Project Assistant

About People In Need

People in Need (PIN) is an international non-governmental organization founded in the Czech Republic, that has been providing aid in troubled regions and supporting respect for human rights since 1992. Being one of the largest NGOs in Central Europe, PIN has implemented hundreds of humanitarian and development projects in crisis and poverty-stricken areas across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central America.

The organization began its operations in the Philippines in 2013 as a response to the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Since then, PIN's programs in the Philippines have evolved and spread to a variety of sectors, such as market systems development, sustainable livelihoods, disaster resilience, renewable energy, peace, and social cohesion.

About The LEAP Bangsamoro Project In BARMM

The Leveraging and Expanding Agri-Aqua Production in Bangsamoro (LEAP Bangsamoro) project, which is funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen the coffee and seaweed value chains in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in support of the economic development goals of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project is designed to address the identified gaps in access to nurseries, processing facilities, financial services, and product quality assistance. Additionally, it focuses on leveraging intercropping opportunities and increasing the involvement of women, indigenous people, and youth in the value chains.

This project presents an exciting opportunity for a Project Assistant to contribute to the sustainable development of the coffee and seaweed value chains, promote inclusive practices, and drive positive economic change in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

About The Role

The Project Assistant will provide crucial support to the Project Officer and other project staff in the implementation of the LEAP project for coffee and seaweed value chain development. S/he will play a key role in assisting with project planning, stakeholder engagement, information dissemination, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and other project-related tasks. Effective organizational and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

The Project Assistant is expected to work for a substantial period in the project area: Province of Sulu.

Work to be performed:

The Project Assistant will be responsible for supporting the Project Officer and other technical staff in the following tasks:

• Project Planning and Implementation:
• Assist in the development and updating of project plans, timelines, and deliverables
• Help monitor project progress and ensure adherence to project timelines
• Support in addressing any challenges or issues that arise during project implementation
• Assist in maintaining compliance with project guidelines, policies, and procedures
• Provide assistance in coordinating and implementing training programs and capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders in the value chains
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Assist in identifying and engaging key stakeholders, including coffee and seaweed farmers, cooperatives, traders/input suppliers, academia, and decision-makers in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi
• Liaising with local government agencies, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to foster collaboration and ensure their active involvement in the project
• Help in organizing stakeholder consultations, workshops, and training sessions to enhance stakeholder understanding and ownership of the value chain activities
• Contribute to building and maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders to ensure their active involvement and ownership in project initiatives
• Information Dissemination and Communication:
• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication plan to effectively disseminate project information and progress updates to stakeholders
• Assist in maintaining accurate project documentation and a centralized database for knowledge sharing and learning among project stakeholders
• Contribute to coordinating with the communication team in the production and distribution of communication materials to reach the intended audience in a timely manner
• Capacity Building and Training:
• Assist in identifying the capacity-building needs of stakeholders within the coffee and seaweed value chains, with a focus on leveraging intercropping opportunities and enhancing the participation of women, indigenous people, and youth
• Support the design and delivery of targeted training programs and workshops to build the technical and entrepreneurial skills of farmers, cooperatives, and other value chain actors
• Help provide ongoing mentoring and coaching support to stakeholders, fostering their ability to adopt sustainable farming practices, improve productivity, and access market opportunities
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
• Support the monitoring of project activities and outcomes, and contribute to the preparation of high-quality reports, including progress reports, impact assessments, and lessons learned
• Assist in ensuring accurate and timely reporting of project activities and results to the Project Officer
  
  
  

Requirements

The successful candidate should possess the following minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., agriculture, development studies, environmental science and other related courses)
  
  

Experience in providing support in project management, preferably in the agriculture or rural development sector.

• Familiarity with value chain development concepts and approaches
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively assist with stakeholder engagement
• Knowledge of the local context and experience working in Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi is mandatory
• Fluency in Filipino and Tausug. Ability to understand and speak English is preferable
• Demonstrated experience in supporting capacity-building initiatives, including training programs and workshops
• Proven ability to maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders and the community members
  
  
  

Benefits

• Salaries are according to People in Need Salary Scale. Candidates will be informed about the salaries in the beginning of the recruitment process
• Health insurance for both in-patient and out-patient care with maximum benefit limit of Php. 195,000.00 per year per person
• Accident insurance for all injuries during work time
• 15 days of paid leave per year
• 7 days of paid sick leave per year plus 13 days medical leave
• Compensation leave for working overtime when requested by the Line Manager
• Maternity, Paternity & Solo Parental Leave according to law
• Communication or internet allowance on monthly basis
• Home office after agreement with Line Manager
• Extensive Capacity Building program, both internal and external trainings - Induction training, internal online opportunities, such as access to e-learning platform and live webinars
• Annual Staff retreat
• International environments with opportunities to learn from other country programs and HQ office in Prague
• Opportunities to travel locally and also internationally
• Per diem for working outside of the duty town depending on the location. Full reimbursement of accommodation and transportation during business trips
• Friendly and fair environment in small collective structure where everyone knows each other
• Work hours are from 8:00 am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday with one hour break for lunch
  
  

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need engages /is in contact with. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of Conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp ). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism checks.

Are you interested in joining us? Please apply in the link. Send us your CV which includes the contacts on your referees. Ideally, we need the name and email of your two previous line managers and one of HR.

Please note that PIN never asks for exchange of material, services or money for employment.