Senior National Officer - NOB

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.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

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 73357 (USD) yearly.

Introduction

The ‘PROSPECTS’ Partnership for improving Prospects for host communities and forcibly displaced persons, was launched by the Government of the Netherlands in 2019 in response to forced displacement crises, bringing together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank. The partnership spans eight countries, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan, and Uganda.

Within the framework of the PROSPECTS partnership in Lebanon, ILO’s focus is on enhancing resilience of the country’s crisis-distressed labour market and creating better livelihoods for both Lebanese host communities and Syrian refugees. It is doing so by promoting the development of market relevant skills (education pillar); enhancing employment placement services and labour market governance, and promoting micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as sectors, including the agriculture and agri-food with potential for decent job creation (employment pillar); and strengthening social protection schemes (protection pillar). Now in the last year of the first phase of the partnership, ILO PROSPECTS Lebanon aims to build on strategic areas of intervention and maximize impact leading into the second phase of the partnership.

Within its employment pillar, the ILO is supporting increased productivity and working conditions in the agriculture sector. This is being complemented by competency-based skills trainings, work-based learning and apprenticeships for Syrian refugee and host community workers, while also supporting decent work through occupational safety and health (OSH) trainings, connecting farmers to new market opportunities using ILO’s Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS), and enhancing access to finance in the agriculture sector.  

The objectives of the Senior National Officer (NOB) are to lead the implementation (and continuous adaptation) of market systems interventions under PROSPECTS to enhance decent work and develop local economies for inclusive economic growth. He or she will also support the intervention to enhance access to finance, support organization of OSH trainings in agriculture, while also backstopping ongoing skills trainings in agriculture. The incumbent will additionally help to identify emerging opportunities in the labour market through rapid assessments.

Reporting lines:

The Senior National Officer (NOB) will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of PROSPECTS Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. S/He will closely coordinate with the PROSPECTS Technical Officers on SMEs and Financial inclusion in Lebanon and Iraq. S/He will also coordinate with and seek technical inputs as needed from the Enterprise, OSH, and Skills Specialists of the Decent Work Team and relevant HQ departments. The position will be based in the ILO Regional Office for Arab States in Beirut, Lebanon.

Description of Duties

1. Prepare and update regularly the assigned components of the project work plan, monitoring plan and technical progress reports in close coordination with PROSPECTS reporting officers. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements to support successful completion of agreed activities.

2. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs, including qualitative and quantitative research in line with the project workplan.

3. Prepare and conduct seminars, workshops, and consultative meetings, and implement capacity building interventions for selected local partner organizations on OSH and competency-based skills training.

4. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations in the planning and implementation of related activities under the PROSPECTS project.

5. Conduct field visits to monitor activities run by implementing partners, including, inter alia, pilot trials with selected farmers for improved productivity and working conditions) and in close cooperation with private and public local stakeholders, analyse and discuss results and design upscaling strategies in the second phase of the PROSPECTS partnership.

6. Work closely with the microfinance institution partnering with the ILO on design of loan products and disbursement of loans to farmers and agriculture workers; and follow up with partners on the roll out of the subsidy scheme to farmers.

7. Support identification of emerging opportunities in the labour market through rapid assessments.

8. Liaise with PROSPECTS partners, other UN agencies and related ministries and represent the ILO at meetings in Lebanon, donor/partner meetings and UN agencies’ meetings.

9. As needed, analyse and prepare background information, technical inputs about the relevant project component that feed into reports, presentations and advocacy materials.

10. Assist in drafting follow-up phases of the project and provide the necessary support for related fund-raising initiatives, particularly related to employment opportunities in agriculture and green sectors, or digital economy.

11. Undertake any other duties or tasks requested by the PROSPECTS CTA as needed.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, agriculture sciences/agricultural economics, development studies, environmental sciences or other relevant field.

Experience

Minimum five years of relevant professional experience at the national level implementing and/or supporting economic/agricultural development and livelihoods projects, at least two years of which with the UN or international organizations. Experience in the agriculture sector in Lebanon is a requirement. Experience in working in the microfinance sector/with microfinance institutions is a major asset.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic. 

Competencies

Good knowledge of the agriculture sector and innovation for developments.

Proven ability to implement projects in cooperation with project partners and key stakeholders.

Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms.

Good understanding of the local economic and political context of Lebanon and the refugee situation.

Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development.

Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Fraud warning

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.