National Project Officer - Skills Development

Organizational Context

Large mixed migration movements continue to top the global political agenda, as reflected in the 2016 UN New York Declaration, and remain at the forefront of concerns, discussions, and collaboration across the multilateral system and beyond. These movements create considerable challenges for countries of first asylum, transit and destination, as well as countries of origin, including through impact on socio-economic environments, such as labour markets of host countries, particularly where these may have already been under pressure and there is high unemployment. The majority of refugee populations are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. As displacement has become increasingly protracted, responses are becoming more focused on durable solutions to support more dignified, inclusive, and comprehensive programmes for refugees and the communities that host them to facilitate self-reliance and empowerment and strengthen social cohesion. In this context, the Government of the Netherlands launched a partnership initiative– the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme– built on the combined strengths, experience, and values of specific development and humanitarian organizations to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises. The partners include: the Government of the Netherlands, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ILO, the UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Bank. Grounded on results-based and country-led approaches (“bottom up”) in two identified regions of MENA and the Horn of Africa, the Partnership aims to help transform the way governments and other stakeholders, including the private sector, respond to forced displacement crises – and in particular: (1) to enhance the enabling environment for the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (to mitigate their plight during years of exile and to best prepare them for their return); (2) to enhance access to education and child protection for vulnerable children on the move; and (3) to strengthen the resilience of host communities through inclusive socio-economic development that also benefits forcibly displaced persons. The position, National Project Officer- Skills, works under the supervision of the PROSPECTS Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) for Ethiopia and Sudan who is leading country-level implementation of the PROSPECTS programmes for all operational, technical and administrative issues to ensure delivery of technical-related outputs and overall project implementation. S/he will also receive additional technical support and supervision from the Technical Officer/Deputy Programme Manager Based in Sudan, Decent Work Team Skills and Employability specialist based in Cairo and from the ILO Country Office Director. Synergies and technical collaboration will be with the National Project Coordinators Enterprise and Employment Intensive Investment Programme, both based in Sudan, while working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer also based in Sudan.

Job Purpose

Large mixed migration movements continue to top the global political agenda, as reflected in the 2016 UN New York Declaration, and remain at the forefront of concerns, discussions, and collaboration across the multilateral system and beyond. These movements create considerable challenges for countries of first asylum, transit and destination, as well as countries of origin, including through impact on socio-economic environments, such as labour markets of host countries, particularly where these may have already been under pressure and there is high unemployment. The majority of refugee populations are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. As displacement has become increasingly protracted, responses are becoming more focused on durable solutions to support more dignified, inclusive, and comprehensive programmes for refugees and the communities that host them to facilitate self-reliance and empowerment and strengthen social cohesion. In this context, the Government of the Netherlands launched a partnership initiative– the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme– built on the combined strengths, experience, and values of specific development and humanitarian organizations to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises. The partners include: the Government of the Netherlands, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ILO, the UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Bank. Grounded on results-based and country-led approaches (“bottom up”) in two identified regions of MENA and the Horn of Africa, the Partnership aims to help transform the way governments and other stakeholders, including the private sector, respond to forced displacement crises – and in particular: (1) to enhance the enabling environment for the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (to mitigate their plight during years of exile and to best prepare them for their return); (2) to enhance access to education and child protection for vulnerable children on the move; and (3) to strengthen the resilience of host communities through inclusive socio-economic development that also benefits forcibly displaced persons. The position, National Project Officer- Skills, works under the supervision of the PROSPECTS Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) for Ethiopia and Sudan who is leading country-level implementation of the PROSPECTS programmes for all operational, technical and administrative issues to ensure delivery of technical-related outputs and overall project implementation. S/he will also receive additional technical support and supervision from the Technical Officer/Deputy Programme Manager Based in Sudan, Decent Work Team Skills and Employability specialist based in Cairo and from the ILO Country Office Director. Synergies and technical collaboration will be with the National Project Coordinators Enterprise and Employment Intensive Investment Programme, both based in Sudan, while working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer also based in Sudan. - In coordination with the Chief Technical Advisor, analyse economic and labour market trends and employment priorities in host communities and refugees’ settlements in order to help align skills development interventions of the project with the broader policy frameworks and employment creation potentials. - Support effective implementation of the programme through the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities. Deliverables 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 CTA and ILO CO-Addis. - Support the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the programme, in accordance with ILO rules and regulations. - Provide support to relevant technical staff from government agencies, ILO social partners and other key national and international partners, in close collaboration with the CTA, Technical Officer/Deputy Programme Manager, ILO CO-Addis, DWT Cairo and HQ units as relevant and within the context of the Decent Work Country Programme. - Support efforts to strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with technical government agencies, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, other development organizations, target groups and donors in the planning and implementation of programme activities. - Provide inputs in the design and support for capacity building of selected implementing and collaborating project partners to facilitate knowledge, awareness and smoother implementation of skills development programmes and initiatives in the water sectors. - Initiate and maintain partnerships with organisations working on education and training and building synergies with other skills initiatives in Sudan with particular focus on host communities and refuges. - Support the coordination of project implementation including through discussions with project implementing partners, field visits, development and analysis of progress reports, and participation in reviews and evaluations determining targets delivery - Support the design and implementation of project skills development interventions and workforce development strategies for the water sector, ensuring alignment with ILO standards, the PROSPECTS Programme, and Sudan's TVET frameworks, while addressing critical skills shortages in priority occupations

Responsibilities

- In coordination with the Chief Technical Advisor, analyse economic and labour market trends and employment priorities in host communities and refugees’ settlements in order to help align skills development interventions of the project with the broader policy frameworks and employment creation potentials. - Support effective implementation of the programme through the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities. Deliverables 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 CTA and ILO CO-Addis. - Support the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the programme, in accordance with ILO rules and regulations. - Provide support to relevant technical staff from government agencies, ILO social partners and other key national and international partners, in close collaboration with the CTA, Technical Officer/Deputy Programme Manager, ILO CO-Addis, DWT Cairo and HQ units as relevant and within the context of the Decent Work Country Programme. - Support efforts to strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with technical government agencies, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, other development organizations, target groups and donors in the planning and implementation of programme activities. - Provide inputs in the design and support for capacity building of selected implementing and collaborating project partners to facilitate knowledge, awareness and smoother implementation of skills development programmes and initiatives in the water sectors. - Initiate and maintain partnerships with organisations working on education and training and building synergies with other skills initiatives in Sudan with particular focus on host communities and refuges. - Support the coordination of project implementation including through discussions with project implementing partners, field visits, development and analysis of progress reports, and participation in reviews and evaluations determining targets delivery - Support the design and implementation of project skills development interventions and workforce development strategies for the water sector, ensuring alignment with ILO standards, the PROSPECTS Programme, and Sudan's TVET frameworks, while addressing critical skills shortages in priority occupations

Work Experience

- At least two years’ experience in the area of skills development, project design, management and implementation. Experience working with the United Nations, relevant sector ministries- labour, TVET or other government ministries, departments and agencies, would be an added advantage, as would experience of working in crisis and refugee settings of Sudan.

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. - Good knowledge of the market systems approach and entrepreneurship promotion tools - Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development. - Ability to advocate and provide policy advice. - Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills. - Ability to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research. - Ability to promote a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the office.

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