Term of Reference

Consultant for Revising Mekong Institute’s Current Operations Manual

(Human Resource and Salary Survey)

1.Background

       Mekong Institute (MI) is an intergovernmental organization that contributes to regional cooperation and integration through capacity development, dialogue, and advocacy for the acceleration of sustainable socio-economic development and poverty alleviation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

      Founded and represented by Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, MI’s strategies are aligned with the core tenets of the GMS Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030, ASEAN Economic Community, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

       MI supports these frameworks through the implementation of projects across the areas of Agricultural Development and Commercialization, Trade and Investment Facilitation, and Sustainable Energy and Environment, while addressing issues of social inclusion and vulnerability, digital economy and innovation, and labor mobility to cement holistic and sustainable development impacts in the subregion and beyond.

2.Outcomes/Expected result

• The individual or consultancy firm will provide the comprehensive MI Revised Operations Manual. Mainly, this revised policy will reflect and implement according to a standard policy of intergovernmental organizations and international organizations based in Thailand and GMS Country.
• The individual or consultancy firm will send the draft revised operations manual to MI in the first week of June 2023.
• MI Senior Management Team (SMT) will provide feedback to the consultant in the fourth week of June 2023 through Zoom and email.
• The individual or consultancy firm will send the final version of the revised operations manual to MI on July 15, 2023.

3.Document and evidence for Revised Operations Manual

The individual or consultancy firm will revise MI Operations Manual referring to the types of documents which consist of:

• International Standard of human resource
• Thailand Labor Protection
• Thailand Taxation Law
• The best practice of international and regional organizations’ Operations Manual
• Current MI Operations Manual

4.Timeframe

The revised operations manual timeframe is from May 1 to July 15, 2023, but this can be negotiated when s/he is offered the assignment.

5.Main prioritized tasks and Responsibilities

The individual or consultancy firm will pay particular attention to the following: PART ONE: MEKONG INSTITUTE ORGANIZATION

• Alternative organization structures

- The remaining items are in the Operations Manual PART TWO: HUMAN RESOURCES

• The remaining items are in the Operations Manual
• Conflict of interest
• Staff career progression
• Education allowance
• Staff termination (based on Thai labor law and best practice)
• MI Employment Contract and Contract Term
• Staff categories
• Social Security in Thailand from the international staff
• Staff recruitment and selection (hiring the quality of staff)
• Staff salary and benefits survey

- Consolidate the Revised Operations Manual, including finance, administration, procurement, and other parts.

6.Payment terms

The individual or consultancy firm payment will be transferred to their bank account upon submission of the invoice. The payment schedule is as follows:

• 20% of the total fees will be paid upon the agreement signed by both parties;
• 80% of the total fees as final payment will be paid upon satisfactory completion of the final version of the Revised Operations Manual.

7.Assignment Prohibited and Termination

       The consultant is prohibited from assigning or sub-grant any part of the activities under the agreed assignment without the prior written consent of MI. Where such prior written permission is given, it shall not relieve the consultant of any of its responsibilities under this contractual agreement.

       The consultant shall ensure that the writings, textual matter, drawings, photographs, pictures, maps, and diagrams, and all materials submitted to MI are either (i) original with the consultant in all respects and do not infringe the copyright or intellectual property right of any third party; or (ii) should there be any part of the writings, textual matter, drawings, photographs, picture, maps, diagrams and material which are not of the consultant's original work, the consultant shall have obtained/cleared all copyright permissions. MI shall have the right to terminate this contract if the consultant cannot fulfill his / her obligations under the terms and conditions of this TOR, or the contractual agreement may be terminated by either MI or the consultant, whichever comes first.