Livelihood Consultant

Position Title: Consultant (Livelihood)

Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Legazpi City)

Classification: Consultant

Type of Appointment: Consultancy, Six Months

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 16 June 2023

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

The Philippines is especially prone to sudden onset hazards such as cyclones, which oftentimes trigger floods and landslides. It is ranked the fourth most affected country in the world by disasters in the last decade, according to Global Climate Risk Index 2021.7 With over 7,000 islands and over 36,000 kilometres of coastline, approximately 74 per cent of the population and 60 per cent of the land area is exposed to numerous hazards including cyclones, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and tsunamis, among others. Disasters can cause unexpected loss of land and lives, and a reduction or complete destruction of means of livelihoods, putting those without safety nets into situations of poverty. They can result in households having to reduce food intake, borrow money, spend savings, and move abroad for work, or they can result in more immediate displacement as people search for safety and/or a means of income to help restore their lives. This can lead to increased cases of human trafficking in regions already affected by this issue or lead to the creation of new “hotspots” for trafficking. Indeed, the 2020 US State Department Trafficking in Persons highlights traffickers exploiting women and children in “disaster-affected areas.” This contributes to an already concerning trafficking picture in the Philippines, a country estimated to be among the top ten countries in the world for absolute numbers of people in situations of trafficking or modern slavery.

Region V (Bicol) is most prone to sudden onset events particularly disruptive typhoons, heavy rainfalls and floods, with Typhoon Rolly (Goni) in 2020 as the most recent, affecting thousands of families and damaging more than Php16.2 million worth of agri-infrastructure. Bicol has high dependence on climate-sensitive resources and livelihoods (such as fishing and agriculture) and with a population of 6,082,165 based on the 2020 census, it also hosts a large number of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) returnees.

Through the CREATE project, IOM aims to contribute to reducing risks of trafficking by supporting climate-resilient and trafficking-aware communities in hotspots in the Philippines through the provision of climate-resilient socioeconomic programs and building the evidence base on the climate change-human trafficking nexus.

Nature of Consultancy: The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the project, “Climate Resilience Against Trafficking and Exploitation (CREATE)” through the conduct of community dialogues and assessment, and the development of local strategies for risk reduction to livelihood, that will inform socioeconomic support including climate-resilient livelihood provision and capacity building to cooperatives, community-based organizations and at-risks individuals covered by the project.

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: Migration Management Unit (MMU) of the Legazpi Sub-Office

Project Context and Scope:

Under the supervision of IOM Legazpi Sub-Office’s MMU, the technical consultant will conduct community dialogue and assessment and strategies on risk reduction covering the project areas:

a. Selected sites in Pio Duran, Albay

b. Selected sites in Minalabac, Camarines Sur

Specifically, the Livelihood Consultant will:

i. Co-develop with IOM a programme for community assessment and dialogue/workshop on local impacts of climate change on livelihoods and current community responses, including current strategies of risk reduction measures to livelihood, if any. Special consideration should be made to identify existing and indigenous knowledge of climate resilient livelihood strategies, in addition to innovative solutions.

ii. Lead the conduct of community assessment and dialogue/workshop in selected project sites;

iii. Produce a comprehensive analysis report (qualitative and quantitative) on the local impact of climate change on livelihoods and community responses, including case studies, actionable recommendations, and strategies for risk reduction measures to livelihood, or for potential alternatives for climate-resilient livelihoods, linked with provincial, regional and national level efforts. Strategies should be designed in a way that explore and integrate the nexus between climate change and human trafficking through the lens of livelihoods.

Realistic Delivery Dates and Details as to how the work must be delivered.

Category B Consultant hired to deliver a report on a three-instalment payment basis:

1. First Deliverable: Submission and approval of co-developed programme for community assessment and dialogue, including activity design and tools (Month 1; First instalment of payment: 20%)

o Inception meeting with IOM and desk review of existing materials

o Submission of draft programme, with activity design, workplan, and tools for review

o Submission of final programme for community assessment and dialogue

2. Second Deliverable: Conduct of Community Assessment and Dialogue (Months 2-4; Second instalment of payment: 40%)

o Coordination with selected project sites and agencies, with support from the local IOM team

o Conduct of assessment and community dialogue with relevant key agencies, cooperatives, communities, and other stakeholders through field visits, focus group discussions, interviews and workshops. The result of the assessment and community dialogue shall include a comprehensive profile of communities, cooperatives or community-based organization. It will also provide information on, but not limited to, types of hazards, impacts of climate change, adaptive strategies, potential alternative livelihoods, resources and available services programs that can help address livelihood challenges impacted by climate change.

3. Third and Final Deliverable: Submission and approval of a comprehensive report on the local impacts of climate change and strategies for climate-resilient livelihoods (Months 5-6; Final Instalment of payment: 40%)

o Submission of draft report for review and presentation of analysis, key findings, and recommendations (qualitative and quantitative) on local impacts of climate change to communities and climate-resilient livelihoods

o Submission of final comprehensive report incorporating IOM’s inputs

o Coordination with the training consultant on adapting the recommendations and strategies for climate-resilient livelihoods into actual training modules, including supporting the development of case studies and exercises for the training modules.

o Exit meetings and handover of data sets and other raw materials to IOM.

Performance indicators for evaluation results

• Quality and timeliness of the expected deliverables (value of services rendered in relation to their cost)
• Effective adaptation of thematic resources and information into materials and key messaging that are relevant to the target audience.
• Application of a results-based approach to the consultancy – i.e. deliverables are aligned with project objectives and contribute concretely to the overall impact of the project
• Efficient coordination with the project team and all necessary stakeholders
• Strict adherence to ethical standards, including confidentiality and data protection.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated expertise and experience (at least 3 years) in sustainable livelihoods, economic development or related field;
• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Agriculture, Marketing or Business Development, and other related fields;
• Knowledge and experience in agriculture, livestock development and small enterprises development is an advantage;
• Proven capacities in community organizing, capacity-building, community-based participatory approaches and stakeholder coordination;
• Proven ability to produce high-quality work while meeting tight deadlines;
• Very good technical writing and proofreading skills;
• Good knowledge and familiarity with Bicol’s economic contexts;
• Fluency in English and Filipino is required; knowledge of the Bicol language is of advantage.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English and Tagalog is required.

Knowledge of the Bicol language is desirable.

Note

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

IOM is an intergovernmental organization, and as such is exempted of all taxes in the Philippines. Therefore, it is not obligated to retain any taxes that should be owed to the Government of the Philippines as part of the execution of this contract. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to comply with any fiscal obligations that might be applicable.

Copyright

The ownership of intellectual products developed during this project will be shared with the government entities partaking in its creation, as well as IOM’s regional office. Government agencies and the cooperating agency must be warranted visibility and recognition, through the use of their logos in every document and any other material that might be a result of these intellectual production. Applications received later or that do not specify the name of the call will not be considered.

Required Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 1

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.