National Project Coordinator - NOB (DC)

Introduction

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 has joined forces with UNDP to implement the project on Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions. The project is centralised at the Social Finance Programme and the Enterprise Formalization team in the SME units of the Enterprises Department at the ILO head office in Geneva. Both units will provide technical support.

Project Brief

Brief description of the Project: Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions

The project on Supporting Informal Enterprises Transition Towards Sustainable Growth and Formalization in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions aims to facilitate informal firms’ growth and formalization by:
· Creating an enabling regulatory environment for informal enterprises
· Facilitating access to finance
· Building capacity among the intermediaries and informal enterprises
· Fostering collective and mutually reinforcing action and innovations to address gaps in selected sectors
· Disseminating knowledge and experience at the regional and global level

This will be done through the development and promotion of incentives, support schemes, new financial services to facilitate the formalization of informal enterprises, and by strengthening capacities of informal sector intermediaries, aggregators and government, amongst others.

Cont'd

Increased productivity and formalization of informal firms require an improved business environment (regulatory and operational), better financial inclusion, better capacity in business skills and financial literacy, and can accelerate the introduction of relevant digital tools and improved ability to use them. An enabling environment combined with sufficient skills will develop informal firms’ resilience, and eventually their income. Reducing regulatory barriers and introducing new incentives will promote formalization and will allow informal enterprises to benefit from public business services and incentives. Improved and well-designed financial services for the informal enterprises will enhance their financial inclusion including the promotion of greater use of technology. Providing them with the necessary tools to access markets (including information, research, digital platforms for trade) will enable them to earn higher incomes on a more sustained basis, and in the medium-term create new employment opportunities.

Cont'd

The EU-ACP funded project is implemented by UNDP and the ILO in 6 countries (Central African Republic, Haiti, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sudan) and runs from March 2022 until May 2026. The ILO has signed a UN to UN Transfer Agreement with UNDP for the implementation of selected activities under the project, in particular:

• Development of national action plans, incentives, support schemes and awareness campaigns for enterprise formalization.

Technical support to financial intermediaries in the identification and adoption of innovative financial services models/products for informal enterprises, with a particular focus on digital services;

• Building capacity among intermediaries to improve BDS and financial and literacy capacity building offered to informal enterprises;
• Building capacity among informal enterprises to improve productivity, market access, financial literacy, business management and entrepreneurial skills;
• Training of statistical government agencies in informal sector data collection to relevant government agencies.

Cont'd

During the inception phase of the project, baseline reports and workplans have been developed for each country. These will inform the design and implementation of ILO-led project activities.

The main purpose of the incumbent is to support the technical implementation of the ILO-led project activities in the country in close coordination with UNDP, other UN agencies, national counterparts, notably the Government and the social partners, and, where relevant, to engage with other actors that contribute or may support the formalization and financial inclusion of enterprises.

Reporting Line

The Project Coordinator will work under the overall guidance of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Suva. He/she will directly report to and receive technical support and guidance from the project managing team, based within the Social Finance Programme and Enterprise Formalization team in the ILO ENTERPRISES Department, as well as the Enterprise Specialist in the DWT in Bangkok. The incumbent will work and coordinate with the UNDP country team in Solomon Islands, the UNDP project team in Pretoria and relevant ILO projects in the country.

Description of Duties

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of activities aimed at supporting informal enterprises transition towards financial inclusion, sustainable growth and formalization in Solomon Islands, in line with the overall project document and country workplan:

In particular, the incumbent will:

1. Work in close collaboration with UNDP, other UN agencies, the Ministry of Labour, line ministries, social partners and other relevant partners from the private sector to adapt the workplan for the implementation of the project and maintain engagement and consultative approaches throughout the duration of the project to ensure smooth implementation of project activities in coordination and with the support of technical units of the ILO. 
2. In consultation with UNDP and relevant stakeholders including social partners, support the design of project interventions to enhance financial inclusion, enterprise formalization and business growth.
3. Coordinate, execute and monitor the agreed activities to promote financial inclusion, sustainable growth and formalization in accordance with ILO programming guidelines, and administrative and financial procedures.
4. Represent the ILO in meetings with the UNDP country team, national stakeholders and the UNDP project team based in Pretoria.
5. Coordinate with the ILO project team in Geneva for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the activities. Provide accurate, timely and complete information on the status of activities.

Cont'd

6. Provide technical guidance and support the implementation of project interventions by consistently liaising with project partners, managing contracts and overseeing the deliverables. 

7. Assist the global team in fostering contacts and relations with governments, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations and target groups and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities as far as they are related to financial inclusion, enterprise formalization and growth.

8. Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings in line with the workplan. Speak on behalf of the Project when attending these gatherings alone.

9. Draft, edit, or translate into the local language any relevant official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information materials related to the project. 

10. Lead in the preparation of terms of references, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports on the status of the overall activities of the Project. 

11. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Country Director.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in economics, finance, public policies, business management, development studies, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Solomon Islands.

Experience

At least two years of professional experience at the national level around enterprise formalization, enterprise development, or financial inclusion. Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy-making and with development partners would be an asset. Experience working with financial service providers and experience in project management, supervision, and administration is also desirable. 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of the working language of the duty station. Excellent knowledge of English.

Competencies

• Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts.
• Good knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation).
• Good knowledge of resource mobilization.
• Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors.
• Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities.
• Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires: