Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: DC/VIENTIANE/P/2022/01
Publication date: 29 August 2022
Application deadline (midnight Bangkok time): 11 September 2022
Job ID: 9105
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Bangkok
Location: Vientiane
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: One year (with possibility of renewal)
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.
With the funding contribution from USAID, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is implementing a Rural Employment Promotion (REP) project, which aims to support the Government of Lao PDR in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Strategy (NRES). The Rural Employment Promotion (REP) project addresses the root causes of factors constraining economic growth, employment creation, and poverty reduction in rural areas as outlined in NRES and elaborated in Section 1 of this concept note. It hopes to reverse the phenomenon of slow and low job growth experienced by the country during the recent years and exacerbated by the movement restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project will help build ability of enterprises and rural workers to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in the market and market systems brought about by the COVID-19 crisis and years of “jobless growth” in ways that reduce vulnerability, support worker retention, and generate decent employment opportunities for returning migrants and rural workers. The design of the REP project is anchored on the directions and thrusts of the NRES as well as builds upon the achievements and learnings from the precursor project, which also facilitated the formulation of the NRES.
This joint initiative will ensure better synergy, harmonization and cost effectiveness of support from the UN and development partners in promoting rural employment in Lao PDR. The project will leverage experiences and technical expertise of the ILO and UNFPA with the Government, led by Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW), workers’ and employers’ organizations as the main implementing partner to:
● Strengthen the capacity of government and relevant membership organizations to facilitate the implementation of NRES and create an enabling environment for rural investment and employment through promotion of public-private partnerships, policy dialogues, and capacity building.
● Increase demand for labour and generate better employment opportunities for rural women and men, including persons with disabilities, youth, returned migrant workers, and LGBTQI by addressing systemic barriers to productivity, competition, trade, and market integration.
● Enhance employability of rural women and men, including persons with disabilities, youth, returned migrant workers and LGBTQI especially in off-farm sectors and effectively link them to decent employment opportunities through skills upgrading and strengthening of employment services.
● Increase access of rural women particularly those of ethnic minority groups to economic opportunities and the power to act on these opportunities and make decisions that benefit themselves, their families and their communities as a result of the enhanced conducive environment, elimination of discriminatory social norms, realignment of incentive structures, rules, relationships and support services in a way that promotes women’s reproductive and sexual health rights and gender equality.
The Project Manager will report directly to the ILO Country Director of Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR. He/she will receive technical guidance and support from relevant technical units at headquarters and from the Decent Work Team for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok).
The Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project implementation and provide technical advisory services towards the development and execution of any future programmes to be developed in the program/project sector. He/she will ensure that the objectives stated in the project document are attained within the stated time frame and budget and ensure compliance with the ILO and the project's/Programme's financial and operating procedures. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas. The Project Manager will also oversee the work of provincial coordinators, community officers, and one Admin/Finance Assistant of the project and any other international and local consultants hired during the course of the project.
Project Management:
- Ensure effective implementation of the project: Plan, manage, coordinate, implement and monitor the project through timely provision of inputs, timely and efficient delivery of outputs, and monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures.
- Ensure that the results are regularly documented, monitored, evaluated, reported, communicated and used for learning and adjustment of the project. Develop a strong results measurement framework, including a monitoring system to track progress and results at various levels. Mainstream gender, disability, and ethnic culture concerns into all project-related activities
- Responsible for the effective and cost-efficient management of funds/budget assigned to the project.
- Manage efficiently the work of the project team including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects.
- Liaise with other UN agencies counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions as well as with other relevant DWT members, and relevant departments, branches and units at ILO headquarters in Geneva for technical backstopping, and with CTAs of relevant other projects for synergy and to strengthen integrated framework of the rural employment project.
- Provide secretariat and technical support to ILO constituents, government agencies, other relevant stakeholders, and in particular the Project Steering Committee in undertaking their advisory responsibilities under the project.
- Responsible for policy coordination and strategy formulation and provide advice on policy issues leading up to the national rural employment strategy; identify research needs and review trends and developments for which further research and project development work is required to adequately support and respond to changing needs.
- Strengthen relationship to cooperate and coordinate with the concerned governments, ministries and the employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, the target groups and the donors (in particular with SDC as the main donor), in the planning and implementation of activities under the project follow-up on joint activities. Respond to capacity building needs in all components of the project, while ensuring adherence among partners to established policies and procedures
- Undertake technical advisory missions to provinces covered by the project and feedback into the discussions of the national and provincial project advisory committees
- Ensure targeted and timely dissemination of information on the project through publications, research, policy briefs, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donor meetings, and international, regional and national conferences, in close coordination with the ILO ROAP communication specialist.
- Provide technical inputs to ILO office documents (for Decent Work Country Programme review, P&B Outcome meetings, technical committees, conference reports, Director General's report to ILC).
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of the Country Office.
Advocacy, networking and partnership:
1. Strengthen relationship to cooperate and coordinate with the concerned governments, ministries and the employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, the target groups and the donors, in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.
2. Liaise with other UN agencies counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions.
3. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/program, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists.
Mobilization of resources:
Promote partnerships with multi-lateral and bilateral donor community and oversee and lead resource mobilization for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the responsible Country Office and Partnership Department.
Knowledge management:
1. Write and disseminate information materials on project in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at the HQ.
2. Ensure the development of information systems covering ILO technical activities covered by the project, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of program planning and implementation, and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programs.
3. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.
4. Organize meetings and seminars, and develop knowledge sharing tools designed to forge partnerships, share good practices with the main stakeholders of the project. .
5. Any other duties requested by the responsible chief.
Advanced university degree with relevant experience in economics and social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required seven years of experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Minimum of seven years’ professional experience in project management, of which at least three years at the international level. This includes field experience in integrated approaches that involve value chain development, enterprise promotion, skills development, employment services and working conditions.
Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations.
Concrete experience in one or more of the following areas will be an advantage:
- Market systems development approaches
- Implementation and monitoring & evaluation of projects and public policies
- Sustainable enterprise development and green jobs
- Employment services and vocational skills training
- Employment-intensive investment programmes and technologies
- Women economic empowerment
- Capacity building approaches targeted at ILO tripartite constituents towards improved employment outcomes
- Practical field based experience in the areas of rural development, including employment promotion, sectoral / value chain analysis, and assessments of the enabling environment for sustainable enterprises
- Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with officials of ministries of labour and/or education, including in the Asian region, would be an advantage.
English Excellent command of oral and written English. Knowledge of Lao and Thai language would be a further asset.
- 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 advocate and provide policy advice
- Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners
- Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in an Asian and multi-cultural environment, with sensitivity and respect for gender and diversity and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes, including interaction with both high level and grassroots partners
- Ability to unite or find convergence in an inclusive manner among diverging perspectives and to build bridges among different stakeholders
- Promotes cooperation, supporting others and shares credit for achievements.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners
- Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
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
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This vacancy is archived.