Background

Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history, hit the Visayas (Central Philippines) on 08 November 2013 with a force equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Rainfall rates reached 30 mm per hour, wind speeds clocked upwards of 315 km/h and massive storm surges went up to 5-6 meters high along the coastal areas. Over a 16 hour period, the “super typhoon,” swept through six provinces in the central Philippines, knocking out power, telecommunications, and water supplies. Along the eastern coast of Samar, Eastern Samar and Leyte, extensive damage was caused by powerful storm surges that were akin to a tsunami. Entire villages were swept away by the sea, claiming thousands of lives and causing heavy infrastructure damage in highly populated areas. On the western coast and mainland areas of Samar and Leyte, severe winds flattened vast areas of farmlands planted with coconut and banana trees. Strong winds also caused damage, although to a lesser extent, along the coasts of Cebu, Panay and Coron.

Hardest hit were the islands of Leyte and Samar, particularly Tacloban City where 90 percent of the infrastructure was destroyed. The latest official figures from government indicate that 1.1 million homes were destroyed, 16.1 million people were affected, and 4.1 million were displaced. At least 6,300 people have been confirmed dead across all areas hit by the typhoon.

Since November 2013, UNDP has provided assistance to the affected LGUs and communities particularly in the fields of debris clearing and management, livelihood, and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).  In line with the government strategy advancing from humanitarian assistance to recovery and rehabilitation, UNDP’s programme of support has also moved from early recovery efforts to longer-term recovery interventions. With funding support from the European Union (EU), UNDP is currently implementing a comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation project in selected Yolanda-affected communities in the Visayas, focusing on the following components: 1) disaster-resilient public infrastructure; 2) sustainable livelihoods; 3) resettlement of displaced populations; and 4) support to recovery coordination and local capacities for disaster risk reduction and management.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the UNDP Team Leader for Crisis Prevention and Recovery and the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the UNDP Yolanda Recovery Programme, the Project Officer (Livelihoods) will perform the following functions:

  • Provide primary technical inputs in the formulation of strategies and approaches to attain intended results for the livelihoods component of the project;
  • Coordinate with the Project Manager and relevant project staff in preparing annual detailed workplans to achieve livelihood results and ensure complementarity with other programme interventions;
  • Ensure that livelihood interventions are carried out in accordance with the approved workplan, ensuring that the status of livelihood deliverables is regularly reviewed against targets and reported to management and concerned entities for proper action;
  • Monitor the implementation of livelihood activities, identify gaps, issues and risks and assist in addressing these as necessary;
  • Draft appropriate guidelines and selection criteria for the engagement of CSOs, firms, consultants and other service providers in the implementation of livelihood activities;
  • Ensure that project proposals relative to livelihoods are properly evaluated, and make recommendations to management for consideration/deliberation and approval;
  • Provide direct assistance and guidance to the LGUs, community groups, individual entrepreneurs in the areas of enterprise development (e.g. project analysis and identification, business planning, linkage building for technical assistance), and in the promotion of employment through skills training and job linkage;
  • Establish linkage with the private sector and other institutional markets for job placement and technical support;
  • Strengthen institutional partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that Project-supported individual and group micro-enterprises are registered with DTI for sustained support beyond the project timeframe;
  • Establish/strengthen partnerships with relevant agencies (e.g. Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) for technology, complementary funding, and ensure that projects are consistent with the government RRP priorities;            
  • Coordinate with the Communications Officer in documenting good practices and lessons learned in terms of both process and content based on area context;
  • Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:         

  • Has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
  • Builds strategic partnerships;
  • Promotes organizational learning and knowledge-sharing;
  • Demonstrates client orientation.

Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrates strong leadership;
  • Demonstrates sound judgment;
  • Ability to think at a strategic level;
  • Takes initiatives;
  • Acts as a team player and facilitates teamwork.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • University degree (Masters degree an advantage) in marketing, business administration, social sciences  or other related fields.

Experience:       

  • 5 years of relevant experience in livelihood development, marketing, project management or other related fields;
  • Experience in working in partnership with the government and community;
  • Experience in the use of computers and office software (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
  • Experience in project implementation in a post-disaster context an advantage;
  • UN/UNDP experience an advantage.

Language requirements:

  • English and Filipino;
  • knowledge of regional languages in the Visayas an advantage.

Note:

The selected candidate will receive a salary that is commensurate with his/her background and work experience.  Interested applicants are requested submit their application online and complete the UN Personal History Form (P.11), available in our website http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/operations/jobs/  on or before 31 October 2014.  Kindly note that only completed P.11 forms will be reviewed.  UNDP is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note that we will contact only the short-listed candidates.