National Project Coordinator, IRIS

Introduction

Social health protection is a key instrument to making progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals on Universal Health Coverage and Universal Social Protection alike and constitutes a fundamental enabler of human development and inclusive growth. The social health protection system in Cambodia has made significant progress in promoting access to healthcare services without financial hardship, with the gradual expansion of the non-contributory Health Equity Fund to 4.6 million people categorised as vulnerable or at-risk, and the launch of the National Social Security Fund’s contributory health insurance schemes in 2016. The introduction of a voluntary contributory health insurance scheme for the self-employed (including workers in the informal economy) and dependents of formal sector employees in 2023, administered by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), opened an avenue for an estimated 3.5 million self-employed workers and 4 million dependents to access social health protection.

Combined, these schemes have achieved 44 per cent population coverage. However, most informal workers remain without effective coverage, resulting in significant financial hardship for the population, with persistently high out-of-pocket payments and high rates of catastrophic health expenditure. In response, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Roadmap 2024–2035 sets ambitious targets to expand social health protection coverage to 70 per cent by 2030 and to 80 per cent by 2035. Cambodia’s Global Accelerator Roadmap reiterates the priorities outlined in the UHC Roadmap of extending social health protection to all and outlines the objective of extending social protection coverage to 50 per cent by 2028, from 42 per cent in 2023. Such efforts will require tailored actions to reach uncovered groups, improved collection and analysis of data to inform policy and administration, and capacity strengthening, as any expansion of social health protection relies on the improvement of administrative capacities and governance.

Under the Inclusive, Resilient, and Integrated Social Health Protection across Asia - IRIS project, the ILO will support the extension of effective social health protection coverage, enhance administration efficiency, and ensure the financial sustainability of social health protection systems while adapting to the needs emanating from the impacts of climate change and other transformative trends. In-country activities implemented in Cambodia and Lao PDR will be grounded in the continued engagements at the regional level.

In Cambodia specifically, the project will support efforts to reach the objectives as outlined in the UHC Roadmap 2024-2035 and National Social Protection Policy Framework 2024-2035, in close complementarity and synergy with activities implemented under on-complementary ILO projects. Building on existing partnerships, in-country technical support will be provided to the General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, the National Social Security Fund, social partners and civil society organisations. Activities will focus on expanding social health protection coverage, particularly among informal and rural workers, women and people with disabilities.

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities in Cambodia as well as providing technical support to constituents. He/she will ensure that the project contributes to coherent country programmes on social protection, including national plans for the achievement of the SDGs, within the overall ILO country framework and decent work agenda.

Reporting lines

The National Project Coordinator will be based in Phnom Penh and will work in close collaboration with ILO’s National Coordinator, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, and the overall technical guidance of the regional Senior Social Protection Specialist.

The incumbent will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the project activities in Cambodia and will liaise with the project’s partners (government, employers’ and workers’ representatives), among others, to ensure the timely delivery of activities according to the project’s work plan.

Description of Duties

1. Support elaboration of project workplans and the implementation of project activities to promote the extension of social health protection coverage, the strengthening of administrative capacities, and evidence-based and inclusive policy reforms.
2. Ensure compliance with ILO financial and administrative procedures and contribute to the timely delivery of project outputs and reporting obligations.
3. Monitor national policies, strategies, and developments related to social health protection. Provide analytical inputs and propose responsive actions to emerging trends and challenges.
4. Participate in stakeholder consultations and coordination meetings with employers’ organizations, trade unions, government agencies, and development partners to facilitate implementation and follow-up of project activities.
5. Contribute to the preparation of technical briefs, progress reports, and knowledge products such as briefs, case studies, and working papers.
6. Organize and facilitate awareness-raising events, workshops, and training sessions to promote inclusive and universal social health protection.
7. Support research activities on the coverage, adequacy, financing and administration of social health protection to inform national reforms and regional knowledge products.
8. Serve as a focal point for social health protection under the supervision of the Project Manager and National Coordinator, representing the project in internal and external meetings and identifying areas for collaboration.
9. Support partnership development and resource mobilization efforts by identifying opportunities and contributing to proposal development.
10. Draft, review, and translate official documents, press releases, speeches, and other public information materials as required.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required qualifications

Education

First-level university degree in economics, public health, social science, or a related field.

Experience

At least two years of professional experience at the national level in the field of social health protection, social protection, or health financing.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of the working language of the duty station and a good knowledge of English.

Competencies

Technical competencies:

• Technical knowledge on social health protection, social protection, public health, contemporary issues in making progress towards Universal Health Coverage and Universal Social Protection, including specifically in Cambodia.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting social health protection and/or social protection reforms.
• Good knowledge of project management, formulation, administration, and evaluation techniques and practices.
• Good analytical and drafting skills, including to formulate project proposals, policy documents, and procedural matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Ability to develop and design training materials and deliver training and knowledge exchange activities.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to work independently to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Good understanding of principles of gender equality, disability inclusion, and principles of equal opportunity and how these can be promoted as part the responsibilities of the post;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Sound computer skills and ability to use software to prepare documents, presentations and conduct data analysis.