Policy Development and Systems Strengthening on Women, Peace, and Security Consultant

Location: Bacolod City, Naga City, and Davao City, Philippines, with preparatory and post-training work conducted remotely

Reports to: Project Manager

Engagement period: 1 month (November 3, 2026 - December 2, 2026)

Note on Logistics: Relief International will cover or directly reimburse all field travel expenses (flights, hotels, and local transportation expenses for the Bacolod, Naga, and Davao trips) separately from the professional fees.

Background

Tanggol Kababaihan: Operationalising the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union, with the main aim of contributing to the operationalization of the 4th Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. Together with Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI) and Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD), forming the Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium, the action contributes to improved peace, stability and well-being among conflict-vulnerable communities in the Philippines through effective civil society engagement in enhancing local implementation of the NAPWPS and leading to better informed policy processes along higher tiers of governance. The action is being implemented across 40 barangays in 12 cities and municipalities, covering 8 provinces and 5 regions in the Philippines. These provinces are: Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Norte.

The Tanggol Kababaihan Action supports the localization and implementation of the 2023–2033 Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) by strengthening the capacity of local governments, civil society organizations, community leaders, and other stakeholders to translate WPS commitments into concrete local policies, plans, programs, and actions.

The second round of the Tanggol Kababaihan Master Training focuses on Policy, Planning, and Budgeting for Women, Peace and Security. It builds on the WPS localization/gaps analysis, stakeholder mapping, identified local entry points, and community consultation findings generated during the first phase of the Action. The training aims to move participants from identifying and analyzing WPS concerns toward developing concrete institutional responses through local policy development and integration of WPS priorities into local planning and budgeting mechanisms.

Position Summary:

The Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium seeks to engage a Policy Development and Systems Strengthening Consultant for a short term consultancy running from 3 November to 2 December 2026 to provide technical expertise for the policy development component of the Tanggol Kababaihan Master Training 2.0: Policy, Planning, and Budgeting for Women, Peace and Security.

The consultant will be responsible for developing a model local policy instrument for the localization of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and for leading the policy development component of the Master Training. The model policy shall translate the WPS priorities and recommendations generated through the Tanggol Kababaihan Action into concrete policy provisions that participating Master Trainers, LGUs, CSOs, and community stakeholders can further contextualize and bring to their respective LGUs and/or barangays for consideration and adoption.

In addition, the consultant shall support participants in examining the local institutional, coordination, protection, and referral systems necessary to operationalize WPS commitments. This will include identifying existing mechanisms, actors, referral pathways, coordination arrangements, and service gaps, and determining how these can be strengthened and institutionalized through the model WPS policy and other appropriate local mechanisms.

The model policy shall be informed by the NAPWPS 2023–2033, relevant national and local policy frameworks, WPS localization/gaps analysis, community consultation findings, and other evidence and recommendations generated through the Tanggol Kababaihan Action. It shall serve both as a substantive project output and as the principal working document for the Day 2 policy development workshop.

Scope of Work

1. Review of WPS Priorities and Development of the Model Local WPS Policy

The consultant shall review relevant project evidence and policy frameworks and develop a model ordinance or other appropriate local policy instrument for WPS localization that participating LGUs and/or barangays can adapt.

The consultant shall:

• Review the NAPWPS 2023–2033 and other relevant national and local laws, policies, and frameworks;
• Review relevant Tanggol Kababaihan outputs, including the WPS localization/gaps analysis, first Master Training outputs, stakeholder and policy mapping, community consultation findings, and other project documentation;
• Consolidate priority WPS issues, recommendations, and institutional responses emerging from the project;
• Review existing local institutional, coordination, protection, and referral mechanisms relevant to these priorities; and
• Develop a model local WPS policy instrument incorporating appropriate provisions on institutional arrangements, stakeholder roles and responsibilities, women's meaningful participation, coordination and referral mechanisms, planning and budgeting linkages, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability.

The model policy shall be gender-responsive, inclusive, participatory, conflict-sensitive, and sufficiently flexible for adaptation at the provincial, city/municipal, and/or barangay levels. It shall be submitted to RI for technical review and revision prior to use during the Master Training.

The final model shall serve as a ready-to-adapt policy instrument that participants can contextualize and bring back to their respective LGUs or barangays for further consultation, legal/legislative review, and consideration for adoption.

2. Design and Facilitation of the One-Day Policy Development Workshop

The consultant shall design and facilitate a one-day Policy Development for WPS Workshop for each of the three Master Training batches.

The workshop shall:

• Explain the role of local policy in institutionalizing and sustaining WPS commitments;
• Orient participants on relevant policy instruments and processes, including ordinances, resolutions, executive issuances, and other appropriate local mechanisms;
• Discuss the relevant legal and policy bases for WPS localization;
• Introduce the key elements of gender-responsive and WPS-responsive local policies;
• Present and walk participants through the model WPS policy, including its rationale, structure, and key provisions;
• Guide participants in reviewing the model policy against their respective WPS priorities and community consultation findings;
• Support participants in contextualizing appropriate provisions according to their local issues, structures, mandates, and priorities; and
• Guide participants in identifying the appropriate pathway for further validation, legal/legislative review, sponsorship, deliberation, and possible adoption.

Workshop Output: A contextualized draft WPS policy instrument and initial adoption pathway for each participating project area/LGU.

3. Design and Facilitation of the Half-Day WPS Systems Strengthening Workshop

The consultant shall design and facilitate a half-day Systems Strengthening for WPS Workshop immediately connected to the policy development process.

The workshop shall focus on translating the policy provisions into the institutional and operational mechanisms required for implementation, particularly coordination, protection, and referral systems.

The consultant shall:

• Introduce a practical systems-strengthening approach to WPS localization;
• Guide participants in mapping existing actors and mechanisms relevant to WPS implementation, including LGU offices, barangay structures, GAD mechanisms, social welfare, health, PNP/WCPD, DRRM and peace and order structures, CSOs, women's organizations, legal assistance providers, and other relevant actors;
• Facilitate the mapping of existing referral pathways for priority WPS and protection concerns;
• Guide participants in identifying gaps in roles and responsibilities, coordination, access to services, referral linkages, information-sharing, and continuity of support;
• Support participants in identifying practical measures to strengthen existing mechanisms rather than create parallel systems;
• Guide participants in determining which systems-strengthening measures should be institutionalized through the proposed WPS policy and which should be addressed through administrative, programmatic, capacity-building, planning, or budgeting actions; and
• Support participants in identifying responsible actors and priority next steps for strengthening their local WPS systems.

Workshop Output: A preliminary WPS Systems and Referral Pathway Map and Systems Strengthening Action Points for each participating project area/LGU, identifying existing mechanisms and actors, key gaps, proposed strengthening actions, and responsible stakeholders.

Key Deliverables:

1. Review and Development of Model Local WPS Policy

Review and consolidation of relevant project evidence and policy frameworks; draft and final Model Local WPS Ordinance or other appropriate policy instrument integrating WPS priorities, community consultation inputs, institutional arrangements, coordination and referral mechanisms, and other recommendations generated through the Tanggol Kababaihan Action.

Indicative Timeline: Prior to Batch 1

2. Development of Training and Workshop Package

Final session designs, presentations, facilitation guides, and workshop tools for the one-day Policy Development Workshop and half-day Systems Strengthening Workshop, including policy contextualization and systems/referral mapping tools.

Indicative Timeline: Prior to Batch 1

3. Delivery of Batch 1 – Bacolod City

Facilitation of Day 2 – Developing Local Policies for WPS, including presentation of the model policy instrument and technical guidance to Northern Samar and Negros Occidental participants in contextualizing the model and identifying pathways for local validation and adoption.

Indicative Timeline: November 9–13, 2026

4. Delivery of Batch 2 – Naga City

Facilitation of Day 2 – Developing Local Policies for WPS, including presentation of the model policy instrument and technical guidance to Camarines Sur participants in contextualizing the model and identifying pathways for local validation and adoption.

Indicative Timeline: November 16–20, 2026

5. Delivery of Batch 3 – Davao City

Facilitation of Day 2 – Developing Local Policies for WPS, including presentation of the model policy instrument and technical guidance to CARAGA and Northern Mindanao participants in contextualizing the model and identifying pathways for local validation and adoption.

Indicative Timeline: November 23–27, 2026

Reporting and Management

The Consultant shall work closely with the Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist and the MEAL Coordinator of Relief International Tanggol Kababaihan Action, under the oversight of the Project Manager.

Requirements:

The consultant will be expected to:

• Travel to Bacolod City, Naga City, and Davao City during the consultancy period.
• Provide their own laptop and other personal equipment necessary to undertake the assignment;
• Be available for preparatory coordination meetings with RI prior to the trainings;
• Undertake the necessary desk review and technical preparation prior to delivery of the training;
• Develop and submit all presentation materials, facilitation guides, workshop templates, and other technical materials in editable electronic formats;
• Facilitate the assigned sessions in person for all three training batches;
• Apply participatory, inclusive, gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive, and adult-learning approaches throughout the training;
• Provide hands-on technical coaching to participants during the policy drafting workshops;
• Coordinate closely with the RI Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist and other designated RI/consortium staff throughout the consultancy;
• Incorporate reasonable comments and feedback from RI into the training materials and final deliverables;
• Submit all agreed deliverables within the established timeline.
• Comply with Relief International safeguarding, code of conduct, and pre-contracting requirements.

RI will provide the consultant with relevant project documents, available outputs from the first Master Training and community consultations, logistical arrangements for the three training batches, and coordination support necessary for the implementation of the assignment.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree preferred) in Gender and Development, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Social Work, Development Studies, Public Policy, or other related fields.
• A Bachelor's degree in the above fields combined with extensive relevant professional experience may be considered.
• At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality, women, peace and security, peacebuilding, governance, local development, public policy, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development, review, or localization of policies, ordinances, resolutions, executive issuances, or other local government policy instruments.
• Proven experience working with Local Government Units (LGUs), barangays, national government agencies, civil society organizations, women's organizations, and community stakeholders in the Philippines.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in the implementation and localization of the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS).
• Experience supporting local planning and budgeting processes, including Gender and Development (GAD) planning and budgeting systems, local development planning, and mainstreaming gender-responsive approaches in local governance.
• Demonstrated experience in institutional capacity strengthening, systems mapping, stakeholder analysis, coordination mechanisms, referral systems, and protection programming.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, consultations, training programs, and participatory learning processes involving government and civil society actors.
• Experience working within conflict-affected, disaster-prone, or fragile contexts is highly desirable.
• Prior engagement with donor-funded programs, particularly those funded by the European Union, UN agencies, or international NGOs, is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent WPS resolutions; Philippine NAPWPS 2023-2033 and previous iterations; Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710); Local Government Code of the Philippines; GAD Planning and Budgeting Guidelines; Relevant laws, policies, and frameworks relating to women's rights, protection, peacebuilding, conflict sensitivity, and local governance.

• Demonstrated ability to develop practical and policy-oriented outputs, including: Model ordinances; Executive orders; Local policy frameworks; Implementation guidelines; Systems strengthening and referral pathway tools.
• Excellent analytical, policy writing, and reporting skills.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to translate complex policy concepts into practical tools and actions for local stakeholders.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, women's rights, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, community leaders, women-led groups, and marginalized populations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple deliverables under tight timelines.
• High standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect for confidentiality.
• Excellent written and spoken English required.
• Fluency in Filipino required.
• Working knowledge of local Philippine languages relevant to the project areas is an advantage.

Required Deliverable Experience

Applicants should demonstrate previous experience in at least three of the following:

• Drafting local ordinances, resolutions, or executive issuances;
• Developing WPS-related strategies, action plans, or frameworks;
• Conducting governance, policy, or institutional assessments;
• Designing and facilitating policy development workshops;
• Mapping service delivery, referral, and coordination mechanisms;
• Supporting LGUs in integrating gender, peace, security, and protection considerations into plans and budgets.

RI Values.

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and Accountability
• Agility and Innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

To Apply, please submit not later than 15 October 2026:

1. Letter of intent with CV addressed to the Project Manager
2. Initial workplan and proposed budget
3. Sample copies of work