Team Leader, Laos-Australia Connectivity Partnership At Adam Smith International

Background Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) contributes to quality infrastructure development that drives inclusive growth in Southeast Asia. P4I’s end-of-investment outcome is improved decision-making towards quality infrastructure underpinned by strong government-to-government partnerships. P4I aspires to integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and disaster risk reduction and climate change (DRRCC) in all its activities.

P4I works with Southeast Asia partner countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). P4I is being delivered collaboratively by a One Team comprised of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and P4I Delivery Partner organisations (EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation, and Ninti One).

Further information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

The Government of Laos (GoL) – a partner country for P4I – is prioritising transport, connectivity and logistics as a path to (more equitable) economic growth. It aims to transition Laos from a ‘land-locked’ to ‘land-linked’ country, taking advantage of its geographic position at the centre of mainland Southeast Asia. There are opportunities to increase trade, tourism and transport services through greater and improved connectivity for the benefit of Laos.

The Laos-Australia Connectivity Partnership (LACP)

On 27 February 2022 in Vientiane, then-Foreign Minister Payne announced that the Australian Government would allocate at least AUD10 million through P4I, to improve domestic and regional transport connectivity in Laos. Australia’s Ambassador to Laos and Laos’ Vice Minister of Public Works and Transport signed a Memorandum Subsidiary Arrangement (MSA) in July 2022 formalising this assistance as the LACP. Under the MSA, both parties will cooperate in implementing LACP in support of Laos’ development needs, specifically to improve transport connectivity and infrastructure governance practices.

LACP is assisting with the design of logistics facilities in Laos’ northern economic corridor. Once developed, these facilities will enhance access to markets for local communities and businesses, and act as a hub to better manage the efficient transportation, handling and storage of goods. LACP is also working with the MPWT to develop Laos’ first Multi-Modal Transport Strategy. This has the potential to transform Laos’ approach to transport policy and planning, including by better prioritising projects and investments, and creating an enabling environment for a more competitive logistics sector. LACP will deliver activities to strengthen national and provincial government capacity to implement this strategy, and to develop integrated transport regulations and policies for more inclusive and resilient infrastructure.

Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity (SEARECC)

LACP complements the World Bank (WB) funded SEARECC project, which seeks to support the GoL to improve regional and domestic transport connectivity, the efficiency of logistics and cross-border trade, and the capacity to manage multi-modal transport. Five provinces in northern Laos—Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, and Xayabouly, in addition to Vientiane Capital—are engaged in SEARECC and LACP activities.

The Role

This is designated as an international role based in Vientiane, Laos. The Team Leader will be responsible for the overall leadership of the Laos-Australia Connectivity Partnership (LACP). The role will operate as a member of P4I’s One Team, working closely with the P4I Head Office in Bangkok, and with P4I staff from across the consortium (EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One) who are based in locations across the Southeast Asia region and Australia.

The position holder will:

1. Lead LACP, including workplan development and implementation, governance, risk management, and program monitoring and reporting. This will require frequent coordination and communication with P4I Delivery Partner organisations.
2. Manage the core in-country team (LACP Asia Foundation team in Laos) and ensure the budget and activities implemented by the team in Laos are on track.
3. Manage stakeholder relationships, including:

GoL – primarily the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) but also other national-level institutions and line departments involved in regional connectivity, trade and economic development, as well as provincial-level stakeholders such as provincial governments, border management authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and potentially others;

Australian Embassy in Vientiane (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DFAT);

Internal relationships within the P4I One Team, in particular with EY and Asia Foundation staff involved in the implementation of P4I’s activities in Laos, and P4I’s head office in Bangkok;

the World Bank and other donors (and potentially investors).

4. Ensure the timely delivery of the LACP workplan as agreed with the GoL, P4I, and DFAT, including monitoring and managing risks to implementation.

5. Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities for LACP, including data collection and analysis. This will be undertaken in line with the P4I Performance Management Framework, and in close collaboration with the P4I Performance Team.

6. Develop and deliver reporting, including the LACP annual report and completion report, for different audiences (i.e., DFAT and GoL partners) on LACP progress and achievements, in coordination with P4I’s technical and MEL leads for LACP.

7. Contribute to research or analytical tasks such as political economy analysis or institutional analysis, including as tasked by the P4I Program Executive.

8. Liaise with P4I’s Government-to-Government (G2G) partnerships team to identify opportunities for Australian (state or federal) government agencies to provide input into activities and policy dialogue.

9. The position holder will also:

Contribute to broader P4I Program planning and reporting (in particular the preparation of P4I Workplans and Program Performance Reports).

Work closely with relevant teams to ensure gender, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) considerations are analysed and addressed during the development and implementation of LACP activities, in line with P4I’s GEDSI Strategy, and MPWT and GoL principles. Coordinate with the same teams to deliver both integrated and standalone GEDSI activities in Laos.

Work closely with relevant teams to ensure all LACP activities incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (DRRCC) principles and identify risks. Coordinate with the same teams to deliver both integrated and standalone DRRCC activities in Laos.

Work with the P4I Communications Team to identify and explore opportunities for strategic communications and public diplomacy.

Work with other P4I teams to promote knowledge sharing within the region, including through developing knowledge products, participating in or speaking at events, working with research organisations, or other activities.

Contribute to ad hoc briefings requested by P4I Program Executive, Australian Embassies, or DFAT Canberra.

In undertaking all of the above, the position will operate as part of P4I’s One Team, contributing to well- coordinated planning and delivery across all members of the Delivery Partner organisations.

Reporting

The position will report to The Asia Foundation Country Representative for Laos on a day-to-day basis. The position will also work closely with the P4I Deputy Head of Regional Engagement (based in Bangkok).

The role will also involve close collaboration with EY and Adam Smith International staff and subcontractors.

Selection Criteria

1. Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant discipline (e.g. public policy, economics, public finance, development, or qualifications related to infrastructure).
2. At least 12 years of experience working on donor programs, ideally in Southeast Asia and focused on public administration, infrastructure development, economic growth, or institutional strengthening. An understanding of the Laos context would be an asset.
3. Previous experience working on transport connectivity/infrastructure issues, preferably in Laos.
4. Strong experience with developing and managing a pipeline of technical assistance activities, including liaison with Government counterparts, donor organisations, and technical specialists (previous experience working with the GoL, DFAT, and World Bank an asset).
5. Commitment to and experience in managing compliance with environmental and social safeguards, GEDSI, and DRRCC, in particular in the context of infrastructure development.
6. Excellent analytical skills, including with respect to political economy issues.
7. Excellent communication, liaison, and coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation (fluency in English required, Lao language ability an asset).
8. Strong writing, presentation, and facilitation skills.
9. Sound judgment working in a complex environment, with the ability to take initiative balanced with good understanding of risk.
10. Excellent team management skills.