The International Labour Organization (ILO) joined hands with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) to form a programme titled, “Inclusive, Competitive and Responsible Digital Philippines (Digital-PINAS).” The three-year joint UN programme (hereinafter JP), to be funded by the Digital Transformation Window of the Joint SDG Fund, aims to enhance digital skills of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promote meaningful digital adoption, and create an enabling and gender-responsive policy and regulatory environment, thereby facilitating a holistic and sustainable digital transition in the Philippines. The JP adopts a three-pillar strategy— Digital Empowerment of MSMEs, Inclusive Connectivity and E-services, and Facilitative Environment —ensuring a comprehensive and integrated approach to digital empowerment.

With regard to the ILO assistance under JP, the programme will build on the experience of supporting the digitalization of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the preceding ILO project, “Bringing Back Jobs Safely under the COVID 19 Crisis in the Philippines: Rebooting Small and Informal Businesses Safely and Digitally (BBJS)” as well as other relevant projects and activities on skills and entrepreneurship (Skills for Prosperity; Women in STEM; Rebuilding Better), digital wage payment (Global Centre on Digital Wages for Decent Work), and social protection and the informal economy (Rise from Multiple Crises through the Integrated Formalization of Informal Economy with Social Protection and Decent Work in the Philippines; Support to the Social Protection Floor; Study on Shock-Response Social Protection under the Global Crisis on Food and Energy; Rollout of ILO R204 to the Regional Development Councils) among others.

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ILO’s role under the JP will include: i) demonstrating capacity building at scale through the training-of-trainer (ToT) for the local capacity building partners, ii) supporting specific elements of the e-government services/educational resources/business support tools to MSMEs and entrepreneurs, and iii) supporting the policy dialogue based on the systemic assessment. Some of the important details of each will be as follows:

Under i):

• Massive ToT and coaching on AI-aided digital entrepreneurship (building on the SIYB training programme which incorporated digital apps and AI use cases under BBJS)
• ToT and coaching on digitally- and AI-empowered productivity training for MSMEs (building on the SCORE training programme first introduced to the Philippines under BBJS).
• ToT and coaching on digital financial literacy (building on the Global Financial Education programme that included digital financial services basics under BBJS).
• Replication of ToT and awareness-raising on digital wage payment (in collaboration with the Global Centre on Digital Wages for Decent Work project).
• Training and coaching on ICT hard skills and soft skills in collaboration with the Digitaljobs.PH program of Department of ICT (DICT) (building on the collaboration through Women in STEM).

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Under ii):

• Support the introduction of the digitalized Labour Market Information System (LMIS) and digitalized career counselling services by the select local governments.
• Demonstrate digital access to social security as part of the e-government services in remote areas (in collaboration with Rise from Multiple Crises through the Integrated Formalization of Informal Economy with Social Protection and Decent Work in the Philippines).
• Support operationalization of the AR/MR-aided TVET training and certification at a TESDA Innovation Center.

Under iii):

• Update the MSME digitalization ecosystem analysis (building on the preliminary mapping study under BBJS).
• Promote policy dialogue on the topics covered by the ILO under the JP.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the SDG Fund Secretariat, the MSME Digitalization Coordinator will ensure the delivery and implementation of the expected outputs and objectives under the technical purview of the ILO. Note that there will be an overall project management unit under the purview of UNDP, and that the ILO’s MSME Digitalization Coordinator will be responsible to deliver the ILO activities while closely coordinating with the project management unit and the concerned officials of the three participating UN organizations (PUNOs).

Reporting lines

The Programme Officer will be based in Manila, Philippines. Duty station may change depending on the regional priorities to be agreed with other UN partners.

He/She will work under the supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines (CO-Manila) and will closely coordinate with and receive guidance from the principal backstopping officials such as the Enterprise Development Specialist and Senior Programme Officer of CO-Manila.

The MSME Digitalization Coordinator will facilitate close coordination with the overall project management unit of the JP (under the purview of UNDP) for the purposes of programme meetings, presentation, monitoring, reporting and communication as well as generating synergies with other activities conducted by other PUNOs (UNPD and ITC). S/he will also coordinate with the concerned officials of PUNOs as well as the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and DICT, both of which are the Co-Chairs of JP Steering Committee.

The incumbent will further coordinate activities under the technical guidance and advice from the technical units of Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition Department (ENTERPRISES) as well as other relevant technical departments/bureaus/units in ILO Headquarters and the concerned specialists of ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and Southeast Asia (DWT-Bangkok). Note that the Enterprise Development Specialist of CO-Manila represents the ENTERPRISES for the Philippines and helps connect to respective technical units and experts as needed.

Description of Duties

The Programme Officer will lead and manage the above-mentioned activities of the JP under the purview of ILO and ensure its timely implementation, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the ILO project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and in accordance to the final project document. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, management of project resources, coordination with tripartite partners (government, employers’, and workers’ organizations both at the national and local levels) and other stakeholders, collaborating with the JP project management unit, liaising with PUNOs, RCO and other development partners, monitoring progress of the ILO-supported activities against objectives, and ensuring high-level communications to increase visibility of JP. The incumbent will also provide high quality technical inputs and advice on key outputs and activities of the project in close coordination with the relevant ILO specialists and, when appropriate, external consultants. The incumbent will ensure that the JP contributes to and leverages ongoing ILO country interventions under the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) of the Philippines (i.e., the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF).

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Specific duties will include the following:

• Ensure effective management including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the relevant activities of JP in accordance with the policies, programme strategies, programme guidelines, administrative and financial procedures of the ILO and country/action programmes as well as those provided by the SDG Fund Secretariat.
• Provide timely, accurate and pertinent information on programme and budget matters for operational decision-making purposes through the strategic use of the results-based management. Use baselines, milestones and indicators to measure, analyze and report on performance. Monitor and verify accuracy of data.
• Support the JP project management unit and concerned PUNO officials to set up the National Steering Committee and JP Technical Working Group(s) and contribute to the preparation for meetings, the selection of interventions, project partners and implementing agencies. Organize ILO-specific meetings with partners and beneficiaries as needed.
• Participate in the organization and facilitation of conferences, workshops, seminars, training sessions, consultative meetings and webinars and other relevant activities, in close collaboration with the CO-Manila Programme team, ILO Technical Specialists and main partners and beneficiaries as well as the JP project management unit and PUNOs.
• Prepare briefs, periodical reports and statistical data and contribute to the production of training, advocacy and communication materials in English and local language(s).

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• Prepare periodic and ad-hoc progress reports on the status of the implementation of the ILO activities of the JP and coordinate with concerned tripartite and other partners in the country, relevant UN agencies to ensure strong sustainability of the outputs.
• Identify and implement synergies and efficiencies with the Philippines Decent Work Country Programme/Philippine Labor and Employment Plan, other relevant policies of the constituents and key partners of JP, and related in-country projects and programmes, to enhance the impact and sustainability of the Project.
• Support the mobilization of additional resources for implementation of the project’s activities.
• Assist in the programming and monitoring of available resources, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by comparing and analyzing the resource situation with planned activities.
• Prepare terms of references for external collaborators, identify consultants for conducting certain project activities, prepare cost estimation and provide support for preparing contracts and provide guidance and assess their work.
• Monitor the implementation and ensure the completion of contracts; identify difficulties and propose solutions based on reports and undertake field missions in relation to JP implementation.
• Undertake regular and ad-hoc visits to monitor JP activities and ensure quality delivery and compliance with guidance of ILO and SDG Fund secretariat.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in economics, management, social science or related fields with demonstrated expertise or equivalent experience. Training in results-based planning, design, data collection, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and project cycle management is an advantage.

Experience

At least three years of relevant professional experience at the national level in project management and topics related to sustainable enterprises or related fields, preferably on MSME development and their digitalization. Work experience collaborating with the Governments, Workers’ and Employers’ organization, civil society, UN Agencies and other stakeholders will be advantage. Proven ability to promote gender equality through project work.

Languages

Excellent command of English and an official national language of the duty station.

Competencies

• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Capacity to negotiate share gains with external partners.
• Capacity to engage in high-level policy dialogue with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation and monitoring and evaluation and ability to provide technical support to Project Manager carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools.

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• Proficient with Microsoft Office and relevant software packages.
• High standards of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline, and impartiality.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.
• Ability to work under political and time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.