Productivity and Decent Work Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (RO), in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Regional Office has overall political and administrative responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles and policies in the region and provides strategic guidance and support to all country offices and Decent Work Teams (DWTs) in the region.
The main role of the position is to provide policy advice and technical assistance to ILO constituents in the field of sustainable enterprises, productivity and decent work, support capacity building of ILO constituents in the field of productivity linked to decent work, help ILO constituents to better design, implement and evaluate public policies related to productivity growth, and support and/or implement development cooperation projects in the countries covered by RO Africa. 
The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director for Africa and also receives technical guidance and advice from the Director of the Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition Department at headquarters. 
The Specialist works in collaboration with the other DWTs specialists in Africa, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and with UN agencies at the country and regional levels.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.    As primary specialist in the area(s) of productivity and decent work, is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities for ILO constituents on productivity policy aiming at increasing productivity linked to decent work, evaluate and monitor the scope of public policies for high-productivity jobs and the promotion of enterprise productivity based on the ILO productivity ecosystem model dealing with the macro (national), meso (sectoral) and micro (enterprise) levels. This will include institutional design in the context of understanding and accelerating trends related to the future of work, particularly regarding digital and green transition. This includes the use and application of different policy instruments to promote clusters and enterprises, foster competitiveness, digitization, diffusion of innovation, integration into global supply chains. Develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at regional, subregional and national  levels to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, taking into account the integration of cross-cutting policy drivers, including international labour standards, social dialogue, gender equality and non-discrimination, and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and ensure the effective management of staff and consultants in accordance with ILO standards, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and other feedback mechanisms, as applicable.
2.    Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide expert policy and technical advice in the area of productivity and decent work, including strategies for the integration of decent work and productivity growth, to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders with a view to promoting the formulation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and programmes, and their impactful implementation and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes. Promote relevant international labour standards.
3.    Support ILO constituents in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects. 
4.    Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Participate in multidisciplinary initiatives, efforts, developments, activities  with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.
5.    Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders in the productivity and decent work  area and leads to the formulation of technical guidelines, policy advice, recommendations and the development of new methodologies and concepts in the area of productivity policy.

optional section (only if needed)

6.    Develop and lead/coordinate the development of public policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to constituents’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the global, regional and country levels and provide advice and technical support to constituents and other stakeholders on effectively using such tools. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices.
7.    Provide technical inputs to, oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.
8.    Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to design, implement, monitor and evaluate the impact of public policies as required in the area of productivity. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead and/or coordinate workshops, meetings and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms and communication tools. Develop and run/implement global and/or regional capacity development programmes, knowledge sharing and training events including in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable.

optional section 2 (only if needed)

9.    Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the area of productivity linked to decent work and related areas and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with the UN system, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, regional and national actors, private institutions, research institutions, academia, civil society, and other key stakeholders with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence and joint programme design and implementation.
10.    Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at seminars, conferences and other events. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in meetings, conferences and forums at the international, regional, subregional, national and subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of productivity and decent work. 
11.    Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional, subregional, and national priorities on productivity and decent work and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge sharing among projects. 
12.    Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of productivity and decent work. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices.
13.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, statistics, social sciences or business administration, preferably with specialization in areas related to industrial economics, science and technology, productive development, sustainable development, future of work, digitization and policies for the improvement of productivity. or other relevant field. 
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 experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least seven years of experience, including at the international level, in design and implementation related to sustainable enterprise development and productive transformation. Experience with research on public policy evaluation would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English and working knowledge of French. 

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of productivity and public policy evaluation with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.

Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.

Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.

Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.

Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action.

Ability to mobilize resources.

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.