International Labour Office Africa Job Vacancies :Human Resources Development Department

Human Resources Development Department International Labour Office
Vacancy No:TC/2010/HARARE/01 Position title: Chief Technical Advisor Grade: P.5  Contract type: Fixed-term appointment	Deadline for application: 2 March 2010 (17 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications   Organization unit:   HARARE Duty Station:  Harare, Zimbabwe
This is a Technical Cooperation position. 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. Title of Project: ZIM/10/01/DAN The following are eligible to apply: - ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 15 and 16 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. - External candidates.
INTRODUCTION Youth unemployment and underemployment is a crucial concern throughout the developing world but it is a particularly acute problem in Africa where young people comprise a large proportion of the economically active population. Youth unemployment and underemployment constitute a significant obstacle to the social and economic development of Africa, contributing to political instability and perpetuating an inter-generational cycle of poverty. In rural communities young people are employed primarily in agriculture and have few vocational and entrepreneurial skills, lacking access to formal training systems. At the same time, the importance of upgrading the informal skills development system to promote productive and decent work is often poorly recognized. In this context, the Danish Commission for Africa at the end of 2009 adopted an initiative for Promoting Post-Primary Education and asked the International Labour Organization (ILO) to implement the "Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development in Southern and Western Africa" programme in Zimbabwe from 2010 through 2014 funded by the Royal Danish Government. The programme will focus broadly on two main areas of action to promote employment and income generating opportunities through skills development initiatives: 1) introducing the ILO's Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) methodology in a number of rural communities to support local employment and livelihood development, and 2) improving delivery of training through improved systems of informal apprenticeship. A parallel programme under Danish funding will be managed separately in selected countries in West Africa and an initiative on youth entrepreneurship will be carried out in East Africa, creating important opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing. For the position of Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) the ILO is recruiting a highly motivated and committed professional with demonstrated and recognized expertise in skills development, the rural or informal economy, and programme management. The CTA will be responsible for finalizing the overall 5 year programme through an initial inception phase and will subsequently manage the programme and its operations. The programme is expected to be launched initially only in Zimbabwe, with initial assessment and extension to Zambia foreseen for 2012. The overall objective of the programme is to strengthen skills development systems that improve employability, promote access to employment opportunities and increase incomes in support of inclusive and sustainable growth. A number of immediate objectives are envisaged. In all countries, rural community groups will be empowered to identify local economic opportunities and potential linkages to broader markets, develop appropriate training programmes, including those aimed at improving literacy, to enable young people and their communities to take advantage of these opportunities for self- and wage-employment, and provide post-training support to community and private small-scale enterprises. Public and private training institutions will be strengthened in delivering demand-oriented services to rural areas. Systems of informal apprenticeship will be strengthened through upgrading the skills of master craftspersons, facilitating access to new technologies and resources, improving recognition of apprentices' competencies, improving their conditions of work, and boosting experiential learning through linkages to classroom based general education. The project will support a range of self-employment opportunities, including through access to business training and micro-credit facilities. Stakeholders and institutions at the national level will have enhanced capacity to adapt and apply tools, approaches and strategies demonstrated through the programme for broader outreach through national policies and regional knowledge-sharing.
Description of Duties Description of position The CTA will report to the ILO Director for Zimbabwe in Harare. The ILO Senior Skills Specialist in Pretoria will provide technical backstopping. The ILO Skills and Employability Department (Geneva) will provide additional technical support. The CTA will be responsible for the technical, financial and human resource management of the programme. She or he will be responsible for carrying out and coordinating the activities and outputs leading to improved skills for youth, improved access to skills in rural communities, and enhanced capacity of public and private training providers to deliver tailor-made programmes to rural communities. To achieve these outcomes the CTA will successfully lead and motivate a team of national and international experts in skills development. She or he will adapt ILO tools and improve their adaptability and relevance to circumstances and policy objectives in Zimbabwe as well as apply and monitor their application. Under the supervision of the Harare office, the CTA will develop partnerships with national ministries, private sector and business member organizations, social partners, financial institutions as well as civil society organizations, including youth organizations. This involves contributing to ILO policy advice to various Zimbabwean Ministries and the provision of specific technical advice based on the design and lessons learned from appropriate training and methodologies to support rural development. The CTA will lead the development of common approaches for promoting skills in areas such as curriculum development, mentorships, instructional technologies and assessment. She or he will therefore also be taking a leading role in conducting training seminars, workshops and meetings as well as leading and guiding the development of manuals and training guides for skills development. Finally, the position entails a substantial level of knowledge sharing and engagement with national stakeholders and the public through a series of knowledge sharing events and conferences at which the CTA will represent the ILO on a regular basis, and share experiences and lessons learned by the programme. Specific Duties 1. Develop and facilitate national consultation processes with ILO constituents and other ministries and national partners in the public, private and civil sector in Zimbabwe during the inception phase in order to finalize the 5 year programme. 2. Recruit national staff and international experts, in consultation with the backstopping officers and with the support of the ILO Harare office. Manage and appraise the performance of staff on a regular basis based on ILO human resource development policies and guidelines. 3. Set up project infrastructure and procure equipment for the project office in Harare in a timely manner and following ILO procurement regulations and procedures. 4. Establish the National Steering Committee during the Inception Phase to guide project interventions and integrate the programme in national policies and programmes. 5. Prepare, manage and keep up to date a finance and administration system that facilitates a proper reporting and effective interface with the administration and finance system of the ILO office Harare. 6. Develop an efficient monitoring and evaluation system that captures the programme's outreach and impact to in-school and out-of-school youth and other beneficiaries and partner institutions, beginning with the collection of baseline data against which impact assessments can be carried out. Carry out recommendations of any mid-term evaluations, adjusting programme activities accordingly. 7. Develop a knowledge management and sharing strategy of the programme, including information materials and research, in collaboration with components of the Danish-funded programme in Africa. 8. Prepare a full project document for submission the ILO Office in Harare and the Skills and Employability Department the end of the Inception Phase and semi-annual progress reports. Consult with and provide reports and other ongoing information to the National Steering Committee. 9. Develop and manage effective partnerships for skills development with constituents, national counterparts, public and private sector organizations, including youth organizations. Review national and local institutional frameworks in which national partners can best design, implement, evaluate and replicate skills development strategies across the two main components of the programme. 10. Provide direct technical advice to national partners and capacity building of staff, resource persons, teacher educators, trainers and consultants to ensure that outcomes are achieved and outputs are produced under each of the two main components of the programme. 11. Adapt resources and training materials in the areas of skills development, upgrading of informal apprenticeships, strategies for rural employment creation and development, access to finance, competitive grant schemes and impact assessment methodologies. Organize and prepare studies, workshops and seminars related to the project's objectives. 12. Under the direction of the Director, ILO Harare, collaborate with the UN Country Team in ensuring the contribution of the programme to national development objectives supported through the UNDAF. 13. Liaise with national institutions dealing with skills development to ensure collaboration with them. 14. Perform other tasks related to project objectives as requested by the ILO Country Director, including support to Decent Work Country Programmes.
Required Qualifications
Education Advanced university degree in technical and vocational education, social and economic development, rural development studies or a related social science discipline.
Experience Ten to fifteen years' relevant experience in the area of skills development, of which at least seven years at the international level, including knowledge of rural and informal economy skills development, systems of informal apprenticeship, and project administrative, financial and staff management.
Languages Excellent command of English is required. Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.
Competencies  Specific competencies include: leadership in planning, implementing, and evaluating complex technical cooperation programmes; adapt tools and approaches to local and national circumstances and policy objectives; relate the work of the programme to broader issues within coherent national policies that include skills development, youth employment and rural employment; adapt and develop training materials; write coherent programme reports in line with ILO standards and deadlines; develop and maintain effective collaboration within the UN system at the country level; aptitude and appreciation for knowledge-sharing and learning. Core competences required for this position include proven communication and drafting skills, both written and verbal; the ability to motivate and supervise staff effectively and cooperatively in a multi-cultural team environment; clear understanding of gender mainstreaming and demonstrated capacity to integrate gender into development initiatives; solve problems and propose alternative courses of action to update project proposals; plans and budgets and revises procedural matters as required to implement the programme effectively; ability to conduct discussions and negotiate with governments, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, development banks and with other agencies as well as top-level professionals. Knowledge of ILO and UNDAF mission and procedures is an advantage. Application Essay In addition to completing the standard ILO vacancy application procedures, applicants for this position are requested to complete and attach to their application a (maximum) two-page essay detailing how their work experience and qualifications meet the specific duties of this post.
Additional Information: In addition to completing the standard ILO vacancy application procedures, applicants for this position are requested to complete and attach to their application a (maximum) two-page essay detailing how their work experience and qualifications meet the specific duties of this post.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR WRITTEN TEST.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW.
APPENDIX II CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Grade: P.5 Salary and post adjustment (with dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 85615 rising to Maximum 104931 Post adjustment for Harare Minimum 31763 Maximum 38929 Salary and post adjustment (without dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 79537 Maximum Maximum 96528 Post adjustment for Harare Minimum 29508 Maximum 35811
Other allowances and benefits subject to specific terms of appointment: Children's allowance (except for the first child if the dependent rate of salary is paid in respect of that child); Children's education grant (per child per year); Pension and Health Insurance schemes; 30 working days' annual leave; Assignment Grant; Entitlement to transport expenses of personal effects; Repatriation Grant; Home-leave travel with eligible dependants every two years; Rental subsidy (if applicable). Recruitment is normally made at the initial step in the grade. The Director-General reserves the right to appoint candidates at one level below the grade of the advertised post. Salaries and emoluments are exempt from taxation by the Swiss authorities and, on the basis of international agreements or national law relating to presence or residence abroad, are generally exempt from taxation by other governments. In the absence of exemption, in most cases tax paid will be reimbursed in accordance with an ILO document which will be supplied upon request. While the successful candidate will be initially working inHarare he/she may be assigned to any duty station designated by the Director-General of the ILO.
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO's e-Recruitment website at: erecruit.ilo.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
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.
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