Consultant to Prepare a Road Sector Financing Strategy — Lao PDR Climate Resilient Road Connectivity Improvement Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESS OF INTEREST CONSULTANT TO PREPARE A LOCAL ROADS NETWORK FINANCING STRATEGY REFERENCE NO. CRRCIP-IC-016 The Government of Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (GoL) has received financing support from the World Bank’s (WB) International Development Association (IDA) to implement the Lao PDR Climate Resilient Road Connectivity Improvement Project (CRRCIP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The proposed of Climate Resilient Road Connectivity Improvement Project (CRRCIP) seeks to build about 300 km of District Roads and Rural Roads in the poor districts of Khammouan, Savannakhet, and Saravan provinces. The MPWT in consultation with the DPWT of these three provinces had identified a long list of proposed roads. About 100 km of roads in each of the provinces will be selected from the roads in this longlist through a prioritization exercise based on aspects which include: (i) passing through a poor district – based on poverty headcount, (ii) criticality of the link for climate resiliency of the network, (iii) connectivity to agricultural areas, (iv) population served by the road, (v) traffic level, (vi) not passing through environmentally sensitive areas, and (vii) no resettlement of more than 200 people (or 40 households) and/or more than 40 households severely affected with 10 percent of productive assets owned by individual household lost in all three target provinces. The proposed project provides connectivity to National Roads and access to the east-west economic corridor between Vietnam and Thailand thus increasing market linkages and contributing towards greater economic gains to the local communities. The CRRCIP now intends to engage a part-time, suitably qualified and experienced individual Consultant to Prepare a Local Roads Network Financing Strategy. Specifically, the consultant is required to prepare a local road network financing strategy which will include (i) Road Sector Overview and Expenditure Needs, (ii) Review of current Road Sector Financing, (iii) Fiscal and Macro-economic context, (iv) exploring Financing Options and Reform Scenarios, (v) prepare the Road Sector Financing Strategy and Action Plan. This will be a part-time assignment and the Consultant will work intermittently in Lao PDR and home-based. During visits to Lao PDR, the consultant will be based in Vientiane Capital, MPWT. In the course of entire assignment, the Consultant will cooperate with MPWT and in particular with the Department of Roads (DoR) and the Department of Finance (DPF) as described in the Terms of Reference (ToR). The full ToR for the assignment can be found at the following website : https://ppmd.mof.gov.la/opportunities/com or it can be provided to interested candidates upon written request to the email address below. This will be an output-based contract with part-time inputs, expected to start by February 2027. The Consultant is required to work in Vientiane for at least 50% of the finally agreed time input in person-days. The work plan shall be agreed during contract negotiations. The CRRCIP now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultant should provide information (CV, Expression of Interest, other supporting information, if any) demonstrating that s/he has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. In order to qualify for this position, the candidates shall meet the following experience and competence requirements : At least a Master’s degree in transport economy, civil engineering, road/transport contract management, or related fields. A minimum of 15 years of working experience in Road Sector institutional reforms and Road Sector financing. Preparation / implementation / completion of at least 3 similar projects, including roads’ long-term operation & maintenance (O&M) funding & implementation frameworks and/or strategies. A minimum of 6 years of experience working with development partners funding the road sector, including WB, ADB or other international institutions. Experience in Lao PDR or in other countries in South/ Southeast Asia region is an advantage. Familiarity with the GoL road improvement projects and GoL’s administrative and other procedures is an advantage. Excellent speaking and writing English. Excellent communication skills. Ability to work independently. The attention of interested consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” 4th edition of November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person or by e-mail) on or before 13 November 2026, 17:00 o’clock Lao time (submissions via email are also acceptable). Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Department Planning and Finance, Ministry of Public Works and Transport Lanexang Avenue, Phonxai Village, Saysettha District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Attention : Mr. Vannasone K. Thepvongsa Deputy Director General, Department Planning and Finance (DPF - MPWT) Email : proc.dpf.mpwt@gmail.com with Cc : pphonh.plv@gmail.com; inthapada@hotmail.com and maxmahaxay11@hotmail.com