Senior Specialist on Employment-Intensive Investments

Introduction

The position is one of the technical positions in a multi-disciplinary team at the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India (DWT/CO-New Delhi).  The DWT/CO-New Delhi provides overall technical support for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Decent Work Country Programmes  in  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The DWT/CO-New Delhi also provides strategic guidance in formulating policy and work programmes as required by the ILO country offices and the constituents in South Asia in close collaboration with the DWT/CO-Bangkok, the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and headquarters technical departments. 

As the Senior Specialist on Employment-Intensive Investments, the incumbent is responsible for developing, backstopping and monitoring work related to the ILO's Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) in South Asia.

The Senior Specialist gives policy advice to ILO constituents and other related partners and provides technical advisory services and development cooperation project development and implementation support in the field of employment creation and poverty reduction through public investments in infrastructure development, technical engineering support, environmental works and other community works. He/she provides support to governments, employers' and workers' organizations on public investment and environmental policies, strategies and programmes, targeted employment creation programmes and emergency employment schemes in response to disasters. The Senior Specialist will consult with the relevant Ministries on employment related aspects of their operational programmes, discuss with employers' organizations the involvement of the private sector and with workers' organizations the implementation of labour policies and working conditions on employment creating programmes. The Senior Specialist will also support the development of technical guidelines, new methodologies and concepts for employment-intensive investment strategies and programmes, including environmental sustainability. He/she initiates and manages various initiatives contributing to the development of knowledge, develops strategic partnerships and ensures knowledge development, management and transfer. The Senior Specialist carries out this mandate with an integrated decent work approach, including rights and standards, employment creation, social protection and social dialogue aspects.

The incumbent reports to the Director of the DWT/CO-New Delhi and works in close collaboration with the other DWT specialists in New-Delhi and the EIIP Specialist in the DWT/CO-Bangkok. He/she receives technical guidance and advice from the Chief of the Development and Investment Branch (DEVINVEST) at headquarters who oversees the EIIP Global Team. The adoption of an integrated approach requires close coordination with other specialists in the region and in headquarters technical departments.

Specific Duties

1.Evaluate national, sectoral and local policies and strategies and assess how employment-intensive investments in infrastructure and the environment can technically and effectively support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN strategic objectives and one UN country programmes as well as Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) outcomes.
2.Provide technical advice to the Directors of the Country Offices in the region in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes to respond to the defined needs of the ILO's constituents as expressed in the DWCPs. Participate in joint missions so as to promote ILO objectives.
3.Respond to demands and take initiatives in the development of employment-intensive investment policies and strategies and development cooperation programmes and projects, in the countries. Identify, formulate and technically support the development and implementation of new employment-intensive programmes and projects.
4.Promote environmental works and develop policies, programmes and tools for applying the concept of Green Works at the national level. Work closely with financial and technical institutions in the area of the environment and decent work with a view to enhancing collaboration, accessing resources and developing joint approaches and green works programs.
5.Provide technical backstopping services to on-going employment intensive investment, crisis response and environmental projects. Prepare policy and technical briefs and other promotional materials on employment intensive strategies, programmes and activities of ILO in selected countries.
6.Work with relevant ILO country offices to ensure that employment-intensive programmes are well integrated into disaster preparedness and response programmes and develop plans of action integrating the ILO Decent Work Agenda. Provide advice to ILO country offices in the event that a disaster occurs to support integration of employment intensive works objectives in national response programmes.
7.Assist relevant technical, economic and planning ministries and local authorities in identifying, developing and running national employment-intensive investment programmes to create employment and reduce poverty. Assist them with strengthening their capacity to implement these programmes.
8.Identify technical assistance and training needs regarding the implementation of employment-intensive investment programmes. Develop, establish and assist in running relevant training courses and training programmes for capacity building with both public and private sector operators.
9.Develop and maintain contacts with the donor community and international financial institutions with a view to ensuring closer collaboration in the design and implementation of employment generating programmes. Identify possible sources of funding and assist in negotiating funds for employment-intensive investment programmes and projects in the region.
10.Plan, organize and lead national and regional meetings, workshops and labour-based engineering training programmes on employment-intensive policies, strategies and programmes for awareness raising and promotion of the approach with decision makers and policy development partners.
11.Establish baselines, monitor project implementation and carry out evaluations of employment-intensive investment programmes in the region, also with a view to establishing appropriate empirical evidence covering technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of a successful application of employment-intensive investment approaches in different sectors.
12.Perform other relevant duties as assigned. 

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

Generic Duties

1. Lead, organize, plan, supervise and control the work of a technical unit (including managerial functions).
2. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics, information or policy guidelines in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognized technical specialization. 
3. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
4. Assume full responsibility for policy formulation and providing policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
5. Develop project design, review proposals, formulate, revise and submit project proposals and negotiate funding.
6. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
7. Lead technical advisory missions.
8. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings.
9. Prepare recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO recommendations on related technical fields.
10. Write manuals and training guides on related topics.
11. Disseminate information on action programmes through publications and press releases as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
12. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
13. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, conference reports, Director General’s report to ILC).

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in civil or environmental engineering with demonstrated expertise in employment intensive works.

Experience

Ten to fifteen years' experience of which at least seven years at the international level developing and implementing employment-intensive investments through infrastructure development, environmental works, and employment programmes. Familiarity with the Business Operations Strategy of the United Nations system at the country level. Knowledge of the development cooperation strategies and procedures, international financing institutions and donor aid procedures is an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English is required. A working knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage.

Competencies

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

Technical

Demonstrated and recognized technical and /or managerial leadership in carrying out the objectives and policies of the related work unit, demonstrated technical expertise to devise new methods, concepts, approaches and techniques, leading to development of ILO standards and technical guidelines and ability to prepare ILO strategy reports in the related field for programme development, the ability to provide policy advice and the ability to manage large projects to coordinate activities among projects.

Behavioural
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.