National Project Coordinator - NOA (DC) at International Labour Organization

Job ID: 9642 
Vacancy no.: ABUJA/DC/NO/2022/11

Introduction

• The position will be located in the ILO Abuja Office, which maintains overall responsibility for the ILO's presence and activities in four Anglophone Countries of West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It also serves as the liaison office for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It takes supports its constituents in defining programme priorities, activities, monitoring, and overall programme delivery.
• The ECOWAS National Project Coordinator will work on the project on Supporting Regional, National, and Local Action to Address Child Labour in West African Agriculture, funded by the US Department of Labour’s Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB).  

The ECOWAS Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing technical expertise and advice to the project team aiming at meeting the project Outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of ECOWAS to implement the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to eliminate child labor.
• Outcome 2: Increased mobilization of ECOWAS Member States to implement National Action Plans to eliminate child labor.
  • Outcome 2.1: Improved legislative, policy, and enforcement environment for enabling national action to address child labor.
  • Outcome 2.2: Increased action by communities to develop and implement Community Action Plans to reduce child labor in agriculture.
  • Outcome 2.3: Increased access to education, livelihoods, or other forms of social protection in agricultural communities.
• At the regional level, the project will strengthen ECOWAS to carry out, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate its Regional Action Plan to eliminate child labor, and at the national level, it will support the Government of Nigeria to improve the enabling environment to implement its National Action Plan to eliminate child labour.
• At the community level, the project will support cocoa-growing communities in Ondo State, Nigeria to carry out child labour elimination activities through implementation of Community Action Plans determined by the communities themselves, as well as provision of education, livelihoods, or social protection services.

Description of Duties

• Provide policy advice to the ECOWAS Commission, in particular the Social Affairs Division and Human Security Division of the Department of Social Affairs & Gender (DSAG), to expand ECOWAS’ actions to address child labor.
• Plan, manage, coordinate, implement and monitor project activities aimed at supporting the ECOWAS commission in the implementation of the ECOWAS regional action plan on child labour and forced labour (under outcome 1) through timely provision of inputs and timely and efficient delivery of outputs
• Provide technical expertise and advice to the project team and when required to the project stakeholders, including relevant government agencies and other key institutions.
• Strengthen relationship to cooperate and coordinate with the host government officials and work with government stakeholders at the national and/or local level, including relevant ministries or government bodies.
• Liaise with other organizations in the target country(ies) to implement project activities to advance the objective of the project.
• Assist in the monitoring and control of usage of project resources and prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing skills-related activities and providing regular feedback to the National Project Manager on proposed actions.
• Organize training programmes, workshops, meetings and awareness raising activities to improve understanding on fundamental principles and rights at work and child labour in particular
• Prepare periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project’s components according to the project’s document and work plan with the National Project Manager`s guidance. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Supervisor

Reporting lines:

• Under the overall responsibility of the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone (CO-Abuja), the National Project Coordinator (NPC)t will work under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager  and receive technical guidance from the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch (FUNDAMENTALS).

Required Qualifications
Education:

• First level University Degree in Public Policy, International Development, Social Science, Anthropology, Education, Economics, or related field is preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of three years of working on issues related to child labour, including coordination, development, implementation, promotion, and/or monitoring and evaluations of regional and/or national action plans to eliminate child labour. Experience working with regional institutions in SubSaharan Africa, such as ECOWAS or the African Union
• Proven track record of overseeing projects and authoring materials related to building the capacity of policy entities.
• Experience in working to improve coordination and partnerships between regional organizations and national governments.

Languages:

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French would be a strong advantage

Competencies:

• Sound knowledge of programme and budget, project formulation and management, administration and monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and negotiate effectively with government officials, representatives of civil society, representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations, and academia.
• 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 advocate and provide policy advice;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skill with governments, social partners, industry associations, and mobilizing the support of international donor agencies
• Knowledge of area-based monitoring and referral systems, migration, labour law enforcement, education and social protection of children,
• Good knowledge about social, economic development, including labor and employment, trends in the country
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders and ability to maintain systems within project operations.
• 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.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• 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.