National Project Coordinator – NOB (DC) Social Protection International Labour Organization (ILO)

Grade: NOB

Vacancy no.: DC/LUSAKA/NO/2022/07
Publication date: 4 MARCH 2022
Application deadline (midnight Zambian local time): 18 MARCH 2022

Job ID: 7832
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: CO-Lusaka
Location: Lusaka
Contract type: Short Term

Contract duration: 8 months

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.

The following are eligible to apply:

ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
External candidates*
*The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is K 728,318 (Zambian Kwacha) yearly.

Introduction

The International Labour Organization with funding from the Irish Government has embarked on a programme to progress the implementation of effective national social protection floor through capacity development, advocacy with national authorities, coordination enhancement amongst relevant social protection agencies and extension of social protection coverage. The overall goal of the programme is to enable the national government to use appropriate, well designed and well managed social protection measures to promote resilience, access to services and sustainability, as well as to promote poverty graduation pathways for poor and vulnerable people.

The ILO -Irish Aid project is guided by the following objectives: a) the creation of political and public debate on social protection, b) support to institutional coordination and right based approach for effective delivery of social protection floors, c) supporting the design of national social protection policy and prioritised implementation plans, and d) supporting sustainable and progressively domestically funded social protection financing framework. Specifically, under objective b) and c), the ILO-Irish Aid partnership is aiming to e) supporting the roll-out and institutionalisation in learning institutes at national level of the TRANSFORM curriculum to support capacity building of social protection stakeholders and f) facilitate the extension of social security coverage to the informal sector.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) seeks to recruit a National Project Coordinator (NPC) to support the ILO-IRISH Aid project implementation in Zambia. The NPC will be working in a project team consisting of international and national experts and will be based in Lusaka, Zambia. The NPC will be working in close collaboration with other members of the ILO Lusaka Social Protection team including staff member in Malawi and Mozambique included under the RAF component of the ILO-Irish Aid partnership framework. The NPC will be responsible for managing, providing direct technical support and monitoring the delivery of the activities envisaged in the ILO-Irish Aid Zambia workplan.

Specifically, in relation to objective d) and sub-activity f) above listed, the NPC will provide technical assistance and support coordination with national partners on the implementation of the forthcoming EU-funded Global Programme on Improving Synergies between Social Protection – Public Finance Management (SP&PFM programme). This programme intends to progress the extension of social security coverage to the informal sector, as well as to strengthen social security inter-linkages with the national public finance framework. The overall goal of the programme is to enable the Zambian government to use appropriate, well designed and integrated social protection measures to promote sustainability, resilience, access to services and as well as to promote poverty graduation pathways for poor and vulnerable people.

Reporting lines

Under the overall responsibility of the ILO Lusaka Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique- the National Project Coordinator will directly report to the Project Manager – Social Protection in the ILO Lusaka Country Office. The NPC will work in coordination with project staff and national partners involved in the coordination and implementation of Social Protection Programmes. S/he will also work closely with the Social Protection and Informal Work Senior Specialists attached to the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria and in the Social Protection Department at HQ Geneva (SOCPRO).

Description of Duties
1. Oversee the delivery of technical cooperation support to counterparts (including government implementers at various level, academia, cooperating partners, civil society, private sector, organizations of beneficiaries) in the areas envisaged in the projects’ work plan for Zambia, with a particular focus on social protection institutional and policy reform and coordination, fiscal analysis, capacity building, costing and modelling of social protection reform and social protection financing.
2. Lead the design and delivery of the National Strategy on extension of social protection coverage to the informal sector, as well as the promotion of the ILO formalization and decent work agenda. This will be attained through the provision of a dedicated support to the relevant stakeholders, inclusive of national social security agencies, informal sector associations, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

3. Contribute to the review and implementation of the national roll-out of capacity building initiative, including through the TRANSFORM initiative, with a specific focus on institutionalisation of the training package on non -contributory SP in national learning institutes, as well as to serve as Zambia liaison officer for the TRANSFORM coordination Hub.
4. Support the CO-Lusaka social protection team to develop knowledge management products, compile socio-economic data, generate monitoring and evaluation reports and contribute to resource mobilization proposals related to social protection.

5. Conduct research and provide technical inputs for regional and country analyses, reports and publications related to social protection issues in Zambia, particularly on institutional coordination, economic modelling of social protection, social protection financing, gender and disability-inclusive social protection.
6. Assist in programming and control of resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations to management for remedial action.
7. Liaise and follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, partners, government offices, constituents, and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

(continued, duties)

8. Provide wider technical assistance to national partners, namely the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the main Social Security agencies ( NAPSA, NHIMA, Workers’ compensation fund control board), the Ministry of Finance and the Social Partners (academia, CSOs, international partners, UN agencies) in the definition and implementation of social protection policies and programs to contribute to the implementation of the Zambia DWCP regarding Social Protection priorities.
9. Leverage technical expertise in the social protection sector to support regional and cross-country knowledge development and knowledge sharing opportunities. Promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt in the areas of social protection coordination, public debate and awareness raising initiative, fiscal space analysis and financing.
10. Organize initiatives to support visibility and foster debate on social protection issues in Zambia and the region, with engagement of academic institutions, civil society, media organizations, etc.
11. Undertake monitoring and technical support missions to project sites independently or accompanying other officials as part of the work plan implementation
12. Ensure responsibility for the effective administrative management of the portfolio, including guidance and supervision of the administrative personnel assigned to the project.

13. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Required qualifications
Education
First level university degree in a relevant field in Economics, Social Sciences, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Zambia.

Experience
At least three years of experience of relevant professional experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant-funded technical cooperation programmes, with thematic emphasis on social protection and social security systems implementation and reform.

– Familiarity with debate on social protection and social security institutional, legal and policy reform in Zambia, ability to identify coordination challenges and elaborate proposals for effective institutional reform in the sector.

– Experience with social sector budgeting and financing in Zambia, ability to identify key evidence gaps to support social protection (external and domestic) financing.

– Experience and/or understanding of social protection and social security capacity building initiatives as well as actuarial modelling and costing tools applied to social security will be considered an added advantage.

Familiarity with international organisations policies and procedures, including experience of providing technical assistance to Ministries of Social Welfare, Social Security and/or Labour in Southern Africa will be considered an asset.

Languages
Excellent command of English and another working language of the duty station.

Competencies
• In depth knowledge about social, economic development, including labor and employment, trends in Zambia
• Demonstrable ability to interact with Government, Civil Society, Academia and the Media on issues related to social protection reform.
• Understanding of social protection standards and principles.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain systems within project operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations.
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.
• Ability to conduct action-oriented research and write analytical technical report in English.
• Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles.
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
• Ability to train and guide personnel.
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in diversified environments
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Assessed candidates who will be considered as appointable but not selected for this position can also be offered to be assigned on another temporary position at the same or at a lower grade provided that said candidates possesses the minimum qualifications for this position.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.