Grade: NOA

Vacancy no.: DUSHANBE/DC/NO/2023/01
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Application deadline (midnight Moscow time): 31 October 2023

Job ID: 11187
Department: RO-Europe and Central Asia
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Moscow
Location: Dushanbe
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: 12 months renewable

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.


In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.

The following are eligible to apply:

  • ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
  • External candidates*

    *The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

    The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

    Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

    *Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is 26,301 United States dollars yearly.

    Introduction

    Social protection plays a key role in achieving sustainable development, promoting social justice, reducing poverty and vulnerability and inequality within and across the life cycle, supporting inclusive and sustainable growth by raising household incomes, fostering productivity and human development, boosting domestic demand, facilitating structural transformation of the economy and promoting decent work.
    In 2021, during the 76th session of United Nations General Assembly, President Xi of China launched “The Global Development Initiative” (GDI), calling on the international community to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The same year, and in line with his report “Our Common Agenda”, the UN Secretary-General called for a new Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, (The Global Accelerator) to help countries create jobs and extend social protection for the billions of excluded population. GDI and The Global Accelerator represent concrete global responses towards accelerating results to achieve SDGs.
    Tajikistan and Laos PDR have been identified as participating countries in the project Accelerating universal social protection for achieving the SDGs and ending poverty through strengthened governance and digital transformation that will be implemented in close collaboration with UN DESA and with support of relevant Chinese counterparts. Both countries have a long history of full-fledged bilateral cooperation with China including on social protection. Furthermore, as far as social protection is concerned, the Chinese experience in extending social security to all, including, central-provincial coordination, improved management information systems, the use of inspection systems to increase compliance [3], community services [4] as well as the digitalization of social security administration and services is very relevant for the two priority countries. It is therefore expected that, as part of the proposed project, continued learning and south-south exchanges on governance and digital transformation of social security will benefit from the good practices of China’s social protection system
    In Tajikistan, the project will contribute to implement the priority on “Inclusive Human Development” of the United Nations Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2026. The project supports the implementation of the output on “Human Capital Development” of the National Development Strategy, which focuses on poverty reduction, increasing life expectancy and services for the vulnerable. The project reflects constituents’ priority 2: “Improving working conditions and extending coverage with social protection for women and men of the Decent Work Country Programme between the Government of Tajikistan 2020-2024 and the ILO”. The project is aligned with SDGs 1 (including 1.3.1. target), 3, 5 and 10.
    Importantly, the project will contribute to the implementation of the national social protection strategy which has been adopted in early December 2022 and which seeks to extend social protection coverage to informal economy workers, migrant workers and returning migrants and their families, as well as to refugees. This has become particularly important after the crisis in Ukraine and the expected influx of returning migrants from Russia. Improvements of administrative processes to identify and reach out to these and other disadvantaged groups, the design of tailor-made schemes, a pension reform and increasing fiscal space for social protection have been identified as key elements of the draft social protection strategy. Importantly, there is a recognition that existing electronic management information system, which is currently used to deliver targeted social assistance, is a steppingstone to develop a fully-fledged electronic management information system (EMIS) for the entire social protection system.

    Main duties and responsibilities

    1. Review and analyse the country’s specific development plans and priorities, socioeconomic data, reports and other relevant information. Provide written analysis on the findings to the supervisor.
    2. Work in close collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners to design, align and revise project annual work plans as well as preparation of the budget proposal, considering different approaches and alternative methods, management, problem identification and problem resolution. Lead in preparation of periodic progress reports and statistical data on the status of the overall activities of Joint Programme implemented by ILO.
    3. Provide technical advice, in close cooperation with Social Protection Specialist, to relevant national institutions, worker’s and employers organisation and other actors concerned about the concepts, design and implementation of social protection policies, programmes, action plans and mechanisms to establish comprehensive and adequate social protection systems, including national social protection floor guided by the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No.102), the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202) and other relevant ILO standards.
    4. Provide technical advice to national social partners concerning the institutional framework of national social protection system, especially with regards to the governance and administration of national social protection schemes and programmes.
    5. Lead in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical and statistical reports and training materials . Coordinate preparation of technical reports and papers.
    6. Participate in the preparation of and conduct conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the Project when attending these gatherings alone. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying other colleagues.
    7. Collaborate with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Tajikistan , participate in the UNSDCF Working Group on Social Protection in order to align joint programme outputs with UNCT’s plans and contribute to effective coordination and implementation of UN system wide social protection interventions.
    8. Collaborate closely with the ILO National Coordinator in Tajikistan to promote international labour standards related to social protection and social security.
    9. Review, verify and analyze work plans, progress and final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness and monitor the progress of Project activities. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements to support successful completion of agreed activities.
    10. Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and in other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
    11. Assist in the programming and control of resources of the project, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems, propose solutions and actions.
    12. Provide programming and technical support to cooperation activities in the area of social protection.
    13. Collaborate closely with Senior Project Assistant in Moscow who will work on administrative processes connected with the implementation of the project.
    14. Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on project matters.
    15. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor or Responsible Chief.

      Required qualifications

      Education

      First level university degree in social protection, social or political sciences, economics, public policies, development studies or a relevant field. An advanced degree in social protection studies would be a strong advantage

      Experience

      At least two years of professional experience at the national level in social protection, in the area of project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy making and with development partners would be an asset.

      Technical requirements: Good knowledge of social protection and social security as well as economic developments, poverty reduction, and social policies. Knowledge of the policy making process. Knowledge of ILO social security standards.

      Languages

      Excellent knowledge of the working language of the duty station and a good knowledge of English.

      Competencies

      Candidates interested in the position should consider that the nine core competencies of the ILO, listed below, may be evaluated during the selection process: Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation and Collaboration. Among these nine competences, the following are of particular importance for this position: Customer Orientation, Communications, Collaboration

      Technical competencies

      • Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate and structure of social protection and labour market institutions in Tajikistan
      • Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations
      • Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise
      • Good knowledge of policy making processed and inclusion of international standards into national policy making.
      • Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution and good drafting skills
      • Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation
      • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to clarify information
      • Demonstrate collaborative and team work experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as work on his/her own initiative
      • Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility
      • Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline
      • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications
      • Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.

        Recruitment process

        Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

        Fraud warning

        The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

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