Grade: P5
Vacancy no.: DC/AP-FORMALIZATION/P/2024/03
Publication date: 23 February 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 8 March 2024
Job ID: 11713
Department: DDG
Organization Unit: AP/FORMALIZATION
Location: Geneva
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 1 year
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 position is located in the Priority Action Programme “Transition from the informal to the formal economy” (AP/Formalization) under the DDG portfolio. IGDS no.660 provides details about the objectives and operational modalities of the four Priority Action Programmes (APs) introduced through the Programme and Budget for 2024–25. The APs focus on the effective coordination and integration of policies and activities across the different areas of the ILO’s work and the provision of integrated support to constituents.
They are expected to function as entry points for leveraging partnerships and cooperation in support of the Global Coalition for Social Justice. The four APs have been designed to foster integrated cross-Office action and collaborative working modalities across departments at headquarters and in field offices, addressing decent work deficits affecting specific, well-defined populations and ensuring integrated policy responses aimed to result in measurable outcomes. In this way, the APs will enable the consolidation and expansion of in-house expertise and knowledge on key policy areas of the world of work; this will translate into increased impact at country level and the stronger positioning of the ILO globally. The APs will be implemented in close cooperation with ILO tripartite constituents and involve relevant entities of the multilateral system, as well as development partners and civil society organizations concerned with the specific theme each AP is targeting.
The APs aim to consolidate relevant facets of the specific AP themes that are addressed by different organizational units, adding value to and enabling this work by: (a) facilitating knowledge exchange; (b) developing and sharing new tools and methodologies; (c) strengthening advocacy and communication; (d) improving coordination of capacity development initiatives, including with the ITC–ILO; and (e) engaging with multilateral organizations and building consensus and coordinated action that ensures the bulk of the risk is not placed on the most vulnerable workers least able to bear it. Such actions should ensure that APs’ impact on knowledge, policy advice and capacity-building is significant, measurable and visible.
Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the AP/Formalization, the Senior Technical Specialist will be responsible for providing direct technical support to the above AP and contribute to the expected outcomes.
Guided by the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204), AP/Formalization will improve coherence and effectiveness of formalization policies by: (a) building a shared understanding, based on evidence, among constituents and within the multilateral system on why and how to address informality and its root causes with particular attention to gender equality concerns, highlighting the essential contribution of formalization to social justice; (b) strengthening the capacity of constituents to implement gender-responsive, inclusive, integrated and coherent formalization strategies including opportunities offered by the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), and to improve the coordination and synergies between distinct policy interventions in the area; and (c) developing joint initiatives within the multilateral system on transition to formality.
AECID is directly supporting the realization of the objectives of the AP/Formalization.
Reporting lines: The Senior Technical Specialist will report to the Director of the AP/Formalization and will receive technical guidance from the concerned technical Department. They will work closely with Technical Specialists in HQ and/or the DWT.
Technical leadership and advice:
1. Provide expert advice and technical support to the Regions for the organization of five regional knowledge sharing Fora (one in each region, organized by Regional Offices with the support of the AP/Formalization and ITCILO). And prepare, in coordination with field specialists, the background papers so as a report of the debates and policy recommendations that have emerged from the debates.
2. Lead, in coordination with ITCILO, and under the guidance of the AP/F Director, the organization of a global knowledge sharing Forum, bringing together ILO constituents and representatives from multilateral agencies and academic and research institutions from different regions to share and discuss good practices and innovative approaches for facilitating transition to formality. And prepare, in coordination with field specialists, the background paper so as a report of the debates and policy recommendations that have emerged from the debates.
3. Lead, under the guidance of the AP/Formalization Director, the production of a global report that compiles, in close coordination with Regional Offices, ACTRAV, ACTEMP and Technical Departments, evidence on what works and doesn’t work regarding transition to formality and reducing decent work deficits of women and men in the informal economy; building on existing programs and efforts at regional and country level to document effective measures and innovative approaches for transition to formality (such as FORLAC 2:0 in ROLAC).
4. Provide technical expertise and advice to the stakeholders of the AP/Formalization, including relevant government agencies and other key institutions. Ensure that technical interventions and decisions are well founded and consider the specific nature of the AP/Formalization objectives. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.
5. Provide expert advice and technical support to the preparatory work for the 2025 general discussion of the International Labour Conference on “Innovative approaches to tackling informality and promoting transitions towards formality”. And support the AP/Formalization contribution to the “Future Summit” and the “Social Summit”.
6. Provide expert advice to the Global Accelerator Team and COs on relevant innovative approaches for transition to formability for pathways countries and support South-South cooperation.
Advocacy, networking and partnership:
7. Develop and maintain excellent relations with governments, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of the AP/Formalization.
8. Liaise and coordinate with the other UN agencies and counterparts to promote ILO values, increase the AP/Formalization objectives visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions. Liaise with other UN counterparts to promote ILO's work on regarding transition to formality, based on Recommendation no.204, to increase ILO’s work visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions.
9. Establish and manage partnerships within the multilateral system, including IFIs, to develop joint research on the level and characteristics of informal employment to generate a shared vision that will help to foster policy coherence among organizations.
10. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the AP/Formalization, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists.
Knowledge management:
11. Design communication and knowledge-sharing strategies and support the development of the AP/Formalization information/knowledge materials on innovative approaches and good practices for transition to formality.
12. In selected countries, ensure, in close coordination with relevant ROs, COs and technical departments, the design and implementation of integrated policy frameworks for transition from the informal to the formal economy, including providing a broad evidence-base analysis of innovative and integrated gender-responsive strategies to facilitate transitions to formality at national level or by sector.
13. Participate, conceive, plan and manage international and national expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to knowledge production about innovative approaches for transition to formality. Manage outreach and technical activities, including networks and communities of practice for knowledge sharing; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc. and establish coordination with concerned ILO Departments and Field Offices.
14. Identify training needs and lead training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.
15. Represent the Office at meetings, seminars and evaluations and build and enhance strategic partnerships and networks of government policymakers, workers’ and employers’ organizations and civil society organizations.
16. Perform other duties as required.
Advanced university degree (Master‘s or equivalent) in economics, development studies, social science or a related discipline.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant field 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 ten years of relevant experience in the field of development and employment policies so as a good knowledge of informal employment related issues. Experience with liaison and partnership building with other international/multilateral organizations would be an asset.
Excellent knowledge of one working language of the Office (English or Spanish), and good working knowledge of another one.
Conditions of employment
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination. Any extension 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.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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