Consultant (External Ex-Post Evaluation)

Position Title: Consultant (External Ex-Post Evaluation)

Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Cotabato)

Classification: Consultant

Type of Appointment: Consultancy, four months

Estimated Start Date: August 2024

Closing Date: 01 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:

The World Risk Index 2023 ranked the Philippines as the number one country (out of 193 countries) with the highest level of disaster risk worldwide. Between 2013 and 2017, the country experienced 72 extreme disaster events, including typhoons, storms, and earthquakes, affecting approximately 63 million individuals, with 7,500 deaths. These events, along with further environmental degradation, cause migration and displacement. Moreover, communities observe climatic changes and consequential impacts but remain largely unaware of the connection between the two.

Currently, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the government entity leading climate policy, has taken various initiatives to support climate adaptation efforts, including those implemented through the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) of each local government unit. However, the CCC acknowledged that migration, including forced movement and displacement, has not been considered in assessing the impact of climate change in the Philippines. The CCC is considering safe and orderly migration as a key component of its strategy to enhance climate resilience and mitigate risks for impacted communities. Thus, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, reached out to the CCC to improve the awareness and capacity of local duty-bearers on climate risks and migration in the Philippines.

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM has been actively engaging in operational, research, and policy and advocacy efforts in environmental migration. As the first international organization to have established an institutional unit fully devoted to this topic, IOM aims to effectively develop capacity of government partners to understand the complex issues of managing migration in the context of climate change, as well as in promoting public awareness and community resilience for climate change and its impact on migration.

With support from the IOM Development Fund, IOM implemented the “Climate Change Adaptation and Community Resilience in the Philippines’’ (CARP) project from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2023 with the overall objective of building community resilience to climate change through strengthened capacities of governments and stakeholders to facilitate migration as an adaptation strategy and raise public awareness about the issue. The project was implemented in 11 geographical areas including the Municipality of Bantayan, Municipality of Obando, Municipality of Pilar, Municipality of South Upi, Municipality of Bongao, Municipality of Panglima Sugala, Municipality of Virac, Cotabato City, Iloilo City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Zamboanga City, Bulacan province, and Tawi-Tawi province. To this end, the project identified the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: The Climate Change Commission actively utilizes evidence gathered to develop gender-sensitive programmes on climate change and migration.
• Outcome 2: The general public, with a special focus on cities most affected by climate change-related natural hazards, demonstrates an understanding of climate change and climate change adaptation strategies, and a willingness to take informed actions.
• Outcome 3: Local government and vulnerable communities demonstrate enhanced capacities to develop Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP) and access climate financing to implement LCCAPs.

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: Programme Support Unit / Climate Change Adaptation and Community Resilience in the Philippines (CARP) Project (NC.0045)

Project Context and Scope:

This evaluation will be conducted for learning and accountability purposes. To facilitate organisational learning, IOM will use the findings and recommendations from the CARP project evaluation to design, implement and monitor projects of similar nature. The evaluation’s main audience is the country office’s senior management. The evaluation will also help inform strategies for stakeholder engagement, particularly in advocating for safe and orderly migration as a form of climate resilience. IOM will also share findings with concerned national and local government offices as a business case for the same reasons. The evaluation also aims to promote transparency and accountability by assisting the IOM Development Fund in its decision-making on project selection, the use of the Fund as seed funding mechanism, and the refinement of funding criteria interpretation and categorization, as well as overall regional disbursement strategies.

The ex-post, external evaluation of the project will be coordinated with the IOM Development Fund and is scheduled to occur at least twelve months after the end of the project. The final evaluation will cover the following:

• Full project period from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2023;
• Full geographic scope of the project, including the following participating local government units (LGUs): Municipality of Bantayan, Municipality of Obando, Municipality of Pilar, Municipality of South Upi, Municipality of Bongao, Municipality of Panglima Sugala, Municipality of Virac, Cotabato City, Iloilo City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Zamboanga City, Bulacan province, and Tawi-Tawi province.
• All groups of project participants, including members of the project team; select participants and resource persons in the training, consultation, and community dialogue activities; stakeholders from the national government and Local Government Units (LGUs); and project partners including service providers and consultants, with logistical considerations for programme participants; and
• Cross-cutting themes that will be assessed, including gender mainstreaming, human rights and disability inclusion.

The evaluation will also cover good practices, lessons, and recommendations on the following:

a. Engagement with local, regional, and national government offices as primary stakeholders;

b. Advocacy for safe and orderly migration as a strategy for climate resilience and risk mitigation;

c. Identification of existing and potential approaches for incorporating climate resilience and risk mitigation in local development plans;

d. Awareness raising and capacity building initiatives for local communities;

e. Resource management to achieve optimal results.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as social sciences or statistics is required.
• A minimum of five years of experience leading and conducting evaluations is required.
• Knowledge/experience of the UN system.
• Experience in climate change and migration preferred.
• Skills in evaluation design, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, drafting and editing in English, communication, time management, and cultural sensitivity are required.

Languages

• For this consultancy, fluency in English is required. Basic familiarity with Filipino and/or other Philippine languages 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 for following IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

IOM is an intergovernmental organization, and as such is exempted of 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.