Position Title: Consultant (Policy Review and Development on Anti-trafficking in Persons in the Bicol Region)
Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Legazpi)
Classification: Consultant
Type of Appointment: Consultancy, six months
Estimated Start Date: ASAP
Closing Date: 19 April 2024
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 purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the project, “Climate Resilience Against Trafficking and Exploitation” (CREATE) through identifying key policy documents and facilitating a policy review and writeshop for local government officials in the project areas to mainstream counter-trafficking measures in emergency situations.
Nature of Consultancy: 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. 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 Php 16.2 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.
IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: The consultancy will be managed by the Migration Management Unit (MMU) of the Legazpi Sub-Office.
Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment.
Under the supervision of IOM Legazpi Sub-Office’s MMU, the technical consultant will identify key policies and support local government officials to mainstream countertrafficking in emergency situations through policy development and advocacy applicable to the project areas:
a. Barangay 5 and Barangay Marigondon of Pio Duran, Albay
b. Barangay Timbang and Barangay Taban of Minalabac, Camarines Sur
Specifically, the Policy Consultant will:
i. Review local policies and frameworks to identify key documents and opportunities to mainstream countertrafficking initiatives in emergency preparedness and response;
ii. Lead the development of policy recommendations and advocacy plans for strengthening countertrafficking initiatives and mainstreaming them in emergency preparedness and response;
iii. Support the local government officials in identifying opportunities for policy development and advocacy and capacitate them with practical knowledge and skills on how these can be done;
iv. Work closely with the Countertrafficking in Emergencies (CTiE) Training Consultant to align activities and workshop objectives;
v. Document activities and submit reports summarizing the interventions made and the results of the workshop.
First Deliverable: Submission Inception Report (First instalment of payment: 20%)
- Submit inception report, including detailed workplan for all activities under this consultancy.
- Identify key policy documents and existing mechanisms, systems, strategies, frameworks, or structures at the local level relevant to mainstream countertrafficking in emergency situations.
Second Deliverable: Conduct of Scoping Workshop for Policy Development (Second instalment of payment: 40%)
- Conduct desk review to identify policy gaps.
- Facilitate workshop to validate key policy documents, structures and gaps initially identified, and to assess the capacity of the local authorities on policy advocacy and development on the topic of countertrafficking.
- Submit activity report on the results of the workshop.
- Submit activity design for the subsequent technical workshop based on the results of the scoping workshop.
Final Deliverable: Conduct of Technical Workshop and Submission of Final Report (Final Instalment of payment: 40%)
- Facilitate a technical workshop to build the capacity of local authorities on drafting policy documents and advocating for policy developments on the topic of countertrafficking in emergency situations at their respective level (municipal, provincial, or regional)
- Submit final report which should include:
o Key policy documents and structures
o Gaps in policies and capacities of local authorities
o Results of technical workshop (draft ordinances, policy recommendations, advocacy plans, etc.)
o Recommendations and ways forward
Performance indicators for evaluation results
- Quality and timeliness of the expected deliverables (value of services rendered in relation to their cost)
- 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 IOM’s project teams 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 policy development or related field;
- Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Political Science, and other related fields;
- Knowledge and experience in policy writing, development, and advocacy at the local government level is an advantage;
- 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 overall context;
- Fluency in English and Filipino is required; knowledge of the Bicol language is of advantage.
Languages
For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required.
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 from 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.
- **Courage:**demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
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.
How to apply
Interested evaluators are invited to submit the following materials to hrphilippines(at)iom.int by 19 April 2024 indicating in the subject of the mail “CON 2024 006 – Policy Review and Development Consultant ”
The submission should include:
1. Motivation letter and Curriculum Vitae
2. A cover letter (not more than one page)
4. References – names and contacts of three to five referees from the current and/or previous direct supervisors using the sequence below:
- Name
- Position
- Company
- Relationship (Current or Previous direct Supervisor)
- Contact number/s
- E-mail address
5. A detailed work plan.
6. Summary (including pictures) of previous projects and
7. Reference of similar or related work done in the past
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.