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

Job ID: 6671 
Vacancy no.: ABUJA/DC/NO/2021/02
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: CO-Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term

Overview

• The selection process is not subject to the rules and procedures defined in Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.

The following are eligible to apply:

• Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. The Office will facilitate the temporary re-assignment of a selected internal candidate to this position.
• External candidates. A selected external candidate will be issued with a 4.2 (e) contract.

Introduction

• The proportion of women involved in entrepreneurship in Nigeria exceeds that of men, however the country ranks 139th on the Gender Gap Index for 2020. While women entrepreneurs contribute to economic growth, job creation, and family and community wellbeing, they experience decent work deficits related to business and regulatory environment, access to financial and business development services. As many remain informal, they are often outside the scope of SME policies and programmes and are under-represented and underserved by employers’ and workers’ organisations.
• In response to these challenges, the ILO is initiating the Promoting Gender Equality and Formalisation through Women’s Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria. The overall objective of this intervention is to support key actors in the business ecosystem to adopt approaches and policies that respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, including in the informal economy. The expected results under the proposed intervention are as follows:
• Result 1:
  • Government and social partners validate a roadmap to address the barriers for women’s entrepreneurship development and formalisation.
  • As part or Result 1, the project will undertake an assessment of the framework conditions for women’s entrepreneurship development which include a conducive legal and regulatory environment for women’s economic empowerment, effective policy leadership and coordination for the promotion of WED, and women’s access to gender-responsive financial and business development services, as well as a diagnostic on informality in order to engage stakeholders in developing a roadmap to address the key constraints identified by the assessments. 
• Result 2:
  • Government and other business environment actors expand their actions on WED and formalization focusing on legal and policy issues/framework, monitoring mechanism for learning, advocacy efforts and direct support to women-entrepreneurs
  • As part of Result 2, the project will support key national partners and constituents to implement the activities from the roadmap and to integrate relevant ILO training packages for enterprise development, such as SIYB, GET Ahead and Financial Education as part of their services. 
• Result 3:
  • NECA adopts gender-responsive measures to better target, serve women entrepreneurs, and widen its representation
  • As part of Result 3, the project will support NECA to undertake a self-assessment of the extent to which it reaches and serves women entrepreneurs. Based on the self-assessment, NECA will be able to adopt more gender-responsive approaches with the support of the ILO. 

Reporting Line:

• The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will work under overall responsibility and the direct supervision of the Director of the ILO-Abuja Office and will receive operational guidance from the Senior Program Officer. The NPC will also receive technical support from the SME Unit based in ILO Headquarters.

Description of Duties

• Ensure operational coordination of project implementation, monitor conditions set out in the project document, budget and grant agreement. Responsible for the effective management of funds allocated to activities within the project. 
• Initiate, sustain and guide cooperation with key partners, in close collaboration with relevant ILO technical specialists to ensure the performance and results of the project.
• Develop work plans in consultation with tripartite partners and update project work plans on a continuous basis and ensure their timely implementation.
• Coordinate and monitor project activities implemented by project partners, external collaborators (consultants or service providers) and trainers and ensure the quality of outputs, by reviewing, verifying and analysing work plans, contract outputs, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. 
• Support and oversee the development of the assessment on the framework conditions for women’s entrepreneurship development and informality dialogue, including by drafting terms of reference, reviewing inception reports and research methodology, supporting consultants with field research and liaising with key stakeholders for their participation in research, validation workshops and roadmap development. 
• Regularly brief responsible government officials, employer and worker associations on project status.  
• Consult with United Nations agencies, bilateral donors and NGOs whose mandates and programmes are similar to those of the project.
• Ensure a regular flow of information on the status of the activities planned and implemented between the ILO-Country Office, the relevant Decent Work Teams, and HQ. This will include accurate implementation, performance, risk and financial monitoring, including reporting on project linked CPOs in collaboration with relevant units.
• Manage the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, multi-stakeholder consultations, training sessions and meetings in collaboration with the technical support of experts and represent the project in various meetings. Organize project management meetings, draft meeting notes and solicit comments from relevant project partners.
• Implement the reporting, monitoring and evaluation plan in line with the outcomes and outputs set out in the project document and monitor progress on a continuous basis.  Implement the communications strategy ensuring: visibility of project’s results, dissemination of project information through publications and press releases, and good communication with all partners.
• Present progress updates on a regular basis including at project management and Steering Committee meetings, ensure regular and timely reporting of project activities, results and indicators and prepare and validate project progress reports taking into consideration inputs from the project team. 
• Organize and conduct technical missions in target locations, guide and advise national and international experts on site and remotely, and ensure the proper and effective use of project resources.
• Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor within the framework of his/her competence.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• First Level of University Degree in Law, Economics, Management, International Development, Social Sciences, Gender Studies or a related field.

Experience:

• At least three years of relevant professional experience including experience related to project management and stakeholder engagement. Experience in conducting research and assessments, as well as in supporting women’s economic empowerment or entrepreneurship is desirable. 

Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written knowledge of English. Working knowledge of another official language of the Organization or an official national language of the duty station.

Competencies:

• Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts and understanding of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Demonstrated knowledge in mainstreaming gender throughout project implementation.
• Ability to develop clear and gender sensitive strategic goals consistent with the program’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for program development and resource mobilisation. 
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice. Political awareness and understanding of policy debates and developments in the areas of entrepreneurship, SME development and enterprise formalisation. Good knowledge of national counterparts, development partners as well as international organizations. 
• Proven ability to manage teams including personnel management and remote capacity project management (project planning and management of financial and monitoring procedures).
• Ability to oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff and consultants working for the project 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders such as government officials, representatives of workers’ and employers' organizations, representative(s) of civil society, and academics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Knowledge of the regulations and procedures of the ILO and/or other UN entities would be an asset.
• Excellent time management, planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to write progress reports for the implementation of the project in a concise and timely manner. 
• Good knowledge of common office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and communication (internet and email).