Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP has been working with national and international partners in the Philippines on the issue of the circular economy. UNDP is working with the European Union in implementing the EU Philippines Green Economy Programme (The Programme). The Programme has the purpose of supporting the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy, including circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation. The Programme acknowledges that the transition to circular economy will have other added benefits such as reduction of the use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity and natural capital, decreased pollution levels, and climate change adaptation.
The Programme addresses three main levels:
Establishing a Policy Dialogue Platform at the central government level to mobilize EU expertise to facilitate policy formulation, improve city-to-city collaboration through supporting the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy and Roadmap, extend the dialogue to promote renewable energy/energy efficiency, and to apply the dialogue’s outcomes; Working with local government units (LGUs) where EU expertise will support to define and implement circular economy, climate change, and energy policies with a human rights and gender-responsive perspective, outreach and support of local business and civil society, and support less advanced LGUs; Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors into the circular waste economy creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting business-driven waste reduction strategies and circular solutions in the production process.The Programme has 4 specific objectives:
SO1: Improved circular economy and climate change policies and reduced GHG emissions SO2: Enhanced practices of the circular economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and civil society sector, with a focus on youth and gender equality SO3: Enhanced engagement of the private and financial sectors in circular, waste-reduction economy SO4: Increased energy efficiency and renewable energy deploymentUNDP is responsible for the implementation and execution of SO2 with the purpose of enhancing the capacities and practices of local government units (LGUs) on circular waste economy in collaboration with private and civil society organizations (CSOs), with focus on youth and gender equality.
Key results expected at the end of the Project include:
Reduced volume of waste generated and sent to landfills in partner LGUs Greenhouse gas emissions reduced and avoided (tonnes of CO2eq) from reduced waste and implementation of circular economy initiatives At least 20 LGUs have established circular economy models, including introduction of source separation and collection systems for wastes recycling, diversion, repurposing and other CE initiatives Additional number of organizations applying CE and sustainable consumption and production practices in partner LGUs Additional jobs (including green jobs) created across the circular economy value chain, disaggregated by gender and groups At least 10 LGUs in which nationally defined green procurement criteria have been applied About 15 LGUs that feed their NDC reporting with improved gender and youth sensitive data on co-benefits of CEThe above results shall be achieved through the following Outputs:
Output 1: Improved capacities of LGUs and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor resilient and inclusive circular economy strategies Output 2: GEDSI-responsive local policies and regulations designed and applied to enable circular and green growth opportunities and practices Output 3: Public and private financing effectively mobilized to implement gender responsive and inclusive CE strategies and programmes Output 4: Enhanced community innovation and demonstration projects applied to address priority CE solutions in partner LGUs Output 5: Enhanced CE behavior and practices of LGUs, private sector, communities and local stakeholders Output 6: Informal sector, grassroots, civil society organizations, women, youth, and marginalized sector capacitated and integrated into the CE value chain Output 7: CE-related knowledge management, MERL, GEDSI and safeguards in place to strengthen and replicate CE uptake in the PhilippinesThe Project shall be implemented in partnership with LGUs. A total of 20 Tier 1 LGUs will be supported directly, while 40 LGUs will be supported with targeted assistance on a demand-driven basis. Out of Tier 1 LGUs, 10 LGUs have been identified:
Baguio City Pasig City Caloocan City Quezon City Iloilo city/Metro Iloilo Ormoc City Del Carmen municipality/Siargao islands Island Garden City of Samal Davao City Puerto Princesa City/PalawanThe remaining Tier 1 cities will be identified during the first year of implementation.
UNDP Philippines takes overall responsibility and accountability for the delivery of the project outputs. It will be accountable for managing the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, achieving project results, and for the effective use of resources, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures. These include relevant requirements on fiduciary, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, and other performance standards.
The day-to-day implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for ensuring that the project achieves the expected targets to the required quality standards and within the specified time and budget allocations. The Project Manager will be supported by a Deputy Project Manager, Project Assistants, technical staff and a pool of contractors and consultants to carry out the deliverables of the project.
UNDP is seeking a Social and Environment Safeguards Specialist (SESS) to lead and strengthen the application of the Social and Environmental Standards (SESS). The SESS will be fully responsible for preventing, mitigating, and managing SE risks as relevant to all activities of SO2: enhanced practices of the circular waste economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and the civil society sector, with focus on youth and gender equality. The SESS will work with a team of UNDP specifically assigned to work on this programme, including the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, project team, consultants, LGU Hub Coordinators, CO Communication team, and other external partners such as the EU, GIZ, IFC, Expertise France, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), LGUs, and relevant CSO and private sector organizations.
Under the overall guidance and supervision of Project Manager, the Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist is responsible for the implementation of UNDP SES and the relevant national and donor policy frameworks, standards and guidelines.
The duty station for the SESS will be in the Philippines Country Office, following working hours and weekends. Movements for meetings, consultations and field missions will be coordinated by the Project, UNDP. The SESS will at all times observe the UN security rules and regulations and advisories in the Philippines.
The SESS will report to the Project Manager (PM). The SESS will make sure that project activities are implemented in accordance with UNDP SES and the relevant national and donor policy frameworks, standards and guidelines.
Key Functions:
Lead the development, updating, and implementation of social and environmental instruments under GEPP, including updating existing documents, managing social and environmental risks, development and quality assurance of risk mitigation measures, tools and management system:
Develop and update targeted management plans such as Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP), and relevant action plans for local communities, civil society, and informal sectors participation for Tier 1 and 2 cities and municipalities under SO2. Lead the development of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) on proposed policies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for infrastructure/equipment, as applicable and prepare TOR for the conduct of EIA/SES for critical or highly specialized projects as deemed necessary by the PM; Oversee/develop/coordinate implementation all safeguard related plans such as ESMP, IPP, and other SES related plan developed for Tier 1 LGUs; Update the Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) Checklist, required actions and measures and project risk logs; With the Gender Equality, Disability Rights, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Specialist, assess presence of Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities within project sites and lead the conduct FPIC consultations with potentially affected IPs, if required in accordance with national contexts and preferences, as stipulated in the developed IPP and in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; Develop, lead and operationalize a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), including recommended GRM templates and forms and communication mechanism based on the existing government and UNDP mechanism; Conduct quality assurance review for SE instruments (e.g. ESIAs) developed by external consultants or third-party consulting firms; and Support partners in securing Certificates of Non-Coverage or related documents in case of government exemption/exclusion rules.Ensure appropriate monitoring, reporting, and evaluation related to the implementation of relevant SES and ESMF measures:
Develop and implement detailed monitoring plan for SES and ESMF in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Specialist including indicators and preparation of SES and ESMF monitoring reports; Support improved sub-project monitoring, recording and reporting, including tracking of incidents and response measures; Ensure effectiveness of grievance mechanisms and that all grievances and responses are tracked; and Monitor project Risk Log in project documents and Quantum, as necessary.Strengthen the Project Management Unit and partners’ capacities and awareness related to SES and tools, and implementation and monitoring:
Develop and ensure implementation of a capacity development and training plan for the SES and ESMF for SO2 LGUs; Provide trainings and orientation to PMUs, LGUs and relevant stakeholders on SESP, ESMPs and IPPs, and FPIC, as applicable;Knowledge management and sharing:
Collect lessons learned and case examples to facilitate learning; Develop training and communications materials on SES with the communications specialist. Provide specialized environmental and social safeguards related inputs to feed into UNDP knowledge and learning systems. CompetenciesCore competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemBusiness Development
Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externallyBusiness Management
Partnerships Management - Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies Monitoring - Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results Evaluation - Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness
Effectiveness - Social and Environmental StandardsPartnership management
CSO engagement - Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOsRequired Languages:
Verbal and written proficiency in English and Filipino Disclaimer