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. Since March 2024 UNDP has been working with the European Union (EU) in implementing the EU Philippines Green Economy Programme (The Programme). The Programme has the purpose of supporting the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy, including a circular economy, sustainable consumption and production, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy and material efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation. The Programme acknowledges that the transition to a circular economy will have other added benefits such as reduction of the use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, improved 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 city-to-city 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 (LGUs) where EU expertise will support to define and implement circular economy, climate change, and energy policies with a human rights and gender-responsive perspective, outreach and support of local business and civil society, and support less advanced LGUs;
- Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors in the circular waste economy and creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting business-driven 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, waste-reduction 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 local government units (LGUs) on circular waste economy in collaboration with private and civil society organizations (CSOs), 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 CO2eq) from 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 jobs) created 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 co-benefits of CE
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 demand-driven basis. Out of Tier 1 LGUs, 10 LGUs have so far 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 during 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 day-to-day implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible 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.
The Social Innovation Specialist will directly report to the Project Manager and through the Deputy Project Manager. As the Project is overseen by the Climate Action Programme, the Social Innovation Specialist is expected to coordinate and collaborate closely with the Programme Team members when required.
The Social Innovation Specialist will also coordinate closely with the Accelerator Lab (ALab PH; see https://www.undp.org/philippines/publications/undp-accelerator-labs-philippines-dossier) to ensure continuity and consistency with UNDP’s previous and ongoing innovation efforts and approaches, including on circular economy and related portfolios (e.g., inclusive innovation, future-ready governance).
The Social Innovation Specialist is expected to coordinate with government partners (national and local), CSOs, and other key partners in the conduct of his/her duties.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the strategic management of the innovation components of the Project and, in collaboration with relevant UNDP PH colleagues, steer the delivery of activities focusing on achievement of the following Project results:
- Output 1 Improved capacities of LGUs and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor resilient and inclusive circular economy strategies – lead in the application of systemic design and other relevant social innovation methods to support the target LGUs in defining their portfolios of circular economy solutions;
- Output 2 GEDSI-responsive local policies and regulations designed and applied to enable circular and green growth opportunities and practices – support LGUs and local partners in assessing their circular economy practices and identifying opportunities, particularly on green public procurement.
- Output 3 Public and private financing effectively mobilized to implement gender responsive and inclusive CE strategies and programmes – explore and pursue opportunities to unlock innovative financing for innovative CE solutions.
- Output 4 Enhanced community innovation and demonstration projects applied to address priority CE solutions in partner LGUs – design and manage an innovation challenge grants mechanism for novel CE solutions, including grassroots innovations, that can be tested and scaled in partner LGUs.
- Output 5 Enhanced CE behavior and practices of LGUs, private sector, communities and local stakeholders – assist LGUs and local partners in applying collective intelligence, behavioral insights, or other methods to drive change in practices and behaviors towards CE.
- Output 6 Informal sector, grassroots, civil society organizations, women, youth, and marginalized sector capacitated and integrated into the CE value chain – ensure that these marginalized sectors are included in the development of CE portfolios and that grassroots innovations for CE are provided special support.
- Output 7 CE-related knowledge management, MERL, GEDSI and safeguards in place to strengthen and replicate CE uptake in the Philippines – support the monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment of innovation activities in support of the overall KM, MERL, and GEDSI plans of the Project.