Senior Project Officer, UKPFSEA (Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia)

In 2015, the Department for International Development announced the Cross-Government Prosperity Fund to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as the 2015 UK Aid Strategy by promoting growth and prosperity in developing countries.  The Cross-Government Prosperity Fund’s focus is on Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible middle income-countries and provide expertise and technical assistance in sectors and countries where there is the highest potential for inclusive growth. 

The UK Prosperity Fund for Skills Programme in South East Asia (Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia) falls under the Cross-Government Prosperity Fund’s Global Skills Programme where ODA is granted to support middle income countries to address skills shortages.  The Global Skills Programme takes a partnership approach and draws on UK expertise to promote sustainable and inclusive growth by improving the affordability, quality, relevance and equity of Higher Education (HE) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the partner countries. 

The Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme is implemented by the ILO, led by the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok).  The programme aims to increase national capacity to achieve sustained inclusive growth through the enhancement of skills development and technical and vocational education training (TVET) systems.  These systems will offer relevant, quality and inclusive programmes that support both industry upgrading and transformation, and improvements in employability, employment and the livelihood opportunities of beneficiaries.  The programme targets three middle-income countries in Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.  Across all countries, the programme will support national efforts to facilitate reform at the policy and system levels for broad national impact and sustainability.  At the same time, it will ensure impact at the individual level by contributing to poverty reduction and address inequality.  In short, the programme combines interventions at the upstream level (e.g. policy and structure) and the downstream level (training delivery, certification and employment facilitation).  The intended impact is the increased capacity for inclusive growth in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines due to more productive and equitable skills systems and TVET systems, improving employability, employment opportunities and the livelihoods for the beneficiaries.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Programme, the Project Officer will be recruited to ensure timely and paced delivery of the Malaysia component of the Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme in consultation with the project team in Malaysia and other project teams based in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.  The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other fundamental rights at work. The Project Officer will be based in the Joint Projects Office for Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent will report to the Chief Technical Advisor whose scope of responsibility is dedicated to the Malaysia component of the Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme.  The Project Officer for Malaysia will receive technical guidance from the Skills & Employability Specialist in DWT-Bangkok, the Programme Officer for Malaysia, and will receive technical guidance from the concerned technical department. 

The incumbent will work with close collaboration with colleagues of the Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme based in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand and advisors/consultants of the Global Britain Education and Skills Hub and the relevant local British High Commission staff

a) Provide knowledge in developing strategy and identifying innovative interventions and approaches for delivering the project objectives in consultation with relevant bodies particularly the constituents and stakeholders.  Review and analyse the national development plans and priorities, socio economic data, reports and other relevant information.

b) Provide knowledge and information management support for activities of the project, especially in implementing the inception phase. Assemble and edit basic data required for planning, reporting and negotiation of project activities, considering different approaches and alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution.

c) Provide inputs to and draft portions of the terms of reference, policy briefs, research, tools, guidelines and other materials developed by the project.  Prepare background information, reports, subject matter related technical reports and statistical data on status of project activities and relevant developments in the country.

d) Provide support and be involved in enhancing the monitoring and evaluation framework for results-based project management, including the theory of change, detailed M&E plan, performance framework, risk management strategies, management information systems, and M&E manuals and tools.  Contribute to the development of the inception report.

e) Contribute to the effective implementation of the project’s inception phase, through timely provision of inputs and outputs, and planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures.

f) Provide technical advice and support to project staff and national partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in coordination with the ILO Office and HQ.

g) Conduct research and integrate technical inputs for regional and country analyses, reports and publications related to the project.

h) Prepare training materials and conduct seminars and workshops. Contribute to training and strengthening of project teams in the country covered by the project.

i) Under the guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor, Skills & Employability Specialist and the Programme Officer for Malaysia, maintain close liaison with governments, workers' and employers' organizations, UN organizations non-governmental organizations on a broad range of country programmes and projects. Maintain working contacts and collaboration with multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and prepare proposals for funding.

j) Co-ordinate closely, promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with other relevant ILO projects in the region, ILO units and external stakeholders.

k) Seek opportunities to build and enhance partnerships with a range of stakeholders

l) Promote ILO policies regarding the project/program, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards through a more effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and the strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.

m) Provide inputs to the communications activities.

n) Undertake missions in relation to project implementation.

o) Undertake other duties as required.

University degree in skills, statistics, management, economics, social science or related fields with demonstrated expertise or equivalent experience. 

At least three years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level development sector.  Candidates with experience working on skills development and TVET system will be prioritized.

Excellent command of English, ability to draft report in English.  Good knowledge of the local language.
 

- Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization.
- Ability to conceptualise and design research techniques and analyse complex cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field.
- Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies.
- Conversant with M&E theories, concepts and approaches.
- Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation and ability to provide technical support to senior specialists carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
- Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and statistical software packages.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.
- High standards of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline and impartiality.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
- Ability to work under political and time pressure, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.

Conditions of employment:

Starting salary: Ringgit 122,690. - per annum

Allowances & benefits: Affiliation to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund

Affiliation to the ILO-ITU Staff Health Insurance Fund

Dependants’ allowance

30 working days of annual leave