Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)

Introduction

Brief information on the Country Office and supporting Units/Departments

International Labour Organization (ILO) is the specialized UN agency for the world of work. It sets international labour standards, promotes rights at work and encourages decent employment opportunities, the enhancement of social protection and the strengthening of dialogue on work-related issues. ILO is the only tripartite UN agency bringing together governments, employers’ and workers’ representatives. The ILO holds the Country Office in the Philippines since 1970. Its office premise is located in the centre of Makati business district of Metro Manila. Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Country Office remains operational with the work from home arrangement. It continues developing and implementing a wide range of projects and researches to address the challenges in the world of work to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis with a human-centred, inclusive and sustainable approach. The Country Office is supported by a pool of technical specialists mostly pooled in the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok) housed in the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok (ROAP), except for the Enterprise Development Specialist resident in the Philippines. For the purpose of this project, two technical groups of the ILO headquarters will provide technical support: the Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISES) with expertise on small and medium enterprises, formalization of informal businesses, social finance and responsible supply chains, and; the Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch (LABADMIN/OSH) of the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) with particular focus on occupational safety and health (OSH).

Brief description of the Project – “Bringing Back Jobs Safely under the COVID-19 Crisis in the Philippines: Rebooting Small and Informal Businesses Safely and Digitally”

The COVID-19 crisis has brought unparalleled impacts on the people of the Philippines, particularly those in the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of the economy and employment. The pandemic not only reduced existing jobs and income of them, but prompted many to resort to alternative livelihood, often as informal activities, to survive the prolonged community quarantine measures with various restrictions imposed on businesses. The challenge for the MSMEs continue even after a year since the initial lock down in March 2020. As of late March 2021, Metro Manila and its neighbouring provinces entered into the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the face of the second wave of the epidemic surpassing the peak of the first wave of mid-2020. The vaccine programme has started rolling out, but it is expected that it would take at least by the year end till the vaccinated population reaches the level of herd immunity. Besides that, the new strains of virus are spreading, which further complicates the containment scenario. All these contribute to the continuing uncertainty for the businesses, particularly for the small and informal ones with limited resources to cope with the external shock.

Introduction (continuation)

While tremendous efforts have been made to address the extreme vulnerability of MSMEs and informal businesses under the pandemic, there are two areas which would merit further support in the world of work at this stage – first, the occupational safety and health (OSH) including the prevention and mitigation of the COVID-19 risks (COVID OSH) and; second, the digitalization of business operations for those currently left behind the big wave of the digitalization of the economy prompted by the pandemic. The COVID-19 risks for MSMEs and the capacity gaps among them are deemed larger outside of Metro Manila, and more prominent among the smaller and informal ones.

With this understanding, the proposed project aims at contributing to improving the safety and health of workers in MSMES in the non-metropolitan regions of the Philippines and mitigating the negative socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. To achieve its goals, the project will work with the national network of training service providers to deliver the training on i) COVID OSH and ii) digitalization of business operations (e.g., digital entrepreneurship, e-commerce strategies and digital financial literacy). The ILO’s training programmes in respective areas will be translated into the specific local and sector context, and transmitted through training-of-trainers (ToT) seminars, mostly online. To win the mind of the numerous MSMEs not directly benefiting from the training, the successful experiences will be compiled into case studies and disseminated in ways attractive to the MSMEs, especially for those outside the National Capital Region.

To bridge the digital divide outside Metro Manila, the project will also support the pilot implementation of the three Innovation Hubs. Through these Hubs and the affiliated satellites such as the local internet cafes, the project will provide the internet connectivity, co-working spaces, back-office services and linkage to the support programmes for the MSMEs.

Introduction (continuation)

To support agile learning to respond to the rapidly changing situation of the pandemic and to make the interventions sustained beyond the life of the project, an interdisciplinary knowledge management system will be established in coordination with the authorities and experts in the public health. For the ownership and sustainability of the project, the institutional capacity of key partner organizations will be strengthened.

The OSH component of this project will be implemented in the framework of the Safety + Health for All Flagship Programme of the ILO.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Project (Bringing Back Jobs Safely under the COVID-19 Crisis in the Philippines), the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the project including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, resource mobilization, country and global operations, the content of training manuals and information materials, and public statements. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas such as OSH, MSME development/digitalization and informal economy, and other fundamental rights at work.

Reporting lines:

The CTA will work under the general supervision of the Director of the Country Office for the Philippines (CO-Manila) and will receive technical guidance and support from relevant technical specialists at the Country Office, DWT-Bangkok and from ENTERPRISES and LABADMIN/OSH of ILO HQ. He/She will oversee the work of national officers and international and local consultants hired during the course of the project.

Description of Duties

Project management:

1. Ensure effective coordination and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with CO-Manila.

2. Responsible for the effective management of budget assigned to the project.

3. Manage efficiently the human resources of the project including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects under tight deadlines.

Technical leadership and advice:

4.  Provide technical support in the field of OSH, MSME digitalization and related areas to the project team and project stakeholders including relevant government agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations and other key institutions.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

5. Foster contacts and relations with the government of the Philippines, including in particular the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (D-ICT), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), and relevant local government units as well as employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, training institutions, target groups and donor (Government of Japan), and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities.

6. Liaise with other UN agencies counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions. Ensure a more effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.

7. Promote ILO policies in the field of OSH and MSME development (including digitalization) and other related technical areas, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical specialists.

Description of duties (continuation)

Mobilization of resources:

8. Promote relationships with multi-lateral and bilateral donor community including the Government of Japan and oversee and monitor resource mobilization proposals in coordination with CO-Manilla and the Partnerships and Field Support (PARDEV) in HQ.

Knowledge management:

9. Develop and review project information materials.

10. Ensure the development of information systems covering ILO technical activities covered by the project, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation, and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programmes such as ENTERPRISES and LABADMIN/OSH.

11. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce their professional capabilities. This will include leading the delivery of quality training on COVID OSH (including COVID-19 prevention measures) and MSME digitalization to the MSMEs outside the metropolitan area including as well the informal ones.

12. Lead the development of an inter-disciplinary knowledge management platform in coordination with the authorities and experts in public health to put the project in the overall COVID-19 response measures of the country and to monitor and analyse achievements of workplace training activities.

13. Develop lessons-learned reflection spaces (either by documents, conferences, webinars, etc.) on the technical components implemented, with the purpose of scaling solutions up for further projects in the Philippines and by the ILO. Ensure that the training contents, follow-up advices and institutional strengthening be continuously adjusted and upgraded in accordance with the learnings through the reflection spaces along with the inter-disciplinary knowledge management system, case studies and dialogue with the key stakeholders.

14. Represent the Office at project meetings, seminars and evaluations and build and enhance strategic partnerships and sub-regional networks of government policymakers, worker’s and employer’s organizations and civil society organizations.

15. Any other duties requested by the responsible chief.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, management/public administration, social/medical science or a related field including, among others, occupational safety and health and MSME development. 

Experience

At least ten years’ experience in the management of development cooperation activities, of which at least seven years at the international level. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects, preferably in the fields of MSME development and/or OSH. Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e., design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations. Experience in South East Asia and particularly in the Philippines would be an advantage.

It would be preferable if the candidate possesses hands-on knowledge of the MSME challenges under the COVID-19 crisis or other major epidemic of the past, including the small and informal businesses. In particular, it would be a plus to have the knowledge and insights on the digitalization of business operations and/or OSH as an effective response to the pandemic.

Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with officials of ministries of labour and/or concerned thematic areas would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English. 

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies, and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research;
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
• Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners;
• Should be open to and able to make changes to accommodate culture and gender differences in order to interact effectively with individuals;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of current or future job/role responsibilities;
• Develop self-awareness and show empathy by demonstrating the qualities, traits, or attributes that contribute to the ability to effectively relate to and identify with others.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
• Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation problems and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.