Social Protection Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the [ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for North Africa (DWT/CO-Cairo) based in Cairo. DWTs provide high quality, timely and integrated technical support to country offices in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) in response to their requests within the framework of outcome-based work plans. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses.
The main role of the position is [to provide advisory services and capacity building to ILO constituents and for the design and technical backstopping of development cooperation projects in the field of social protection, which aims at building comprehensive social protection systems and extending social protection coverage by prioritizing the establishment of national social protection floors in line with the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No 102), the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No 202) and other relevant ILO social security standards. This includes providing advisory support for the extension of social protection, analyzing the fiscal space for financing comprehensive and sustainable social protection systems and providing management support to social security institutions for improving the governance, efficiency of administration and delivery of services. As a member of the DWT/CO Cairo team the incumbent will support the office to promote the development and implementation of integrated policies to achieve universal social protection, including in the framework of the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All and the UN Secretary-General’s Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The incumbent works under direct supervision of the [Director of DWT/CO-Cairo, and works in close collaboration with the Directors of the other ILO country offices. The position also receives technical guidance and advice from the Social Protection Department at ILO headquarters. 
The Specialist will be a member of the ILO Global Technical Team on Social Protection. He/she will work in close cooperation with the other specialists and staff in the DWT/CO team, other specialists in the African Region, the ILO National Coordinators at the country level 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 [social protection], is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities for tripartite constituents, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at 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 on the concepts, design and implementation of social protection and social security policies and strategies, programmes, action plans and mechanisms formulated to establish universal, comprehensive, adequate and sustainable social protection systems including national social protection floors guided by relevant international labour standards, and  technical advisory services with regard to the governance and administration of national social protection schemes and programmes, including financial governance 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, plans, reviews, 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 social protection area and leads to the formulation of policy recommendations, technical guidelines and the development of new methodologies and concepts in the area of social protection. Contribute to the development of the ILO’s policy and country briefs, the World Social Protection Report, and its regional companion report for the sub-region, as well as other flagship publications. Identify, review and document relevant information pertaining to initiatives extending social security, and the achievements and impact of the various social security systems within the sub-region.

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6.    Develop and lead/coordinate the development of social protection policy initiatives 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 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 and implement policies and measures  in the area of social protection. 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.

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9.    Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the region and related areas and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners/entities of the UN system, other international organizations, regional and national actors, private institutions, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, research institutions and academia, civil society and other key stakeholders with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence, joint programme design and implementation, promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization, influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives..
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  regional, subregional, national and subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of social protection . 
11.    Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional, subregional and national priorities on social protection policies 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 social protection. 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 law, economics, public finance, social sciences, public administration  or actuarial sciences 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 in the field of social protection programmes and strategies including at the international level. Experience in public social protection schemes and public finance, and in the design and management of international projects on social protection would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English or French) and a working knowledge of the other. A working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.  

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 social protection] 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.