Blue Economy and Green Jobs Specialist

The position is located in the ILO Country Office for Madagascar, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius and Seychelles based in Antananarivo (CO-Antananarivo). CO-Antananarivo is responsible for providing high-quality, appropriate and integrated technical assistance and political advice to governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) in response to their requests, within the framework of results-based work plans.

The Specialist will be responsible for providing technical advice to ILO tripartite constituents in the area of blue economy and green jobs aiming at implementation of best practices and the promotion of the blue economy and green jobs in national policies, DWCPs and development cooperation projects.  Particular attention will be paid to promoting decent work opportunities for women and youth and on taking into account the priorities identified at the regional conference on Creating a sustainable future of work and a just transition towards blue economy in African island States, held in May 2019 in the Seychelles.

The Specialist will collaborate with ILO partners in the sub-region, other UN agencies, international organizations, and the donor community to draw up expertise and resources required. She/he will promote strategic partnership with key regional and international organizations in Africa, including the African Union, African Development Bank, UN Economic Commission for Africa and other institutions in the area of green economy, blue economy, circular economy, green jobs and sustainable development. The Specialist will also work with the ILO Regional Office for Africa in achieving ILO priorities for the region. In that context, she/he may be called upon to technically contribute to activities in other countries in the region and to provide inputs to regional and global initiatives on facilitating transition to formality in line with the priorities of the Organization.

The position will report to the Director of CO-Antananarivo and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Head of the Green Jobs Programme in the Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISES) at headquarters. The incumbent will work closely with other technical specialists of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa based in Pretoria (DWT/CO-Pretoria), technical units at headquarters and the ILO’s International Training Centre in Turin.

1. Provide policy advice and technical guidance and support to member States in the sub-region in the implementation of their blue economy, green jobs, and climate change strategies. This includes supporting constituents in the national-level application of the 2015 Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies, taking into account ILO Governing Body’s guidance in this area.
2. Monitor, analyse and assess trends in the impact on enterprises and labour markets of international and national initiatives and policies on the blue economy, green jobs and environmental sustainability in order to contribute effectively towards the development of coherent policy responses that promote sustainable development and the creation of productive decent jobs.
3. Participate in technical advisory missions and in national and regional policy processes of relevance to the ILO mandate in order to promote the inclusion of the labour and social dimensions in promoting a blue economy, green jobs creation and the transition to environmentally sustainable economies and societies.
4. Ensure the integration of outputs and activities related to the blue economy, green job and a just transition to environmental sustainability in country programme outcomes (CPOs) in line with priorities identified by ILO constituents at country level and the expected results set in the biennial ILO Programme and Budget.  Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in blue economy and green jobs policies and programmes.
5. Contribute towards resource mobilisation and initiate, review, negotiate and submit development cooperation proposals in the area of decent work, blue economy and green jobs and their funding, ensuring effective coordination with relevant departments at headquarters and field offices in the region.
6. Support the implementation of relevant development cooperation projects in the areas of blue economy, green jobs and a just transition to environmental sustainability, in particular the projects emanating from the regional conference on the blue economy, and ILO bilateral and multilateral funding partnerships.
7. Design and implement training and capacity development programmes for ILO staff and constituents, working in coordination with the Green Jobs Programme and the International Training Centre of the ILO.
8. Identify, engage and supervise external collaborators and development cooperation experts, in particular for the development of policy oriented programmes, technical guidelines, project documents, knowledge management and capacity development products and services.
9. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Advanced university degree in economics, social sciences, political science, sustainable development and/or environmental studies with a clear social development focus, or a related field.

At least eight years' experience in providing technical assistance at the national level or five years at the international level, including experience in policy advice and international good practices in matters related to the blue economy, green jobs and sustainable development. In-depth knowledge and experience with a wide range of ILO's policies, strategies and tools pertaining to the promotion of the blue economy and green jobs would be an asset.

Excellent command of French and a working knowledge of English. Working knowledge of Portuguese would be an advantage.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on good  practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for  programme development in member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and  the International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals  and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects. Ability to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators and experts.  Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.