Expert in Waste Management Infrastructure Projects (PPP)– Green Economy in the Philippines (H/F)

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

• democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
• peace, stability, and security ;
• climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
• health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.

Drawing on successful experience supporting green solid waste management infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), the Technical Expert will be responsible for steering “Outcome 2” of the Philippines Green Economy Programme.

Outcome 2: Support green infrastructure projects, which engage private sector actors in circular economy waste management

Outcome 2 comprises the following indicative activities:

A.2.1: Expertise provided to PPP Center to accompany green PPP infrastructure projects which are social and gender-inclusive

A.2.2: Expertise to municipalities (Local Government Units) to support two PPP waste management projects

A.2.3: Expertise to municipalities for the development and application of green and gender procurement policies for infrastructure projects

A.2.4: Development of a support program seeking the capacity-building and integration of entrepreneurs and MSME’s involved in waste management

The Technical Expert in Waste Management PPP Projects will be responsible for the following:

1. Intervention strategy and operational steering for Outcome 2

The Technical Expert in Waste Management PPP projects is responsible for the definition and implementation of Outcome 2’s intervention strategy, across all activities, with the support of short-term technical experts, the core project team based in Manila, and the “backstopping” team at Expertise France headquarters, and in close cooperation with partners in the Philippines such as the PPP Center and Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The following responsibilities are included:

• Leading and otherwise participating in co-construction workshops for Outcome 2 with the Philippines PPP Center, Local Government Units, the DENR, and other institutional partners. Identifying capacity-building and other needs in order to inform the Outcome 2 strategy.
• Defining and maintaining an Action plan for the implementation of Outcome 2, including technical and budgetary planning and the submission of regular progress reports.
• Identifying expertise needs and ensuring the mobilization of companies, public and private experts, and implementation partners, by drafting specification documents, sourcing and assessing potential partners, etc.
• Coordinating, guiding, and monitoring the work of companies, experts, and implementation partners with the support of regional technical assistance teams.
• Preparing for and participating in steering committees and regional technical committees.
• Ensuring the internal and external quality and coherence of the project component, particularly with other ongoing programs in the other intervention areas.
• Providing regular reporting to the project officer at Expertise France headquarters.

Weekly exchanges will take place between the management and coordination team and Expertise France headquarters. The Technical Expert also ensures the definition and implementation of activities and tools related to the communication and visibility strategy and the monitoring and evaluation system through the supervision of communication and M&E officers. He/she is also responsible for ensuring compliance with Expertise France procedures, including procurement and financial execution.

2. Capacity-building and technical assistance

The Technical Expert in Waste Management PPP projects will also serve as the primary expert for all activities directly related to PPP projects, including:

A.2.1: Expertise provided to PPP Center to accompany green PPP infrastructure projects which are social and gender-inclusive

A.2.2: Expertise to municipalities (Local Government Units) to support two PPP waste management projects

As the primary expert, the following responsibilities will be included within his/her scope:

• Review and fine-tuning of PPP project-related tools, procedures, policies, and methodologies used by beneficiaries, as well as the proposition of new tools.
• Preparation of training materials for project beneficiaries on co-identified subjects
• Accompanying the Philippines PPP Center in the scoping and assessment of potential projects.
• Preparation of Calls for Tenders for the commissioning of feasibility studies and other technical studies – includes drafting the technical specifications, sourcing and assessing candidates, and preparation of contractual documents.
• Overseeing the implementation of above-mentioned studies, including review and approval of all deliverables (along with the Philippines PPP Center and participating LGUs).
• Preparation for the monitoring and execution of the PPP project through the application of the regulatory framework for the waste sector and dedicated training.
• Ad hoc support related to the technical assistance mission: for example, recruitment and management of additional expert, organisation and participation in learning exchanges, etc.

It will be important for the Technical Expert to employ a methodology which favours the transfer of skills and knowledge to project beneficiaries.

Contextual elements

The economic dynamism of the Philippines has created significant gains in poverty reduction, with poverty rates dropping by over 50% in the last decades. The rapid growth of the middle class and domestic consumption in the Philippines, however have contributed towards significant levels of waste which the country is unable to manage.

Already one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world, the Philippines seeks to secure its long-term socio-economic outlook by integrating more inclusive and sustainable models of development. To this end, the Philippines has recognized the importance of transitioning towards a circular economy, aiming to minimize waste, promote resource efficiency, and create a closed-loop system where resources are reused, recycled, or regenerated.

The circular economy approach involves the following facets:

• Reducing waste generation: Implementing waste management strategies such as recycling, composting, and waste reduction measures to minimize the amount of waste produced.
• Promoting resource efficiency: Encouraging the efficient use of resources through sustainable production and consumption practices, as well as adopting technologies and processes that optimize resource utilization.
• Encouraging circular business models: Supporting and promoting businesses that adopt circular principles, such as product redesign, remanufacturing, repair, and sharing economy models.
• Enhancing recycling and waste management infrastructure: Improving recycling facilities, waste segregation systems, and promoting proper waste disposal practices to facilitate the recycling and recovery of valuable resources.
• Fostering collaboration and partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, academia, and civil society to drive innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collective action towards a circular economy.

By transitioning to a circular economy, the Philippines aims to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, reduce environmental impacts, create new economic opportunities, and improve the well-being of its people while preserving and restoring the country's natural resources.

The project

The purpose of the Green Economy Programme is to support the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy, including circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation.

The action tackles three main levels:

(i) Establishing a Policy Dialogue Platform at central government level to facilitate policy formulation, improve city to city collaboration through supporting the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy and Roadmap, extend dialogue to promote renewable energy/energy efficiency and to apply the dialogue’s outcomes (linked to Specific Objective 1 of the action);

(ii) Working with Local government units (LGUs) to define and implement circular economy, climate change and energy policies with a human rights and gender - responsive perspective, including outreach and support of local business and civil society (linked to Specific Objective 2 of the action);

(iii) Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors into the circular waste economy creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting business driven waste reduction strategies and circular solutions in the production process (linked to Specific Objective 3 of the action).

Expertise France is engaged on Specific Objective 3, related to private sector engagement. SO 3 will include the following two outcomes:

v Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Transformation of MSME’s

v Support for the development of green infrastructure projects which delegate waste management services to the private sector

The principal beneficiary of the project is the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. For the second outcome, Expertise France will work closely with the Philippines PPP Center, as well as the four Local Government Units to be co-selected with project partners and beneficiaries during the first year of implementation for pilot projects (PPPs as well as Public Procurement projects).

Place of implementation

The programme will be implemented from the Expertise France office in Manila. Travel will be expected on an ad hoc basis to oversee pilot projects implemented in non- Metro Manila LGU’s.

The team

The steering and coordination team, based in Manila, will be responsible for overseeing the activities delegated to Expertise France. Their responsibilities include (i) defining and implementing the intervention strategy, (ii) building and managing the project team, including short-term expertise, (iii) implementing the communication and visibility strategy, as well as the monitoring and evaluation system, and (iv) handling the project's administrative and financial management.

This team will be composed of (indicatively): a project manager, a deputy project manager, an M&E officer, a communications officer, an administrative assistant, an administrative and financial manager, a procurement manager, and the long-term technical expert in waste management PPPs (subject of the call for applications). Other technical experts will be engaged in defining and implementing project activities and will cover various thematic areas, including green economy and green financing, public-private-partnerships in waste management, gender, etc.

The project manager will also be supported by a project officer, as well as an internal PPP expert based at the Expertise France headquarters in Paris. Weekly exchanges will take place between the headquarters and the office in Manila.

The Technical Expert should meet the following profile:

• University degree in Economics and Finance, Business Administration or Engineer diploma or any other relevant field for the mission.
• Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of one or multiple Philippine languages would be an asset.
• Proficiency in office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Strong listening, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational, methodical, and versatile abilities.
• Analytical skills and capacities for synthesizing large quantities of information.
• Methodical, organized, and responsive.
• Self-sufficiency in work.
• Initiative, sense of responsibility, and high level of precision.
• Excellent ability to work in a team.
• Capacity for organization and management.
• Diplomacy and discretion

The Technical Expert should have the following professional experience:

• The expert must have over 10 years of professional experience in solid waste management infrastructure projects, whether within a public administration or within the private sector.
• The expert should have specific professional experience in financial management and transaction of PPP projects (including having structured at least two PPP projects in the waste sector)
• Experience in capacity building, skills transfer, team mentoring, co-construction of deliverables
• The selected expert should demonstrate strong adaptability and integration skills to carry out their tasks in a new professional environment and ensure the progress of activities.

Professional experience in the ASEAN region would be a considerable advantage.

Location of the mission: Manila, Philippines, with regular travel expected throughout the country.

Duration of the mission: Initial mission of 3 months with the possibility of a 3 – 4 year work contract upon successful completion.

To apply for this position, please supply the following:

• CV
• Motivation Letter
• References

Starting date: January 2025

Salary: According to profile