Transport Technical Advisor

Program 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). The Program will operate initially for four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and is being delivered collaboratively by 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).

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, with a view to increase trade, tourism and transport services through improved connectivity. 

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 co-implement LACP in support of Laos’ development needs, specifically to improve transport connectivity and infrastructure governance practices. LACP is delivered across four sub-components (SCs):

• SC1.3: Improvement of the cross-border facilities
• SC2.1: Logistics facilities development
• SC2.2: Regional integration and cross-border transport agreements 
• SC3.2: Institutional capacity development for transport sector (and multi-modal transport strategy)

Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity (SEARECC)

LACP complements SEARECC through the above sub-components. The World Bank (WB) through its SEARECC project is supporting GoL to improve regional and domestic transport connectivity, the efficiency of logistics and cross-border trade, and the capacity to manage multi-modal transport. The primary goal of the SEARECC project is to improve regional and domestic trade and transport infrastructure, facilitating the efficient movement of goods, services, and people across Southeast Asia and strengthening the east-west corridor.

The Role

Overall Objective

To strengthen P4I’s engagement with GoL’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and help successfully deliver sub-component 3.2.

Technical advisory (approx. 30% of time)

• Provide technical inputs and support MPWT to clearly articulate inputs for the preparation of the LACP deliverables for SC3.2: Institutional capacity development for transport sector (and multi-modal transport strategy).
• Work with the P4I’s LACP Delivery Team and MPWT to help identify technical requirements and related solutions for LACP activities. May provide inputs on other sub-components than SC 3.2 if requested by MPWT and the LACP team.
• Support the LACP team in the formulation of the planned strategies by interpreting needed actions to be incorporated into the strategies, including the top priority projects to be promoted for immediate implementation.
• Support MPWT in its consideration of strategic priorities for the 5 project provinces, including but not limited to modal shift aspects, modes prioritisation per region, road safety, smart logistics, etc.
• Support LACP and MPWT teams in co-creating the national and regional multimodal strategic priorities, setting the project selection and prioritisation criteria and creating the foundation for future national multimodal strategic development pillars.
• Support the collection of technical data at both national and provincial levels as required by the MPWT and LACP teams.
• Support MPWT in organising activities related to the sub-component 3.2 deliverables, including anticipated study tours for MPWT staff.

Stakeholder engagement (30%)

Coordinate and communicate with diverse stakeholders, such as departments within MPWT, Provincial MPWTs, the World Bank, local authorities and communities to ensure shared understanding of key concepts and technical content, as per MPWT and LACP team instructions and contact needs.

Actively support the coordination and communication with broad interest groups made up of private sector and related associations that directly/indirectly influence the Strategy context.

Engage in and support ongoing communication with P4I, LACP, and the Australian Embassy to Laos. This will include participating in joint meetings, reviews, and in-country missions.

Support the development of reports and feedback channels which allow transparent and timely communication of progress, issues, and accomplishments of LACP activities to MPWT and other relevant teams.

Support the alignment of LACP activities with the strategic objectives of the MPWT and SEARECC indicators.

Program management (20%)

• Contribute to briefings and reporting as requested by MPWT, P4I and the Australian Embassy to Laos.
• Contribute to planning (i.e. preparation of workplans and detailed work schedules) for sub-component SC3.2 reporting and monitoring needs.
• Work with the PMU as per the SC3.2. technical delivery requirements.
• Work with the P4I communications team to identify opportunities for public communications and public diplomacy.
• Ensure compliance with the policies, guidelines and professional standards required of MPWT and P4I program staff.
• Ensure alignment of planned activities with sub-component 3.2 and SEARECC overall objectives.
• Facilitate and expedite the LACP quality control and quality management processes.
• Work closely with relevant teams to ensure gender, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) considerations are analysed and addressed during the development and implementation of strategies and activities, in line with P4I’s GEDSI Strategy, and MPWT and GoL principles.
• Work closely with relevant teams to ensure all activities incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (DRRCC) principles and identify risks.

Capacity building (20%)

• Work with MPWT to deliver capacity building activities supporting a new Multi-Modal Transport Strategy.
• Deliver capacity building activities including training, mentoring, workshops, or other support, based on requests from MPWT.
• Work closely with the MPWT and LACP teams to prepare and conduct the capacity building and feedback survey, as required by the SEARECC implementation plan, and achieve the framework indicators (80% of medium to intensive use of knowledge and lessons learned from the sub-component 3.2. capacity building activities/plan).
• Work with other P4I teams to promote knowledge sharing within the region, including through developing knowledge products, participating in or speaking at events, or working with research organisations.

Selection Criteria

• Relevant degree in Transport Engineering, Transport Planning, Transport Economics, or Civil Engineering. A master’s degree in one of the above fields is a must.
• Technical understanding of transport infrastructure and built environment data (e.g. traffic, sustainability, utilities, and demographics, traffic and users’ surveys, data collection and analysis). 
• Demonstrated understanding of stakeholder management in complex institutional environments in Southeast Asia, and ideally Laos.
• Experience with facilitating team and stakeholder discussions on complex topics.
• At least 10 years' experience in transport sector policy and planning; preferably also experience in Southeast Asia
• Familiarity with transport sector challenges and opportunities in Laos or similar contexts.
• Experience in utilising data for decision-making and communicating results and risks.
• Experience working on transport infrastructure related projects with government agencies, international organisations/NGOs, development partners, or the private sector.
• Proven experience in providing technical assistance in institutional capacity development, in particular in support of a transport strategy. 

How to Apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email, with format [Candidate Name] – Transport Technical Advisor, to info@partnershipsforinfrastructure.org.

Applications close Monday 8 April 2024, at 5:00pm (Bangkok time), but applications will be considered on a rolling basis.