Background

Created in 1989, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the Philippines aimed to satisfy Moro demands for autonomy, self-determination and facilitate sustainable development. However, until now the ARMM remains the poorest, most desperate part of the Philippines. Adequate health, education, freedom of movement and expression, and access to justice are among the fundamental rights curtailed in ARMM. Data from the National Statistics Coordination Board indicate that poverty incidence in these provinces remains high ranging from 31.5% in Tawi-tawi, 38.1% in Basilan to as high as 39.3% in Sulu, affecting at least 300,000 families. Infrastructure is poor and access to basic services is negligible, if not altogether absent. Female family members involved in clan wars are at high risk of being kidnapped, and subsequently subjected to sexual abuse. Over the period of a decade from 1999 to 2009, Mindanao saw massive episodes of internal displacement due to armed conflict. This brought about the plight of over 1 million internally displaced persons in the period 2000-2001 and close to 600,000 persons from 2008-2009.
 
In the backdrop of a 4-decade long conflict between the national government and militant separatist groups are significant levels of crime, corruption, rido (clan feuds), proliferation of small arms, and weak governance institutions, which have long been controlled by warring political dynasties. While conflict has had a crippling effect on human rights, it is the absence of rights - particularly land and identity rights - that is often the underlying cause of conflict itself.
 
Hope for lasting peace was raised in 2012 when the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The framework set the parameters for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to replace the existing ARMM structure. In the same year, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) established the CHR-ARMM Regional Office, with the support of the ARMM Regional government and UNDP. Full autonomy of the office was later granted with the passage of the ARMM Human Rights Commission Charter in 2013, creating the Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) in ARMM. With the RHRC now in place, there is an opportunity to build the foundations of a strong human rights infrastructure to ensure a peaceful transition to a democratic Bangsamoro.
 
To effectively fulfil this role, the institutional structure and internal capacity of RHRC will need to be built. Still in its infancy, RHRC’s institutional organisation needs to be enhanced to ensure that administrative and financial processes efficiently and effectively support its human rights initiatives. While RHRC has an industrious monitoring team in place to build a comprehensive human rights database, staff now require the analytical skills to inform policies, plans, and programmes. RHRC’s presence in ARMM can be reinforced with the establishment of human rights monitoring centres, particularly in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan, where it has yet to set up field offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Monitoring of Human Rights:
  • Support the development of monitoring and case management;
  • Develop training curricula on HR in Peace Process (TJ/ Justice System etc.) Deliver said training to RHRC;
  • Carry out sporadic trainings on developments in human rights (Cairo Principles, UN Special Procedures, ASEAN HR Charter etc.);
  • Support the analysis of collected data and develop the documentation skills of staff;
  • Support the development of grassroot-based and community-based human rights monitoring.
Capacity Building-Internal:
  • Support the understanding of the RHRC as a “State Institution” and its transition to the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission. Support the development of language and budget requirements to be presented to the Transition Commission in 2014;
  • Help develop linkages with international human rights institutions, UN treaty bodies and International NGOs;
  • Develop appraisal system/ SMART training programme for individual staff (including finance and administration staff)
  • Liaise with staff and commissioners regarding on going conferences, forum, and training needs;
  • Develop in-house curricula and training schedules;
  • In conjunction with other staff deliver in-house training to staff;
  • Identify external training opportunities and support assessment of potential candidates. Work with successful candidates on the development of in-house training on their return;
  • Executive coaching for key officials of RHRC on policy-making, planning, operation, finance and administration.
  • Develop RHRC’s capacity and competencies on knowledge management, communication and information management and investigators’ capacity;
  • Strengthen capacity and competency for investigators;
  • Assist and develop in establishing security systems in the RHRC.
Capacity Building-External:
  • Support the identification of target groups and the development of curricula for specific training modules and workshops. (Youth Groups, LGUs, Journalists, SS, BDA, BLMI etc.);
  • Support the strengthening of the Bangsamoro Human Rights Network through monitoring and documentation trainings. Liaise with members of BHRN on cases of HRVs. Assist the RHRC in verification of BHRN Reports;
  • Support the other Bangsamoro institutions in identifying and referring human rights cases to the RHRC;
  • Support a greater understanding of a practical human rights approach to development issues and governance in the Bangsamoro;
  • Support RHRC programming on grassroots level.
Reporting- RHRC:
  • Support the development of an external communication strategy for the Program Manager of RHRC including press statements and strategic work with the media;
  • Support the development of RHRC monitoring reports to the CHR and to external entities. Possible recipients TMPT, HRC, UPR-Shadow report, Bangsamoro Government (TA), Transition Commission, Diplomatic Community in Manila. 
  • Assist, train and develop RHRC capacity and competencies on Universal Periodic Report preparation;
  • Support the reporting to UNDP to be done by the RHRC Programme Manager on the project.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
  • Initially assess organisational change needs and suggest tentative measures to resolve bottlenecks and to make RHRC more effective, efficient and productive. (Inception report);
  • Develop indicators and timeframe for the process of institutional change;
  • Regularly update on change through regular progress reports;
  • Conduct a final assessment at the end of contract.

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;
  • Excellent in developing and writing training programmes on human rights;
  • Good disposition, prompt and a team player.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • The Contractor/ Subscriber Education should be preferably a degree graduate in any Program Development, Social Science courses, Political Science, Public Administration, Communication or any related field of study;
  • Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) preferably in human rights, public administration and international humanitarian law.
Experience:
  • Can perform and deliver the scope of work as above enumerated.
  • Should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in human rights work;
  • Knowledgeable on human rights, justice, peace, culture and gender issues and concerns;
  • Proficient in computer programs applications such as Microsoft word, Powerpoint and Excel;
  • Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) preferably in human rights, public administration and international

Language:

  • Excellent reading and writing skills in English.