Project Manager, GROW Project

Organizational Context

Sri Lanka has faced repeated economic and financial hardships in recent years. The country’s path towards progressively achieving the SDGs was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the financial crisis in 2022, the cyclone Ditwah in late 2025 and the impact of the war in the Persian Gulf in early 2026. The different crises have severely impacted the most vulnerable groups in the country and further amplified existing disparities between regions and social groups. The country remains highly vulnerable to climate related disasters, with a recurrent occurrence of floods, landslides and droughts affecting particularly the impoverished sectors living in high-risk conditions and with limited ability for recovery. The Northern Province, forming a major part of the programme area, remains the poorest in the country with the highest numbers of vulnerable households. Local communities in this region were highly affected by the civil war and are still struggling to find productive employment. This challenge is further compounded by the fact that the region faces regular droughts and water shortages, as well as seasonal floods. While the government has built a considerable capacity to deal with social challenges through rural development schemes and disaster management facilities, there is still scope for strengthening disaster resilience through both short- and long-term measures. The ILO is implementing a sustainable livelihoods programme to support the government in addressing these challenges. The programme focuses on protecting and strengthening the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable households—especially those headed by women—by reducing vulnerability and building resilience to climate change. It combines a set of complementary measures, including but not limited to: 1. Creating new and inclusive business activities and job opportunities in fishing and farming communities to secure stable incomes, reduce vulnerability, and strengthen resilience to external shocks such as natural disasters. This includes developing value chains and improving access to reliable markets through partnerships with local companies, using a market systems approach. 2. Promote inclusivity and gender equality amongst marginalised communities working both with local government and community based organisations 3. Strengthening climate resilience through improved land and water resource management. These measures include water management and introduction of smart agriculture in dry areas. The programme is based on the successes of past and on-going ILO development cooperation projects for local livelihoods development and empowerment of women and persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, especially in the Northern Province. The ILO has had a longstanding engagement in the Northern Province, working with relevant government agencies and private sector stakeholders, building the capacity of local communities to increase primary sector productivity and operate viable businesses, creating productive employment and income for smallholder farmers and fishers. The continuation of this support will form an important part of this larger sustainable livelihoods’ development programme of the ILO. The Project Manager will oversee day-to-day programme implementation and technical work, while providing advisory support for the development of future initiatives in the sector. They will ensure project objectives are achieved on time and within budget, in line with ILO financial and operational procedures, and promote ILO policies and the Decent Work Agenda. The role includes leading and supervising all technical and administrative aspects of the programme, managing a multidisciplinary team of international and national experts, administrative staff, and consultants.

Job Purpose

Sri Lanka has faced repeated economic and financial hardships in recent years. The country’s path towards progressively achieving the SDGs was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the financial crisis in 2022, the cyclone Ditwah in late 2025 and the impact of the war in the Persian Gulf in early 2026. The different crises have severely impacted the most vulnerable groups in the country and further amplified existing disparities between regions and social groups. The country remains highly vulnerable to climate related disasters, with a recurrent occurrence of floods, landslides and droughts affecting particularly the impoverished sectors living in high-risk conditions and with limited ability for recovery. The Northern Province, forming a major part of the programme area, remains the poorest in the country with the highest numbers of vulnerable households. Local communities in this region were highly affected by the civil war and are still struggling to find productive employment. This challenge is further compounded by the fact that the region faces regular droughts and water shortages, as well as seasonal floods. While the government has built a considerable capacity to deal with social challenges through rural development schemes and disaster management facilities, there is still scope for strengthening disaster resilience through both short- and long-term measures. The ILO is implementing a sustainable livelihoods programme to support the government in addressing these challenges. The programme focuses on protecting and strengthening the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable households—especially those headed by women—by reducing vulnerability and building resilience to climate change. It combines a set of complementary measures, including but not limited to: 1. Creating new and inclusive business activities and job opportunities in fishing and farming communities to secure stable incomes, reduce vulnerability, and strengthen resilience to external shocks such as natural disasters. This includes developing value chains and improving access to reliable markets through partnerships with local companies, using a market systems approach. 2. Promote inclusivity and gender equality amongst marginalised communities working both with local government and community based organisations 3. Strengthening climate resilience through improved land and water resource management. These measures include water management and introduction of smart agriculture in dry areas. The programme is based on the successes of past and on-going ILO development cooperation projects for local livelihoods development and empowerment of women and persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, especially in the Northern Province. The ILO has had a longstanding engagement in the Northern Province, working with relevant government agencies and private sector stakeholders, building the capacity of local communities to increase primary sector productivity and operate viable businesses, creating productive employment and income for smallholder farmers and fishers. The continuation of this support will form an important part of this larger sustainable livelihoods’ development programme of the ILO. The Project Manager will oversee day-to-day programme implementation and technical work, while providing advisory support for the development of future initiatives in the sector. They will ensure project objectives are achieved on time and within budget, in line with ILO financial and operational procedures, and promote ILO policies and the Decent Work Agenda. The role includes leading and supervising all technical and administrative aspects of the programme, managing a multidisciplinary team of international and national experts, administrative staff, and consultants. Project Management: 1. Ensure effective implementation of the Project/Programme through the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office, if applicable. 2. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the project. 3. Manage the human resources of the project/programme efficiently, including recruitment and performance management. Technical leadership and advice: 4. Provide technical advice and secretariat support to relevant governments, ministries and other key partners, in close collaboration with the Country Director. Advocacy, networking and partnership: 5. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with governments, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of project /programme activities. 6. Liaise with other UN counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions. 7. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project. Mobilization of resources: 8. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the Country Office and PARDEV Knowledge management: 9. Write and disseminate information on project/programme materials in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at HQ. 10. Ensure the development of information databases covering project/programme activities; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the implementation status and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programs. 11. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities. 12. Lead the process of identifying agricultural commodities that have a comparative advantage and potential for developing new value chains. Develop options for the engagements of the private sector in the prioritized agricultural value chains. 13. Establish public-private engagement platforms for market-based value chain strategic planning and extension services. 14. Undertake other duties as required.

Responsibilities

Project Management: 1. Ensure effective implementation of the Project/Programme through the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office, if applicable. 2. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the project. 3. Manage the human resources of the project/programme efficiently, including recruitment and performance management. Technical leadership and advice: 4. Provide technical advice and secretariat support to relevant governments, ministries and other key partners, in close collaboration with the Country Director. Advocacy, networking and partnership: 5. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with governments, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of project /programme activities. 6. Liaise with other UN counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions. 7. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project. Mobilization of resources: 8. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the Country Office and PARDEV Knowledge management: 9. Write and disseminate information on project/programme materials in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at HQ. 10. Ensure the development of information databases covering project/programme activities; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the implementation status and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programs. 11. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities. 12. Lead the process of identifying agricultural commodities that have a comparative advantage and potential for developing new value chains. Develop options for the engagements of the private sector in the prioritized agricultural value chains. 13. Establish public-private engagement platforms for market-based value chain strategic planning and extension services. 14. Undertake other duties as required.

Work Experience

Experience – At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the management of development cooperation activities, including at the international level. - experience in entrepreneurship or local economic development approaches would be preferred. - experience in the design and implementation of climate mitigation and resilience initiatives in rural settings would be an asset. Past relevant work experience in Sri Lanka is considered a significant advantage. Optional: Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with officials of ministries of labour and/or education would be an advantage.

Skills

- 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 develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development. - Ability to advocate and provide policy advice. - Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills. - Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings. - Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level. - Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners. - Proven capacity to initiate and implement development co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services. - Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities. - Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures; - Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement. - Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

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