Social and Solidarity Economy Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the Cooperatives (COOP) Unit within the Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition (ENTERPRISES) Department. The Department’s overall mission is to promote sustainable enterprises to achieve the ILO goal of social justice through decent work.  ENTERPRISES is part of the Jobs and Social Protection (JSP) policy cluster, along with the Social Protection (SOCPRO) and the Employment Policy (EMPLOYMENT) Departments. It collaborates with the ILO’s tripartite constituents on promoting sustainable enterprises through advisory services and development cooperation. 

The promotion of sustainable enterprises is at the heart of the ILO Decent Work Agenda. Sustainable enterprises of all sizes and forms are a principal source of growth, wealth creation, employment, and decent work. Therefore, fostering sustainable enterprises is fundamental for achieving decent work and social justice. The department is organized around four units: Cooperatives, Multinational Enterprises and Enterprises Engagement, Small and Medium Enterprises and Social Finance. Technical Specialists on Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition are based in Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWT) in all regions and provide policy and technical support services to the tripartite constituents on the promotion of sustainable enterprises. They also form part of the wider Global Technical Team for ENTERPRISES. 

The ILO has had a Cooperatives Unit working on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) since 1920. The ILO activities on this portfolio are guided by the ILO’s Resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy and the Office-wide Strategy and Action Plan (SAP) on Decent Work and the social and solidarity economy. 
The main role of the position is to advance the objectives of the SAP: 1) Improved understanding around the social and solidarity economy through research, statistics and knowledge management; 2) Strengthened constituent capacities at the societal (macro), institutional (meso) and individual (micro) levels; and 3) Enhanced coherence at the policy (external), programmatic (internal) and budgetary (internal and external) levels.
The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Head of the COOP Unit.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.As primary specialist in the area(s) of the social and solidarity economy and decent work, is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities on the social and solidarity economy and decent work, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at the global, regional, subregional, national, subnational, sectoral, and enterprise levels to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, taking into account the integration of cross-cutting policy drivers, including international labour standards, social dialogue, gender equality and non-discrimination, and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and ensure the effective management of staff and consultants in accordance with ILO standards, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and other feedback mechanisms, as applicable.
2.Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide expert policy and technical advice on the social and solidarity economy and decent work to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders with a view to promoting the formulation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and programmes, and their impactful implementation and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes. Promote relevant international labour standards.
3.Support ILO constituents in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects. 
4.Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Participate in multidisciplinary initiatives, efforts, developments, plans, reviews and activities providing inputs on the social and solidarity economy with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.
5.Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders in the social and solidarity economy and decent work area and leads to the formulation of policy advice, recommendations, policy and technical assistance, and the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts related to building constituents’ capacities on the social and solidarity economy and decent work.
6.Develop and lead/coordinate the development of policies, initiatives and strategies on decent work and the social and solidarity economy, and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to constituents’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the global, regional, subregional, national, subnational, sectoral, and enterprise levels and provide advice and technical support to constituents and other stakeholders on effectively using such tools. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices.
7.Provide technical inputs to, oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.
 

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8.Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to design, refine, improve and implement policies, programmes and measures, and monitor the impact of policies, programmes, and measures required in the area of the social and solidarity economy and decent work. Design and oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead and/or coordinate workshops, meetings and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms and communication tools. Develop and run/implement global and/or regional, national, subnational, and sectoral capacity development programmes, knowledge sharing and training events including in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable.
9.Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the social and solidarity economy and related areas, and develop new and reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with social and solidarity economy entities and their representative organizations the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE), existing and new development and funding partners, entities of the UN system, other international organizations, regional, national and subnational actors, private institutions, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, research institutions, academia, civil society, and other key stakeholders with a view to the effective implementation of the strategy and action plan on decent work and the social and solidarity economy.
10.Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at seminars, conferences and other events. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in task forces, international and regional partnerships and platforms of the UN and other organizations, meetings, conferences and forums at the international, regional, subregional, national, subnational, and sectoral levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of the social and solidarity economy and decent work. 
11.Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account global, regional, subregional, national, subnational, sectoral, and enterprise level priorities on the social and solidarity economy and decent work and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge sharing among projects. 
12.Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of the social and solidarity economy and decent work. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices.
13.Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

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Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in development studies, economics, law, management, social and solidarity economy, social innovation, social sciences, statistics, sustainability or other relevant field.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
A PhD in a relevant field would be an advantage.

Experience

At least seven years of experience in the area of the social and solidarity economy and decent work, including at the international level and field and developing country experience.

Languages

Excellent command of one working language (English, French and Spanish) of the Organization, and a working knowledge of a second working language of the Organization. One of these languages must be English.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of the social and solidarity economy and decent work with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.
Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.  
Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.
Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.
Excellent research and analytical skills. 
Excellent drafting skills.
Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.
Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems. 
Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.
Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action. 
Ability to mobilize resources.
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.