ILO: Project Manager P4 – Ashgabat

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1919 to promote social justice and brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

The ILO and the Government of Turkmenistan entered a first joint framework for cooperation in 2023 to strengthen application of the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No.105), which was ratified by Turkmenistan in 1997. This programme of cooperation was developed as direct follow up to recommendations from the ILO supervisory bodies. The 2021 Conclusions of the ILO Conference Committee on the Application of Standards regarding the application of Convention No.105 had urged the Government of Turkmenistan to take effective and time-bound measures to ensure there would not be any forced labour or child labour in the annual state-sponsored cotton harvest in Turkmenistan.

More recently, the ILO and Government of Turkmenistan entered a Roadmap for Cooperation for 2024-2025. This Roadmap provides an ambitious framework for action within a longer-term partnership aimed at addressing the concerns of ILO supervisory bodies regarding forced and child labour and strengthening social and economic development in Turkmenistan through the promotion of decent work.

An EU-funded development cooperation project has been developed to build on results achieved to date under the 2024-2025 Roadmap. The project will provide technical assistance and capacity building support to government institutions and other stakeholders to develop and implement labour laws and policies that promote decent work practices and prevent child and forced labour. The project will also provide technical assistance for the ratification and implementation of ILO instruments that have been identified as priorities, with a focus on preventing and addressing risks of forced and child labour in the cotton harvest.

Reporting lines:  The position is located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and is assigned to Decent Work Technical Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The position reports to the Director of the DWT for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The incumbent will benefit from technical oversight and support from the FUNDAMENTALS Branch in ILO Headquarters and technical specialists in the Decent Work Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as other relevant technical departments based at Headquarters.

The incumbent will oversee the work of project staff in Ashgabat, including national officers and general service staff recruited under the project. as well as international and local consultants hired in the context of the project.

1. Responsible for effective management, coordination and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all project activities through timely provision of inputs, effective backstopping, and efficient delivery of outputs, inconformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible units in HQ, the RO for Europe and Central Asia and DWT for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

2. Provide technical expertise and advice to the project team and when required to the stakeholders of the project including relevant government agencies and other key institutions. Ensure that technical interventions and decisions are well founded and take into account the specific nature of the project objectives and context. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

3. Manage funds/budgets allocated to the project and ensure the preparation of periodic progress reports for submission in accordance with the established rules and procedures. Ensure that key risks are identified, assessed, documented and managed to contribute to the achievement of agreed results and that risk management is embedded in core processes and functions.

4. Responsible for designing, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of project activities and exit strategy, and ensure effective coordination in collaboration with HQ technical units and DWT specialists.

5. Coordinate and support the establishment and functioning of a Joint Steering Committee for the Project, including representatives from the donor and key stakeholders.

6. Manage efficiently the human resources of the project including performance management, as well as organize, plan, supervise and evaluate the work of the team. Recommend action on personnel, budgetary and procedural matters relating to the efficient operations of the project in Turkmenistan.

7. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with governments, ministries, employers” and workers” organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of project /programme activities.

8. Liaise with other UN counterparts to promote ILO”s values, increase the project”s visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO”s interventions

9. Support the identification of relevant partnerships for different areas of project implementation and contribute to the development of collaboration plans in consultation with national partners and the technical team.

10. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists.

11. Coordinate the design communication and knowledge-sharing strategies, where relevant, and lead the development of the project/ program information materials.

12. Contribute to coordination with the UN Country Team and participate in relevant national-level meetings and events to promote ILO project priorities. Strengthen cooperation with government institutions, employers” and workers” organizations and civil society partners to support joint efforts under the project.

13. Perform any other duties as required.

Advanced university degree in economics, law, public administration, management, social science, development studies or a related 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 required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

At least seven years of relevant experience in the management of development cooperation activities, of which at least 5 years at the international level focused around stakeholder engagement and dialogue. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects, preferably in the fields of labour and employment.

Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations.

Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures, including experience in managing large and complex development cooperation projects would be an advantage, as would be work experience in the context of Central Asia.

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of Turkmen, Russian or Turkish would be an advantage.

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development.
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individuals’ skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation programmes and activities with a broad range of stakeholders, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
• Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.