Project Manager for ICCA Projects under Inclusive and Sustainable Development (1 Position) (Duty Station: Manila) (For Filipinos Only)

The Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago, consisting of 7,107 islands covering 30 million hectares of land territory. It is part of the Southeast Asian region, located in the westernmost side, facing the Pacific Ocean. The country’s complex geological history, long periods of isolation from major continents, and unique climatic conditions produced a wide variety of land and water forms, thus giving rise to high levels of biodiversity and endemism. As a tropical country, it is endowed with high valued dipterocarp forests, other forest ecosystem types, expansive coral reef, and rich marine life and resources.

The ancestry of the Philippines is just as diverse, comprising more than a hundred ethno linguistic groups distributed along the country’s fragile ecosystems. The NCIP estimates the population of indigenous peoples in the Philippines between 12 and 15 million (or 12-15% of the total population) distributed into approximately 100 different indigenous cultural communities (ICCs).

It is estimated that in the Philippines, the overlap between PAs and ancestral domains is 1,440,000 hectares, or about 26% of the total PA estate; while the overlap between KBAs and CADTs can reach about 1,345,198 hectares (involving 91 CADTs in 65 KBAs). This means that 29% of the entire area of KBAs requiring protection falls into territories occupied by indigenous peoples. Moreover, spatial analysis showed that in KBAs that are not covered by PAs, ancestral domains is the de facto governance regime, and that in these areas – the governance by IP communities have contributed to the continued protection of existing forest cover, despite the absence of PA.  Globally, in areas where IPs continue the protection of existing forest cover is called ICCAs.  ICCAs present a long history of conservation and sustainable use that is much older than the government-managed protected areas. Indigenous peoples and local communities, both sedentary and mobile, have for millennia played a critical role in conserving a variety of natural environments and species.  ICCA is not a new concept to indigenous peoples, including in the Philippines, where the indigenous peoples generally term their territories as ancestral domains. As such, indigenous peoples areas do not refer only to hectarage or physical features.

To further support the management of ICCAs, the DENR-BMB will be implementing a Project entitled “Strengthening National Systems to Improve Governance and Management of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories”. It aims to strengthen the conservation, protection and management of key biodiversity sites in the Philippines by institutionalizing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs) as a sustainable addition to the national PA estate. Hence, to ensure that the objectives under this Project are implemented accordingly, a project management unit was set-up in the Biodiversity Management Bureau. To manage the day to day implementation of the Project, a Project Manager will be hired.

The Project Manager shall provide technical and managerial support to Outcomes 1 (Policy Harmonization and Implementation) and 2 (Capacity Building). He/Shall shall report to the BMB and will be in charge of providing technical inputs in the development of policies, providing guidance to Consultants and NCIP, DENR, BFAR, and their regional offices, developing specific TORs, and review of their outputs. He/She shall also coordinate the work of Consultants, reporting on progress, and overall monitoring of performance of Consultants and Subcontractors.

The Project Manager will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide appropriate technical and managerial support to the BMB in the implementation of the Project;
• Promote and maintain a suitable environment for teamwork among the national Project team, the Project Board/Project Steering Committee members, DENR-BMB, and UNDP CO;
• Oversee the preparation of the annual workplan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives to be undertaken/explored, and ensuring mainstreaming and complementation with existing national programs and projects, and set delivery and co-financing targets;
• Over-see day to day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results, outputs, objectives and work plans;
• Engage the services of and discipline national Project staff and long-term and short-term consultants, subject to the guidelines set by the Project Board;
• In the context of National Implementation (NIM) guidelines, provide assistance in developing operational policies for Project implementation and endorsing the same to the Project Board for deliberation and approval;
• Prepare and ensure prompt submission of technical and financial reports to UNDP; recommending appropriate measures for enhancement of project efficiency and effectiveness and endorsing the same to the NPD for review/integration and eventual presentation to the project board and other stakeholders;
• Ensure the preparation of a coherent project’s annual work and financial plan which conforms with the project’s expected outcomes and outputs;
• Ensure that BMB and UNDP is apprised of relevant project updates and developments as needed;
• Conduct periodic Project monitoring field visits and provide technical and operational support and guidance to partners, as required
• Advocate Project policies, comparative advantages and initiatives, and ensure visibility
• Facilitate project meetings, workshops, and other related events;
• Maintain effective relationship with RPs, other NGOs, government institutions, donors, other project stakeholders and participate at events for project information dissemination purposes;
• Oversee the exchange of experiences and lessons learned with relevant ICCA initiatives nationally and internationally; and
• Perform other managerial functions as may be assigned by the National Project Director (NPD) relevant to the Project.

Financial Management

• Ensure judicious use of project funds;
• Ensure that the project funds are used effectively and efficiently to deliver the expected project outcomes and outputs;
• Mobilize and report on the amount of co-financing generated for the project;
• Perform other functions as assigned by the National Project Director.

Impact of Result:

UNDP’s operational capacity, and therefore overall credibility and leadership, in supporting the conservation, protection and management of key biodiversity sites in the Philippines, are enhanced.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Ability to manage the day to day implementation of project activities in accordance with the approved annual work plan;
• Ability to substantially support strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, and conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Lead teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Focuses on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback.

Education:

• Master or Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology, Environment and Natural Resource Management; Anthropology, Sociology, or any related field; Advanced degree will be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5-7 years of combined relevant experience in development work, community development, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management-related projects; at least 5 years of which in Program/project management including administration, finance, and supervisory work, preferably in national and/or regional (multi-country) projects and foreign-assisted projects;
• Knowledge and experience in diversification of protected area governance regimes, including recognition of ICCAs, and strengthening the role of sub national governments in biodiversity conservation;
• A solid understanding of environmental management, with a focus on participatory processes, joint management, and gender issues.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English; well versed in national language.

Important application information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note:  UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply.  All applications with be treated in the strictest confidence.

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