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Programme Technical Officer - Social Health Protection for Refugees and Host Communities

Geneva

  • Organization: ILO - International Labour Organization
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Refugee rights and well-being
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Grade: P3  

Vacancy no.: DC/SOCPRO/P/2019/01
Publication date: 15 August 2019
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 19 September 2019

Job ID: 1674 
Department: SOCPRO 
Organization Unit: SOCPRO 
Location: Geneva   
Contract type: Fixed Term 

Contract duration: 12 months renewable 


Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

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.

Confirmation of this assignment will be subject to receipt of the technical cooperation funds.

Introduction

Large mixed migration movements continue to top the global political agenda, as reflected in the 2016 UN New York Declaration, and remain at the forefront of concerns, discussions and collaboration across the multilateral system and beyond. These movements create considerable challenges for countries of first asylum, transit and destination, as well as countries of origin. The majority of refugee populations are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. As displacement has become increasingly protracted, responses are becoming more focused on durable solutions to support more dignified, inclusive and comprehensive programmes for refugees and the communities that host them to facilitate self-reliance and empowerment and strengthen social cohesion. In this context, the Government of the Netherlands has launched a new partnership initiative – the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme (hereafter referred to as the “programme” – with a focus on eight countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan and Uganda, building on the combined strengths, experience and values of specific organizations. The partners include the IFC, the ILO, the UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank. The programme aims to help transform the response to forced displacement crises and in particular: (1) to enhance the enabling environment for the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (to mitigate their plight during years of exile and to best prepare them for their return); (2) to enhance access to education and child protection for vulnerable children on the move; and (3) to strengthen the resilience of host communities through inclusive socio-economic development that also benefits forcibly displaced persons. PROSPECTS focuses on areas of decent work, including social protection, that are critical for forcibly displaced persons to overcome their specific vulnerabilities and for host communities to pursue their own development agenda in a transformed environment.

In the framework of this programme, the ILO and UNHCR wish to scale-up their existing partnership on social health protection. The objective of this partnership is to bring together ILO’s expertise on social health protection (https://www.social-protection.org) and the refugee protection mandate of UNHCR, especially on public health (https://www.unhcr.org/public-health.html) to seek opportunities and implement integration schemes for refugees into existing national social health protection systems, with the aim to allow refugees to access health services at the same level as nationals, through shared risk pooling mechanisms

..

The ILO works with its constituents to promote the development of public social health protection systems and universal access to health care for all through the creation and improvement of countries’ national social protection systems, including floors, as defined in ILO Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202) and the ILO runs a Flagship Programme to support countries accordingly. This aims to ensure that persons in need will not face hardship and an increased risk of poverty due to the financial consequences of accessing health care, and is directly relevant to achieving universal health coverage. UNHCR works closely with partners who implement health programs in line with the organization’s Public Health Strategy, the agency advocates for the inclusion of refugees in national health systems and encourages governments to allow refugees to access available health services, on par with what nationals use. There may often initially be barriers to accessing health services: cost, ineligibility to benefit from social protection, or exclusion from services. The integration of refugees into national systems is generally regarded a win-win, as it fosters peaceful coexistence, self-reliance and resilience. The Global Compact on Refugees affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 provides a blueprint for states, international organisations and other stakeholders to deliver an integrated response to refugees and host communities, driving forward the agenda of the SDGs in an equitable and predictable way.

In this framework, the incumbent will be responsible for the social health protection component of PROSPECTS and will provide support to each of the ILO programme teams in liaison with UNHCR Public Health Officers in the design, implementation and evaluation of their social health protection project component. The incumbent will collaborate with relevant technical specialists in the ILO headquarters, within Decent Work Teams (DWT) and relevant Country Offices, as well as in UNHCR headquarters and relevant Country Offices. This position is located in Geneva, Switzerland, for 12 months within the ILO headquarters to ensure that: i) the incumbent will partake in the design process of the programme scheduled during the first year; and ii) the incumbent will be immersed within the Social Protection Department of the ILO and collaborate closely with the Public Health Section of UNHCR. From the second year of the project onward, the position will be based in one of the programme countries (to be selected, but most likely Horn of Africa region) and the incumbent will need to relocate accordingly, subject to performance and availability of funding.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Health Protection Specialist of the Social Policy Unit within the Social Protection Department of the ILO and will work under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) of the Programme in the office of the Deputy Director in charge of Policy in the ILO. In addition, the incumbent will work closely with the Senior Public Health Officer within the Public Health Section of UNHCR. Tasks of direct support to UNHCR Public Health Officers on the ground will be coordinated with UNHCR Public Health Section.

Description of Duties

1. Provide inputs to the design of the four-year programme in the area of social health protection, including intervention design, programme documentation, implementation planning and budgeting, as well as the monitoring and evaluation framework, in collaboration with the Social Policy Unit, programme staff in headquarters and field offices, as well as the social protection specialists of the concerned DWTs and the UNHCR Public Health Section.
2. Develop, implement and monitor the social health protection component of the programme in consultation with relevant technical and administrative units in ILO and UNHCR.
3. Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the component in conformity with ILO policies and programme strategies, ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and Office procedures and practices.
4. Assist in the preparation of budget revisions for the component which includes providing guidance and support to ILO programme country teams, as well as UNHCR Public Health Officers on the ground.
5. Act as a focal point on social protection, and particularly social health protection, for refugees, and liaise and ensure efficient and effective communications between the Social Protection Department of the ILO, the Public Health Section of UNHCR with the programme team; and ensure coordination with other focal points working on related issues within the ILO’s Social Protection Department, for example, on health, humanitarian-development nexus, climate change and migration as relevant.
6. Prepare comments and substantive inputs on relevant technical documents and programme progress reports.
7. Design, organize and deliver capacity-building strategies for relevant stakeholders involved in social health protection for refugees and host communities, ensuring coordination and linkages with the International Training Centre of the ILO as required.
8. Elaborate and deliver interventions to assess the impact of improved access to social health protection on both financial protection and health and well-being outcomes of refugees and host communities.
9. Support research relevant to the extension of social health protection to refugees and pathways of inclusion in overall social protection systems and integrate technical inputs for analyses, reports and publications related to the programme and prepare discussion notes; draft technical reports and briefs.
10. Provide inputs to programme and Flagship Programme advocacy initiatives for the promotion of relevant ILO Conventions.
11. Undertake missions in relation to programme implementation.
12. Undertake other duties as required by the supervisor.

Required qualifications
Education

Advanced university degree in economics, social science, public health, health economics, health financing, or a related field.

Experience

• At least five years’ relevant professional experience, preferably in the fields of social health protection, health financing, social health insurance, health and migration, including three years or more of experience at the international level.
• At least two years’ relevant experience in supporting project implementation, planning and/or monitoring.
• Proven experience providing technical support in the fields of social health protection, health financing or social insurance would be a strong advantage.
• Previous experience implementing interventions on access to health in the context of displacements would be a strong advantage.
• Previous experience in conducting analytical work with practical implications on the extension of social protection, as well as familiarity with ILO or UNHCR policies and administrative and financial procedures would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English is essential and additional language skills in French, Arabic or another working language of either the programme countries or of the organization would be an advantage.  

Competencies

• Proven ability to communicate effectively to different audiences and draft analytical texts and reports of high quality.
• Proven ability to conduct rigorous analytical work and apply quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation skills.
• Client orientation and ability to be perceptive in coordination processes with partners and stakeholders from different technical areas and perspectives in a politically sensitive context.
• Ability to guide and coordinate technical work with colleagues, external collaborator and partners.
• Ability to develop capacity-building and training materials.
• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to adapt to change and propose action accordingly.
• Commitment to gender equity and proven ability to integrate gender considerations in programme work plans and tools.
• High standards of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline and impartiality.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience administering development cooperation projects.
• Good programme formulation, implementation and evaluation techniques.
• Demonstrated computer literacy, especially with Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.


Conditions of employment

  • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
  • Any extension 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.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit: https://jobs.ilo.org/content/International/?locale=en_GB

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

This vacancy is now closed.
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