Introduction

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1919 to promote social justice and brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
Countries made a global promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet when they adopted the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Yet, half of the world’s population has no access to social protection and over half of the people employed are working in low-income and insecure jobs. According to the ILO Monitor on the world of work, in 2023, the global jobs gap was projected to stand at 453 million people and 4 billion people were still excluded from social protection. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented loss of jobs and livelihoods and exacerbated income insecurity around the world. The impact has been particularly adverse for people without access to social protection, including those working in the informal and care economies, women, children, youth, and those without access to digital technologies. In addition, the conflict in Ukraine has exposed fragilities in the global food and energy systems, as well as in the global economic and financial systems, triggering a cost-of-living crisis around the world unseen in at least a generation. This has to be set against the backdrop of the accelerating climate crisis and its adverse impacts on economies and societies. Constrained by rising debt burdens and shrinking fiscal space, many countries now face an even more daunting policy landscape. The Global Accelerator aims to respond to these complex challenges and chart a human-centred green recovery out of the present crisis and facilitate the inclusive structural transformations needed to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, launched in September 2021 by the UN Secretary-General, signals the UN system’s collective response for addressing these multiple challenges that threaten to erase development progress. The initiative aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support the creation of decent jobs, primarily in the green, digital and care economies, and to extend social protection to people who are excluded. The Government of Uzbekistan has committed, at the highest levels, to implementing the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (GA), a UN initiative launched in 2021. Through policy analysis and stakeholder dialogue, national stakeholders have identified four key areas for the GA country roadmap: formalisation, inclusion, transitions to a green and digital economy.

Introduction (cont’d)

As per the ILO mandate to promote jobs and social protection, the ILO has been nominated as the lead United Nations agency to support the GA in Uzbekistan. The ILO National Project Coordinator on the GA in Uzbekistan will be responsible for the implementation of the ILO activities on jobs and social protection within the GA but will also have a coordinating role for the Participating United Nations Organizations (PUNO) and the national stakeholders.
The Global Accelerator Uzbekistan project is a two-year project financed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund), which is a UN development cooperation mechanism specifically established to implement the 2030 Agenda. With the help of the national and international colleagues, the national project coordinator will have the responsibility to report to the UNSDG funds.
The position will require both sound technical expertise and a thorough understanding of the country context, national stakeholders, political and institutional processes. The projects will therefore hire a national project coordinator based in Tashkent. The combination of local and international staff in the ILO team for the GA Uzbekistan project will ensure both local expertise and presence on the ground but also quality assurance and sound delivery of technical outputs while at the same assuring cost-efficiency.
Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the National Project Coordinator will assist the overall activities of the above-mentioned projects by providing technical support to the projects, coordinating the stakeholders, and contributing to the expected outcomes. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the related technical areas and other components of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda at the country level.
Reporting lines
The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will report to and be technically supervised by the Social Protection Specialist of the Decent Work Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (DWT/CO-Moscow). The DWT/CO Director will be the Responsible Chief. The NPC will work in close collaboration and under the technical supervision of the ILO Social Protection Specialist and the Employment specialist, from DWT/CO-Moscow, and the Social Protection and the Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods departments based at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, in particular the Global Accelerator’s global team. At national level, the NPC will coordinate with the ILO National Coordinator for Uzbekistan, other ILO projects and manage the national GA team and external collaborators involved in the project.
The NPC will implement the project activities in collaboration with the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and will coordinate with other UN agencies and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund), when necessary.
The incumbent will serve as a direct supervisor for Finance and Administrative Assistant based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and collaborate closely with the National Project Officer – Employment also based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Description of Duties

The NPC will support the effective coordination of the GA Joint proposal, on behalf of the ILO as the lead implementing UN organization, and the implementation of the GA project social protection activities through the technical, efficient, and timely execution of tasks. In the coordination role of the Joint Programme (JP), incumbent will:
Be responsible for the day-to-day work of the JP, including planning, coordination, and liaison with PUNOs and stakeholders, procurement and management of external experts and service providers for joint activities, monitoring and joint reporting in particular updating the JP results framework, develop and maintain a joint plan and strategy, consolidate annual narrative report based on inputs from PUNOs and organise and support the JP Steering Group and support as needed meetings of the National Coordination Council related to the JP. In particular:

1. Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project’s components according to the project’s document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO, Joint SDF Fund, the GA Global team, and the GA’s Steering Committee as required.
2. Work in close collaboration with UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN and other partners to design, align and revise project annual work plans as well as preparation of the budget proposal or revisions, as needed. Assist in the programming and control of resources of the project, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems, propose solutions and actions.
3. Monitor progress of JP activities, by organizing regular project team meetings, reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project. Coordinate the preparation of and coordinate inputs to periodic progress reports and statistical data on the status of the overall activities of Joint Programme implemented by PUNOs. Prepare and provide inputs to periodic progress reports related to the ILO social protection activities, and statistical data on the status of the SP activities.
4. Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and in other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
5. In the context of the JP, participate in the preparation of and conduct conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the JP when attending these gatherings alone, in close coordination with PUNOs. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying other colleagues.
6. Ensure coordination between PUNOs and the national stakeholders, with high-level communications to increase project’s visibility at the national and international levels. This includes the responsibility to liaise with the UN country team, and other key stakeholders, to ensure effective coordination with relevant national strategies and related technical projects. Under direct guidance of DWT-/CO-Moscow as well as the GA global team, maintain relations with national and local media and relevant media groups in order to increase the impact of the project in society as a whole.
7. Provide programming and administrative support to cooperation activities in the ILO components of the project.

optional section (if needed)

Implementation of ILO social protection activities:

1. Provide inputs for technical advice, in close cooperation with sub-regional and HQ Social Protection Specialists, to relevant national institutions, workers and employers organisation and other actors concerned about the concepts, design and implementation of social protection policies, programmes, action plans and mechanisms to establish comprehensive and adequate social protection systems, including national social protection floor guided by the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No.102), the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202) and other relevant ILO standards. In particular, provide and/or ensure access to legal and policy advice to the government and the social partners on issues related to the effective implementation of ILO social protection activities under the Joint Programme as well as its coordination and synergies with the ILO employment activities and activities implemented by other PUNOs.
2. Collaborate with other PUNOs implementing social protection activities to ensure alignment with ILO social security standards, the effective engagement of social partners in all project related activities and the coherence of activities. Collaborate with the ILO National Project Officer – Employment as well as PUNOs implementing employment related and gender mainstreaming activities to ensure integration where relevant, synergies, joint learning and alignment with the GA’s approach and objectives.
3. Coordinate the preparation of and provide inputs to briefs, background information, communication materials, technical and statistical reports and training materials for the ILO social protection component of the Joint Programme.
4. Organize training programmes and awareness raising activities to improve national capacity of government and social partners of social protection aligned with international social security standards in particular as they relate to JP and ILO’s activities. Participate in JP’s training programmes, workshops, etc including of ILO employment as relevant.

Management of the ILO component of the Joint Programme

1. Responsible for the effective administrative management of the project, under the guidance of the DWT/CO Director and technical specialists, including guidance and supervision of the personnel assigned to the project.
2. Collaborate closely with the project Finance and Administrative Assistant in Tashkent who will work on administrative and finance processes as related to the ILO’s project activities as well as the joint project coordination and communication activities.
3. Serve as liaison between ILO and Working Groups on Social Protection in order to align ILO joint programme outputs with UNCT’s plans and contribute to effective coordination and implementation of UN system wide social protection interventions in close coordination with the regional social protection specialists.
4. Promote knowledge management and learning as related to the joint project’s objectives and activities including organizing joint learning events webinars, workshops and training as relevant; participates in national, regional and global knowledge management activities and learning as relevant and contributes and coordinates inputs to the GA’s global products; Represent the ILO in various fora, under the guidance of the ILO Director and technical specialists.
5. Contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships including with government, social partners, development partners and donors. Advocates for ILO’s work and represent ILO with national authorities, the donor community, and international financial institutions, where requested; contribute to programme/project proposal development by gathering relevant information.
6. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in social protection, social or political sciences, economics, public policies, development studies or related field, and strong knowledge on development issues in Uzbekistan.
An advanced degree in social protection studies would be a strong advantage.

Experience

At least three years of experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the project donor). Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy making and with social partners and development partners.
Technical requirements: Good knowledge of social protection, social security and labour economics, as well as economic development, poverty reduction, and social policies. Knowledge of the policy making process. Good knowledge of ILO social security standards.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and Uzbek. Working level of Russian is an advantage.

Competencies

• Good knowledge about social and economic development, including social protection, labour and employment trends in Uzbekistan.
• Good knowledge of policy making processed and inclusion of international standards into national policy making.
• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate and structure of social protection and labour market institutions in Uzbekistan.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders and to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations.
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations, UN agencies and IFIs.
• Ability to write analytical technical reports in English.
• Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyse problems with implementation and suggest solution.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, in English and Uzbek.
• Ability to coordinate, lead and work in a team.
• Ability to manage, train and guide personnel.
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision and to efficiently work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate collaborative and teamwork experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as work on his/her own initiative.
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office.
• Knowledge of the ILO’s financial rules and regulations an advantage.