Grade: P3
Vacancy no.: DC/ABIDJAN/P/2023/08
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Application deadline (midnight Abidjan time): 30 June 2023
Job ID: 10885
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: RO-Africa
Location: Abidjan
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 1 year - with the possibility of extension depending on the availability of funding
Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.
In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.
Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.
The following are eligible to apply:
- ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
- External candidates.
The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.
Introduction
Under the supervision of and guidance of the CTA of the second phase of the project โAccelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africaโ and the unit head of Social Finance, the Technical Officer will be primarily responsible for providing direct technical support for the implementation of specific project components developed by Social Finance.
The second phase of the ACCEL Africa project has the overarching goal to accelerate the elimination of child labour in Africa through targeted actions in selected supply chains in Cote dโIvoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda. To achieve its goal, the project uses an innovative system-building approach to tackling child labour that moves away from project-based downstream interventions towards strengthening existing systems that are critical to tackling the root causes of child labour. The project aims at achieving three outcomes at the sub-national, national, regional and global levels: 1) Policy, legal and institutional frameworks are improved and enforced to address child labour in global supply chains; 2) Innovative and evidence-based solutions that address the root causes of child labour in supply chains are institutionalized; and 3) Strategies to address the root causes of child labour in global supply chains are upscaled through knowledge sharing, partnerships and financing. At each level, it will target the root causes of child labour including access to social protection, decent work for adults/improved livelihoods, the transition from school-to-decent work for youth, and a safe and healthy work environment.
In the second phase of the ACCEL Africa project, the Social Finance Technical Officer will work specifically on promoting better access to, and use of, financial services for workers at lower tiers of supply chains. The Technical Officer will also raise awareness about child labour within the financial sector and promote effective safeguards.
In addition to work on the ACCEL project, under the technical guidance of the head of Social Finance Unit, the incumbent will be engaged in Social Finance activities in the region, including financial services linked to value chains, research on the utilization of financial services by low-income populations, climate insurance, and sustainable investing.The incumbent will act as the Social Finance focal point for the West Africa region and, in this respect, will be part of the Social Finance focal point team. Details of the Social Finance Unitโs work programme can be found on the website www.ilo.org/socialfinance.
Specifically, the Social Finance Unit aims at:
โฆ Analyzing financial needs of specific ILO target groups (youth, women, smallholder farmers, disabled, informal sector operators etc.) that are normally outside of the commercial financial market or have difficulties to stay in it;
โฆ Assessing and strengthening the delivery and outreach capacities of financial intermediaries like microfinance institutions, Savings and Credit Cooperatives, SME banks, investment funds, commercial banks, and others to ensure that they reach specific target groups with appropriately designed and delivered services;
โฆ Review the financial infrastructure and policy environment to identify market failure and suggest options on how to overcome distortions and market failures effectively;
โฆ Improving the knowledge base on the impact and efficiency of financial service providers especially in regard to changes in impact of clients and financial performance;
โฆ Enhancing savings mobilization, empowerment and equity in market access;
โฆ Integrating decent work concerns in the design and implementation of financial sector products and policies.Reporting lines
The incumbent will report to the Chief Technical Adviser of the second phase of the ACCEL Africa project and receive technical supervision and guidance from the Head of the Social Finance Unit at headquarters. To enhance coordination and planning, the incumbent will prepare monthly and quarterly work plans and progress reports that will be inputs to monthly coordination calls; the work plans and status reports of SFP work in Africa will also be shared with the Deputy Regional Director for guidance and support from the Region.
The Technical Officer will supervise, and coordinate work done by external collaborators and/or interns.
Description of Duties
For the โAccelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africaโ project phase II (75%):
โฆ Assist the CTA and contribute to the effective implementation of the relevant Social Finance project components through timely provision of inputs and outputs, and planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and administrative and financial procedures.
โฆ Develop a research methodology to understand/evaluate the impact of social finance interventions on the reduction and prevention of child labour in value chains and take a lead in conducting key research activities in coordination with research institutions and external collaborators
โฆ Assist in the design of financial services that can support value chains to tackle root causes of child labour based on the field research element
โฆ Develop a financial service delivery model in partnership with value chain actors to support livelihood and productivity improvements
โฆ Coordinate and facilitate the piloting of financial services linked to other interventions in value chains
โฆ Report on the activities of the component to the general project structureFor Social Finance (approximately 25%):
โฆ Provide oversight and reporting of the activities on Social Finance activities in Africa
โฆ Conduct fundraising activities (proposal development, follow up with donors, etc) linked to the work of Social Finance with value chains in Africa
โฆ Act as the Social Finance focal point in Africa.โฆ Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of both projects.
Required qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Masterโs or equivalent) in development economics, economics, finance, business management, rural development, development studies, or related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelorโs or equivalent) in a relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience
Five years of relevant professional experience, including experience with microfinance institutions, their clients and markets.
Languages
Excellent command of English and working knowledge of French are required. Spanish and/or Portuguese is an advantage
Competencies
Required
โฆ Demonstrated capacity to provide first-line technical advice on Social Finance issues
โฆ Ability to conceptualise and design research techniques and analyse complex practices
โฆ Ability to prepare reports and publications on social finance of a high quality, technically sound with conclusions relevant to Decent Work
โฆ Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.Desirable:
โฆ Ability to participate in technical missions and multi-disciplinary teams
โฆ Proven ability to work in a team
โฆ Communication skills
โฆ Capability to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators and general service staff
Conditions of employment
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
- Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.
Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.
The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.Fraud warning
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.