Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for Central Africa and Country Office for Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe (DWT/CO-Yaoundé) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Under the supervision of the ILO Regional Office for Africa and in collaboration with technical departments at headquarters, the DWT/CO-Yaoundé provides integrated advisory services in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of decent work policies and programmes for Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Angola, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.
Most of the countries in the subregion are in a post-conflict and fragile situation that, in the absence of decent work opportunities, threatens to exacerbate instability, insecurity, poverty, inequality, unemployment and underemployment, in particular for young people. Against this backdrop, the main purpose of the position is to provide advisory services and technical assistance for the development of policies, strategies and programmes to promote employment, in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes. The incumbent will be expected to promote exchanges of information and experience and to provide support for institutional strengthening and training through the Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs).

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Director of the DWT/CO-Yaoundé. He or she receives technical guidance and advice from the relevant technical department at headquarters, specifically the Head of the Job Creation through Public Investments Unit (JCPI) of the Employment in Investments Branch (EMPINVEST), and will be part of the Global Technical Team of the Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department (EMPLOYMENT).

The incumbent will work in close cooperation with other technical specialists in the DWT-Yaoundé, with the country offices across the geographical areas of responsibility of the DWT-Yaoundé and with other technical departments at headquarters with which the JCPI also provides technical advice, as necessary. He or she will also work in close collaboration with the other specialists in the Africa region, and will provide technical support to development cooperation staff in the countries of the subregion, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and United Nations (UN) agencies at the country and regional levels on matters relating to employment and investment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. As primary specialist in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes, the incumbent is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities and develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at the regional, subregional and national levels to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, taking into account the integration of cross-cutting policy drivers, including international labour standards, social dialogue, gender equality and non-discrimination, and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and ensure the effective management of staff and consultants in accordance with ILO standards and the results-based management framework and through the timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework and other feedback mechanisms, as applicable.
2. Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide expert policy and technical advice in respect of the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), and the ILO’s flagship programme on Jobs for Peace and Resilience on the role of employment and decent work in conflict and disaster prevention and response, to the ILO constituents and other relevant stakeholders with a view to promoting the formulation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and programmes, and their impactful implementation and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes. Promote relevant international labour standards.
3. Support the ILO constituents in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in the design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects.
4. Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of DWCPs and UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Participate in tripartite reviews of development cooperation activities and design relevant employment-intensive investment strategies taking into account cross-cutting themes such as the right to work, social dialogue, gender equality and social inclusion, security, health and the environment, with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda through the promotion of employment-intensive investment programmes.
5. Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of the constituents and other key stakeholders in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes and leads to the formulation of policy advice, recommendations, and policy and technical guidelines, and to the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes.
6. Develop and lead/coordinate the development of policies, initiatives and strategies and programmes to promote employment in the area of employment-intensive investment and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to the needs and priorities of the constituents and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the regional and country levels and provide advice and technical support to the constituents and other stakeholders on effectively using such tools. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices.

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7. Provide technical inputs to, oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other Office documents, including for the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.
8. Support the strengthening of the capacity of the ILO constituents to design and implement policies and measures, monitor the impact of policies and measures through the application of the ILO’s results-based management framework, and refine and improve policies and measures as required in the area of employment-intensive investment. Oversee the design of tools and materials for learning purposes, pilot new guidelines, lead and/or coordinate workshops, meetings and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms and communication tools. Develop and run/implement global and/or regional capacity development programmes and knowledge-sharing and training events, including in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin (ITCILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable.
9. Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the area of employment-intensive investment and related areas and broker new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships to benefit the broad areas of the Decent Work Agenda with traditional and non-traditional partners and entities of the UN system, other international organizations, regional and national actors, multilateral development banks, academic institutions and other key stakeholders with a view to advancing the ILO’s strategic objectives, ensuring policy coherence and joint programme design and implementation, promoting awareness of the ILO’s values and strategic objectives, mobilizing resources, and influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives.
10. Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at seminars, conferences and other events. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in meetings, conferences and forums at the regional, subregional, national and subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of employment-intensive investment.
11. Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional, subregional and national priorities with regard to employment-intensive investment and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge-sharing among projects.
12. Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of employment-intensive investment. Ensure effective coordination with the relevant departments at headquarters and field offices.
13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

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Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in civil or rural engineering or other relevant field.
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in the/one of the above field(s) or another relevant field, with a further two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least seven years of experience in civil engineering or a related field, including at the international level. Proven experience in the area of employment-intensive investment programmes and in public or community infrastructure projects in particular. Experience in negotiating, developing, preparing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating employment-intensive projects.

Languages

Excellent command of French and working knowledge of English. Knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish would be an asset.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area of employment-intensive investment with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts, policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.

Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.

Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.

Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.

Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO’s position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action.

Ability to mobilize resources.

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.