Background

The Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago country after Indonesia and includes more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 km2 in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. It is one of the world’s richest countries biologically. The country is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety, both a hotspot and a megadiversity country, placing it among the top priority hotspots for global conservation. The island geography, the climate and the once extensive areas of rainforest, have resulted in a high level of biodiversity endemism in the country. At the very least, one third of the more than 9,250 vascular plant species native to the Philippines are endemic. Of the 530 bird species found in the Philippines, 185 (35%) are endemic. 61% of the mammal species, 68% (160 species) of reptiles and 70% of nearly 21,000 recorded insect species found in the Philippines are endemic. The endemism is even higher (85% or 90 species) for amphibians, Philippines plays host to 65 endemic fish species, with 9 endemic genera. 70% of the nearly 21,000 insect species are aendemic.
 
Biodiversity loss is a problem of global proportions. The world’s biodiversity is estimated to be experiencing rates of extinction at least 1,000 times higher than any time previously in Earth’s history, with some 20,000 species known to be threatened with extinction and many more likely to be threatened (Barber et al., 2004, p. 30). Habitat destruction is identified as the main driver of biodiversity loss. To prevent further habitat destruction and conserve biodiversity, countries and governments designated national terrestrial and marine protected areas. As of January 2009, there are 122,512 nationally designated protected areas in 235 countries and territories included in the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). These areas cover 21,242,195 sq km, or about 12.1 per cent of the earth’s surface. This includes both terrestrial and marine protected areas. While there has been considerable progress in the growth of protected areas over recent decades, there is growing scientific agreement and policy recognition that existing areas are not sufficient to meet the increasing challenges of biodiversity conservation.
 
In the Philippines, where 5.4 million hectares have been established as protected areas (representing 18% of the country’s total land area), there is agreement among stakeholders that there are huge gaps in coverage and representativeness of the protected area system. Compared to the extent of identified key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in the country, existing protected areas cover only 35% of KBAs. There are an estimated 4.6 million of KBAs that need to be placed under some form of effective protection. Filling these gaps only by expanding conventional protected areas is impractical given both the enormous areas to be covered and issues of jurisdiction where about 4.3 million hectares have been recognized as ancestral domains and an additional 2.6 million hectares are covered with application for certificates of ancestral domain titles (CADTs). Using the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) approach, the legislation required to gazette a protected area takes years to complete. Unless there are other cost effective ways of accelerating the expansion of conservation coverage, it is likely that degradation will cause irreparable damage to these KBAs before these can be placed under effective protection, resulting in direct loss of Philippine endemic biodiversity. In order to address this, the government, through the UNDP-GEF supported New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP), has pilot tested the recognition of new and diversified governance regimes in the establishment and management of protected areas.

One which has gained international recognition is the country effort in documentation, mapping and recognition of indigenous community conserved areas (ICCAs) in territories occupied by indigenous peoples, which have overlaps in biologically significant terrestrial areas, estimated to reach about 1,345,198 hectares (involving CADTs in 91 KBAs). This means that 29% of the entire area of KBAs requiring protection falls into territories occupied by indigenous peoples, so creating mechanisms for recognition and strengthening of ICCAs creates the enabling enviornment for a significant contribution to the strategic expansion of the protected area estate to protect globally significant biodiversity. By working on several pilot areas, NewCAPP has initiated policy and structural changes, such as the inclusion of new forms of protected areas in the National PA System Plan that is currently under formulation. This has created an opportunity for a significant expansion of the national conservation estate, through recognition of ICCAs, which typically coincide with areas of greatest surviving endemism. As a result of the work done by NewCAPP and other partners such as NGOs and NCIP, there is now significant interest from many ICC groups to map, document and recognize their ICCAs.
 
However, the institutionalization of ICCAs is still hindered by challenges in the policy arena as well as the weak capacities of national institutions to support the management of ICCAs. To contribute in addressing these barriers, the Biodiversity Management Bureau in partnership with the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) with support from several NGOs, has proposed to GEF a project entitled “Strengthening National Systems to Improve Governance and Management of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories” which aims to increase the capacities of the national systems to support the management of ICCAs. The GEF has also provided an initial grant to develop and prepare the required UNDP/GEF Project Document and GEF CEO Endorsement. Therefore, to elaborate on the policy and institutional barriers on ICCA establishment and management both at the national and local levels, a Policy and Institutional Expert will be hired.
 
For more information, please go to this link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=16733.

Duties and Responsibilities

The following are the tasks and responsibilities to be performed by the Policy and Institutional Strengthening Expert:
  • Identify and engage national-level stakeholders (Government, non-government organizations) in PPG activities;
  • Conducts capacity assessment of key stakeholders on ICCA establishment and management at the national and local levels using the UNDP Capacity Scorecard;
  • Assess and report on existing policies supporting or inconsistent with ICCA’s objectives; existing capacities and practices, (iv) opportunities and technical co-operation needs and strategies related to each of the above areas;
Expand on the barriers described in the PIF.
In particular:
  • Identify and describe all the policy and regulation relevant to PAs and ICCAs and the difference between these;
  • Explain in more detail the lack of support for the ICCA Bill and the need for advocacy to get Bill passed;
  • Explain the lack of coordination among policies, legislation;
  • Lack of recognising and documentation of ICCAs in NIPAS;
  • Lack of capacity at all levels to systematically incorporate the mapping, documentation, and recognition of ICCAs as part of ancestral domain delineation and management planning;
  • Lack of official recognition of ICCAs (National ICCA Registry).
Gather information, analyse and report on national-level issues associated with: (i) stakeholders and institutional capacities on ICCA establishment and management (ii) legal, regulatory and policy structures and practices relevant to ICCA establishment and management; (iii) gaps in policies and capacity building needs of relevant stakeholders.

Assess and report on:
  • Baseline status;
  • Barriers;
  • Existing capacities and practices;
  • Opportunities and technical co-operation needs and strategies related to each of the above areas.
Complete a description of existing data on legal frameworks and policy issuances relevant to ICCA establishment and management at the national and local levels.

Elaborate on components 1 and 2 of the Project Implementation Framework including baselines and relevant targets.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies
  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Functional and Technical competencies:
  • Strong knowledge of the latest theories and concepts in urban development and sustainable cities in the Philippines and broader region;
  • Strong analytical and research skills;
  • Familiarity with current actors working on urban development challenges in the Philippines;
  • Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with different stakeholders;
  • Excellent in oral and written communication; have skills to write independent reports, documents, maintain systems and procedures in administering programs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • A degree in political science, sociology, law or jurisprudence.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of experience in the field of environmental law or laws relevant to indigenous peoples;
  • Working experience with government agencies, NGOs, and private sector in the Philippines;
  • Working experience in policy formulation;
  • Familiarity with national and local policies, institutional arrangements on biodiversity conservation and in indigenous peoples empowerment;
  • Preferably with sufficient knowledge and experience engaging with international donors;
  • Good in word processing, preferably Word, Excel, Power-point;
  • Experienced in handling stakeholder consultations;
  • Knowledge and experience in conflict resolution a plus.
Language:
  • Fluent in English language, spoken and written.