National Consultant Environmental Law Expert (LAO PDR) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This consultancy will support the implementation of UNEP’s contribution to the project, ‘Safety Across Asia For the global Environment (SAFE)’, which is being implemented in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The SAFE project aims to support the prevention of zoonotic diseases linked to wildlife trafficking by identifying and addressing the risk factors of possible transmission of zoonotic diseases in existing wildlife facilities. UNEP’s contribution falls under the Law Division umbrella project ‘Addressing Environmental Challenges through the Law’. The national consultant shall work under the supervision of the Head, National Environmental Law Unit (NLU) of the Law Division or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and in close cooperation with the Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for Law and Governance, Asia and the Pacific Office.

Responsibilities

• The consultant will undertake the following activities under the SAFE project to review of Lao PDR’s existing regulations, policies and strategies:
• Collect through desk research and interviews of key stakeholders as needed and analyze information on laws, regulations and policies in Lao PDR, pertaining to wildlife related areas of husbandry, markets, hygiene, trade, medicinal uses and consumption of wildlife products relevant to licencing and management of wildlife facilities;
• Conduct, on the basis of the collected information and analysis, a legal and policy review pertaining to all areas mentioned under paragraph 1 above, including best practices and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities;
• Prepare and organize two series of consultations with experts and stakeholders (including feedback sessions with UNEP and other project implementing partners) to present, review and finalize the legal and policy review and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities, which relate to and are relevant for Lao PDR, including the preparation of the agenda, the proposed list of experts and identified stakeholders and participants, questionnaires, presentations, post consultation reports, and any material relating to the consultations;
• Provide drafts and finalize the legal and policy review and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities mentioned above;
• Provide regular and updated information on, and facilitate the translation of legal and policy documents in Lao PDR and contribute to activities under the SAFE project which require legal and policy inputs on the licensing and management of wildlife facilities and other related topics;
• Work in close collaboration with UNEP, UNODC and stakeholders involved, provide regular updates on the progress of the activities to UNEP, as required, and carry out any other tasks which may be assigned under the SAFE project.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in Lao PDR law, specializing in environmental law/policy, environmental crime, comparative law, or other relevant qualifications (required).
• Experience: - A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in the field of environmental law/policy in Lao PDR is required. Experience in research and analytical report writing on legal and policy approaches to address environmental crimes (including wildlife crimes) is desirable.
• Language: - English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written Lao and English is required.

Closing: 22 July 2022