Project Manager P4

Organizational Context

The position is located in the ILO Regional Office for Africa (ROAF) based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Regional Office has overall political and management responsibilities for the operations of the ILO's network of Country Offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in the African Region, and provides strategic guidance to the promotion of ILO's principles and policies. The Responsible Business Conduct in Africa Project (RBC-Africa) is a regional initiative jointly implemented by five implementing organizations (IOs): the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union. The ILO is the administrative and convening agent of this multi-partner action. The project aims to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) among governments, social partners, enterprises, civil society and other stakeholders across 11 countries in Africa—Angola, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia - based on RBC international instruments, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. Within the ILO policy, financial and operational procedures , the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and management of the outputs led by the ILO and provide high-quality technical advisory services to constituents, and other partners, as well as to participating ILO Country Offices to support the development and implementation of programmes in the area of responsible business conduct in the target countries. The Project Manager will ensure that the objectives set out in the RBC-Africa project document are achieved within the approved time frame and budget, and that activities comply with ILO financial rules and regulations. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda. The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Africa and will receive technical guidance from the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct unit (MULTI/RBC) in ILO HQ. For the implementation of the project, the incumbent will work closely with the directors of the ILO Offices in the 11 targets countries of the project and the DWT specialists in the region.

Job Purpose

The position is located in the ILO Regional Office for Africa (ROAF) based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Regional Office has overall political and management responsibilities for the operations of the ILO's network of Country Offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in the African Region, and provides strategic guidance to the promotion of ILO's principles and policies. The Responsible Business Conduct in Africa Project (RBC-Africa) is a regional initiative jointly implemented by five implementing organizations (IOs): the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union. The ILO is the administrative and convening agent of this multi-partner action. The project aims to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) among governments, social partners, enterprises, civil society and other stakeholders across 11 countries in Africa—Angola, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia - based on RBC international instruments, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. Within the ILO policy, financial and operational procedures , the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and management of the outputs led by the ILO and provide high-quality technical advisory services to constituents, and other partners, as well as to participating ILO Country Offices to support the development and implementation of programmes in the area of responsible business conduct in the target countries. The Project Manager will ensure that the objectives set out in the RBC-Africa project document are achieved within the approved time frame and budget, and that activities comply with ILO financial rules and regulations. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda. The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Africa and will receive technical guidance from the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct unit (MULTI/RBC) in ILO HQ. For the implementation of the project, the incumbent will work closely with the directors of the ILO Offices in the 11 targets countries of the project and the DWT specialists in the region. Project management: 1. Ensure effective implementation of the ILO-led outputs of the Project in the 11 target countries through: the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, the planning and monitoring 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 programmes, and the administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible Field offices, if applicable. 2. Coordinate the organization of the ILO-led activities and events at the regional and sub-regional level, including events involving the participation of multiple project countries and/or regional economic communities while ensuring synergies and coordination with the activities organized by the other implementing organizations. 3. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the ILO for the project, assigned to the 11 countries and other regional and sub-regional activities of the project. 4. Manage the human resources of the ILO project team efficiently, including recruitment, performance and talent management. Oversee the work of a Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, two Project Officers, a Project Assistant as well as administrative support staff of the Project, and any other international or local consultants hired during the course of the project implementation. 5. Prepare project implementation reports and the project closure report that highlights the project's achievements, challenges, and lessons learned of the ILO component of the project. Share the final report with stakeholders, funders, and other relevant parties. Ensure all financial, administrative, and legal obligations are fulfilled in accordance with project agreements. 6. As representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent of the RBC-Africa project, ensure coordination of joint programme structures including Joint Steering Committee meetings comprised of EU, ILO, ITC, OECD, OHCHR and UNDP, and participate in such joint structure meetings. 7. Prepare, with the support of the Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, the project’s overall annual implementation reports, ensuring coordination with the other IOs on their inputs and validation of the joint narrative progress and submit the final reports to the EU as representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent. 8. In addition to the overall responsibility of the ILO component of the RBC-Africa project, manage the implementation of ILO project activities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia. 9. In Côte d’Ivoire where the ILO is playing the role of lead country contact agency, serve as the primary liaison with the EU Delegation, ensure timely transmission of communications and requests to other IOs, compile inputs for the country annual joint workplan, identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration and joint activities, organize coordination meetings involving the EU Delegation and organize country project launch event.

Responsibilities

Project management: 1. Ensure effective implementation of the ILO-led outputs of the Project in the 11 target countries through: the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, the planning and monitoring 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 programmes, and the administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible Field offices, if applicable. 2. Coordinate the organization of the ILO-led activities and events at the regional and sub-regional level, including events involving the participation of multiple project countries and/or regional economic communities while ensuring synergies and coordination with the activities organized by the other implementing organizations. 3. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the ILO for the project, assigned to the 11 countries and other regional and sub-regional activities of the project. 4. Manage the human resources of the ILO project team efficiently, including recruitment, performance and talent management. Oversee the work of a Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, two Project Officers, a Project Assistant as well as administrative support staff of the Project, and any other international or local consultants hired during the course of the project implementation. 5. Prepare project implementation reports and the project closure report that highlights the project's achievements, challenges, and lessons learned of the ILO component of the project. Share the final report with stakeholders, funders, and other relevant parties. Ensure all financial, administrative, and legal obligations are fulfilled in accordance with project agreements. 6. As representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent of the RBC-Africa project, ensure coordination of joint programme structures including Joint Steering Committee meetings comprised of EU, ILO, ITC, OECD, OHCHR and UNDP, and participate in such joint structure meetings. 7. Prepare, with the support of the Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, the project’s overall annual implementation reports, ensuring coordination with the other IOs on their inputs and validation of the joint narrative progress and submit the final reports to the EU as representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent. 8. In addition to the overall responsibility of the ILO component of the RBC-Africa project, manage the implementation of ILO project activities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia. 9. In Côte d’Ivoire where the ILO is playing the role of lead country contact agency, serve as the primary liaison with the EU Delegation, ensure timely transmission of communications and requests to other IOs, compile inputs for the country annual joint workplan, identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration and joint activities, organize coordination meetings involving the EU Delegation and organize country project launch event.

Work Experience

At least seven years of relevant professional experience, including at the regional/international level implementing or providing technical backstopping of activities and development cooperation projects on RBC or related fields. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects in the technical field of RBC. Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations. Experience in managing a development cooperation project in Africa and multi-partner projects, involving various international organizations as implementing partners will be considered as assets. A strong knowledge of responsible business conduct (RBC) issues in the region is required.

Skills

- - Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with directors and specialists in ILO offices as well as with officials of ministries of labour and social partners; - Familiarity with other international organizations/UN agencies and skills to manage relations with the partners of the project, outside ILO; - 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 and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings; - Ability to promote a 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 cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services; - Ability to plan and support the development of individuals’ 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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