National Project Coordinator

The European Union Project “Supporting Sustainable and Social Protection System in Nigeria” will be implemented by UNICEF and ILO over the period of 36months, ending on 31st March 2027. 

The overall objective of the project is to ensure more people living in Nigeria have increased access to social protection during shock. This component of the programme seeks to achieve the overall objective by ensuring that by 2026, the Social Protection System is shock responsive at the Federal and state level with a reinforced Policy framework and a financial mechanism integrated in the national budget and planning efforts. To this end, the programme includes the following key outcome and outputs at both Federal and State with a focus on Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto, as below: 

• Outcome: By 2026, the Social Protection System is shock responsive at the Federal and state level with a reinforced Policy framework and a financial mechanism integrated in the national budget and planning efforts.
• Output 1.1: Strengthened and Functional National Social Register (NSR) expanded to integrate more poor and vulnerable people.
• Output 1.2: Improved capacity of staff and Policy makers at the national and state level on social protection.
• Output 1.3: Strengthened national and state social protection policy and legal framework with the development with of a social protection policy and bill, aimed at realizing the rights to social protection for consideration by the National and State Assembly

The ILO Country Office Abuja is therefore seeking to recruit a National Project Coordinator who will be responsible for management, implementation and coordination of the project. The incumbent will ensure operational coordination of activities and liaise with the project partners, including the Government, social partners, UNICEF and EU, to ensure completion of activities according to the project work plan. The incumbent will ensure that the objectives stated in the project document are attained within the stated time frame and budget and in compliance with ILO’s financial and operating procedures. 

Reporting line:

• The incumbent will report to the Director of ILO-CO, Abuja. S/he will liaise and receive technical support from the technical specialist, social protection at the Decent Work Team in Dakar, Senegal.

Description of Duties

• Ensure operational coordination of project implementation, monitor conditions set out in the project document, budget and grant agreement and facilitate coordination with the donor.
• Lead the implementation of project activities with criteria of timeliness, quality and effectiveness, ensuring the achievement of planned results in the time frame and within budget, in accordance with project requirements and the policies, values and procedures of the ILO.
• Initiate, sustain and guide cooperation with key partners in Nigeria, in close collaboration with relevant ILO technical specialists to ensure the performance and results of the project, and ensuring that gender is mainstreamed in planning and project implementation to achieve the desired results.
• Coordinate and monitor project activities implemented by project and implementing partners, consultants and trainers and ensure the quality of outputs, by reviewing, verifying and analysing partners work plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
• Regularly brief responsible government officials, employer and worker associations on project status and consult with other United Nations agencies, development partners and NGOs whose mandates and programmes are similar to those of the project.
• Ensure a regular flow of information on the status of the activities planned and implemented between the ILO-CO Abuja, the Regional Office for Africa, the Decent Work Team in Dakar and SOCPRO at ILO headquarters. This will include accurate implementation, performance, risk and financial monitoring.
• Manage the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, multi-stakeholder consultations, training sessions and meetings in collaboration with the technical support of experts and represent the project in various meetings. Organize project management meetings, draft meeting notes and solicit comments from relevant project partners.
• Coordinate and monitor research carried out and studies undertaken by external collaborators.
• Update project work plans, implement the reporting, monitoring and evaluation plan in line with the outcomes, outputs, activities and indicators set out in the project document and grant agreement, monitor progress on a continuous basis and prepare and validate project progress reports.
• Implement the communications strategy ensuring visibility of project’s results, dissemination of project information through publications and press releases, and good communication with all partners.
• Facilitate technical input, knowledge exchange and thematic discussions. Develop knowledge products including fact sheets and policy briefs.
• Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor within the framework of his/her competence.

Required qualifications

Education

• First level of University degree in economics, social sciences, international development or a related field and a strong knowledge on development issues around social protection particularly in Nigeria.

Experience

• At least three years of relevant professional experience, preferably in relation with employment and labour migration issues including experience working with officials of ministries of labour, foreign affairs, social partners and migration institutions and associations. Record of familiarity with ILO/UN policies and procedures, including development cooperation procedures would be desirable. Experience managing and implementing ILO/UN projects would be an advantage.

Languages

• Excellent spoken and written knowledge of English; good knowledge of another official language of the duty station.

Source: https://jobs.ilo.org/job/Abuja-National-Project-Coordinator-NOB-(DC)/1079729001/