Grade: NOA

Vacancy no.: DC/PRETORIA/NO/2022/02
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Application deadline (midnight local time): 01 July 2022

Job ID: 8647
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Pretoria
Location: Gaborone
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: 12 months

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.

    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 12 months fixed-term contract will be given, with possibility of further extension pending availability of funds. 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. *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.

    Introduction

    The National Project Officer (Policy Development) Policy will work within the “A Systemic Approach to Decent Work and Labour Rights in Southern Africa’s Construction Sector: Building a pathway to improved working conditions for youth and the working poor” project. The project aims to contribute to improved labour rights in the building-construction sector in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The project will be implemented using a systemic approach to decent work and will work at the sub-regional level (Outcome 1) as well as in three countries: South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (Outcome 2).
    At the sub-regional level, the project will build on the knowledge and experience gained through implementation of construction sector interventions at the country level and capacitate the SADC secretariat to advocate for scaling-up systemic interventions and inform effective policy change across SADC member States.
    At the country level - in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique - the project will target key systemic constraints in the national construction sectors, which keep most construction workers locked in low wage, unsafe, and precarious work, often in informal employment. The project will trial a portfolio of interventions and engage with national governments, the private sector – not least SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises) – and the ILO social partners – the trade unions and employer’s organisations.
    The project will aim to improve labour rights through targeting interventions that provide benefit to the working poor and young women and men and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that employ them. These target groups include the workers who are most likely to have few labour rights - including poor wages, occupational safety and health, contract stability and informality – and the MSMEs, who disproportionately struggle to provide decent work to their employees relative to larger contractors.
    As the project will be grounded in a systemic approach to decent work, it will strive to benefit the target groups in long-term sustainable way that can reach scale. It will do this by working through key project partners, including the South African Development Community (SADC), regional and national employers’ associations and trade unions, SADC member government bodies and the private sector.
    The project will develop a robust Monitoring and Results Measurement system in line with the standard of the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED).

    Reporting lines

    The position is located in Gaborone, Botswana and will report under the overall supervision of Country Director of the Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa and Country Office for Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa, located in Pretoria, South Africa (DWT/CO Pretoria) and direct supervision and guidance of the Project Manager (PM).

    Description of Duties

    The National Project Officer (Policy Development) will be responsible for communicating findings and project results to advocate for policy and programmatic changes across SADC member States, through SADC Secretariat regular events and ELS meetings.

    Specific duties include:

    1. Support the Market System Development Technical Officer in develop in-country intervention partnerships that address key challenges in policy and programme implementation.
    2. Support the PM in the establishment of the Steering Committee and organize and participate with the PM to Steering Committee meetings.
    3. Strengthen the link project’s in-country and sub-regional workstreams, particularly in producing policy briefs, presentations and content for discussions that synthesise lessons from in-country analyses and interventions to present to the SADC Ministers of Labour and Employment.
    4. Work in collaboration with SADC member states officials and SADC secretariat to identify capacity development needs and key labour rights constraints in the construction sector and elaborate a capacity building plan.
    5. Coordinate workshops and technical capacity building and awareness raising workshops for SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour, ILO social partners and senior officials.
    6. Facilitate discussions among SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour, social partners and senior officials on national market system analysis, interventions implemented and lessons learnt.
    7. Support SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour, social partners and senior officials in identifying policy options that address labour rights constraints in the construction sector and to identify how to scale good practices up in additional member states.
    8. Assist in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the Project
    9. Perform any other duties requested by the Project Manager.

      Required qualifications

      Education

      First level university degree in public policy, public administration, economics, social sciences, development studies, political science or a relevant technical field.

      Experience

      • At least two years of relevant professional experience working in public policy, policy change, and/or advocacy in the field of labour rights. Experience with SADC would be an advantage.
      • Experience with private sector development and construction sector would be an advantage.
      • Demonstrable expertise in the subject of Gender.

        Languages

        Excellent command of English. A good working knowledge of Tswana is an advantage.

        Competencies

        Required Competencies and Skills

        • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
        • Policy analysis and research skills.
        • Ability to interpret project results and tailor policy messages to different audiences.
        • Ability in interacting with different level of international and national stakeholders and private sector actors.
        • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
        • Ability to work through networking and partnerships.
        • Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues.
        • Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
        • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
        • Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.
        • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications required by the Office
        • Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
        • Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise
        • Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility
        • Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility

          Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.

          Other

          Written Examination and Interview – Prospective candidates will be required to sit in a written examination and take part in an interview.

          Application: Qualified women and men are encouraged to apply. Only qualified candidates will be notified. Please submit application indicating the Vacancy Announcement Number along with your CV, three references and other supporting documents.

          “Assessed candidates who will be considered as appointable but not selected for this position can also be offered to be assigned on another temporary position at the same or at a lower grade provided that said candidates possesses the minimum qualifications for this position”.

          Recruitment process

          Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO People. 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.

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you