Department/Unit: Road Safety Management in Nepal, UNDP, Rule of Law, and Governance Portfolio

Assignment: Comprehensive review of existing road safety regulations, guidelines, standards, documents, manuals, and codes of conduct in line with United Nations (UN) conventions.

Reports to: Team Leader, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and Portfolio Manager, Governance and Rule of Law, UNDP

Duty Station: Kathmandu (Intermittent – for specialized skills, cost efficiency, and flexibility)

Duration of Assignment: 15 working days spread over the period of 90 days from the date of agreement (Mid-June to Mid-September)

Background 

The Government of Nepal (GoN) has formulated a comprehensive policy for the transport sector, aimed at fostering a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective, and safe transport system contributing to environmental, social, and economic objectives. Despite the effort initiated by the government, road crash has caused huge loss of lives and hampered economic growth and sustainable development in Nepal. Each day eight people lose their life in road crashes. 2,376 people lost their life to road related crashes in the F/Y 2022/23. In 2017 alone, economic loss due to road crashes was estimated to be 122.88 million USD, around 1.5% of Country’s GDP, which underscore the urgent need to enhance road safety standards and elevate road safety to a national priority.

Nepal faces specific challenges in road safety due to its unique geographical features. However, the fundamental requirements for effective road safety management remain consistent globally: strong governance, safe infrastructure, responsible road user behavior, safer vehicles, and effective post-crash care. Alignment with UN Conventions on road safety is not merely a strategic move but also a commitment to contributing to global efforts to reduce road crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This commitment emphasizes that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring collaborative efforts and a unified approach. By aligning with international conventions, Nepal aims not only to enhance its road safety standards but also to actively contribute to fostering safer road environments. Through this alignment, Nepal aims to create a robust and adaptable regulatory framework prioritizing citizen well-being and contributing to the broader global objective of building safer and resilient transport systems. Comprehensive road safety regulations are essential for ensuring the safety of road users and facilitating effective road safety management. These regulations encompass various aspects, including infrastructure standards, vehicle safety requirements, driver behavior guidelines, and post-crash response protocols. In Nepal's context, updating and harmonizing road safety regulations in line with UN conventions has become essential. While conducting this activity it is equally important to look into issues of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) to foster a safer and more inclusive road environment.

Accordingly, the Road Safety Management in Nepal (RSMN) Project, UNDP, seeks the services of a qualified national consultants (Team Leader and Team Members) to conduct a comprehensive review of existing road safety regulations, guidelines, standards, documents, manuals, and codes of conduct in line with UN conventions, recommending needful adjustments to prepare revised and updated version of the following:

• Road Safety Infrastructure Regulations and Guidelines
• Vehicle Safety Regulations and Guidelines
• Behavioral change Regulations and Guidelines.
• Regulations and Guidelines in consideration of gender-differentiated needs.

Objectives of the Assignment

• To conduct a comprehensive review of existing road safety regulations, guidelines, standards, manuals, documents, and code of conducts in line with international normative frameworks i.e., United Nations (UN) conventions and good practices, the specific objectives of the assignment are:
• To analyze the findings from the review to identify policy gaps, bottlenecks and disparities between existing road safety documentations and UN conventions.
• To prioritize recommendations based on their potential impact on improving road safety measures in line with UN Conventions.
• To recommend needful adjustments or amendments to existing regulations, guidelines, standards, and manuals to align them with UN conventions to prepare revised and updated version of the following:
  i. Road Safety Infrastructure Regulations and Guidelines
  ii. Vehicle Safety Regulations and Guidelines
  iii. Behavioral change Regulations and Guidelines
  iv. Regulations and Guidelines in consideration of gender-differentiated needs.
• To suggest the key areas to be incorporated in the dedicated legislations on road safety.

Recruitment Qualifications

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.

Experience 

• Minimum of 7 years of experience working as a mechanical engineer, preferably in the transport or road safety sector, preferable in vehicle safety.
  
• In-depth knowledge of vehicle design, mechanics, and performance evaluation.
• Familiarity with international legal frameworks and conventions related to road safety, moreover in vehicle safety.
• Experience on analytical and research skills, with the ability to conduct thorough reviews and provide actionable recommendations will be an asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in project management with team collaboration is desirable.
• Understanding, knowledge and prior experience of integrating Gender and inclusion sensitivity in the road safety legal frameworks in vehicle safety, conventions and methodology will be added value.

Language 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills (in English and Nepali)

For detailed TOR, CLICK HERE.

To access additional information and documents at UNDP | Procurement Notices for further application procedures.