Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: RAPS/1/2024/AF/05
Publication date: 29th February 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 2nd April 2024
Job ID: 11710
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Cairo
Location: Cairo
Contract type: Fixed Term
The following are eligible to apply:
Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply.
Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.
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 ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).
Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States
In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.
Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.
The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, candidates applying for the professional category vacancies who have not already successfully completed their probationary period within the ILO and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed they may be required to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.
The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for North Africa and Country Office for Egypt and Eritrea (DWT/CO-Cairo). DWT/CO-Cairo provides high quality, timely and integrated support for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Decent Work Country Programmes within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and outcome-based work plans. DWT/CO-Cairo also provides strategic guidance in formulating policy and work programmes as required by the ILO country offices and the constituents in North Africa and the Horn of Africa, under the supervision of the Regional Office for Africa and in collaboration with technical departments at ILO headquarters.
The Specialist will consider all legal and practical aspects of international labour standards, with a view to strengthening and improving the application and dissemination of such standards at all levels. The Specialist will ensure that normative aspects of the ILO are fully integrated in Decent Work Country Programmes in the countries covered by DWT/CO-Cairo. The incumbent of the position will work in close collaboration with other technical specialists in the DWT and in the region, including with the colleagues responsible for employers' and workers' organizations on the legal and practical aspects of international labour standards. The Specialist will collaborate with other United Nations organizations and relevant actors in civil society for the promotion of international labour standards. The incumbent will also act as a focal point for one cross-cutting issue or priority theme.
The incumbent will report to the Director of DWT/CO-Cairo and will receive technical guidance and support from the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES). The Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) will also provide technical guidance and support.
1. Ensure that governments discharge in a timely manner their reporting obligations under article 22 of the ILO Constitution, and take suitable action on comments made by ILO supervisory bodies such as the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards and the Committee on Freedom of Association.
2. Provide capacity building to the government and social partners, as well as to the judiciary and parliamentarians on international labour standards and the supervisory system.
3. Formulate policy and give advice on legal issues to ILO constituents regarding institutional strengthening, application of ILO standards, their application to the informal economy and the promotion and delivery of development cooperation activities.
4. In collaboration with NORMES and GOVERNANCE, analyse draft labour legislation submitted by the governments for ILO comments; formulate and coordinate the comments, assist in preparation of draft labour legislation. Provide advice and assistance to employers' and workers' organizations on existing and proposed labour legislation.
5. Promote the establishment and effective operation of procedures for tripartite consultations in accordance with the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No.144) and promote the ratification and implementation of international labour standards.
6. Advise ILO constituents on the application of, or effect given to, Conventions and Recommendations as an effective means to attain the Organization's decent work and social justice objectives.
7. Develop and examine legal frameworks, institutions and practices that may be useful for the social partners to improve, implement and evaluate social dialogue. Conduct research and analytical work in the field of international labour standards and labour law.
8. Formulate, revise, evaluate and present project proposals, and negotiate financing, with special regard to international labour standards.
9. Establish and maintain close relations with employers' and workers' organizations in consultation with the relevant DWT Specialists, informing and advising them on matters related to international labour standards, national labour law reform and labour relations.
10. Develop and disseminate information on action programmes through publications, manuals, guidebooks, press releases, etc. and ensure representation in donors meetings, international, regional and local forums, and promotional campaigns.
11. Contribute to the dissemination of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work through the organization of workshops and seminars. Prepare promotional material.
12. Mainstream gender equality concerns into all international labour standards and labour legislation related activities.
13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned
These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:
Advanced degree in law.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in law with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
At least seven years' of practical experience including at the international level.
Excellent command of English or French and a working knowledge of the second language. A working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.
In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:
The ability to design research studies and conduct comparative analyses involving the application of principles of law to the analysis of administrative, substantive and procedural problems of substantial intricacy; advise and persuade colleagues and constituents on legal questions. ability to make use of analytical, and technical qualitative and quantitative tools; ability to conceptualise, plan, coordinate and direct investigations; capability to participate effectively in technical missions and within team; ability to provide direct technical advice in the field of specialisation; ability to guide and coordinate external collaborators\" work, general service staff or young professionals; ability to prepare technically accurate reports and publications, with conclusions that may lead to an action plan and the elaboration of programmes; ability to contribute to multidisciplinary research carried out through work team, project formulation and its application. Ability to facilitate adequate advice regarding eminently good practices, and to approach wider issues other than the ones of the field of specialisation field; ability to elaborate project proposals, policies and procedures and to bring them up to high-level meetings. Diplomatic skills; ability to deal with colleagues and constituents with tact and discretion. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes are also required.
Conditions of employment
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
Important Information
Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org
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.
Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.
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 assessment centres, 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.