1. BACKGROUND

Enhancing public service delivery is a priority for the Government of Lao PDR as it aims to improve the well-being of its citizens and promote socio-economic development. Efforts are directed toward enhancing access to essential services and social welfare programs, particularly in rural and remote areas where access is limited. The government has implemented various policies and initiatives to expand service coverage and improve the quality of services provided. However, despite these efforts, the Lao PDR faces several challenges. Limited financial resources and insufficient infrastructure pose significant barriers to ensuring universal access to services across the country. Additionally, a shortage of skilled professionals hampers the effective delivery of high-quality services. Furthermore, bureaucratic inefficiencies, inadequate coordination between government agencies, limited M&E capacities, and limited availability of digital technologies add further challenges.

In recent years, UNDP has provided technical assistance across various projects to strengthen the effective, accountable, and inclusive delivery of public services to people across the country. Currently, UNDP is initiating another phase of this engagement with the new project “Ensuring Efficiency and Accessibility of Public Services in Lao PDR” LEAP Project, which will be focusing on improving the efficiency and accessibility of the 61 One Door Service Centers (ODSCs). This is in alignment with the ‘National Strategy on Public Services through One Door Service Mechanism’ endorsed in October 2023, which includes the digitalization of public service delivery and the piloting of mobile ODSCs in remote communities. UNDP’s previous track record and the current plan to further strengthen public service delivery in the coming years provide a unique opportunity to strengthen the capacity of National Civil Society Organizations (NPAs) and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to engage on the wider topic of service delivery which NPAs and OPDs in Lao PDR play a crucial role in contributing to the delivery of public services.[1]  One of the primary ways NPAs and OPDs can contribute to improving public service delivery is through capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized communities and enhancing their access to essential services.  

This project aims to support national civil society to play a strong role in promoting efficiency and accessibility in public services while acting as a key stakeholder in national-level policy discussions. It complements ongoing efforts on public service delivery by supporting national civil society organizations to improve their engagement with public service providers, including ODSCs. The project will also coordinate with efforts to build the capacities of NPAs/OPDs to leverage existing results and avoid duplication of activities. This allows for an increase in the access and utilization of services for vulnerable populations, particularly persons with disabilities. The project also aims to empower national civil society organizations to effectively 

participate in national-level policy discussions with a focus on the current National Action Plan on the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD NAP). By demonstrating the practical difference that the engagement of civil society can make in ensuring services are more inclusive and effective, it is envisaged that the relationship between vulnerable groups, civil society, and the government can become more robust, open, and dynamic. 

2. UNDP GRANT AWARD

The UNDP Grant to “Advance the Efficiency and Accessibility of Public Services in Lao PDR” aims to support national non-profit OPDs in their efforts to contribute to the country-level implementation of the National Strategy on Public Services focusing on technical capacity building on disability sensitive services improving the efficiency and accessibility of targeted One Door Service Centers (ODSCs).

Under the Grant, UNDP welcomes proposals on the technical capacity building on disability sensitive services and or disability-inclusive development training (DID training) that contribute to ensuring the effectiveness and accessibility of ODSCs. 

Suggested Objectives:

• Provide DID Training to selected ODSCs;
• Contribute to the implementation of the National Strategy on Public Services ;
• Facilitate networking and coordination among OPDs and the government;
• Enhance dialogue on inclusive services between MOHA, ODSCs and OPDs, and other non-governmental organizations working in public services.

Suggested Modalities of Interventions:

• Coordination of OPDs’ meaningful training on Disability-Inclusive Development (DID training) for targeted ODSCs in targeted provinces, including through the development of tailor-made M&E indicators;
• Dialogue on inclusive services and knowledge-sharing through Governance Sector Coordination Meetings and OPDs Network Coordination Meetings.

3. GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Eligibility Criteria: The UNDP Grant, not exceeding USD 15,000 each will be provided to two national non-profit OPDs. 

An anticipated 2 Low Value Grants (LVGs) will be awarded in the scope of USD 15,000. The applicants should provide a budget as part of their proposal, including at least the following budget lines with a reasonable allocation balance. Costs related to management, administration, and staffing can together not be more than 20% of the total financial request. 

• Management & Administration
• Project Staffing
• DID Training (Fieldwork)

*According to the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP), the Grant can be awarded to non-governmental organizations, including non-governmental academic or educational institutions. The private sector, commercial entities, and governmental organizations, such as regional governments, municipalities, etc., are currently not eligible to receive this Grant. 

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria will involve the following elements:

• Five years of continuous operation in Lao PDR with formal registration as an NPO.
• A demonstrated track record in providing DID Training to private and public service providers.
• Established access to private and public service providers through disability sensitive services.
• Proven relationships with relevant government ministries.
• Organizational, financial, and logistical capacity to manage the proposed DID training independently.
• Timeframe.

Proposals passing the eligibility criteria will be scored against the following: 

• Applicant organization’s institutional capacity, relevant experience, and existing partnerships (30 points);
• Relevance of the proposal: quality of the context/problem analysis and assessment (20 points);
• Implementation strategies: soundness of strategy, proposed training, and expected results against the context/problem analysis in designing the proposal (30 points); and
• Budget proposal (20 points).

Selection Process:

• Eligible proposers/organizations/entities are expected to submit proposals using the UNDP template (Annex I) and Proposal Cover Sheet (Annex II);

• Any inqueries should be sent to UNDP Lao PDR Procurement Unit via email account below  

  lao.pu@undp.org not later than 11^th April 2025

• Deadline for Proposal Submission 20^th April 2025
• Proposals should be submitted to this email lao.pu@undp.org Any Proposal submitted via other channels will not be accepted

[1] The term NPA refers to national CSOs that are formally registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). All Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) mentioned in this document are also NPAs but with a special mandate on people with disabilities. This project will not explicitly engage with non-registered organizations or international CSOs.