Employment and Socio-Economic Recovery Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for West Africa and Country Office for Senegal, Cabo Verde, the Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau based in Dakar, Senegal (DWT/CO-Dakar). The DWT/CO‐Dakar provides high-quality, timely and integrated technical support to country offices in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) in response to their requests within the framework of outcome‐based workplans. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses covering a wide-range of subjects within the core areas of the ILO’s mandate. The DWT/CO is dedicated to advancing labour-related research, policies, and solutions on a regional and national scale in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states. 
The main role of the position is to provide technical expertise in the formulation and implementation of innovative employment-related policy initiatives based on the conduct of in-depth macroeconomic analysis of labour markets, considering factors such as employment trends, wage dynamics, labour force participation rates, and demographic shifts. This position is instrumental in conducting macroeconomic and quantitative analyses, contributing to the development and implementation of employment policies, and providing expert guidance on labour economics topics. 
The position is responsible for employment policies formulation, implementation, research and  capacity building. 
The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Director of the DWT for West Africa, based in Dakar. The incumbent receives technical guidance and advice from the Chief of the EMPLAB Branch, within the EMPLOYMENT Department, at headquarters. The Specialist is a member of the ILO’s Global Technical Team (GTT) EMPLOYMENT. The Specialist works in collaboration with the other specialists in the DWT/CO team, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and with UN agencies at the country and regional levels. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.    As primary specialist in the area(s) of employment policies formulation and implementation, is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities for the development of employment policies and expert guidance on labour market topics, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support  at 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, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) 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 the area of employment policies and socio-economic recovery to ILO constituents and other concerned 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 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 policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects.  
4.    Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country 
Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. 
Participate in multidisciplinary initiatives / efforts / developments / plans / reviews / activities with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda. 
5.    Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders in the world of work / employment area and leads to the formulation of policy advice / recommendations / policy and technical guidelines / and the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts related in the area of labour economics. 
6.    Develop and lead/coordinate the development of employment policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to constituents’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the global / regional / and country levels and provide advice and technical support to 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. 
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, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings. 
 

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8.    Support the strengthening of ILO constituents’ capacity to design and implement policies and measures / monitor the impact of policies and measures / refine and improve policies and measures as required in the area of employment and socio-economic recovery. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, 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, knowledge sharing and training events including in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable. 
9.    Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the promotion of employment policies and decent work and related areas and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners/entities of the UN system / other international organizations / regional and national actors / private institutions / multilateral development banks / international financial institutions / research institutions / academia, civil society / other key stakeholders with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence / joint programme design and implementation / promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives / resource mobilization / 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 international / regional / subregional / national / subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of labour, economic and socio-economic recovery.  
11.    Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional / subregional / national priorities on employment and socioeconomic recovery 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 policies. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices. 
13.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned. 
 

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Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Labour Economics, Macroeconomics, Applied Econometrics, Public Economics or other relevant field. 
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant field with an additional 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, including at the international level, in the area of employment policies and socio-economic recovery, 

Languages

Excellent command of French and a working knowledge of English. 

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(s) of Macroeconomic analysis, quantitative analysis and employment policies formulation 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.