TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position Title:

Advocacy and Campaign Staff

Unit:

Advocacy and Campaign

Contract period:

12 months, to be renewed annually or to be extended based on the project period

Project:

Reduction of Unintentionally Produced Persistent Organic Pollutants and Mercury through an Environmentally-Sound Approach on Healthcare Wastes Management in the Philippines with a Special Focus on the Pandemic

Supervisor:

Advocacy Officer

Duty Station:

Quezon City

Employment status:

Project-term employee

Background

About the organization

BAN Toxics is an independent non-government environmental organization that works for the advancement of environmental justice, health, and sustainable development in the area of  chemicals and wastes with a special focus on women, children, and other marginalized sectors.  

BAN Toxics’ intervention approach emphasizes how the mismanagement of toxic chemicals can  impact us. Chemicals are a part of daily life and they play an important role in society. However,  their mismanagement can potentially impact various aspects of human life. As such, the organization  views toxic chemicals issues as important human rights issues. 

The organization works closely with government agencies, communities, and civil society at the  local, national, and international levels to reduce and eliminate the use of toxic chemicals and support global sustainable development goals through education campaigns, community  grassroots interventions, training and capacity-building, policy research and development, and  advocacy programs. We employ a three-pronged approach towards achieving our objectives, as reflected in our three  program pillars, namely: 1) policy work, 2) community development, and 3) campaigns. These  strategies and approaches reflect our belief in the capacity of government and state institutions  to shepherd social change as well as the right and agency of individuals and communities to  advocate for change. 

Over its decades-long existence, the organization has worked on pressing chemicals issues such  as e-waste, plastics, pollution, and mismanagement. BAN Toxics has started enduring programs  such as the Toxics-Free Schools Program (TFSP) and the Compassionate Gold (CG) project. In its  work on mercury, BAN Toxics has been a consistent presence in advocating for the ratification of  the Minamata Convention in the Philippines. The organization has also worked closely with  various local and international ASGM communities to reduce their mercury emissions such as in  Cambodia, Mongolia, Indonesia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

About the project

Known for its experience on sound chemical management advocacy in the country, BAN Toxics has been identified as the Project Executing Entity (PEE) for the 5-year implementation of the GEF-UNIDO project entitled, “Reduction of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (uPOPs) and Mercury through an environmentally-sound approach on health care wastes management” or the HCW project. This project aims to achieve the protection of human health and the environment from the impacts of improper medical wastes management. It also focuses on the avoidance and reduction of the releases of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in the health care waste sector. Below are the major components of the project: 

Component 1: Unintentionally produced POPs release reduction in the healthcare waste sector

Component 2: Management of mercury, mercury-added products (MAPs) and mercury wastes in the health sector according to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Philippine National Action Plan for MAPs phase-out.

Component 3: Capacity-building, awareness raising, and knowledge management

Component 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

The project is going to be implemented in three major sites in the country covering hospitals, health care facilities, and various communities in Region 2, Region 8, and the National Capital Region. 

Scope of Work 

  1. Assist in the development of campaign strategies and products that position BAN Toxics and its advocacies and further enhances BAN Toxics’ profile and influence among stakeholders on different issues of concern.
  2. Monitor policy and program developments on health care waste and provide updates to the project team for considerations in project implementation, communication, and campaigns. 
  3. From time to time, represent BAN Toxics and the project in advocacy and policy spaces and meetings.
  4. Assist in the conduct of evidence-based campaigns through XRF and laboratory analysis to measure the level of (hazardous) chemicals.
  5. Assist in the conduct of market monitoring and evidence-based research activities (Database).
  6. Perform other related tasks assigned by the Technical Expert on Grants and Project Management.

Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience in diverse advocacy and communication campaigns, including but not limited to direct community action, social media campaigns, and other creative activities..
  • Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
  • At least three to five years professional experience in communications, media relations, campaigns, and advocacy in the field of sound chemical management, environmental protection and conservation, human rights, and/or community development.
  • Bachelor’s degree in communication, media relations, journalism, public relation, and other related fields.
  • Ability to travel to the project sites.