Grade: NOA
Vacancy no.: DC/PHNOM PENH/NO/2024/01
Publication date: 5 January 2024
Application deadline (midnight local time): 19 January 2024
Job ID: 11380
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Bangkok
Location: Phnom Penh
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025, with possible for extension subject to project fund availability
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:
*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 33,313 USD yearly.
The UN Joint Programme “Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia” (DEY) is designed to address the critical issues of youth employment in the Cambodian economy, capitalising on the comparative advantages, complementary mandates and areas of expertise of different UN organisations. The overall objective of DEY is to support youth in Cambodia to access decent and productive employment opportunities.
DEY is a partnership between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the United Nations system in Cambodia. The first and second phases have been implemented from 2017 to 2023. The third phase is expected to commence in March 2024 with a duration of four years.
Under the overall coordination and leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Cambodia, the third phase of DEY (DEY III) will be implemented by four UN organisations, namely ILO (as convening and administrative agent), UNESCO, UNICEF and UNIDO. It builds on the progress and lessons of the previous phases and aims to support the following outcomes: (i) more youth in Cambodia have increased employability with demand-driven skills in line with current and future labour market needs, (ii) more competitive SMEs provide new jobs and improved working conditions for youth, and (iii) more youth have improved access to labour market opportunities for decent and productive employment. DEY III is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-2028 in Cambodia. The development and implementation of DEY III is guided by the UNSDG (2022) Guidance Note on a New Generation of Joint Programmes.
The National Programme Officer under DEY III, based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, will be responsible for two areas of work: (1) coordination of DEY III with Participating UN Organisations (PUNOs) (50 per cent), and (2) development, implementation and monitoring of ILO interventions under DEY III, in coordination with ILO constituents and PUNOs (50 per cent). The scope of work under coordination of DEY III focuses mainly on delivering consolidated annual work plans; annual and final technical/narrative and financial reports; providing support services to the DEY Steering Committee and Joint Programme Team; and facilitating the evaluation processes and development and maintenance of the monitoring system of DEY III. The scope of work under ILO’s implementation focuses mainly on leading the ILO’s work on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development for improvement of working conditions under DEY III, and contributing to ILO interventions on skills development and labour market programmes and policies, in close coordination with the ILO National Project Coordinator.
Reporting lines
The incumbent will report to the Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR (CO-Bangkok) and receive day-to-day guidance from the ILO National Coordinator based in Cambodia.
S/he will receive technical backstopping from the Regional Youth Employment Specialist of the Regional Economic Analysis Unit of the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RO-Bangkok) and other relevant technical specialists of the Decent Work Team (DWT)-Bangkok.
The incumbent will coordinate closely with the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Cambodia and all four PUNOs.
This position is contingent on the availability of funds. The ILO will only be able to offer contract for the position if and when the project funding is made available.
Coordination of DEY III:
1. Engage with the four PUNOs to support the overall coordination of activities carried out by PUNOs.
2. Consolidate the programme work plans, progress and final narrative reports and inputs for donor’s annual reports with inputs from PUNOs based on the agreed templates.
3. Coordinate with PUNOs on the inputs for financial reports and with ILO Headquarters for the delivery of the consolidated annual and final financial statements according to the agreed templates.
4. Prepare required technical progress reports on the status of programme planning and implementation for submission to the donor.
5. Facilitate the evaluation processes and the development and maintenance of the programme monitoring system.
6. Provide support services to the DEY Steering Committee and Joint Programme Team.
7. Coordinate joint DEY communication efforts in line with programme communication strategy, donor field visits, joint field monitoring visits in line with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) plan and framework, and support organisation of programme Steering Committee (SC) meetings, and Joint Programme Team (JPT) meetings when the ILO chairs the JPT.
8. Serve as focal point of the programme for donor relation related to the above-mentioned duties.
Development, implementation and monitoring of ILO interventions under DEY III:
1. Contribute to the timely and effective project implementation, monitoring and evaluation through management functions, including provision of technical, programmatic and administrative inputs to the project in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations, DWCP, UNSDCF and UN guidance for joint programmes and according to the final project document and work plan.
2. Provide technical inputs and coordinate with relevant stakeholders in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in coordination with ILO officials. Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with relevant ILO officials, government agencies, implementing partners, contractors, constituents, PUNOs and other stakeholders to implement the ILO interventions and meet targets.
3. Develop, update, revise and monitor the project annual work plans as well as annual budget proposal for the responsible implementation portfolios. Monitor the progress of activities under the responsible portfolios, by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness, and follow up with relevant technical stakeholders to expedite implementation and meet targets. Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of project components according to the project document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.
4. Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO DWT Bangkok, and other colleagues in RO Bangkok and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions. Provide guidance to the ILO personnel assigned to the project. Co-ordinate closely, promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with other relevant ILO projects at national and regional level, ILO units, PUNOs and external stakeholders. Brief ILO officials and provide relevant information on project matters.
5. Provide technical inputs and draft terms of reference, concept notes, training material, presentations and other material for project implementation. Draft, edit, or translate into local language official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information materials. Also, contribute to the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the programme.
6. Support knowledge, communication and information management efforts covering technical activities of ILO under the project. Provide technical inputs and coordinate ILO’s communication efforts in line with the programme communication strategy, donor field visits, joint field monitoring visits in line with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) plan and framework, and support organisation of programme Steering Committee (SC) meetings and Joint Programme Team (JPT) meetings when the ILO chairs the JPT. Provide inputs to ILO communication activities to increase the project’s visibility at the national and international levels. This also includes the responsibility to liaise with the UN country team, and other key stakeholders. Under direct guidance of the ILO CO Bangkok, maintain relations with media in order to increase the impact of the project as a whole.
7. Represent the project in various fora, under the guidance of the Director of CO Bangkok. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.
8. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs, in line with ILO core conventions on fundamental principles and rights at work. Promote ILO policies regarding the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards through effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and the strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.
9. Undertake missions and conduct trainings, seminars, workshops and consultations in relation to project implementation.
10. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
First level university degree social sciences, economics, public policies, development studies or a related field. An advanced degree in any of these fields would be a strong advantage.
At least two years of experience in management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development cooperation projects. Proven experience in working effectively with multi-stakeholder partnerships or government bodies in charge of policy-making and with development partners would be desirable.
Technical requirements: Technical expertise on youth employment, skills development, enterprise, development, labour market development as well as employment-related policies.
Excellent knowledge of Khmer and excellent command of English.
• In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:
• Sound knowledge of the project cycle concepts (planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation) and results-based management (RBM) principles. Demonstrated ability to manage development cooperation projects.
• Knowledge of socio-economic factors, labour market context and employment trends affecting decent employment for youth in Cambodia.
• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work external collaborators and programme officials. Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies for project activities.
• Excellent drafting skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme coordination and implementation and ability to provide technical support to specialists regarding project implementation.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with ILO constituents and all project stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and take initiative and responsibility, while also demonstrating collaborative and teamwork experience. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ability to manage competing priorities. Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Power Point, Excel), web-browsers and database applications, and ability to use other software packages required by the ILO.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Understanding of gender equality, gender mainstreaming and equal opportunity principles and approaches
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
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.
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