Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: ABUJA/DC/P/2023/01
Publication date: 03 November 2023
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 17 November 2023
Job ID: 11375
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: CO-Abuja
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration:
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 present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.
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.
The following are eligible to apply:
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.
The project “Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa” aims to maximise the development potential of free movement of persons and migration in West Africa by supporting the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocols and the ECOWAS Common Approach on Migration.
The specific objectives of the action are to:
(i) Strengthen the capacities of the ECOWAS Commission to lead an intra-regional dialogue on free movement and migration issues and act as a platform for policy development and harmonisation;
(ii) Strengthen the capacities of national institutions in the areas of migration data management and policy development, border management, labour migration management and counter trafficking; and
(iii) Promote the active engagement of Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in information and protection activities for the benefit of migrant and cross-border populations in West Africa.
The project is implemented by a Consortium of Partners, under the lead of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in close coordination with the ECOWAS Commission. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are the two implementing partners.
Reporting lines:
The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone (CO-Abuja). She/he will get technical backstopping from the Employment and Labour Migration Officer in CO-Abuja and other relevant labour migration specialists in Africa. The Project Manager will work in close collaboration with the specialists of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for West Africa (DWT/CO-Dakar).
The incumbent will work in close collaboration and under the technical guidance of the labour migration specialists of the Labour Migration Branch (MIGRANT) in the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY) at headquarters and will also work in close collaboration and with technical guidance from field and HQ specialists in the fields of international labour standards, fundamental principles and rights at work, employment, statistics, social protection, ACTRAV (workers’ organizations) and ACT/EMP (employers’ organizations).
He/She will also oversee the work of the staff on the project.
2. Summary of main duties and responsibilities:
The Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the labour migration, child labour and counter-trafficking components of the project at regional and national level and will provide technical support and expertise on several components of the project in close collaboration with the other experts of the Project Support Unit (PSU). This will include supporting the capacities of the ECOWAS Commission in the areas of labour migration, child labour, counter-trafficking, policy development and data collection and management. She/he will oversee the work of the Technical Officer on Labour Migration, the Finance and Administrative Assistant of the project and the work of all international and local consultants hired by the project.
Specific responsibilities:
Managerial responsibilities
1. The Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to day management of the project at regional and national level. This includes the implementation of the project’s activities, in accordance with the project’s objectives and outputs. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines, joint ILO/AU work plan country/action programmes, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office.
2. Responsible for the effective management of funds and budget assigned to ILO in accordance with ILO administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible field offices.
3. Manage human resources of the project efficiently.
4. Ensure planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities in close collaboration with ILO tripartite constituents at national level and ECOWAS level, CO-Abuja and DWT/CO-Dakar, specialists in headquarters, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategy, and in accordance with ILO country/action programmes.
5. Steer ILO’s inputs to and daily contact with the project partners in Abuja and liaise with ECOWAS, other stakeholders and beneficiaries;
6. Ensure the results are regularly documented, monitored, evaluated, reported, communicated, and used for learning and adjustment of the project. Resolve any arising difficulties in achieving the project objectives.
7. Co-ordinate and communicate regularly with the donor and set up and contribute to the project’s steering committees as agreed with the implementing partners, ECOWAS and the donor.
Technical duties
8. Provide policy guidance and technical support in labour migration governance across the ECOWAS region to relevant government agencies, workers’ and employers’ organizations and other relevant stakeholders and undertake technical missions independently or in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
9. Plan, organize and facilitate seminars, workshops, consultative processes, and technical coordination meetings, at national, sub-regional and inter-regional level to build the knowledge and capacities of constituents and project partners, discuss policy and regulatory change, or launch concrete project initiatives.
10. Initiate, coordinate and prepare studies, training guides/manuals, and training activities on various subjects relevant to project implementation, including on bilateral labour agreements, labour migration policies, recruitment regulatory frameworks, extension of social protection among others.
11. Monitor, coordinate, and guide research carried out by project staff and external collaborators and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of findings.
12. Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships and cooperation with key governments, employers' and workers' organizations at national level, donor agencies, NGOs and other international agencies with programmes or mandates on migration management, protection of migrant workers, employment creation and social protection.
13. Increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of project interventions including proactively ensuring knowledge management on and by the project to the benefit of the ECOWAS, ILO constituents and others. As such, disseminate information on the project and related actions through publications, press releases and social media as well as ensuring representation at donor meetings, international, regional, and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
14. Develop project proposals; formulate, revise, and submit project proposals and support negotiation of funding
15. Ensure that gender issues are explicitly addressed and mainstreamed throughout the project activities and any outputs including final reports or events.
16. Represent the ILO in national, subregional, continental events on migration, in particular participate to the UN Network on migration as relevant. Be an active member of the ILO Labour migration team of experts in Africa and as such, participate to regular regional meetings and promote collaboration and synergy of interventions with the other ILO labour migration projects at country-level or REC level.
17. Undertake other duties as requested by the Director of the ILO Office in Abuja.
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, management, social science or a related field complemented with demonstrated expertise in international migration. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in a relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Seven years' experience in the management of technical cooperation activities in a senior level position, including at the international level. This includes field experience in leadership role in implementation of projects, preferably in the fields of labour migration and in the Africa region.
Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with officials of ministries of labour and/or education would be an advantage.
Excellent command of English and French.
• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project's objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies, and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research;
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
• Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners;
• Should be open to and able to make changes to accommodate culture and gender differences in order to interact effectively with individuals;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical co-operation. programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual's skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of current or future job/role responsibilities;
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
• Excellent computer/information application skills, including word processing, excel, power point etc.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviours and attitudes
Conditions of employment
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.
Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.
The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.
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.