Humanitarian, Peace, & Development Specialist / Area Coordinator

Following the adoption of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in March 2014, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in early 2019 heralded a new era for potential peace in the region. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has since assumed its role as the interim governing body and is leading the BARMM through a three-year transition ahead of elections in 2022. The establishment of the BARMM was a key milestone but accomplishments are not irreversible. Expectations for the Bangsamoro peace process are high and if unfulfilled, could contribute to instability. With the outbreak of COVID-19, peace is fragile and with increasing poverty, unemployment and inequalities peace may unravel and renew violence in Mindanao. The adoption of the CAB has sought to address some of the underlying causes of the Moro conflict but there are still conflicts between different identity groups, clans and fractions. Some conflict is driven by competition over resources such as land whereas there are also contentious political contests between established and new political actors in the run-up to the 2022 elections.

The COVID-19 crisis comes at a critical juncture for the BARMM, with ministries in the process of recruitment, the BTA yet to fully configure its administrative apparatus, and the region as a whole attempting to navigate a delicate ‘normalization’ process. While the BARMM Government and other Mindanao regional administrations continue to manage the primary health effects of COVID-19, the secondary impacts resulting from travel restrictions and community quarantines are posing greater challenges to stability. These include lost and diminished livelihoods contributing to increased poverty and hampered access to education opportunities for children and youth. The gendered impact of COVID-19, including greater vulnerability to GBV, and loss of livelihoods and increased unpaid care burdens on women, reinforce gender norms that limit women’s ability to exert influence and leadership in their family and community and mitigate conflict.

With its significant humanitarian-development-peacebuilding footprint in the Bangsamoro, the UN is well-positioned to support the BTA and provincial and local governments in addressing the development challenges and priorities identified in the first Bangsamoro Development Plan.

The Humanitarian, Peace and Development Specialist/Area Coordinator will provide analysis, advice and coordination support to the Resident Coordinator and to UNCT members engaged in peace and development initiatives, in Mindanao and other conflict-affected areas and initiatives. This includes helping the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the UNCT with the planning, coordinating, strategic advice, monitoring, reporting and liaison with regional and local authorities and humanitarian development partners to ensure effective implementation of UN localized interventions in BARMM.

The Humanitarian, Peace and Development Specialist/Area Coordinator will support the RCO and UNCT members in enhancing a strong network of stakeholders including from Government, academia and civil society— to ensure the continued commitment to peace and promote vis-à-vis the Government a coherent and consistent approach on the peace processes.

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office is looking for an individual who is enthusiastic, motivated and committed to making a positive contribution to development in the Philippines.

Under the overall guidance of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, the Humanitarian, Peace and Development Specialist/Area Coordinator leads the Plannning and coordinating of UN localized interventions to BARMM in close cooperation with UN entities within the context of the UN Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines 2020-2023 (SEPF) and the operationalization of this framework through joint work plans, joint programmes and other initiatives . She/he will monitor and report on the implementation of UN localized interventions in order to assess progress, identify challenges and propose solutions. Also, she/ he identifies and promotes partnerships, including for resource mobilization, in support of the implementation of the SEPF with its focus on three pillars – People, Prosperity and Planet, and Peace. The role of the Humanitarian, Peace and Development specialist is also to liaise with regional and local authorities and humanitarian and development partners to ensure effective implementation of UN localized interventions in Bangsamoro, to provide strategic advice to the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT on effective cooperation and partnership with regional players within the framework of the SEPF. He/she leads UN’s policy dialogue with the government and development partners.

1. Plans and coordinates UN localized interventions to Bangsamoro in close cooperation with UN entities within the context of the Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework (SEPF) and its operationalization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Supports the implementation of the SEPF in Bangsamoro to ensure that the UN’s Bangsamoro level operational activities effectively support the implementation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan as well as the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals;

   • Provides substantive support to programme formulation and revision throughout the SEPF cycle, based on a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach that leverages linkages between emergency response, preparedness/ prevention, rehabilitation, recovery and development programmes;

   • Supports and facilitates, in close collaboration with OCHA, the development and implementation of inclusive, field level coordination mechanisms, including managing working relationships between implementing agencies of the UN, CSOs, BARMM authorities and the international community, aligned with the SEPF;   

   • Contributes to the UN joint programming process under the SEPF to strengthen the formulation of a new generation of UN joint programmes that have impact at the national and regional level;

   • Assists SEPF result groups in the implementation of joint workplans to ensure SEPF-relevant and SDG-responsive UN operational activities for development and peacebuilding, in alignment with the Bangsamoro Development Plan;

   • Proposes recommendations to enhance UN support to governmental and multi-stakeholder processes on SDG policy development and capacity development at the regional level;

   • Supports the Resident Coordinator/ Humanitarian Coordinator in the day to day planning and management of the Area Coordination Support Office in Cotabato, including assisting in the work planning and budgeting process, financial, administrative and security management, and provide leadership and work direction to the ACSO team.

2. Monitors and reports on the implementation of UN localized interventions in order to assess progress, identify challenges and propose solutions focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Researches and consolidates data as well as information on emerging best practices in sustainable development in Bangsamoro, and analyzes results and progress to inform further development and joint programme development;

   • Fosters and reinforces linkages between field monitoring, information management and coordination efforts;

   • Provides quality assurance of SEPF implementation (especially under the Peace Pillar), monitoring and results reporting and support inter-agency in collaboration with the RCO Data Management and Reporting Officer; 

   • Communicates and coordinates with regional partners in Bangsamoro on data collection and programme implementation, incl. identification of best practices and new programmatic initiatives.

3. Identifies and promotes partnerships, including for resource mobilization, in support of the implementation of the Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework (SEPF) and its operationalization , focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Builds and expands partnerships with local and regional stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, academe, media, and others to establish UN’s presence and coordination role in the region;

   • Liaises with multiple partners in the region to help define UN’s cases for support and differentiated value proposition to engage partners, both traditional and non-traditional;

   • Contributes to the establishment and implementation of the a Bangsamoro specific operationalization of the SEPF as well as the development and implementation of a joint roadmap of international stakeholders for the joint support to the BARMM transition, in order to enhance coordination amongst humanitarian and development partners (UN and beyond) in support of the SEPF, the Bangsamoro Development PLand and, overall, the peace process;

   • Contributes to the development of the UN Philippines Partnership Strategy in collaboration with the RCO Partnership and Development Finance Officer, to include regionally specific partners and partnerships;

   • Manages and provides oversight of all existing resource mobilization partnerships relevant to the region, in collaboration with the RCO Partnership and Development Finance Officer;

   • Supports development and implementation of joint programmes and joint programming processes in support for the implementation of the SEPF, as relevant for the region, and with a view for joint resource mobilization;

   • Supports the RC/HC and the UNCT in identifying risks and opportunities with specific partnerships in the region. 

4. Liaises with regional and local authorities and humanitarian and development partners to ensure effective implementation of UN localized interventions in Bangsamoro focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Consults with UN agencies, CSOs and BARMM authorities in order to develop strategies and track information required for early warning of potential conflict-related vulnerability and vulnerability towards natural disasters;

   • Builds partnerships with regional and local stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, academe, media, and others to ensure support for and engagement with UN interventions in Bangsamoro;

   • Supports advocacy initiatives on issues impacting peace, development, and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with all development partners and BARMM authorities, with a particular focus on inclusion of women, youth, IDPs, and Non-Moro Indigenous People;

   • Contributes to raising awareness about the UN and its work, and the SDGs, representing the UN and its values via events, media and public relations opportunities targeted to diverse partners, in collaboration with the RCO.

5. Provides strategic advice to the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT on effective cooperation and partnership with regional players within the framework of the Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework (SEPF) focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Analyzes, prepares situation reports and provides advise to the RC and the UNCT on policy issues related to peace, development and humanitarian support for Bangsamoro;

   • Provides regular updates and advice to the RC/ HC and the UNCT on humanitarian, development and peacebuilding issues in the Bangsamoro to inform planning and coordination at the national level.

6. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in focusing on achievement of the following results:

   • Organizes and leads reviews and evaluations of the SEPF and Joint Programmes relating to the Bangsamoro in collaboration with relevant UN agencies;

   • Contributes to best practices of knowledge building and management in support of strengthening results in collaboration with the Development Coordination Officer – Data Management and Results Monitoring/ Reporting in the RCO; 

   • Institutes top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

The key result of the post is the strengthening of UN’s coordinated contributions to the Bangsamoro peace process and to the region’s development pathways to inclusive and sustainable development. The Humanitarian, Peace and Development Specialist/Area Coordinator will contribute to these processes with transparent leadership and communication, applying innovative ideas and high professional standards, and motivating excellence in others to deliver results.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Innovation. Ability to make new and useful ideas work. Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them.

Leadership. Ability to persuade others to follow. Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers.

People Management. Ability to improve performance and satisfaction. Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others.

Communication. Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform. Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others.

Delivery. Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment. Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions.

TECHNICAL / FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

Innovation and Strategic Thinking. Ability to try out / test new ways of engagement and communications. Openness to different and new ways of doing things; willingness to modify one’s preferred way of doing things. Ability to analyze the organization’s value proposition and shape visionary/long term plans. Use insight to identify target audiences and partners and to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions. Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Design Thinking. Knowledge of method (s) for practical, creative resolution of problems and creation of solutions, with the intent of an improved future result. Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Economics & Innovative Finance for SDG. Knowledge of economics concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations. Knowledge of financing for sustainable development and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations. Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations. Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Substantive Networking. Ability to substantively engage and foster networks with academia, research institutions, and think tanks. Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in political science, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Development, Development Studies, Community Development, Project Management, sociology, sustainable development, public policy, education or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• 7 years of relevant international experience in countries in transition (conflict-post conflict, crisis/reconstruction).
• Progressively responsible experience in project/ programme management in the context of development cooperation in fragile/developing countries or peacebuilding and conflict prevention or related area is required.
• Proven track record in working in UN interagency and multi-partner environment.  Previous working experience with the United Nations is an advantage.
• Strong communication and analytical skills are required.

LANGUAGE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Demonstrates a high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.
• Results-oriented and demonstrates teamwork, good interpersonal skills and well developed communication skills.

General Information

UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staffs and encourages applications from qualified candidates and persons with disabilities.

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