Background

Despite the landmark passage of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), many Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) continue to experience poverty, marginalization, and limited access to basic services and decision-making spaces. Women and girls remain disproportionately excluded due to entrenched sociocultural and institutional barriers that limit their leadership, control over and resources, and access to finance, training, digital tools, and economic opportunities. I-LEAD seeks to address these challenges by ‘affirming and strengthening the rights and leadership capacities of at least 1,600 indigenous women and girls across four ancestral domains of Regions XI and XII in Mindanao by 2030, through improved access to information, decision-making spaces, economic opportunities, and leadership roles within their ancestral domains’.

I-LEAD's Theory of Change posits that ‘if indigenous women and girls are equipped with the capacities, skills, and platforms to understand, assert, and exercise their rights, and if ancestral domain governance structures, national and local duty-bearers, and development partners adopt gender-responsive—inclusive-- and rights-based service delivery models, then indigenous women and girls will be positioned to meaningfully participate in governance and decision-making, access improved services, and engage in economic activities aligned with their cultural values and environmental realities’.

With support from the Government of New Zealand and in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Project will be implemented through three interlinked components:

1. Strengthening Ancestral Domain Governance with Human Rights and Gender Perspectives;
2. Promoting Gender-Equitable and Culturally Appropriate Economic Empowerment; and
3. Enhancing the Capacity of the NCIP and other Stakeholders on Human Rights-Based, Gender Responsive, and Culturally Appropriate Policy Development and Knowledge Management.

Together, these components will deliver nine (9) key outputs that contribute to three long-term outcomes: (i) Resilient, Responsive, and Relevant indigenous women and girls, and ICCs/IPs; (ii) Economically empowered indigenous women and girls; and (iii) Improved access to basic services by indigenous women and girls. Collectively, these advance the project’s overarching goal: ‘ICCs/IPs in the Philippines are economically empowered and resilient, enjoying decent and sustainable livelihoods that support their cultural integrity and enhanced intergenerational well-being’. Implemented over four years (2026–2030), I-LEAD adopts an integrated, rights-based, gender-transformative, and systems-strengthening approach, convening ICCs/IPs, local government units, national government agencies, and civil society to co-create solutions anchored in indigenous rights, cultural identity, human rights, and gender equality. The project emphasizes evidence-based planning, participatory decision-making, capacity development, digital connection, and scalable women and youth-led enterprise models to advance inclusive development. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the I-LEAD Project Manager and with guidance from the NCIP Office on Socio-Economic Services and Special Concerns (OSESSC), the Capacity Development and Partnership Coordinating Assistant will support initiatives to strengthen NCIP’s institutional capacity and strategic partnerships for Indigenous Peoples development. S/he will ensure that all interventions are culturally sensitive, participatory, and aligned with IP rights and priorities.

Specific Functions:

1. Support Capacity Development
   1. In coordination with the I-LEAD Capacity Development Expert, support curriculum development for capacity-building programs (e.g., IPRA Academy), integrating economic empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion.
   2. Support the development and implementation of training programs, learning exchanges, and knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen institutional and community capacities;
   3. Document capacity development activities and use insights to improve learning materials, methodologies, and/or programs.
2. Support Partnership Building and Coordination
   1. Liaise between and among NCIP, UNDP, LGUs, and partner organizations to ensure effective collaboration and program alignment.
   2. Coordinate with relevant government offices (e.g., NCIP, DSWD, DA, DENR, TESDA) for resource mobilization and integration of capacity-building initiatives.
   3. Facilitate partnerships with NGOs, private sector, and development partners to support IP development programs.
   4. Organize and manage stakeholder meetings, consultations, and communication to ensure smooth project implementation and convergence of efforts.
3. Support Documentation and Communication
   1. Prepare and maintain communication materials, reports, and documentation of capacity development and coordination activities.
   2. Support the timely and accurate dissemination of project updates and information to stakeholders.
   3. Maintain proper documentation of agreements, commitments, and partnership arrangements.
4. Administrative and Logistical Support
   1. Organize and coordinate logistical arrangements for training sessions, meetings, field visits, and official engagements.
   2. Manage travel arrangements, schedules, and related requirements for project staff and partners;
   3. Maintain records of communications, contacts, and official correspondences.
   4. Attend meetings and coordinate with the Climate Action Programme Team for administrative and financial oversight.
5. Support Monitoring and Reporting and knowledge sharing  
   1. Monitor progress of the coordinative or convergence activities with stakeholders and partners.
   2. Prepare periodic updates and submit reports to the Project Coordinator or relevant offices.
   3. Identify issues, bottlenecks, or concerns arising from coordination activities and recommend appropriate actions.
   4. Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

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 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline​  
• Think Innovatively: ​​LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements ​  
• Learn Continuously: ​​LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback​  
• Adapt with Agility: ​​LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible ​  
• Act with Determination: ​​LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident​  
• Engage and Partner: ​​LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships​  
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination ​  

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:  

• Business Management
  • Project management
    • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
  • 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 relate and ensure sensibilities of communication taking into consideration the cultural context of the audience
• Business Development 
  • Knowledge facilitation 
    • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas.
    • Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. 
• Business Direction & Strategy 
  • Systems 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 
• Partnership Management 
  • Relationship management 
    • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 
• Finance 
  • Budget management 
    • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets 
• Administration & Operations 
  • Events management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings) 
    • Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education; OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Education, Human Ecology, Development Communication, Social Sciences, or related fields will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in:
  • Institutional capacity development, including curriculum design, training module development, and competency assessment; and/or
  • Organizational development (OD) and facilitation of adult learning or alternative learning systems.
• At least 2 years of experience working with the NCIP and other line agencies in the Philippines, international organizations, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and local government units.
• Experience in curriculum development, training design, and delivery, including integration of gender and economic empowerment principles.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and implement capacity-building programs and learning exchanges.
• Proficiency in documentation and reporting, including preparation of training materials, progress reports, and evaluation documents.
• Familiarity with e-learning platforms and virtual training tools.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

Desired Skills:

• Experience in web-based and virtual learning platforms and blended learning approaches.
• Proven experience working with ICCs/IPs and/or local communities, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and respect for indigenous customs and traditions.
• Experience and good understanding of IPRA and related policies, as well as local governance systems and customary laws.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality correspondences, reports, and documentation.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in (both in oral and written) English and Filipino is required.
• Working knowledge in Visayan is an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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