Head Development Cooperation Support

The position is located in the Development Cooperation Support Unit (DCSU) within the Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation Department (PARTNERSHIPS).  PARTNERSHIPS is responsible for establishing, developing, and maintaining strategic partnerships to contribute to Social Justice in close interaction with other ILO portfolios at ILO headquarters and with the regions. The Department is responsible for developing the ILO’s strategy for development cooperation and contributes to consultations and negotiations with development partners and groupings for the promotion of greater policy coherence around social justice and decent work. PARTNERSHIPS leads consultations and negotiations with development cooperation partners and is responsible for mobilizing voluntary contributions for the ILO’s programme, as well as coordinating technical and financial reporting to partners. PARTNERSHIPS facilitates streamlining of work processes and procedures and provides assistance to enhance service delivery in the regions. 

PARTNERSHIPS comprises: the UN, International Financial Institutions, Economic Organizations and Civil Society Branch (UNIFICS); the Development Cooperation Support Unit (DCSU); the Development Partner Relations Unit (DPRU); the Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit (ESPU); and one direct report on Public-Private Partnerships.

DCSU deals with development cooperation policies and Office-wide business processes related to partnerships and project cycle management.  The Unit supports the design and quality assurance of development cooperation programmes and project proposals and ensures internal and external communication on data and results regarding ILO’s development cooperation portfolio. The Unit delivers staff training and facilitates knowledge sharing in the area of development cooperation. In delivering cross-departmental services, the Unit also supports the management of the Department.  

The Head of DCSU reports to the Director of PARTNERSHIPS.

Duties:

• Plan, lead, manage and coordinate the work of the DCSU, encompassing the establishment, implementation and monitoring of workplans and identifying priorities in alignment with the Strategic Plan and Programme and Budget outcomes.  Ensure that staff in the Unit optimize the use of resources for the achievement of results and ensure timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF).
• Develop, recommend and contribute to the effective management and oversight of ILO’s development cooperation portfolio by mainstreaming policy recommendations, streamlining business processes, and promoting  compliance with international as well as ILO standards and requirements for programme and project management, such as audit and evaluation recommendations, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policies,  international transparency standards, environmental and social sustainability standards and information technology standards.
• Prepare, coordinate and review contributions to papers and reports related to trends and strategies in development cooperation and partnerships for the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference, as well as briefs on an ad hoc basis for the Department.
• Support the Department’s discussions and negotiations with development partners during formal review meetings and evaluations; and in donor reviews and other assessments (e.g. MOPAN). Provide strategic advice in ad hoc meetings and consultations held in Geneva and in the Regions including on international development effectiveness and global partnerships (e.g. OECD-DAC, GPEDC).
• Ensure programmatic alignment and quality assurance of project design through the oversight of the appraisal mechanism and procedure, as well as through the design support helpdesk, tools, ILO staff development and knowledge-sharing.
• Initiate, coordinate and leverage ILO communication efforts related to development cooperation projects, results and partnerships for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure contributions to the ILO transparency and data coordinated by FINANCE on the ILO development cooperation portfolio for internal and external purposes (e.g. International Aid Transparency Initiative, UN, OECD-DAC) and the continuous improvement of ILO tools such as the Development Cooperation Dashboard, in close cooperation with FINANCE, PROGRAM and INFOTEC.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

Duties:

• Review, analyse and interpret economic, social and political trends in selected countries. Identify trends or developments for which further research and programme development work is required to adequately respond to growing and changing needs. Provide analysis and recommendations to senior management on development cooperation activities and formulate and set priorities.
• Plan, organise, supervise and monitor the work of a unit providing development cooperation services. Allocate work to staff, assign staff to particular programmes, control the quality of output, and evaluate the work performed by the staff of the unit. Provide new staff with guidance and training.
• Supervise the administrative operations for financial and personnel management of the organization’s country-related programmes, as well as project development and monitoring, and approve related administrative and programme actions.
• Establish and coordinate the consultation and cooperation processes between the Organization and the officials of other organisations, institutions, donor agencies and governments for the formulation and operation of country-related development cooperation programmes. Resolve difficulties in the achievement of programme objectives.
• Coordinate and guide the preparation of operational plans for the implementation and evaluation of country-related programmes and projects.  Control the utilisation, and propose the allocation of, the financial resources available to the country-related programme.
• Formulate and develop conceptual approaches, policy framework for development cooperation activities. Assess and improve methods for the design and evaluation of projects. Review and approve project summaries and feasibility studies. Approve project design and the revision of project documents.
• Mobilise resources in support of the Organization’s objectives and development cooperation activities. Negotiate conditions and terms, justify financing inputs, and follow up until agreement is reached.  Initiate resource mobilisation approaches for the acceptance, funding and implementation of projects and programmes.
• Represent the unit and the Organization at inter-agency, governing body and donor and other meetings of development partners; present reports, policy documents and project proposals in the areas of competence.
• Recommend action on personnel, budgetary and procedural matters relating to the efficient operations of the unit.
• Maintain close relations with donor agencies and other international agencies and provide advice on policies and procedures.

Required qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in economics, social science, international studies or other relevant field.  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the aforementioned 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 ten years of professional experience in the management of development cooperation activities in a senior level position, including at the international level.

Languages:

• Excellent command of one working language (English, French Spanish) of the Organization and a working knowledge of a second working language of the Organization.

Source: https://jobs.ilo.org/job/Geneva-Head,-Development-Cooperation-Support-Unit-(DCSU)-1200/1166860301/