Job Opportunity at ILO, Technical Officer:
Vacancy No: DC/2017/RO-AFRICA/02
Title: Technical Officer: Social protection and Labour Migration
Grade: P.3
Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment
Duration of contract: one year (renewable)
Date: 13 October 2017
Deadline 29 October 2017
Duty Station: Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
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:
- ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
- External candidates
INTRODUCTION
Effective labour migration governance which fosters the development benefits for the migrants, as well as the countries of destination and departure, remains a global challenge; particularly in Africa. In most countries in Africa, as elsewhere in the world, migrant workers may not be entitled to the same benefits as nationals. Social security is a basic human right enshrined in major international instruments, however, migrant workers are often prevented from obtaining coverage from social security schemes due to their particular circumstances, especially the length of their periods of employment and residence, their status as non-nationals, as well as their particular immigrant status. They risk the loss of entitlement to social security benefits in their country of origin due to their absence, and may at the same time encounter restrictive conditions under the social security system of the host country. Although these barriers to social security coverage are faced to varying degrees by migrant workers worldwide, they are especially acute for African migrant workers in Africa. In addition, female migration, counting for almost half of the migration flows in Africa, faces specific vulnerabilities and higher risks of abuse and human trafficking.
Further to the adoption of the 2015 AU Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development (Ouagadougou + 10) and cognisant of the opportunities, issues and challenges the continent is facing, the AUC, ILO, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), developed a Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), with full cooperation and involvement of Africa's RECs and organisations representing the interests of business, workers and migrants. The overall objective of the programme is to strengthen the effective governance and regulation of labour migration and mobility in Africa. The programme identified extending social security coverage to migrant workers and their families as a major objective and seeks to (1.) facilitate national unilateral measures to extend social security coverage and exportability; (2.) Harmonize social security access regimes in regional integration spaces; (3.) facilitate cooperation between social security agencies; and (4.) promote ILO conventions C-102 (social security) and C-118 (equality of treatment) as well as other relevant standards for the social security of migrant workers. The proposed project will contribute towards realizing the above objectives.
The overall objective of the project "Extending social security access and portability to migrant workers and their families through selected Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa" is to extend decent work and social protection to migrant workers and their families, by strengthening the RECs' capacities to provide, as well as drive the implementation of regional frameworks on the extension of social protection to migrant workers and their families. The expected results are: 1. Improved implementation of ECOWAS General Convention on Social Security by ECOWAS Member States; 2. SADC policy and instruments on portability of social security and other benefits formulated and implemented; 3. Improved implementation of EAC council directives and regulations on social security benefits for migrant workers; 4. Improved capacity of the AUC, RECs and regional social partners to effectively coordinate and contribute to regional and sub-regional social security programmes for migrant workers.
The target groups are policymakers in relevant RECs responsible for the preparation and implementation of strategies to extend social security coverage; administrators responsible for the preparation, application and monitoring of social security agreements; and social security institutions; as well as social partners involved in labour migration and social security issues. The final beneficiaries are the women and men migrant workers and their families.
The project is funded by the European Commission, through the Pan-African MMD Facility implemented by ICMPD.
The Technical Officer will support the Project Manager (PM) in the day-to-day implementation of project activities and will assist in attaining the objectives stated in the project document within the stated time frame and budget as well as ensure compliance with the ILO and the project's financial and operating procedures.
The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the project based in Addis Ababa and will receive technical guidance, support and collaboration from the relevant Social protection specialists in the region (ILO DWT/CO-Pretoria and ILO DWT/CO- Dakar) for all technical-related outputs and overall project implementation. He/She will also be under the technical guidance of the Regional Labour Migration and Mobility Specialist based in Abidjan and will work closely with the Labour Migration Branch (MIGRANT) and the Social Protection Department (SOCPRO). Since the position is located in Dar es Salaam, the incumbent will be under the general supervision of the Director of the ILO CO - Dar es Salaam.
Description of Duties
1. Assist the Project Manager and contribute to the day-to day effective implementation of the project at sub-regional (EAC, ECOWAS, SADC) and national level through timely provision of inputs and outputs, and planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of 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 and ensure delivery of outputs and achievement of project objectives.
2. Support the Project Manager in the effective management of funds/budget assigned to ILO in accordance with ILO administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible field office.
3. Provide technical support and expertise to designated Regional Economic Communities in close collaboration with the other Social security and labour migration technical specialists in the region. The technical officer will work in close collaboration with the Strengthening institutional mechanisms for migration management in SADC EU-ILO project based in Pretoria.
4. Under the guidance of the Project Manager, support the African Union Commission (AUC), the EAC, the ECOWAS and SADC and their member States in strengthening their capacities on migrant workers' social protection; in close cooperation with relevant sub regional institutions such as ECASSA Eastern and Central Africa Social security association and its members.
5. Under the guidance of the Project Manager, support planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities in close collaboration with the African Union Commission, the EAC, the ECOWAS and SADC, the relevant ILO Country Offices and ILO technical specialists in the region and at Headquarters, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO country/action programmes;
6. Under the guidance of the Project Manager, provide technical support to relevant government agencies, workers' and employers' organizations and other relevant stakeholders and undertake technical missions independently or in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and plan, organize and conduct seminars, workshops, consultation processes and technical coordination meetings.
7. Under the guidance of the Project Manager, maintain close liaison with governments, workers' and employers' organizations, UN organizations non-governmental organizations on a broad range of country programmes and projects and maintain working contacts and collaboration with multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies, representatives of social security institutions, agencies or funds and other key relevant stakeholders involved in the implementation and application of the SADC and EAC Protocols and with its member states, as well as key relevant international partners and organizations to achieve the objectives of the project.
8. Actively participate in ILO research initiatives on Labour migration and Social protection as relevant. Adapting resources and analytical and training materials in the field of social protection to build national, sub-regional and regional institutional capacities and enhance the available knowledge base. Assist in the development of training guides and manuals related to the project objectives that will feed into the workshops, seminars, consultation processes and technical coordination meetings.
9. Any other relevant duties as requested by the Regional Office for Africa in Abidjan and the Project Manager.
Required Qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree in economics, management, law, political and social science or a related field complemented with demonstrated expertise in the field of social protection with knowledge of social protection for migrant workers.
Experience
Five years' experience in the management of development cooperation activities, of which at least three years at the international level. This includes field experience in the planning, management, implementation and monitoring of complex development cooperation projects, preferably in the fields of social protection and labour migration. Experience in the Africa region is required.
Languages
Excellent command of English, and working knowledge of French would be an asset.
Competencies
- 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;
- Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
- Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners;
- Should be open to and able to make changes to accommodate culture and gender differences in order to interact effectively with individuals;
- Proven capacity to implement technical co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
- Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
- Excellent computer/information application skills, including word processing, excel, power point etc.