Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF)

Request for Consultant Services

Senior Advisor

(Based in Vientiane Capital)

Scope of the service

The Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF), a Lao governmental institution funded by the World Bank and the Swiss Development Corporation Agency (SDC) and supporting the Government in its efforts to reduce poverty, through the empowerment of local communities, is looking for a consultant to become its Senior Advisor.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Advisor’s responsibilities include advising the PRF Executive Director and the Program Management Team on policy, procedures, co-ordination with multiple stakeholders, fundraising, financial management and project implementation. The Senior Advisor will also support PRF management to prepare the extension of its geographical and thematic coverage to become, in 2011, a national rural

development program.

The successful applicant will be offered a one-year contract renewable subject to annual performance review.

Required Qualifications Essential

• An advanced university degree in Public or Business Administration, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Economics, Development studies or other relevant fields.

• At least 7 years experience in advisory, coordination and management functions in Community Driven Development Programmes in the field of small-scale rural infrastructure development and capacity building.

• Solid relevant working experience in the field of decentralised planning, participatory rural development, including project design, implementation and monitoring.

• Financial management skills

• Fluency in English (writing, editing, reporting and speaking).

Desirable

• Familiarity with the Laotian context, good understanding of Lao government poverty reduction policies and strategies, sound knowledge of community driven development projects in Laos and experience in the management of projects targeting uplands communities.

• Knowledge of Lao language, culture and tradition will be considered an asset.

• Knowledge of World Bank/IDA policies and implementation guidelines - Experience with a World Bank supported community driven development project of similar scope and context preferred (in particular with second generation CDD programs).

Interested candidates should submit (1) a comprehensive CV presenting their academic background, experience and knowledge of the local conditions; and (2) a letter of interest to PRF by January 24, 2010 at the following email address prflao@laotel.com. See detailed Terms of Reference on www.prflaos.org. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.