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 :
- Strengthening Ancestral Domain Governance with Human Rights and Gender Perspectives;
- Promoting Gender-Equitable and Culturally Appropriate Economic Empowerment; and
- 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 NCIP Region XI, the Regional Project Coordinating Assistant will be responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and monitoring socio-economic projects and activities in ICC / IP communities within I-LEAD sites in Region XI. S / he will ensure effective stakeholder engagement, cultural integration, and alignment with project objectives.
Specific Functions :
Support Coordination, Planning, and Implementation Support the planning, scheduling, execution, and monitoring of project activities in I-LEAD sites, ensuring alignment of all activities with project objectives, approved work plans and budget; Facilitate resource mobilization and provide logistical support for project activities ensuring compliance with UNDP guidelines and policies. Prepare regional work and financial plans in coordination with partner agencies and stakeholders. Support the integration of Culturally Responsive and Rights based Management and Development Plan (CRMDP) / Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP)) with local and regional development programs. Organize and document Regional Inter-Agency Technical Working Group meetings and monitor action points to maintain functional convergence mechanisms. Ensure collaboration with NCIP Regional Office units as well as the Provincial Office and Community Service Centers for holistic implementation of I-LEAD. Prepare and submit periodic progress and status reports to the PMU, NCIP Central Office and Regional Office, ensuring compliance to UNDP and donor requirements. Attend meetings and coordinate with the Climate Action Programme Team for administrative and financial oversight.Support Stakeholder Engagement and Community Facilitation Maintain regular communication with Field Assistants (Community Facilitators) and support community consultations, meetings, and capacity-building sessions Assist in the facilitation of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to protocols Build and sustain collaborative relationships / partnerships with LGUs, national government agencies, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders Foster trust and open communication with IP leaders, elders, and community representatives. Participate the project in local and regional meetings and consultations, as delegated.Support Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting Collect and consolidate data on project implementation, outputs, and community feedback. Prepare periodic progress reports, documentation of activities, and accomplishment reports. Maintain organized records of project documents including reports, agreements, documentation, etc; Identify implementation issues and escalate to the I-LEAD Project Manager for resolution.Socio-Economic and Cultural Development Support Assist in identifying livelihood and cultural development opportunities for IP communities. Support integration of traditional knowledge and cultural values into project activities. Promote sustainable and culturally appropriate interventions in coordination with stakeholders.Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing relevant to the assigned project. 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 deadlineThink 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 feedbackAdapt 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, confidentEngage and Partner : LEVEL 1 : Demonstrates compassion / understanding towards others, forms positive relationshipsEnable 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 Working with evidence and data Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-makingBusiness Direction & Strategy Business acumen Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organizationPartnership 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 understandingFinance Budget management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgetsAdministration & 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 is required. OrUniversity Degree in in Social Sciences, Community Development, Economics, Public Administration, or related fields. will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.Experience :
A minimum of 5 years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in project coordination or socio-economic development involving Indigenous Peoples or Rural Communities.At least 2 years of experience working with the NCIP or other line agencies in the Philippines including international organizations, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and local government units.Experience in project planning, coordination, and monitoring, including preparation of work plans and progress reports.Knowledge and experience in stakeholder engagement and community organizing.Proficiency in data collection and analysisProficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).Desired Skills :
Experience and basic understanding of socio-economic development and cultural integration.Familiarity with the IPRA, IKSP, FPIC processes and culturally sensitive approaches.Familiarity with M&E tools and results-based reporting.Required Languages :
Fluency in English and Filipino is required.Working knowledge of Visayan is desired.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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