Go Digital ASEAN 2.0 in the Philippines
Program Background
The ACCMSME-endorsed Go Digital ASEAN project is a digital skills training program designed to equip MSMEs and the emerging workforce with critical digital skills to grow their businesses. These communities include people in the informal sector (i.e., micro-enterprises, and informal economic activities that are not registered businesses), as well as farmers, home-based handicrafts producers, laborers in farming cooperatives, small-scale hotels and restaurants, small shops, and workers in other traditional modes of employment and income-generation. The program is implemented by The Asia Foundation (TAF) with funding from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
In continuation of the successful first phase of Go Digital ASEAN (GDA1), Go Digital ASEAN 2 (GDA2) will expand training impact to provide more advanced and fit-for-purpose training for up to 200,000 underserved MSMEs through a three-level program – Go, Grow and Explore, on skills such as business and financial literacy, digital marketing, cyber security, and carbon footprint reduction. The project offers both in-person (where possible) and virtual training for marginalized communities across a variety of skills needed to succeed in today’s digital economy.
The project will provide three levels of training for underserved and marginalized MSMEs across ASEAN:
1) Go Digital – a cohort of MSMEs at the basic state of digitalization will be trained in the same materials delivered during GDA1;
2) Explore Digital – for MSMEs operating at intermediate and advanced states of digitalization who are ready to move on to a more advanced level, a webinar/speaker series will provide curated materials on digital marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning, and cyber safety, delivered by guest speakers from each of the ASEAN Member States;
3) Grow Digital – for MSMEs operating at intermediate and advanced states of digitalization and are ready for advanced engagement, an intense training session of 12-15 hours over six months will provide instructor-led and self-paced modules such as financial literacy, business & financial planning, e-commerce, cyber security, digital marketing, and/or green-businesses & decarbonization.
In the Philippines, the program aims to help Filipinos through the Grow and Explore tracks. TAF will work with government agencies, local partners, and a network of local based trainers to implement the project. TAF will utilize a train-the-trainer model to prepare local teams of technology professionals and volunteers to deliver the trainings across ASEAN. TAF will also utilize its network to establish and grow strategic partnerships in implementing the program activities. This strategy is anticipated to be the main driver in meeting program objectives in the Philippines.
The Asia Foundation will engage a contractor to serve as Partner Coordinator of GDA2 in the Philippines to provide major support in managing and strategizing partnerships for the outreach and conduct of GDA2 training activities.
Partner and Training Coordinator Scope of Work
The Partner & Training Coordinator will provide major support to program stakeholders and coordination of training session of the program. S/he will be responsible for the coordination efforts in growing and sustaining the network of program partners. S/he will also oversee the smooth planning and execution of training sessions through close coordination with program stakeholders. The Coordinator will liaise with program Trainers and internal stakeholders to help organize and monitor training activities. As such, the responsibilities of this post include the following:
The candidate will should have strong people skills and stakeholder management skills to aid the execution and implementation of training and other related activities related and relevant to the Go Digital ASEAN program in the Philippines.
Requirements
- Excellent writing and verbal skills English and Filipino
- Strong communication skills
- People skills and strong customer experience skills
- Strong organizing and planning skills
- Strong program management skills
- Manage relationships with multiple project partners and stakeholders
- Ability to multi-task and monitor task progress and identify risk areas
- Able and willing to travel to and from potential and current training sites
- Adapt to flexible working schedules beyond weekdays if necessary
- Sharepoint and other online tool management skills is a plus
Scope of Work
As Local Coordinator, the Contractor will work closely with GDA PH Program Lead. The Contractor will be responsible for the following:
Local Logistical Lead
- Lead the mobilization of relevant resources for program and training activities
- Ensure thorough and compliance documentation of online and face to face activities
- Manage procurement and relations with vendors and service providers to coordinate pre, post, and event proper matters
- Work with program Trainers and other stakeholders to track the progress and resolution of learner concerns
- Draft necessary documents to help formalize strategic partnerships with program partners using templates and other relevant information (e.g. letters of support, memoranda of understanding/agreement, etc.) in close coordination with TAF staff
Stakeholder Support & Coordination
- Serve as the first line of communication for partner, learner, or external communications for the program for response
- Direct queries or potential areas for collaboration to the proper unit of the Go Digital ASEAN team
- Support the rigid documentation of partner discussions and agreements
- Support the development and maintenance of program contact databases and management tools to monitor program and partnership updates
- Work closely with the project team to ensure requirements and other preparations are undertaken in a timely manner and are consistent with partnership terms and agreements
- Support onboarding and preparatory activities to support partner-led sessions, including exchange of information and/or data, and other profiling needs
- Coordinate and document learner and stakeholder feedback to help improve program content and facilitation with the Training Coordinator
Program Implementation Support
- Coordinate regular updates and communication needs with relevant units
- Support the program outreach and strategy planning and activities
- Supporting internal stakeholders (e.g. Senior Trainers) with relevant tasks pertinent to the conduct of training activities
- Provide major support in cross referencing trainer activities and invoices to ensure accuracy
- Assist streamline activities and program initiatives such as but not limited to, team workshops, meetings, and other activities
- Provide major support in reviewing program data and generating donor and TAF compliant reports
- As necessary, support the development success stories and stakeholder interviews and documentation activities with program comms focal
- Conduct partner coordination activities complaint with data responsibility measures of TAF
Other Tasks
- Provide relevant program updates to the GDA2 Program Lead in the Philippines
- Travel, as necessary, to and from project sites
- Participate in meetings or other activities with TAF or project partners to provide updates to inform the strategic decisions of the project
- Submit relevant program and/or administrative documentation and documentary requirements pertinent to this engagement (e.g. billing logs, liquidations, etc.)
- Implement other project activities pertinent to achieving the project objectives as directed by TAF project implementing team
- Other tasks as necessary to accomplishing the functions above as discussed with TAF management.
How to apply
For more details on these opportunities, access the Terms of Reference here: https://tinyurl.com/TAFPHConsultancyOpportunities
APPLICATION GUIDELINES: Interested applicants should send in their The Asia Foundation Application Form and Employee Biographical Data Form (https://tinyurl.com/TAFApplicationReqs), and sample portfolio (if any) to consultancyPH@asiafoundation.org before the indicated deadline. Kindly follow the instructions for the subject heading.