Technical Specialist

Technical Specialist [Open to internal and external applicants]

Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Job Info

Job Identification 37384

Posting Date 11/10/2026, 07:10 AM

Apply Before 11/20/2026, 11:59 PM

Job Schedule Full time

Locations

Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Agency UNDP

Grade IPSA-10

Vacancy Type International Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area Nature, Climate and Energy

Bureau Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Contract Duration 1 Year

Education & Work Experience Master's Degree - 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 7 year(s) experience

Required Languages English

Job Description

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026), UNDP in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP has a long history working in Lao PDR. UNDP’s comparative advantage has been its ability to work closely with a broad range of government and local institutions at all levels. UNDP’s work is focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across three broad priority pillars – (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities, including UXO clearance and risk education, (2) natural resources, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and (3) effective, responsive, and accountable governance.

The UNDP country programme is aligned with the 9th NSEDP and aims to support Lao PDR to recover from the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure a smooth transition from Least Developed Country status, with a particular emphasis on supporting inclusive growth and reducing inequality.

The current project is a Child Project under the GEF-8 Regional Indo-Malay Critical Forest Biome Integrated Programme that has the long-term goal of maintaining the integrity of globally important primary forests of Indo-Malaya for maximizing multiple global environment benefits related to carbon and biodiversity. As a contribution to the above-referenced long-term goal of the integrated programme, the Lao PDR child project's objective is to promote nature-positive development to reduce ecosystem degradation and generate multiple benefits through strengthened protection of primary forest landscapes (PFLs) in Lao PDR. It will operationalize the integrated management of the primary forest landscapes in Lao PDR to generate multiple benefits including effective conservation and protection of globally threatened species and ecosystems, reduce or stop deforestation and degradation of primary forests landscapes, conserve and enhance their ecosystem services and support sustainable local livelihoods from local communities that are dependent on these forests. The project recognizes that these globally important primary forest landscapes, which are important for the conservation of species, habitats and natural ecosystems, underpin the lives and livelihoods of local communities (in providing forest and natural resource products and critical ecosystems services). To achieve this objective, the GEF alternative aims to (i) take into account the interconnectivity of primary forest and other natural ecosystems in key biogeographic regions in the country, and in particular in the Annamite Range; (ii) ensure that relevant agencies and actors have adequate capacities to promote integrated approaches and tackle the threat to primary forests, biodiversity and natural resources management; and (iii) advocate science based approaches and use of traditional and good practice knowledge systems to promote sustainable forestry, agricultural and livelihood management practices. The project objective will be achieved through the following six inter-linked components:

• Component 1: Enabling environment for ensuring durable protection of Primary Forests Landscapes
• Component 2: Strengthening management and governance capacities for empowering local communities for management of Protected Areas
• Component 3: Strengthened stakeholder collaboration to improved/inclusive management of primary forests outside PAs, including buffers and connectivity corridors
• Component 4: Strengthen sustainable PA financing and reduce the financial gap and scaling-up investments for primary forest conservation
• Component 5: Coordination, knowledge management and strengthen effective regional cooperation on durability of primary forests
• Component 6: Project Monitoring, evaluation and reporting ensured

The Technical Specialist will work under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Lao PDR , and work closely with the Team Lead for Natural Resource Management, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, UNDP in Lao PDR and the Project management Unit (PMU) as well as the key government counterparts. Below is the project organizational structure – depicting the reporting lines for this position.

This position will be located at the Department of Forestry (DOF), Misnitry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Vientiane Capital, with occasionally travel to project offices in Savannakhet, Saravan, Chamapsack and Sekong provinces.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will have lead technical responsibilities under the overall guidance of the Director General of the Department of Forestry (DOF), who serves as the National Project Director, and the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Lao PDR and the Head of the Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (i) technical project activities with a focus on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting; (ii) developing annual workplans and budgets, (iii) ensuring integration with all outcomes; (iv) guiding activities in provinces; (v) coordinating with other related projects; (vi) day-to-day project management; (vii) and following up on monitoring results and findings related to project outputs and outcomes.

S/he will provide high level advice and guidance to DOF/Government of Lao PDR and UNDP in the following areas:

• Technical and strategic guidance: Provide rigorous analysis and advice to the Government of Lao PDR on the assessment and formulation of national policies and regulations related to Primary Forest Landscapes (PFL). This includes capacity assessment and development planning for key institutions and private sector entities to mainstream PFLs in safeguard assessment and planning approaches. Develop the Annamite Management Strategy, ensuring consultation with all relevant stakeholders, prioritizing investments for PFLs, establishing coordination mechanisms, and monitoring the effectiveness of the planning process. Support the re-alignment of policies, planning, and financial systems to promote the implementation of the Annamite Management Strategy.
• Provision of technical advice: Offer technical advice, capacity building, institutional support, and project management support to the Government to ensure the effective and timely delivery of the Project.
• Support resource mobilization: Strengthen partnerships with relevant development organizations, UN agencies, and within the government network. Enhance coordination with key stakeholders to generate multiple benefits through strengthened protection of primary forest landscapes in Lao PDR

1. Strategic guidance, rigorous analysis and advice to the Government of Lao PDR to effectively consider, develop and implement sustainable forest and land management, protected area management, spatial planning, agricultural and agro-forestry.

• Provide technical input and policy advice and supervise