Background
On 08 November 2013, when category 5 Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, made landfall in the eastern Visayas, it caused extensive damage to life, housing, livelihoods and infrastructure across nine of the Philippine’s poorest provinces. It is the most powerful storm ever recorded. Rain fell at rates of up to 30 mm per hour, winds reached upwards of 315 km/h and massive storm surges up to 5-6 meters high hit coastal areas. The islands of Leyte and Samar were hardest hit: 90 percent of the infrastructure of Leyte’s largest urban center, Tacloban City, was destroyed.Philippine authorities estimate that 16.1 million people have been affected, 4.1 million displaced, and at least 6,201 people are confirmed dead. As of 29 January 2014 1,785 people are still missing, and almost 1.1 million homes are destroyed.
The typhoon left a clear geographic pattern of destruction across different areas. Along the eastern coast of Samar, Eastern Samar and Leyte, there was severe damage due to powerful storm surges with an impact that is comparable to that of a tsunami. Vast areas have been swept away by the sea, causing heavy infrastructure damage in highly populated coastal areas. Along the western coast and mainland areas of Samar and Leyte, the damage occurred mainly due to the severe winds which, for example, destroyed vast amounts of coconut and banana trees. Further west along the typhoon path, strong winds also caused damage in coastal areas of Cebu, Panay and Coron, although to a lesser extent.
Over one million houses, government administrative and social service facilities, as well as many enterprises and commercial centers, have been totally or partially destroyed by the Typhoon, creating hundred of thousands of tons of debris. Removing this debris, including recycling, extracting and managing harmful waste (e.g. medical waste) and managing municipal waste collection in a sustainable manner, is a immediate priority and a necessary condition to start or facilitate more medium and long term recovery and development work.
The Philippines is the world’s second-largest coconut producer, accounting for 26.6 per cent of total global production in 2013. The coconut sector suffered devastating damage, especially in Region VIII. The Philippines Coconut Authority (PCA) reported 33 million trees were damaged or destroyed and more than 1 million coconut farmers affected. The damage created knock-on effects along the entire value chain. Coconut growing and copra production are important sources of economic activity in rural areas, with 1.7 million people in Region VIII engaged directly (e.g. farm owners, workers and traders) or indirectly (e.g. transport and logistics). Sixty per cent of small-scale coconut farmers live in poverty, are often land-poor and are at high risk of indebtedness if they receive no livelihood support. Removal of these coconut trees is thus an immediate priority within an early recovery framework. Added to this, the fallen trees are susceptible to beetle infestation, which could have a serious impact on the ability to utilize the coconut fields for activities such as inter-cropping in the future.
The Philippine’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture (crops, poultry and livestock, fisheries and forest products). Typhoon Haiyan has had a severe impact on people’s lives and livelihoods in the affected areas, with extensive damage to agriculture, particularly to crop production and fisheries, and agricultural infrastructure. The typhoon struck at a devastating time for farmers – shortly after harvest, as a new planting season was in course. In coastal areas, fishing is the principle means of livelihood for 15 percent of households; inland, farming is the most common livelihood with 45 percent of household relying on farming or agricultural wage labour as their main source of family income. The severely affected regions are prime agricultural areas.
An estimated 5.6 million workers have been affected by the typhoon, with an estimated 2.4 million of these classified as vulnerable workers. A recent Asian Development Bank report anticipates a possible increase in the national poverty rate by 2% as a result of the disaster. Prior to the typhoon the incidence of poverty in the affected provinces was high compared to the national average. Leyte and Samar, for example, had a poverty rate of 45.2% making them some of the poorest regions in the country. Based on the breakdown per industry/sector of those affected by the typhoon, almost 40% were in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector, just under 20% in the secondary sector (manufacturing, construction etc.) and just over 20% in the tertiary services sector. Current estimates suggest that earnings have been reduced by 50%, which is backed up by the number of people seeking work. Daily labour (unskilled, non-agricultural) was most affected, further highlighting the need for emergency employment programs. Among those also affected are disadvantaged youth between the ages 15 to 24 years old who comprise 14% of the vulnerable workers.
More than half of the wholesale and retail traders, especially in urban centers, also reported a lasting impact on their livelihoods due to the typhoon. After the Typhoon, markets were severely affected with only 5% of business establishments renewing their business permits as of January 2014. Local chambers of commerce have also identified indebtedness resulting from the loss of goods and capital as a reason for not being able to restart their operations.
Typhoon Haiyan has severely disrupted local government infrastructure and operational capacity across the 171 municipalities in the eastern Visayas region. The operational infrastructure of the LGUs – facilities, infrastructure and operational assets - have been lost or damaged. In some LGUs, the operational capacity in terms of personnel has been compromised. Some of the LGUs were also affected by the disruption of essential supplies.
Throughout the affected area, damage to infrastructure and equipment was exacerbated by the loss of electrical power. RAY estimates that the cost of damage to LGU operating capacity (offices and equipment, and thus excluding infrastructure such as roads and irrigation) totals approximately USD 100 million. Many LGUs also lost public records such as land titles, birth and citizenship records and local licenses, and the capacity to retrieve this is urgent and critical, as it impacts on the capacity of business to operate and of citizens to access social services. In addition, there is limited scope for regular tax collection, as a result of the tax administration having lost many of its tax collection assets (equipment and human resources). In addition, the impact on the private sector is such that it will be years before the private sector offsets losses incurred against future revenue and thus returns to taxable profit. This will further complicate local governance, as budgetary pressures placed on LGUs have increased substantially.
To support recovery and resilience in the Visayas region, UNDP developed a comprehensive programme which takes into account differential impacts, vulnerabilities and capacities across the affected region. The three year programme framework builds on prior UNDP engagement and partnerships in the affected areas, and it revolves around the following thematic areas: governance, livelihoods and disaster risk reduction and sustainable environment.
UNDP’s comprehensive debris management program has already helped affected local government units (LGUs) and communities remove post-typhoon debris, including hazardous medical waste, in at least 14 hospitals, 392 schools, 358 daycare centers, 333 municipal government buildings and 118 other essential public infrastructure facilities. Post-typhoon debris has been cleared in 1,024 km municipal and barangay roads, and 377 km drainage canals, thereby providing emergency employment to at least 28,252 beneficiaries participating in the cash-for-work scheme, 10,156 of whom are women. Similarly, UNDP provides material, technical and management assistance to the affected LGUs in operating dumpsites/landfills and material recovery facilities towards the environmentally sustainable disposal/recycling of the post-typhoon debris.
The Programme Manager will work under the overall supervision of the Team Leader ‘Resilience and Peace Building’ and of UNDP Country Director and work closely with the Crisis Prevention and Recovery (CPR) Team Leader. S/he will be responsible for leading the project team to ensure the achievement of project objectives. S/he will work closely with the Early Recovery and Livelihood (ER&L) Cluster. S/he will also work closely with the other UNDP Programme Team Leaders as well as with the UNDP Operations teams.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Manager will perform the following functions:- Project management and implementation of the Yolanda Recovery Programme (YRP) and management of all YRP-related budgetary approvals and transactions;
- Facilitation of knowledge services;
- Building of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization;
- Other tasks as required.
- Supervise the day-to-day functioning of the Project Team. Manage the human and financial resources, for achieving results in line with the outputs and activities outlines in the project document and to required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost;
- Lead the preparation and implementation of the annual results-based work plans and results frameworks as endorsed by Management;
- Lead in the coordination of project activities with related and parallel activities both within UNDP and with external agencies;
- Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports or as requested by donors;
- Manage the human and financial resources of the project and coordinate the work of all project and policy advisory services. Coordinate the distribution of responsibilities among team members and organize monitoring and tracking system of all components of the project;
- Ensure technical soundness of project activities, achievement of outputs and outcomes and quality and cost effectiveness;
- Oversee the monitoring, evaluation and communication framework, including overseeing the preparation and implementation of a monitoring and communication plan and responsibility for the quality of the progress reports;
- When delegated, act as a signatory of key project-related documents including financial reports and requests for advances;
- Develop and supervise the project’s capacity building efforts aimed at government counterparts, civil society groups, media and other stakeholders; contribute to the production of reports and publications and serve as peer reviewer;
- Ensure delivery of quarterly and annual reports to UNDP and represent the project in UNDP project review;
- Ensure information sharing and bridging between UNDP programme management, project management, and national counterparts in the process of implementing the project;
- Design, introduce and continuously develop feedback mechanisms and open communication channels to ensure that the changing needs and expectations of the public are fully taken into account when reviewing the works plans;
- Map on a consistent basis the development issues covering the situation and strategic opportunities;
- Manager level 1 in Atlas if authorized by Senior Management.
- Lead the process of knowledge captures of national, regional, and global know-how in the subject area and production of knowledge-based products;
- Ensure that project results are captured and recorded in knowledge products to communicate project results and impact;
- Promote a learning environment and systematic information sharing within the project team;
- Lead the process of knowledge creation and dissemination by partnering with practitioners and members of the National think tanks and UNDP networks;
- Ensure that development partners are kept informed about the project progress through the preparation and submission of the necessary reports as required.
- Network and build strong working relations with Government, UN, and donor partners;
- Establish, develop and maintain mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with NGOs and community groups, the press and media, the business sector, etc.;
- Establish networks with experts of UN System, international development organizations, and prominent private sector organizations;
- Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reporting;
- Link with other UNDP projects and work closely with the UNDP Programme teams and Operations team to support efficient delivery of project activities in line with strategic objectives.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality);
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office;
- Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;
- Established track record of delivering strong analytical products with policy relevance;
- In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.
- Ability to undertake results-based management and reporting;
- Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
- Ability to work with minimum supervision;
- Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and the international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
- Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/attitude change;
- Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment.
- Focus on impact and results for the client and responds positively to critical feedback
- Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
- Lead teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
- Ability to keep a team highly motivated and results-oriented;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Builds strong relationship with clients and external actors;
- Ability to work in inter-disciplinary mixed-ability teams;
- Good interpersonal skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:- Master’s degree or equivalent.
- Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least 5 years Project Manager experience, in post-disaster recovery programmes, or similar programmes or programmes with similar complexity;
- Demonstrated senior-level (large) project management skills;
- Experience in managing multi-national teams (with both national and international staff);
- At least five years of experience working in UN(DP) programmes, and thus familiarity with organizational goals, and key operations processes and procedures;
- Good understanding of the Philippines context;
- Readiness to be based in the center of operations (Tacloban) with very limited infrastructure to accommodate staff member’s dependents. (Tacloban currently on a 8 weeks R&R cycle);
- Experience working in a multi--cultural team.
- Fluency in English and language of the duty station.
Application:
Humanresources.ph@undp.org
or
Human Resources
United Nations Development Programme
30th Floor, Yuchengco Tower I, RCBC Plaza
Ayala Ave., cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
indicating the “Application to the Post Title and Vacancy No” on or before, 22 April 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.