Report on Key Skills Assessment, September 2016

The CDI project is a crucial component of the broader Partnership for Growth (PFG), a White House-initiated "whole government" partnership between the U.S. Government (USG) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) whose aim is to shift the Philippines to a sustained and more inclusive growth trajectory at par with other high-performing emerging economies. The CDI adopts a "whole-of-Mission" approach that engages a strategic array of USAID activities with the primary goal of promoting broad-based and inclusive growth outside of Metro Manila through second-tier cities that can serve as engines of economic growth. The SURGE Project's development hypothesis is that second-tier cities serve as engines of growth and contribute to the improved welfare of both urban and rural populations. USAID aims to promote more balanced and resilient urban growth, reduce economic disparities, and improve socio-economic conditions for highly urbanized second-tier cities and their surrounding areas. The Project will assist cities and adjacent areas plan effectively, guarantee basic public services, reduce business transaction costs, promote competitiveness, support sustainable development, and reduce disaster risks while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. An important activity is the key skills assessment (KSA) of the city offices concerned with urban development, local economic development, and rural-urban connectivity. The key skills assessment will cover a review of the local government's qualification standards based on the requirements as specified by civil service laws and guidelines, and the level of competency and institutional capacity based on the specific functions described thereto and mandated by the devolution and decentralization of roles and functions. A key skills report tailored for each CDI will be prepared, covering the gaps and the recommendations for harnessing the skills and qualifications needed by the city offices, which will be used for creating an action plan for the respective cities. The key city offices that concern SURGE include the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Office of the City Engineer (OCE), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Office (CDRRMO), City LEIPO and/or Economic Enterprise Office, City Treasurer's Office, City Budget Office, City Accounting Office, City Assessor's Office, City Agriculture Office, and City Tourism Office. The general objective of this activity was to conduct a rapid appraisal of the key skills of technical staff in the CDI cities, particularly in offices and departments concerned with urban development, local economic development, and rural-urban connectivity. The assessment applied the competency-based approach to determine competency gaps and proposed capacity-building interventions. An added objective is to involve the human resource (HR) staff in the skills assessment process to ensure that the recommendations are feasible and can be implemented by the city offices. The Stakeholders Forum (SF) will review and update the report every year to ensure that it will address the missing skills for achieving urban development, low emission local development, and urban and rural connectivity. The SURGE Project will focus its activities on the CDI cities of Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, and Batangas. The Project will assist these cities in planning effectively, guaranteeing basic public services, reducing business transaction costs, promoting competitiveness, supporting sustainable development, and reducing disaster risks while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. The key skills assessment report will be a crucial tool in achieving these objectives, as it will provide a comprehensive assessment of the skills and qualifications needed by the city offices to implement the Project's activities. The assessment methodology used in this study is based on the competency-based approach, which involves the identification of the key skills and qualifications needed by the city offices to perform their functions effectively. The assessment will cover the following areas: data management, formulating and integrating development plans, strategic planning, use of ICT competencies, and other relevant skills and qualifications. The assessment will also involve the review of the local government's qualification standards based on the requirements as specified by civil service laws and guidelines. The results of the assessment will be presented in a report that will cover the gaps and the recommendations for harnessing the skills and qualifications needed by the city offices. The report will also provide an action plan for the respective cities, which will be used to implement the Project's activities. The Stakeholders Forum (SF) will review and update the report every year to ensure that it will address the missing skills for achieving urban development, low emission local development, and urban and rural connectivity. The key skills assessment report will be a crucial tool in achieving the objectives of the SURGE Project, as it will provide a comprehensive assessment of the skills and qualifications needed by the city offices to implement the Project's activities. The report will also provide an action plan for the respective cities, which will be used to implement the Project's activities. The Stakeholders Forum (SF) will review and update the report every year to ensure that it will address the missing skills for achieving urban development, low emission local development,