Project Technical Officer

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed an unprecedented crisis affecting millions of people around the globe.  In South Asia, the crisis has unveiled the weaknesses of the current labour market structure where informal employment is prevalent in all sectors and most of the workers and economic units were little or inadequately protected. With containment measures such as lockdown, the workers in the informal economy, who had mostly earned meagre amount to support their livelihoods, lost earning opportunities. With no savings, no access to social protection measures, and no or limited access to information to protect themselves from infection and to access relief measures, the workers in the informal economy faced challenges in fulfilling their basic needs of food and shelter and were threatened for survival. 

Recognizing the urgent need to protect workers in vulnerable situations, the Government of Japan has come forward to provide financial contribution to support national efforts in extending protection to workers in vulnerable situations and promoting resilience and decent work through formalization of the informal economy in South Asia. The Japan-funded programme “Building resilience for the future of work and the post COVID19 in South Asia” consists of the following two components:
•    Promoting rights and social inclusion through organization and formalization (PRS)
•    Strengthening integrated policy framework for formalization and decent work (STRIDE)

The Programme will operate in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and support on-going efforts of workers’ and employers’ organizations in organizing workers and economic units in vulnerable situations with focus on women workers and supporting them to protect their livelihood and prepare for the better future of work and the post COVID19. The Programme will also support governments’ initiatives and measures aimed at protecting workers and economic units in vulnerable situations. Social dialogue will be promoted to share knowledge and identify solutions for strengthening institutional framework and mechanisms for protecting workers and building a resilient society.  

The Programme duration is 1 year, starting on 1 April 2021 and ending on 31 March 2022. 

2.    Reporting lines

The Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will be based in CO-Kathmandu.  Under the overall guidance of the CO-Kathmandu Director and the Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO/Japan Multi-Bilateral Programme in Bangkok, the Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will report to the DWT-Delhi Gender Specialist. The Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will work closely with relevant technical specialists in DWT-Delhi and WORKQUALITY Department in HQ. The Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will maintain close communication with Country Directors and Progamme staff and consultants in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan to ensure coordination and synergy. 

Description of Duties

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will be responsible for managing the day-to-day implementation and coordination of activities to ensure the delivery of outputs towards the achievement of the Programme objectives. The Project Coordinator/Technical Officer will maintain close contacts with relevant representatives of the government, employers’ and workers’ organizations in the Programme countries and provide technical support in promoting decent work through formalization. Promoting gender equality in all Progamme activities will be a key element of the Programme.
 Manage the day-to-day implementation and monitoring of the activities by providing technical guidance and closely coordinating with the project staff in all Programme countries, while ensuring conformity with ILO policies and procedures.  

1. Provide technical advice and support to project staff and national partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the gender-responsive project activities, in coordination with the ILO’s Decent Work Technical Team, Country Offices, and HQ.
2. Develop training materials and conduct seminars and workshops to ensure the promotion of Decent Work Agenda in all project activities, with stronger emphasis to promote gender equality. 
3. Under the guidance of the supervisor, maintain close liaison with governments, workers' and employers' organizations, and non-governmental organizations, to discuss matters and follow up on a range of activities in Programme. Maintain close communication with the Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO/Japan Multi-Bilateral Programme to ensure conformity with the donor requirements.  
4. Conduct research and integrate technical inputs for regional and country analyses, reports and publications related to the project and prepare discussion notes. 
5. Plan and organize knowledge sharing meetings with relevant stakeholders at the country and/or sub-regional levels. 
6. Promote the integration of gender-specific considerations in all activities and strategies in the programme.
7. Work closely with National Project Coordinators/Consultants in country offices in South Asia to ensure regional/national linkages and vice-versa where relevant, in the implementation of the programme. 
8. Prepare technical and financial progress and final reports on programme delivery.  
9. Under the guidance of supervisor, participate in relevant meetings to share the knowledge and experiences from the Programme and collaborate with relevant organizations for the efficient implementation of the Programme.  
10. Promote the application of relevant international labour standards in the implementation of the Programme. 
11. Co-ordinate, promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with other relevant ILO projects/programs, ILO units and external stakeholders.
12. Undertake missions in relation to project implementation as appropriate/conditions permitting.
13. Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in international relations, development studies, economics, geography, demography, or the relevant field. 

Experience

• At least five years of relevant professional experience, including three years at the international level
• Strong background in successfully managing projects that involve the implementation of activities at both grassroots and policy levels. 
• Proven experience in addressing inequalities and promoting gender equality in programmes/projects. 
• Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures would be an advantage. 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English.

Competencies

• Excellent organizational and management skills to prepare, implement and monitor various activities with various partners and in various geographical areas. 
• Ability to provide effective guidance in preparing and finalizing contracts with project partners according to the ILO policies and procedures to initiate the smooth project implementation at the grassroots level in a timely manner. 
• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of National Project Coordinators/external collaborators, and general service staff in the area of specialization.
• Excellent communication skills to develop and maintain good working relations with partners. 
• Ability to work amicably with people in an honest and straightforward manner and with commitment to the ILO’s mandate. 
• Ability to draft high-quality reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation. 
• Ability to use basic software to support project implementation, monitoring and evaluation and report writing.
• Ability to develop training materials and carry out training sessions to promote decent work agenda, with strong focus to promote gender equality. 
• Excellent analytical skills. 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment by respecting the perspectives and interests of people from diverse backgrounds.