Background

On 12 January, alert level-4 (hazardous eruption imminent) was raised over Taal Volcano located in the CALABARZON region 70 km south of the capital Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level a few hours after it raised the alert to level-3 on the evening of 12 January. According to PHIVOLCS, Taal Volcano entered a period of unrest beginning with phreatic or steam-driven activity in several points inside the main crater that then progressed into a magmatic eruption at 2:49 a.m. local time on 13 January. This magmatic eruption is characterized by weak lava fountaining accompanied by thunder and flashes of lightning. Seismic activity was also recorded in Tagaytay City, Cabuyao, Laguna, Talisay, Alitagtag, Lemery and Bauan, Batangas, with over 75 volcanic earthquakes felt at an intensity ranging from II to V as of 5 a,m. that morning.

The Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) put almost 15 areas in lockdown status. More than 10 municipalities were in total lockdown. The report shows that over 346,000 people have been affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. Approximately 137,500 people were displaced and stayed throughout almost 490 evacuation centers. Approximately $63 million USD worth of damage has impacted on the Agricultural sector. while almost 80 schools have been abandoned due to the eruption.

Nearly a month after the Taal Volcano eruption, over 235,000 people continue to be displaced, with a majority staying with host families and more than 24,000 people in evacuation centers in the Calabarzon Region. While authorities continue to validate the extent of damage, it is becoming clear that heavy ashfall and frequent earthquakes during the eruption damaged over 2,300 houses in Batangas province and caused an estimated US$66.7 million worth of damage to infrastructure to agriculture. The Government is planning to relocate an estimated 5,000 families (25,000 people) from at-risk areas within the 7-km radius of the volcano’s crater which has been identified as a permanent danger zone. Alert-level 3 (out of 5) remains in effect over the volcano and sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten nearby areas

Given the magnitude of the effects brought by the eruption of Taal Volcano, OCD has expressed to again utilize the iPDNA application to capitalize on rapid assessment methodology to speed up the pace of the PDNAs which will require a more efficient way to be handled to shorten the time of a comprehensive response and pave the way for swift recovery and rehabilitation planning. UNDP can provide such support having deployed the same for the selected Municipalities in Albay affected by Typhoon Kammuri last December 2020.

Given the above, the UNDP will support the conduct of PDNA through the deployment of the iPDNA application that will pave the way for the formulation of a long-term rehabilitation plan of government, and also identify specific entry points for UNDP to support the early recovery efforts.

This forms part of the overall Early Recovery Programme of UNDP CO. It is envisioned that the iPDNA Field  Coordinator under the Climate Action Team will be engaged to facilitate the objectives of the project.  

Institutional Arrangement

The Outcome Lead for Climate Action shall directly supervise the iPDNA Coordinator. The Consultant is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with different Government institutions in Batangas (OCD IVA, NEDA), Local Government Units and Schools and UNDP.

Duration of Work

The target date for the start of work is 60 working days spread over four (4) months.

Duty Station

The coordinator will be deployed in Batangas for the conduct of the iPDNA training, a system set up and field data gathering to report writing.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Travel outside Manila will be shouldered by UNDP Project.

• First Tranche - 20% Upon submission of Inception Report;
• Second Tranche - 50% Upon submission and acceptance Training Report and Technical Report on Field Data Gathering Submission;
• Third Tranche - 30% Upon submission and acceptance Process Documentation on for improvements to the iPDNA app

Duties and Responsibilities

The iPDNA is a tool to facilitate data collection and consolidation for baseline and post-disaster indicators from various field sources. The iPDNA, which is an automated data collection and management system, uses a mobile and web-based data collection system. It is easier to deploy, costs less, takes less time to complete, and compared to paper-based surveys, is less error-prone. The household and sector-based data (from barangay, municipal, and regional offices) are then consolidated in a server and can be visualized and managed through a user-friendly and highly customizable desktop application.  The iPDNA mobile app is designed to operate offline and transmit data to the server once an internet connection is available. This is especially useful for remote areas, where internet connection may be unavailable or inconsistent. Assessors don’t have to worry about the data as the app stores them and transmits them once it detects a connection. While it captures data following the recommendations and specifications from the existing PDNA Guidance Notes, it also records information such as coordinates, audio recordings, and images. Another advantage is that, the data collection tool is browser-based therefore not OS-dependent.

The Training aims to introduce the iPDNA prototype to PDNA practitioners in Batangas as part of the Early Recovery Programme of UNDP due to the Taal Volcano Eruption. The iPDNA design underwent through a series of consultation workshops with key PDNA practitioners and is based on the existing PDNA Guidance Notes. The iPDNA tool is envisioned to hasten the data collection and consolidation process for baseline and post-disaster of the four sectors (productive, infrastructure, social and cross-cutting) that will ultimately guide the PDNA team in crafting the PDNA report.

The training-workshop will involve brief lectures and orientations and to the extent possible intensive field exercises/data collection in selected sites in Batangas. The Province of Batangas through the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office IV-A (CALABARZON) will be key in determining the participants, assigned iPDNA modules, target sites and respondents (municipal, barangay and household/structure level) to facilitate the workshops. Further, the participants are expected to actively participate in documenting the positive impacts, key challenges and observed gaps of the iPDNA features and questionnaires that will be the basis in the improvement of the system.

Under the direct supervision of the Outcome Lead for Climate Action and the Programme Associate of the Climate Action Team, the Coordinator shall:

• Provide iPDNA training to the PDNA practitioners to be deployed in the Taal Volcano eruption affected areas in Batangas
• Provide technical assistance during the actual conduct of the PDNA (enumeration to report writing)
• Setup the system for data visualization post-PDNA.
• Facilitate the improvement of the iPDNA application based on the results of the pilot test in Batangas.

Competencies

Corporate Competences

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN mission, vision, values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Other Competencies

• Demonstrates strong analytical skills and mature judgement well-planned and organized;
• Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts, to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities;
• Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural team environment;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team and with stakeholders;
• Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method :

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal =    30%

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based on the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):

Applicants who will only receive 70 points from the assessment of the CV will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the documents below:

You may download the editable version of the Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the IC by clicking on this link: http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

1. Duly accomplished Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the IC that indicates the all-inclusive lumpsum contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided; If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP;
2. Financial Proposal (Annex 2 of Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability)
3. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

In view of the volume of applications, UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.