EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Consultant for National Dialogues and Development of a Practical Paper on
Environmentally Responsible Mine Action in Laos

BACKGROUND

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has recently updated environmental requirements within its National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), reflecting the sector’s growing commitment to environmentally responsible and climate-aware UXO operations. These standards present an opportunity for UXO operators, the National Regulatory Authority (NRA), and other stakeholders to strengthen the integration of environmental considerations into mine action planning and implementation.
With support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) through Embassy of Canada to Lao PDR, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is implementing a project to support the practical implementation of these requirements across the mine action sector in Laos. As part of this initiative, MAG will convene two national dialogues and develop a discussion paper on sustainable mine action in Laos to promote shared learning, identify practical actions and priorities, and contribute to the effective implementation of the NMAS.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the facilitation and documentation of two national dialogues on environmentally responsible and climate-aware mine action and to develop a practical paper on sustainable mine action in Laos.

INDICATIVE SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will work closely with MAG’s Climate and Environment Focal Point and other relevant staff to undertake the following activities:
Activity 1: National Dialogues on Environmentally Responsible Mine Action
The consultant will support the facilitation and documentation of two national stakeholder dialogues involving representatives of the NRA, UXO operators, government agencies, environmental stakeholders, development partners, and other relevant actors.
MAG will lead the conceptualisation of the dialogues and develop the overall objectives and agenda in consultation with stakeholders. The consultant will provide technical input and feedback on the dialogue design as needed, facilitate the discussions, and document key findings, recommendations, and areas of consensus emerging from the dialogues.
Activity 2: Development of a Practical Paper on Sustainable Mine Action in Laos
Drawing on MAG’s desk review and the outcomes of the national dialogues, the consultant will develop a short practical paper on sustainable mine action in Laos. The paper should summarise the main themes emerging from the dialogues and identify practical recommendations and next steps for stakeholders.

Deliverables
The consultant will provide:

• Agendas for two national dialogues, developed in collaboration with MAG.
• Facilitation of two national dialogues.
• A brief summary of key findings and recommendations from the dialogues.
• Draft paper on Sustainable Mine Action in Laos (approximately 5-10 pages).
• Final discussion paper incorporating feedback from MAG and key stakeholders.

DURATION

The consultancy is expected to be undertaken between December 2026 – December 2027. Final dates for the National Dialogues will be confirmed with the NRA. Currently these are expected to take place February and September in Vientiane.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should possess:

• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, consultations, dialogues, or policy discussions;
• Knowledge of environmental management, climate adaptation, sustainable development, natural resource management, mine action, or related fields;
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills;
• Experience producing policy papers, guidance documents, discussion papers, research reports, or similar publications;
• Excellent written and spoken English and Lao language.

EOI SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultants are invited to submit an Expression of Interest consisting of:

• A brief cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining:
  o Relevant experience and qualifications;
  o Availability during the proposed consultancy period.
  o Daily rate.
• A current CV.
• One example of relevant previous work.

NEXT STEPS

Expressions of Interest should be submitted to procurementla@maginternational.org by 30 October 2026, 3 PM.
Questions or inquiries related to the assignment can be sent to the same email address mentioned above for further clarification.
MAG will review Expressions of Interest and shortlist candidates based on relevant experience and qualifications. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a brief interview and/or requested to submit a financial proposal. Submission of an Expression of Interest does not guarantee selection for the next stage of the procurement process.