectively integrate GEDSI principles in their communications.