Hospital Infrastructure Adviser (regional)

Location: Vientiane

Deadline for submitting the application: 23/04/2025 

Start date: 01/07/2025 

Contract type: Limited 

Contract term (months): 30,00 

1. Background

The Lao and Luxembourg governments decided, for the fifth Lao-Luxembourg Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP V), to maintain and deepen collaboration nationally, but with emphasis on the provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, through following four sectoral programmes (2023-2027) with a total budget of approximately 116.5 MEUR, as follows:

1. Health and Nutrition (H&N) with a budget of ca. 35,8 MEUR;
2. Local Development (LD) with a budget of ca. 34 MEUR (including Swiss co-financing);
3. Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) with a budget of ca. 25 MEUR (including Swiss and European Union co-financing);
4. Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Good Governance (ROLAG) with a budget of 11,5 MEUR.

Both governments also agreed to seek strong linkages between the four programmes to optimise synergy and impact. The earmarked interventions are interconnected through a common human capital development approach towards sustainable results. This is the foundation of ICP V, and is key to contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and strengthened socio-economic inclusion in the target areas.

The Health and Nutrition programme is the continuation and further expansion of two previous healthcare support initiatives named Lao-Luxembourg health sector support programme (LL-HSSP). The programme will work in close cooperation with the United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP), especially at the provincial level in the fields of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and nutrition.

The duration of the sectoral programme is set at five years comprising a total budget of 46.3 MEUR, including 4.5 MEUR for Aide au Développement de la Santé (ADS), a Luxembourg non-governmental organization (NGO) working for more than 20 years in Lao PDR in the field of cardiology.

The programme will predominantly contribute to the long term change objective that Lao people have access to an essential health service package (including RMNCAH and nutrition services) of adequate quality and affordable to all, leaving no one behind, whereby (i) Lao people do indeed have “access” to those health services, (ii) those health services are affordable to all, and (iii) those health services provided to Lao people are of good quality.

The programme will uphold a geographic focus on all districts in the three provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane Province but aims to deepen interventions to enhance overall effectiveness and efficiency. Programme expansion to Bokeo province will interface with a parallel Luxembourg-financed Local Development programme as well as the UNJP.

For good quality health service to be provided to Lao people, eight broad areas of intervention are described as part of the ToC pathway, each contributing to Human Resources Capital Development (HRCD).

Overall, the ICP V sectoral programme aims at creating favourable conditions for institutional and technical sustainability with (i) the accent put on HRCD, training and capacity development activities, (ii) an emphasis on embedding supported activities into the national management structures and (iii) the institutionalisation and expansion of the Joint Participatory Mechanism i.e. a “multiplication” co-financing apparatus between Laos and Luxembourg to finance health care operations and out-of-pocket expenses at grassroots level in the participating provinces.

Regarding the national level, the Health and Nutrition programme will closely work together with other bilateral and multilateral actors in the sector to ensure Luxembourg interventions are harmonized, including in policy dialogue, practical collaboration and coordination.

In March 2025, the H&N Programme (LAO/035) received additional funding support for infrastructure improvement in Bolikhamxay, Bokeo and Khammouane provinces amounting to 8 MEUR. With hospital construction works already taking place in Vientiane Province, the need for the HIA is pivotal.

2. OBJECTIVES

The Hospital Infrastructure Adviser (HIA) will provide technical guidance and expertise in the planning, design, and construction of hospitals. This role ensures that hospital infrastructure aligns with international standards, meets healthcare facility requirements, and optimizes patient care and operational efficiency.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide expert advice on the design, planning, and implementation of hospital infrastructure projects ;
• Ensure hospital designs comply with healthcare regulations, infection control standards, and sustainability principles ;
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and healthcare professionals to develop functional layouts and efficient workflows ;
• Assess technical specifications and oversee procurement of medical and non-medical infrastructure ;
• Conduct site visits to monitor construction progress, ensuring quality control and adherence to project timelines ;
• Check and verify the as-built documentations submitted by the works contractors including actual BoQs, as-built drawings, quality certificates and original certificates of the materials and equipment ;
• Identify and mitigate potential risks related to hospital infrastructure ;
• Support capacity building by advising hospital management on infrastructure maintenance and long-term sustainability ;
• Coordinate with stakeholders, including government agencies, donors, and project teams, to align infrastructure development with broader healthcare objectives.

4. PROFILE

• Advanced degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Healthcare Facility Planning, or a related field ;
• Minimum 10 years of experience in hospital infrastructure design, construction, or project management ;
• Demonstrated experience as an adviser with healthcare facilities ;
• Training in hospital infrastructure standards is an asset ;
• Experience working on healthcare infrastructure projects in low-resource settings is an asset ;
• Previous experience in working with international organizations in developing countries is an advantage ;
• Excellent English language skills ;
• Lao/Thai/Viet language skills is an advantage.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.