UNDP Jobs - 48940- Policy and Capacity Analyst

Policy and Capacity Analyst

Location :

Manila, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

05-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 months spread over 4 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 months spread over 4 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

Project Title: Biological Resources Management Improved to Create Healthy and Inclusive Economic Development (Bio-RICH)

Project Description

The Philippines has high biodiversity, being among the mega-diverse countries of the world. It has prolific and highly diverse marine and coastal resources which makes it the third highest in marine biodiversity in the world. For example, it hosts a total of 464 reef-building coral species or nearly half of all known coral species. The country also has 1700 reef species and 9% of the total known global coral reef area at 25,060 sq. km. Philippine marine fisheries produced a total fisheries volume of 5 million metric tons in 2009 valued at PhP 215.58 billion. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) estimates the fishing industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP at 2.2% (PhP 170.3 billion) and 4.4% (PhP63.2 billion) at current and constant prices, respectively. Marine mollusks have high medicinal value and the Philippines teems with them. It must be noted that marine organisms are the source of 60% of new anti-cancer agents currently on trial. Aside from this, they also hold potential for possible central nervous system, anti-microbial drugs and enzymes for cellulosic biofuels production. Philippine waters are estimated to harbor an estimated 10,000 species or approximately one fifth of all known species. The country’s marine waters are also widely regarded by marine biologists as the epicenter of marine biodiversity.

The Philippines is home to an estimated 53,500+ species of plants and animals. Recent reviews have recognized 105 species of amphibians (79% endemic) and 264 reptiles (68% endemic), while recent summaries of birds have recognized 593 species (32% endemic). Mammal diversity is currently estimated at 175 native terrestrial mammals (65% endemic). Total country estimates include as many as 15,000+ plants (and their relatives) and 38,000+ animals (vertebrates and invertebrates). These numbers are considered conservative considering that recent studies have shown that terrestrial biodiversity of the Philippines is substantially under estimated. The Philippines has one of the highest rates of species discovery in the world (sixteen new species of mammals have been discovered in the last ten years alone). New species are being discovered at a remarkable rate and this pattern shows no sign of slowing. Current taxonomic estimates show that the Philippines has the highest level of endemism in the Indo-Malayan Realm on a per unit-area basis and the highest concentration of biodiversity on earth.

However, “leakage” in revenue generation is happening from the environment sector through bio-piracy of the country’s genetic pool. As stated above, the Philippines’ marine waters alone hold untold economic potential for drugs and fuels. Marine sponges, mollusks and sea squirts, for instance, have been the subject of many biomedical studies as potential sources for anti-microbial and anti-cancer drugs. The recent study done by the UP Marine Science Institute in partnership with the Oregon Health and Science University, University of Utah, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia and Ocean Genome Legacy showed that marine mollusks found in the Philippines have unusual bacteria strains that have utility as drugs for central nervous system disorders, anti-cancer agents and anti-microbial treatments.

However, despite discoveries made by local scientists or the fact that some of these genetic materials, plants and biological resources have long been identified, developed and used by communities and indigenous peoples, many large corporations make huge profits from patenting these knowledge and biological materials without properly recognizing and rewarding the sources.

Few examples that have been biopirated in the country are the following:

Japan has patented nata de coco, a food product made of coconut water that originated in the Philippines.

Philippine endemic plants have not been spared. "Ampalaya" or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is now privately-owned by the US National Institute of Health, the US Army and the New York University which have successfully gained the US patent numbers US 5484889, JP 6501089 and EP 553357, respectively, on the Vitamin A-rich vegetable.

Ampalaya, mixed with another Philippine vegetable "talong" or eggplant (Solanum melongena) are traditional food that make up the Philippine delicacy "pinakbet", an effective cure against diabetes. Today, scientists from the US pharmaceutical company Cromak Research, Inc. in New Jersey has started raking in profits reaching to as high as $500 million from the anti-diabetic product extracted from the two vegetables. Diabetes, together with cancer and tuberculosis, was named recently by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a leading disease for this new century.

Philippine yew tree (Taxus sumatrana) which has been reported by the government's Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as having been patented by the University of Philadelphia. The tree, found only in Mount Pulag, contained taxol, a cancer-curing chemical, according to DENR.

The Philippine sea snail (Conus magus) has already been patented by Neurex, Inc. a US-based pharmaceutical company and has earned millions of dollars for the company. Neurex, with the help of scientists from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines (UP-MSI) and the University of Utah, have been isolating from the snail a toxin called SNX-111 which is a pain killer that is reported by scientists to be 1,000 times more powerful than morphine.

French fashion house Yves St. Laurent has been importing ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata) flowers from the Philippines for more than 20 years, making use of its extract in their high class line of perfumes. Although native to many Southeast Asian countries, the species cultivated in the Philippines was found to be of high quality. Just a few years ago, Yves St. Laurent stopped importing ilang-ilang from the Philippines, put up its own plantations in Africa and secured a patent for its perfume formula based on the native Filipino species.

Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a well known herbal medicine used in the Cordillera highlands and other parts of the Philippines. It is known to treat fever, diarrhea, diabetes and as a purgative and stimulant by traditional healers. However, the anti-diabetic property of banaba — a property known to many traditional healers and well documented in national literature — has been patented by a Japanese company Itoen KK.

Another Japanese company also recently patented the anti-stress property of saluyot or jute. According to the Department of Health, Japan funded a jute plantation in Central Luzon and has put up a plant to process the medicine and sell it in both powdered and tablet form. Other popular backyard Filipino herbal medicines like sambong, lagundi and takip kuhol (Centella asiatica), have also been the subject of many patent claims by Japanese companies.

The examples above prove that Philippines has many more resources which if used wisely can generate wealth and would be more than enough to trigger economic development and alleviate poverty in the country. Continuing bio piracy might be happening unknowingly in the country since the current policies and capacities have failed to track and monitor progress made on researches related to genetic pool of the country. It in this context that the DENR, being the key agency in natural resource management, will conduct a policy study and assessment of the current capacities of key stakeholders in developing and implementing a fair and equitable access and benefit sharing system and protocol. To assist the DENR, a policy and capacity analyst will be hired to conduct this policy study and capacity assessment.

http://bulatlat.com/main/2009/08/29/on-biopiracy-and-patenting-of-indigenous-resources-and-knowledge/
http://www.symbianize.com/showthread.php?t=1067756
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http://www.grain.org/article/entries/27-biopiracy-trips-and-the-patenting-of-asia-s-rice-bowl
ibid
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Duties and Responsibilities

Assess existing international and local policies relevant to Access and Benefit Sharing in the country including but not limited to bio-prospecting, intellectual property and traditional knowledge;
Analyze relevant bilateral trade agreements (eg. TRIPS and WTO), its provisions and flexibilities crucial to the adoption of the Nagoya protocol by the Philippine government;
Analyze national and local laws and regulations that are impacted or could assist in the process of adoption of the Nagoya protocol;
Identify provisions on Intellectual Property provisions within the Philippine bilateral trade agreements that shall impact management and use of sustainable biodiversity resources of the country;
Assess the capacity of key stakeholders in developing/implementing access and benefit sharing system; identify gaps and recommend capacity building interventions;
Identify policy and capacity gaps and recommend policy and capacity building interventions on access and benefit sharing as it relates to bilateral trade agreements and the Nagoya Protocol;
Recommend sustainable, relevant and appropriate ABS protocols;
Collaborate with other consultants and provide inputs to the Lead Integrator/Consultant specifically concerning policy development and capacity building on ABS.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Inception Report - 1 week after contract signing;
The policy analysis report to include, but not limited to, relevant international and local policy analysis, a laundry list of options available for the Philippines to establish a sustainable ABS protocol;
ABS Capacity Assessment Report including but not limited to strategy on national capacity building to understand flexibilities available and their impacts over national biodiversity and true adaptation of a access and benefit sharing regime.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e. transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila and/or within Metro Manila, supplies & materials, reproduction, communications including internet). However, travel costs (eg. fares and DSAs) to sites outside of Metro Manila shall be borne by DENR. DSA rates will follow the NIM prescribed rates.

Payment terms are as follows:

20% - upon submission of Inception Report;
40% - upon submisison of The policy analysis report to include, but not limited to, relevant international and local policy analysis, a laundry list of options available for the Philippines to establish a sustainable ABS protocol;
40% - upon submission of ABS Capacity Assessment Report including but not limited to strategy on national capacity building to understand flexibilities available and their impacts over national biodiversity and true adaptation of a access and benefit sharing regime. A results framework on key interventions for policy development and capacity building in the area of ABS.

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 Competencies:

Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office);
Preferably with sufficient knowledge of UNDP and GEF and some level of familiarity with its operations.
Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda;
Results-based programme development and management;
Maintaining a network of contacts and partners;
Innovation and marketing of new approaches;
Job knowledge/technical expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Work Experience:

At least 10 years of experience in the field of environmental policy review particularly dealing with biodiversity, intellectual property rights, access and benefit sharing, traditional knowledge;
Working experience with government agencies, NGOs, and private sector in the Philippines;
Familiarity with national and local policies relevant to bio-prospecting and/or access and benefit sharing, intellectual property rights, etc.;
Familiarity with relevant international laws/treaties such as TRIPs, Nagoya Protocol, UN CBD, and other bilateral trade agreements.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

CV;
Financial Proposal (pls. visit the Procurement section/page of UNDP Philippines website to download this form).

Please submit CV and financial proposal, using the template in the UNDP Philippines Procurement Section, on or before 5 September 2014.

United Nations Development Programme
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6819 Ayala Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
Tel: +63 2 9010100/Fax: +63 2 9010200/8897177
procurement.ph@undp.org/registry.ph@undp.org