Consultant (Community Vulnerability Risk Assessment)

Position Title: Consultant (Community Vulnerability Risk Assessment)

Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Cotabato)

Classification: Consultant

Type of Appointment: Consultancy, seven months

Estimated Start Date: ASAP

Closing Date: 08 August 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub-Office and the direct supervision of the National Program Coordinator (Peace, Transition and Recovery Unit), with technical guidance from the Sr. Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Assistant, the Consultant will provide technical assistance and support the implementation of the project “NEXUS Approach to Transformative Climate Resilience, Peace, and Human Mobility in BARMM”, particularly through the conduct of community vulnerability risk assessment (CVRA) tailored to the local climate-conflict-human mobility context and dynamics, integration of CVRA findings to the project’s initiatives, and the development of study brief providing in-depth analysis on data collected from the CVRA exercise and recommendations on policies, programmes, and services on anti-Trafficking in Persons (TiP), climate adaptation, and peace and security.

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: IOM’s Peace, Transition and Recovery Unit (PTRU) in Cotabato Sub-Office

Project Context and Scope:

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), communities are often exposed to complex, compounded effects of intersecting climate, security, and trafficking risks. The interconnectedness of the three risks has also been explored in IOM’s 2023 participatory action research. The region frequently faces extreme weather and climate events, leading to human, socioeconomic, and environmental toll, while conflicts driven by clan feuds, political rivalries, and land feuds, amplify the climate impact, especially on vulnerable, disadvantaged communities, such as women and girls, youths, elderly, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (IPs), with limited adaptation and response capacity. The region is also a significant source of overseas workers, with irregular and high-risk migration patterns. Cases of trafficking in persons (TiP), illegal recruitment, and human smuggling, which are often underreported, tends to proliferate especially amidst crisis and disasters and amongst vulnerable, disadvantaged communities as the result of exacerbated vulnerabilities, devastation, and loss that compel individuals to take negative coping mechanisms.

The project “NEXUS Approach to Transformative Climate Resilience, Peace, and Human Mobility in BARMM” overall aims to strengthen the climate resilience of communities in BARMM through responsive governance and meaningful community engagement in the climate-conflict-human mobility nexus. This will be achieved through providing support to promote integrated, informed policies and programmes to mitigate the emerging threats of the climate-conflict-human mobility particularly trafficking and to reduce vulnerabilities to trafficking in the face of conflict and disasters. At-risk communities, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized who are susceptible to trafficking and unsafe, unwanted migration during conflicts and disasters, will be the primary beneficiary group of this project.

Realistic Delivery Dates and Details as to how the work must be delivered.

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

With overall guidance from the project team, the Consultant will provide technical assistance to the conduct of CVRA tailored to local climate-conflict-human mobility context and dynamics. The exercise will collect quantitative and qualitative data on target at-risk communities in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi. Through desk reviews, onsite field observations, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informative Interviews (KIIs), among others, the CVRA will study the data on sociodemographic and geophysical characteristics of the target communities; existing conflict, climate, and trafficking risks; available mechanisms, resources and capacity of the communities to mitigate and respond to the risks; and, experiences and challenges faced by the communities, highlighting the complex interplay of climate, conflict, and trafficking risks and differences based on gender, age, ethnicity, ability, and socioeconomic status. The Consultant is further expected to support the integration of CVRA findings to the project’s interventions and craft a study brief providing in-depth analysis of the collected data and recommendations on priority policies, programmes, and services on anti-TiP, climate adaptation, and peace and security.

In delivering the initiative, the Consultant will promote participatory approach engaging key BARMM government agencies including the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Environment (MENRE), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), Overseas of Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Bangsamoro of Human Rights Commission (BHRC), Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC), the regional and local Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC), Local Government Units (LGUs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and academic institutions. At-risk communities, including, to the extent possible, the victims of trafficking, human smuggling, illegal recruitment, Gender-based Violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) will be engaged to promote victim-centred, people-centred approach to CVRA exercise.

The Consultant will perform the following:

• Lead the consultation and coordination with key BARMM government, LGUs and target at risk-communities of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi needed to determine appropriate CVRA methodologies, tools, and workplans, plan for the execution of the CVRA exercise, craft, validate and share the findings of the CVRA, and to secure the buy-in from the key stakeholders.
• Craft CVRA methodologies, tools and workplans, in consideration to existing data and integrating the inputs from the key stakeholders.
• Conduct CVRA exercises tailored to the local climate-conflict-trafficking context and dynamics, following the agreed upon methodologies, tools and workplans.
• Support the integration of key findings from the CVRA to the project’s initiatives especially on developing climate-/conflict-resilient livelihood, driving policy advocacies, and strengthening anti-TiP mechanisms and community engagement.
• Develop a study brief providing in-depth analysis of the collected data and key recommendations on priority policies, programmes, and services on anti-TiP, climate adaptation, and peace and security.

These services shall be provided by the consultant, potentially working in hybrid mode with duty station in IOM Cotabato Sub-Office during a period of seven (7) months, starting from 1 August 2024. Conduct of any face-to-face activities is understood to be subject to observance of applicable health protocols and to any movement restrictions that may be imposed by the Philippine government. The Consultant is expected to consider sensitivities to different gender, age, ability, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the implementation of the tasks assigned. S/he will adhere to protection principles and mainstream protection, such as by following survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches, and ensure safeguarding mechanisms are in place, especially in the engagement with victims of human trafficking, illegal recruitment, human smuggling, GBV and SEA.

Deliverables are to be performed in accordance with the following indicative schedule and may adjust upon further deliberation:

First deliverable – Submission of inception report, including finalized Community Vulnerability Risk Assessment (CVRA) methodologies, tools and detailed workplan (First instalment payment: 30%)

• August 2024 – Organize preparatory consultation and coordination meetings with BARMM ministries and agencies, LGUs, CSOs, academic institutions, and target communities, and conduct desk reviews of available data and information, to inform the initial draft of CVRA methodologies, tools and workplan.
• August 2024 – Prepare draft CVRA methodologies, tools and workplan, based on the results of initial consultations and desk reviews, to present at the CVRA strategic planning and development workshop with key stakeholders.
• September 2024 – Prepare an activity design for CVRA strategic planning and development workshop and provide technical assistance in organizing and facilitating the workshop based on the agreed upon activity design.
• September 2024 – Finalize and submit an inception report outlining the CVRA methodologies, tools, and workplans incorporating the technical recommendations gathered from the workshop.

Second deliverable –Submission of CVRA report, including key findings and a snapshot of CVRA results (Second instalment payment: 40%)

• September 2024 – Organize a capacity building session and data collection orientation with identified data enumerators and processors.
• September – October 2024 – Provide technical assistance and supervision to the conduct of the field data collection activities with target communities, local stakeholders, and LGUs.
• October 2024 – Prepare preliminary findings of the CVRA to present at the validation sessions with key stakeholders.
• October 2024 – Prepare an activity design for validation sessions with key stakeholders and provide technical assistance in organizing and facilitating the validation sessions based on the agreed upon activity design.
• November 2024 – Finalize and submit a CVRA report including key findings and a snapshot capturing the vulnerabilities and risks of the target communities, and local climate-conflict-trafficking context and dynamics.

Final deliverable: Submission of final comprehensive report, including finalized study brief (Final instalment payment: 30%)

• November 2024 – January 2025 – Produce a study brief consolidating in-depth analysis on the collected data from the CVRA activities and providing key recommendations on policies, programmes and services on anti-TiP, climate adaptation, and peace and security.
• November 2024 – February 2025 – Provide technical assistance to IOM’s project staff and consultants in incorporating the key findings of the CVRA to the project’s initiatives such as on climate-/conflict-resilient livelihood assistance, policy advocacies on the Bill on the Establishment of the Ministry of Migrant Workers in BARMM and the localization of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, and on the engagement with regional and local IACAT and the development of localized anti-TiP and safe migration messages.
• February 2025 – Finalize the study brief and provide technical assistance in M&E activities of CVRA component of the project.
• February 28, 2025 – Submit final report of the consultancy including handover of data sets, photo documentation, and outputs of the relevant activities; end of contract.

Performance indicators for evaluation results

• Quality and timeliness of the expected deliverables (value of services rendered in relation to their cost).
• Effective adaptation of thematic resources and information into materials and key messaging that are relevant to the target audience.
• Application of a results-based approach to the consultancy – i.e. deliverables are aligned with project objectives and contribute concretely to the overall impact of the project.
• Efficient coordination with the project team and all necessary stakeholders (e.g., BARMM Ministries, LGUs, community groups and sectors).
• Strict adherence to ethical standards, including confidentiality and data protection.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in social sciences (community development, sociology, social work, political science, peace, and development, etc.) or an equivalent degree.
• Extensive knowledge of migration management, climate change, peace, and protection-related issues such as human trafficking, human rights, or other relevant areas.
• Professional experience in policy analysis and formulation, analytical skills with the ability to write and review technical documents/reports, conduct interviews as part of background research, and draft research reports.
• Sound experience in liaising with a broad range of stakeholders, including government, private sector, community members, and civil societies.
• Excellent facilitation skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong familiarity with the context of BARMM and surrounding areas, knowledge of the migration, environment, and climate change issues and programs at the National and Local levels.

Languages

• For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required. Knowledge of another BARMM local language is desirable.

Note

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

IOM is an intergovernmental organization, and as such is exempted from all taxes in the Philippines. Therefore, it is not obligated to retain any taxes that should be owed to the Government of the Philippines as part of the execution of this contract. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to comply with any fiscal obligations that might be applicable.

Copyright

The ownership of intellectual products developed during this project will be shared with the government entities partaking in its creation, as well as IOM’s regional office. Government agencies and the cooperating agency must be warranted visibility and recognition, through the use of their logos in every document and any other material that might be a result of these intellectual production. Applications received later or that do not specify the name of the call will not be considered.

Required Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• **Courage:**demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 1

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

How to apply

Interested evaluators are invited to submit the following materials to hrphilippines@iom.int by 08 August 2024 indicating in the subject of the mail “CON 2024 019 – Community Vulnerability Risk Assessment (CVRA) Consultant”.

The submission should include:

1. Motivation letter and Curriculum Vitae

2. A cover letter (not more than one page)

3. IOM Personal History Form. To access the form, please visit our careers page at philippines.iom.int.

4. References – names and contacts of three to five references from the current and/or previous direct supervisors using the sequence below:

• Name
• Position
• Company
• Relationship (Current or Previous direct Supervisor)
• Contact number/s
• E-mail address

5. An all-inclusive financial proposal outlining the consultancy fee.

6. Reference of similar or related work done in the past

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.