National Project Officer- NOA (DC)

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 above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.

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 recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

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.

*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is 4,195,402 Kenyan Shilling) yearly.

Introduction

Kenya hosts 540,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, of which the majority are women and children (UNHCR, December 2021). As the country is following an encampment policy, the overwhelming majority of refugees lives in two camps â Dadaab and Kakuma. An additional 81,000 registered refugees live in urban areas (UNHCR, 2022). Urban refugees face gaps in support for meeting their basic needs and accessing social protection as well as livelihood opportunities, as most of the development and humanitarian assistance for refugees is concentrated in Dadaab and Kakuma. The dynamic environment in urban areas offers the opportunity to integrate livelihood and social protection interventions, supporting refugees and asylum seekers to become economically independent while protecting them against life-cycle contingencies such as illness, maternity, old age, unemployment or disability.

The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), is therefore launching a new project entitled âPromoting Pathways to Economic Inclusion and Social Protection for Refugees and Host Communities in Kenyaâ focused on supporting refugees and their host communities in Kenyaâs urban areas. The program will focus on immediate and long-term solutions for livelihoods and social protection and work simultaneously on the macro-, meso-, and micro-level. 

The programme will pursue three interlinked objectives, all contributing to the ultimate goal of improving refugee and host community access to decent livelihood opportunities and social protection:

Objective 1: Policy frameworks are more inclusive of refugees and workers in the informal economy, with a specific focus on enterprise promotion and social protection Objective 2: Refugees and host communities have access to decent work and livelihood opportunities Objective 3: Social protection is available and accessible to refugees and host communities, including for workers in the informal economy.

To promote livelihoods of urban refugees and vulnerable host communities, the project will make use of the ILOâs Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) that looks at sectors with potential for inclusive growth and job creation and designs targeted and holistic strategies to develop these for the benefit of refugees and host communities. Work to integrate refugees into national social protection schemes will follow ILO standards on universal social protection and will build on ongoing ILO work towards more inclusive social protection policies and programmes in Kenya. 

The Project Manager will have the overall responsibility for planning and implementation of the PRM-funded project. Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the incumbent will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the project, including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management.

Reporting Lines:

The National Project Coordinator, Social Protection will work under the overall responsibility of the Director of ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda (CO-Dar Es Salaam) and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, Social Protection and Enterprise Promotion. The incumbent will receive technical guidance and backstopping support from the Social Protection Specialist of the Decent Work Team (DWT) in Pretoria, as well as the Social Protection/SOCPRO within the Jobs and Social Protection Cluster at ILO Headquarters. The position will be based in the ILO Project Office in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Description of Duties

Support effective implementation of the Social Protection component of the project under the guidance of the Project Manager, Social Protection and Enterprise Promotion, which includes the planning, development and delivery of social protection activities under the project, building on ILOâs existing portfolio of social protection activities. Promote the standards, approaches and tools of the ILO when it comes to universal social protection for a range of social security branches and contingencies, including health, sickness, maternity, disability and other short-term benefits, with a systematic gender-sensitive approach. Liaise and build capacity of the ILO tripartite partners and other project stakeholders for delivery of results as per the project documents in collaboration with CO Dar-es-Salaam, the Decent Work Team in Pretoria and SOCPRO.  Effectively liaise and build a trust relationship with partner institutions in charge of social protection, in particular the National Social Protection Secretariat, the National Health Insurance Fund, the National Social Security Fund, and other relevant institutions. Support the effective planning, delivery and adjustment (as required) of the project budget allocated to social protection in line with ILO guidelines and procedures. Support coordination with other UN and non-UN agencies involved in social protection in Kenya, in collaboration with the other projects working on different aspects of social protection and different target groups. Liaise in a timely manner with other relevant ILO projects and the DW Technical Team covering the country to maximize synergy that may exist with other ILO core priorities and ensure the project is in line with the outcomes established under the P&B, the DWCPs, and ensure smooth collaboration with the Social Protection Global Technical Team of the ILO. Support efforts to strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with government ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, organizations of informal economy workers and entrepreneurs and other vulnerable populations, other development partners in the planning and implementation of programme activities.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in economics, social/health sciences, development or other relevant discipline/field.

Experience

At least two years of professional experience in the area of social policy at the national level. A good knowledge of the national social protection system and experience working with social protection institutions, especially in the areas of health, maternity, disability and other short-term benefits would be a strong asset.

Familiarity with ILO policies, technical programmes and procedures, including experience working with officials of ministries of labour, employer and worker organizations would be considered a plus.

Languages

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

Competencies

Knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors. Knowledge of the substantive nature of social protection. Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

Research and analytical skills. Drafting skills. Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders. Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.  Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Recruitment process