Internship - Skills for social inclusion

Department description

The Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department (EMPLOYMENT) is responsible for promoting full and productive employment by developing integrated employment, development and skills policies that maximize the employment impact of economic growth, investment, and development and which are inclusive, gender sensitive, productive and sustainable.

At the global level, the Department advocates and promotes policy frameworks and partnerships that aim at generating more quality employment opportunities. At the country level, the objective is to support the ILO constituents to develop, implement and monitor coordinated and context specific policies and programmes that promote quality job creation through economic diversification and investment strategies, skills development for present and future needs in the labour markets and labour market activation and intermediation that integrate the most vulnerable groups. These include policies and programmes facilitating transition to formality for the large segments of population working and earning their livelihoods in the informal economy and employment and income opportunities in the rural economy.

This position will be located in the Skills Branch of the Employment Policy Department at the ILO Geneva. The Skills Branch provides high-quality, timely, and integrated research, technical and policy advisory services on skills development in three key thematic areas: national skills policies and systems; work-based learning, apprenticeships and recognition of prior learning; skills strategies for future labour markets; and skills for social inclusion.

The Branch’s work on social inclusion focuses on improving the labour market prospects and quality of work for those disadvantaged in the labour market. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities in access to and participation in skills, lifelong learning and the labour market. Concerted and focused efforts are needed to improve access, outreach, quality and relevance of education and training and improve links with the world of work. Given the heterogeneity of disadvantaged groups, such as women, young NEETs, persons with disabilities, LGBTI people, workers in rural areas or in the informal economy, migrants and refugees, education and training systems and programs have to be:  

•    Designed to overcome the range of existing barriers ;
•    Respond flexibly to different needs; and
•    Address questions of status and challenge social perceptions.

Learning area

As an intern in the Skills Branch, you will be exposed to a whole range of areas related to skills for social inclusion such as:

•    Assist in research and provide draft technical inputs on reports, briefs, communication material and terms of reference on skills and lifelong learning for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, and workers in the informal economy;
•    Support development cooperation activities relevant for rural skills training, and skills for migrant workers and refugees;
•    Assist in the preparation of presentations and training material related to skills development and recognition for social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, including at the ILO/ITC in Turin;
•    Assist in the development and application of tools related to skills development for disadvantaged groups, including in rural and fragile settings and skills for digital inclusion;
•    Support activities of the Global Skills Partnership on Migration in collaboration with other ILO technical branches and partner agencies;
•    Assist in other tasks related to Skills for Social Inclusion.

You would be gaining experience in working with specialists who are involved in providing technical backstopping to development cooperation projects, conducting research on topics such as skills for rural employment, apprenticeship in the informal economy, skills development and recognition for migrant workers, forcibly displaced populations and host communities, gender-inclusive skills development policies and programmes, development of guides, manuals and briefs on skills development for vulnerable groups.

Interns should expect to devote 10% to 20% of their time to administrative tasks.

Education

First level degree in Economic or Social Sciences, Human Resource Development, Development Studies, International Relations or a similar field. Applicant should currently follow a course of study (last year of Master degree or above), or have completed studies within 12 months prior to this application.

Experience

Relevant professional experience in social research, education and training systems and work on disadvantaged groups, good knowledge of Word, Excel and PPP.

Languages

Working (both oral and written) knowledge of at least one of the ILO’s official languages (English, French, Spanish).

Competencies

The applicant should adapt to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, good communication skills and be able to work in a team, good analytical and drafting skills.