Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 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.
UNDP has been working with national and international partners in the Philippines on the issue of the circular economy. UNDP is working with the European Union in implementing the EU Philippines Green Economy Programme (The Programm. The Programme has the purpose of supporting the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy, including circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation. The Programme acknowledges that the transition to circular economy will have other added benefits such as reduction of the use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity and natural capital, decreased pollution levels, and climate change adaptation.
The Programme addresses three main levels:
- Establishing a Policy Dialogue Platform at the central government level to mobilize EU expertise to facilitate policy formulation, improve citytocity collaboration through supporting the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy and Roadmap, extend the dialogue to promote renewable energy/energy efficiency, and to apply the dialogue’s outcomes;
- Working with local government units (LGUwhere EU expertise will support to define and implement circular economy, climate change, and energy policies with a human rights and genderresponsive perspective, outreach and support of local business and civil society, and support less advanced LGUs;
- Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors into the circular waste economy creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting businessdriven waste reduction strategies and circular solutions in the production process.
The Programme has 4 specific objectives:
SO1: Improved circular economy and climate change policies and reduced GHG emissions
SO2: Enhanced practices of the circular economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and civil society sector, with a focus on youth and gender equality
SO3: Enhanced engagement of the private and financial sectors in circular, wastereduction economy
SO4: Increased energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment
UNDP is responsible for the implementation and execution of SO2 with the purpose of enhancing the capacities and practices of LGUs on circular economy in collaboration with private and civil society organizations (CSO, with focus on youth and gender equality.
Key results expected at the end of the Project include:
- Reduced volume of waste generated and sent to landfills in partner LGUs
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduced and avoided (tonnes of CO2efrom reduced waste and implementation of circular economy initiatives
- At least 20 LGUs have established circular economy models, including introduction of source separation and collection systems for wastes recycling, diversion, repurposing and other CE initiatives
- Additional number of organizations applying CE and sustainable consumption and production practices in partner LGUs
- Additional jobs (including green jobcreated across the circular economy value chain, disaggregated by gender and groups
- At least 10 LGUs in which nationally defined green procurement criteria have been applied
- About 15 LGUs that feed their NDC reporting with improved gender and youth sensitive data on cobenefits of CE
The above results shall be achieved through the following Outputs:
Output 1: Improved capacities of LGUs and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor resilient and inclusive circular economy strategies
Output 2: GEDSIresponsive local policies and regulations designed and applied to enable circular and green growth opportunities and practices
Output 3: Public and private financing effectively mobilized to implement gender responsive and inclusive CE strategies and programmes
Output 4: Enhanced community innovation and demonstration projects applied to address priority CE solutions in partner LGUs
Output 5: Enhanced CE behavior and practices of LGUs, private sector, communities and local stakeholders
Output 6: Informal sector, grassroots, civil society organizations, women, youth, and marginalized sector capacitated and integrated into the CE value chain
Output 7: CErelated knowledge management, MERL, GEDSI and safeguards in place to strengthen and replicate CE uptake in the Philippines
The Project shall be implemented in partnership with LGUs. A total of 20 Tier 1 LGUs will be supported directly, while 40 LGUs will be supported with targeted assistance on a demanddriven basis. Out of Tier 1 LGUs, 10 LGUs have been identified:
• Baguio City
• Pasig City
• Caloocan City
• Quezon City
• Iloilo city/Metro Iloilo
• Ormoc City
• Del Carmen municipality/Siargao islands
• Island Garden City of Samal
• Davao City
• Puerto Princesa City/Palawan
The remaining Tier 1 cities will be identified suring the first year of implementation.
UNDP Philippines takes overall responsibility and accountability for the delivery of the project outputs. It will be accountable for managing the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, achieving project results, and for the effective use of resources, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures. These include relevant requirements on fiduciary, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, and other performance standards.
The daytoday implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMresponsible for ensuring that the project achieves the expected targets to the required quality standards and within the specified time and budget allocations. The Project Manager will be supported by a Deputy Project Manager, Project Assistants, technical staff and a pool of contractors and consultants to carry out the deliverables of the project.
UNDP is seeking a Value Chain and Business Development Specialist to lead the activities of SO2: enhanced practices of the circular waste economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and the civil society sector, with focus on youth and gender equality. The Value Chain and Business Development Specialist will work with a team of UNDP specifically assigned to work on this programme, including the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, project team, consultants, LGU Hub Coordinators, CO Communication team, and other partners such as the EU, GIZ, IFC, Expertise France, LGUs, and relevant CSO and private sector organizations.
The Value Chain and Business Development Specialist shall be responsible for supporting LGUs including barangays, private sector including MSMEs, Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSgroups, youth, and other stakeholders in the conduct of value chain and feasibility/viability assessments; in identifying CE business opportunities through a holistic portfolio approach; and in linking their priority CE activities and policies into the broader value chain for enhanced market access, quality assurance, and business case development.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Value Chain and Business Development Specialist will directly report to the Project Manager, closely collaborate with the Deputy Project Manager, the rest of the PMU, consultants, UNDP Team, and the EUGEPP programme and project partners.
Strengthen circular economy value chain within the programme/project context
- Develop common tools, methodologies or approaches to systematize value chain analysis, conduct rapid/simplified feasibility assessments, and develop business models to facilitate business/livelihood/sustainability opportunities across the whole value chain and supply network;
- Oversee the deployment across all sectors, and their value chain and supply networks, of circular economy principles by the firm(contracted as part of the EU GEPP project;
- Ensure the integration of GEDSI groups, including the informal waste sector, youth and women into the existing or planned CE value chains, taking into account local assets, skills, resources and partnerships;
- Work with the PMU and policy expert to ensure that value chain or systems approach are considered in the design of new local policies, including the identification of structural or systems barriers;
- With a value chain and business development lens, support the green procurement expert in embedding systemic CE principles across the procurement strategies of LGUs;
- Support the effective implementation of local Extended Producer Responsibility (EPreadiness measures and ensure that EPR principles are integrated seamlessly across the overall value chain and supply network, including building partnerships and developing business arrangements between LGUs/local waste diverters and the EPR obliged enterprises;
- Support the firm contracted under the EU GEPP project in the identification of bottlenecks to the deployment of circular economy across value chains and supply networks of all sectors.
Lead the application of value chain and review feasibility assessment studies for identified circular economy innovations/policies of LGUs and local stakeholders
- Conduct value chain, rapid/preliminary feasibility assessments and systems analysis studies for each CE focus area identified by the LGUs and local stakeholders, including proposed local policies and opportunities for GEDSIled CE innovations and business opportunities;
- Develop TORs for consultants to conduct feasibility studies for the establishment of CE facilities and for investable CE proposals by the LGUs;
- For each CE initiative, establish the systems landscape, identify valueaddition steps, and validate the results with stakeholders in close cooperation with the LGU and
- Stakeholder Engagement Specialist and the rest of the PMU and consultants, specifically those that will provide opportunities for the informal waste sector, communities, youth, womens’ groups, MSMEs and other stakeholders to actively participate and benefit from the CE;
Informed by the results of value chain and feasibility analyses, recommend highvalue or highimpact entry points in any segment of the value chain to embed CE innovations; - Support the green procurement or policy/legal expert in embedding systemic circular economy principles across the procurement contracts of partner LGUs;
- Work with the social and environmental safeguards specialist and the GEDSI specialist to identify measures to avoid and mitigate any possible social and environmental risks and to ensure measures to ensure GEDSI.
Lead business development and related capacity building and skills enhancement support activities
- Lead and coordinate with the LGUs, PMU and relevant stakeholders to provide business training and support for participants and entrepreneurs;
- Codesign business plans for innovative CE intervention identified by the partner LGUs and local stakeholders, taking into account results of the value chain and prioritizing areas;
- Provide opportunities for the informal waste sector, communities, youth, womens’ groups, MSMEs and other stakeholders to actively participate in and benefit from the CE;
- Provide technical guidance to create information technology or digital solutions for green procurement and value chain mechanisms whenever applicable;
- Develop training materials and deliver training on business registration, legal and regulatory framework, business tax policies, administrative procedures to follow for business registration, etc.;
- Prepare an easytofollow stepbystep guideline for businesses and communitybased enterprises to to strengthen their organization, acquire legal identities and relevant permits and others;
- Provide advice to LGUs and local stakeholders, through the respective LGU and Stakeholder Engagement Specialists, on the business development aspects of interventions;
- Prepare training materials or tool kits and provide training on marketing, market surveys, market data, market updates, branding, etc. to startups, particularly those who have received business training, equipment support from the project, and those who have set up their new enterprises;
- Mentorship, selection of viable business ideas, develop and mature business ideas, prepare documents for granting;
- Provide services to potential microentrepreneurs in various areas including support development of business plans, incubation, technology support, marketing, financial management and various training on overall business development;
- Organize training, workshops, and information sessions to improve the knowledge and capacities of youth in related thematic areas;
- Lead to organize business networking opportunities to link CE entrepreneurs to network and showcase their products and services;
- Support in organizing innovation and entrepreneurship workshops and challenge events with the government and other stakeholders;
- Identify training needs of local businesses, build alliances with relevant stakeholders, and facilitate capacity building of small enterprises to address identified weaknesses;
- Any other business support required by the team.
Provide specialized support in project management
- Support project manager in preparing annual work plan that includes the project budget, human resources, procurement plan, M&E plan, and communication plan;
- In collaboration with the knowledge management analyst and MERL specialist, document all project activities, information, data, and results related to the value chain and business development;
- Provide business development and feasibility assessment lens to the development and/or enhancement of the MERL framework;
- Prepare TORs for Consultants, firms and other service providers to deliver on the results of the Project to develop circular economy business opportunities for informal sector and other groups;
- Conduct technical reviews and overall supervision of Consultants, firms and other contractors involved in developing CE value chain in partner LGUs.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion interagency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Crossfunctional & technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
- Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
- Business Development
System Thinking : Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management
- Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
- Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decisionmaking
Digital & Innovation
- Digital marketing: Knowledge of digital marketing methods and ability to apply them practically
- Innovation ecosystem curation: Ability to identify key players in an ecosystem, engage with them and mobilise them to build a community and over time a movement around a common mission that can bring about changes at the system level; Ability to give sense of purpose and build trust, develop programmes of activities and platforms to build and strengthen relationships.
Partnership management
- Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalenin Business Administration, Marketing, Enterprise Development, Engineering, Finance, Policy, and any other relevant field; OR
- A firstlevel university degree (Bachelor’s degrein the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum five (5) years (with master’s degreor seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degreof relevant professional experience in business development, value or supply chain analysis, and feasibility or profitability assessments, including feedstock inventory, market linkage assessments and systems/portfolio analysis.
- At least three years of experience in conducting value chain analysis or feasibility assessments with the private sector is required.
- Knowledge on business registration procedures and requirements; Philippine trade, industry or labour laws, and other related rules/regulation.
- Proven experience in developing training packages and delivering training in areas relevant to this assignment (e.g., business planning, marketing, financial management, systems or value chain analysis, feasibility assessments, etc.) is an asset.
- Previous experience with or for a United Nations agency, a development cooperation agency, or international NGO would be an advantage.
- Experience working with or for government counterparts, international organizations, and relevant stakeholders in entrepreneurship, business development or logistics management is an advantage.
- Understanding of IT/digital solutions as applied to circular economy or related fields;’
- Understanding of LGU processes and needs of local stakeholders on local development and environmental issues.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in English and Filipino/Tagalog is required
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Nondiscrimination
UNDP has a zerotolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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