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Introduction

Country: Philippines

 

Description of the Assignment:

 

1. Project Title

Green and Resilient Cities

2. Project Description

The Philippines is one of the fastest urbanizing countries and has the second highest average urban density in the East Asia and Pacific region. Its cities serve as engines of economic growth, accounting for 80% of the country’s GDP. Unplanned urbanization in the country resulted in expansion of informal settlements, decimated green spaces, vital ecosystems and threatened biodiversity rich areas. Urban areas emit almost half of the country’s total GHG emissions, owing to infrastructure oriented and car centric development. Philippine cities are also highly vulnerable. About 60% of its land areas and 74% of its population are exposed to hazards such as cyclones and flooding. Some coastal cities face above average sea level rise. By 2050, its population is expected to grow to 145 million where 65% are living in urban areas.

These challenges threaten the country’s ambition to become an upper middle-income country. Urbanization patterns, environment and climate challenges, and its ranking as the most at risk country at the global level by the World Risk Index 2022, make the Philippines’ participation critical in global efforts in urban transformation. Without addressing these problems immediately, the quality of life in the cities will worsen amidst environmental degradation.

In response to these challenges, the country’s Philippine Development Plan (2023-2028), its roadmap for achieving sustainable development, envisions improved quality of the natural environment. This will be achieved by increasing the area and access to urban green spaces, integration of biodiversity conservation in new and updated local plans (i.e., CLUP, CDP, AIP), environmentally sound management of transport system and efficient handling of hazardous wastes. Best practices will be translated into local policies, with budget and clear implementation mechanisms, that will ensure government ownership and results to sustained partnership with the private sector and other key stakeholders in the target cities.

The Government also has its Philippine Urban Agenda which promotes “climate resilience as base for spatial development, and sustainable urban environment as core development condition to ensure protection of ecosystems and urban biodiversity; efficient, affordable, and clean energy; sustainable use of air, water, land, and resources in urban development; and sustainable production and consumption. It will support the implementation of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015 to 2028 that identifies urban biodiversity as one of the priority programs for mainstreaming biodiversity in infrastructure, cities and urban development. All these actions support the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, Basel and Stockholm Conventions, and the Post 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Towards this end, the project is envisioned to contribute to global efforts to enhance the resiliency of countries most affected by climate change. This will be achieved through the following: (1) Strengthening integrated planning approaches and governance mechanisms; (2) Development and implementation of portfolio of solutions – project pipeline, demonstration projects, enabling policies, innovative approaches; (4) Mobilization of finance; and (5) Strengthening knowledge management and sharing.

The project will be implemented in six (6) cities that represent different conditions of urban areas in the Philippines, namely: Quezon City, Caloocan City, Baguio City, Cebu City, Davao City, and Cotabato City. For Baguio, Davao and Quezon cities, the project will address urban sprawl to protect biodiversity.

 

3. Scope of Work

The National Urban Planning and Development Specialist will be the National Team Leader, and will have expertise on urban and regional planning, with familiarity on new and emerging trends on urban development, such as urban biodiversity, sustainable transport system, low carbon development, environmentally sustainable urban land use planning and zoning and application of these principles to improve resilience, green spaces, and green infrastructures. The Consultant will work closely with the International Project Development Specialist (PPG Team Leader) in designing, planning, and executing PPG activities at the national level. S/he will provide support in coordinating/leading the other National Consultants (NCs) and ensure to regularly update the PPG Team Leader of the progress made and anticipated challenges.

The Specialist will also provide up-to-date and cutting-edge ideas on Green Resilient Cities (GRC) drawing upon the experience and best practices of successful cities in the region. S/he will be expected to describe measures needed to put in place investments and create an enabling framework for GRC in the six cities. S/he will conduct site scoping studies and rapid assessments of project sites to establish baseline data and identify potential opportunities, threats, issues, and challenges with regards to the implementation of GRC in the six cities and provide preliminary recommendations on best approaches.

Specific Functions:

a. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A)

Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the GEF PPG Team Leader, including:

· Evaluate the project sites based on its readiness to implement the GRC measures taking into consideration baseline conditions, existing development plans and policies of the six cities;

· Gather baseline information on emerging trends on urban development in the six cities, including but not limited to sustainable urban transport, green buildings, green spaces, nature-based solutions, low carbon development, solid and plastic waste management and circular economy;

· Review the lessons learned from previous and existing sustainable cities initiatives and draft preliminary recommendations to be considered for the design of a financial sustainability strategy during implementation;

· Analyse experience on green and resilient cities (GRC) approaches and their implementing arrangements, management units and an assessment of their operations and successes. This will cover, among others, applicable integrated GRC strategies, urban regeneration companies, local development corporations, and national and local development incentives;

· Outline the key components, macro and micro, of GRC to include policies and strategies for improving productivity, labour markets, business development and infrastructure, property development, affordable housing and direct links between financing and development;

· Define processes required in order to put in place inclusive policies and procedure to achieve external benefits of investment in GRC public goods and create an enabling framework for business and support innovation;

· Outline how to create GRC development opportunities or use redistribution measures to ensure better access of marginalised groups to public goods (assets) and green job opportunities;

· Work with the International Consultant and the Stakeholder Engagement and ESS Specialist in the identification and description of baselines of co-financing initiatives (from local governments, private sectors and civil society organizations), obtain co-financing letters, and ensure commitment from project partners;

· Support the completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs as guided by the PPG Team Leader;

· Provide support to the National Gender and Stakeholder Engagement and Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist on the SESP/ESMF formulation; and

· Other related tasks as suggested by the PPG team.

b. Formulation of the Project Document, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B)

· Review and verify proposed Outputs and Indicators based on the information gathered during the PPG-Phase and, where appropriate, propose new ones for each Outcome, and establish baselines and targets to be monitored and tracked during implementation, for inclusion in the Results Framework, as appropriate;

· Review and validate Core Indicators, particularly Core Indicator 6 on Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigated;

· Participate in consultations, workshops, meetings etc. and provide inputs to management arrangements;

· Work with the National Gender and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist in the review and verification of Core Indicators, especially Core Indicator 11 (i.e., number of direct male and female beneficiaries), provide inputs to establish baselines and allow for a more realistic calculation of beneficiaries based on extent and reach from project activities; and

· Work with the GEF PPG Team Leader to ensure relevant findings on GRC and stakeholder needs are meaningfully integrated into the project strategy, theory of change and results framework, and its implementation are monitored as appropriate.

c. Coordination of the national consultant team together with the PPG Team Leader

· Assistance in the kick-off meeting and Inception workshop;

· Consolidation of inputs from the national PPG team and prepare the Inception workshop report, including stakeholders’ recommendations for the Project Document design, risk analysis and appropriate mitigation measures;

· Assistance in drafting an overall Work Plan;

·