National Project Coordinator - NOA (DC)

The FAIRWAY Program, funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation, is a four-year inter-regional development cooperation initiative that aims to improve conditions of labour migration across migration pathways from Africa to Arab States and better protect all migrant workers in vulnerable situations within the Arab states region, thereby enabling migrant workers to contribute more fully to sustainable development in both countries of origin and destination.

 
Focusing primarily on key sectors in which migrant workers in vulnerable situations are engaged (including the domestic work and construction sectors) the project seeks to address the interlinked structural, behavioural and practical barriers to improved labour migration outcomes through four objectives:

1. Private sector, employers’ and workers’ organizations engaged for decent work for migrant workers;
2. Gender-responsive policy frameworks are developed or strengthened for fair recruitment and decent work and regulatory compliance;
3. Discriminatory attitudes towards women and men migrant workers are diminished; and
4. Migrant workers have improved access to information and support services throughout the migration cycle.

 
Key to leveraging the economic opportunities opened by low- and medium skilled labour migration from Africa to Arab States is ensuring that migrant workers are in safe situations and decent work throughout the migration cycle. The project will address underlying causes of decent work deficits at their source through national-level interventions in selected countries of origin in East (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda), West (Nigeria) and North Africa (Morocco).  In addition, sub-regional and inter-regional interventions will serve to identify areas of common interest and improve understanding of key stakeholders’ respective needs, creating an environment conducive to cooperation across labour migration corridors.

The ILO is therefore seeking to recruit a National Project Coordinator who will be responsible for the implementation and coordination of activities in Kenya. The incumbent will be responsible to liaise with the project’s partners in Kenya (government, social partners, SDC, among others to ensure completion of activities according to the project’s work plan for the country and the participation of national beneficiaries to sub-regional activities.

 
Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the project, the National Project Coordinator in Kenya will perform duties in fulfillment of the project workplan at the national level. The incumbent will ensure that the objectives stated in the project document for Kenya are attained within the stated time frame and budget and ensure compliance with the ILO and the Project/Program's financial and operating procedures. With the support of ILO specialists in different policy areas, the incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, in line with the priorities identified by the constituents through the relevant Decent work country programmes (DWCPs).

Reporting Line
The National Project Coordinator will work under the overall responsibility of the Country Director for ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and will be subject to the oversight of, and receive operational guidance and supervision from the FAIRWAY Program Manager (Africa component). They may receive technical support from the regional labour migration specialist at the Regional Office for Africa (Abidjan), the Labour Migration Branch MIGRANT (Conditions of Work and Equality Department), and the technical specialists of the Decent Work Teams in the fields of migration, skills, employment, ACTRAV (workers organizations) and ACT/EMP (employers organizations) and with other specialists in the fields of statistics and regional migration. The incumbent will ensure operational coordination of activities and be responsible for project implementation and results in Kenya. The NPO will support coordination with partners and stakeholders at the national level. The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the hiring and coordination of the work of external collaborators for national activities. 
 

1. Lead the implementation of project activities in Kenya with criteria of timeliness, quality and effectiveness, ensuring the achievement of planned results in the time frame and within budget, in accordance with global project requirements and the policies, values and procedures of the ILO. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office.
2. Ensure operational coordination of project implementation, monitor conditions set out in the project document, budget and grant agreement and facilitate coordination with the donor. Responsible for the effective management of funds allocated to national activities within the project.
3. Initiate, sustain and guide cooperation with key partners in Kenya, in close collaboration with relevant ILO technical specialists to ensure the performance and results of the project, and ensuring that gender is mainstreamed in planning and project implementation to achieve the desired results.
4. Develop country level work plans in consultation with tripartite partners and update project work plans on a continuous basis and ensure their timely implementation.
5. Coordinate and monitor project activities implemented by project partners, external collaborators (consultants or service providers) and trainers in Kenya and ensure the quality of outputs, by reviewing, verifying and analysing work plans, contract outputs, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
6. Regularly brief responsible government officials, employer and worker associations on project status. 
7. Consult with United Nations agencies, bilateral donors and NGOs whose mandates and programmes are similar to those of the project.
8. Ensure a regular flow of information on the status of the activities planned and implemented between the ILO-Country Office, the ILO FAIRWAY Program Manager (Africa component), the relevant Decent Work Teams, and HQ. This will include accurate implementation, performance, risk and financial monitoring, including reporting on project linked CPOs in collaboration with the regional labour migration specialist.
9. Manage the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, multi-stakeholder consultations, training sessions and meetings in collaboration with the technical support of experts and represent the project in various meetings. Organize project management meetings, draft meeting notes and solicit comments from relevant project partners.
10. Implement the reporting, monitoring and evaluation plan in line with the outcomes and outputs set out in the project document and monitor progress on a continuous basis.  Implement the communications strategy ensuring: visibility of project’s results, dissemination of project information through publications and press releases, and good communication with all partners.
11. Present progress updates on a regular basis including at project management and Steering Committee meetings, ensure regular and timely reporting of project activities, results and indicators and prepare and validate project progress reports taking into consideration inputs from the project team.
12. Organize and conduct technical missions in target regions, guide and advise national and international experts on site and remotely, and ensure the proper and effective use of project resources.
13. Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor within the framework of his/her competence.

First level of University degree in law, economics, management, international development, social sciences or a related field

At least three years of relevant professional experience, preferably in relation to labour migration  issues including experience working with officials of ministries of labour, foreign affairs, social partners and migration institutions and associations. Record of familiarity with ILO policies and procedures, including development cooperation procedures. Experience managing or implementing ILO DC projects would be an advantage.

Excellent spoken and written knowledge of English; good knowledge of another official language of the duty station

• Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts and understanding of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Demonstrated ability to incorporate gender analysis into project implementation.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the program’s objectives, and to design and synthesize strategies for program development and resource mobilisation.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice. Political awareness and understanding of policy debates and developments in the area of migration and labour migration. Good knowledge of national counterparts, development partners as well as international organizations.
• Proven ability in working with minimal supervision as well as remote capacity project management (project planning and management of financial and monitoring procedures).
• Ability to oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff and consultants working for the project
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders such as government officials, representatives of workers’ and employers' organizations, representative(s) of civil society, and academics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Knowledge of the regulations and procedures of the ILO and/or other UN entities would be an asset.
• Excellent time management, planning and organizational skills.
•  Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to write progress reports for the implementation of the project in a concise and timely manner.
• Good knowledge of common office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and communication (internet and email).