Introduction

The position will be located in the ILO’s project office in Accra. The main objectives of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Africa are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

The project is centrally managed by the ILO Regional Office in Africa. The ROAF has overall political and management responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles, policies and decent work priorities in the region as well as provides strategic guidance and support to all country offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in Africa. Furthermore, the ROAF is responsible for promoting collaboration on decent work issues with continental institutions like the African Union, African Development Bank and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The main objectives of the ILO in Africa are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

Africa’s population is rising the fastest. The pressure to provide decent work opportunities for new labour market entrants will be particularly acute in Africa. The ILO in the region has given priority to promoting employment in the rural and informal economies, and underscored the need for action to tackle youth unemployment. Building the capacity of its constituents to contribute more effectively to the achievement of equitable and inclusive growth is a major urgency.

The National Project Coordinator will work on the 2nd phase of “Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in Africa” project. The project has the overarching goal to accelerate the elimination of child labour in Africa, through targeted actions in selected supply chains in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda. It will address child labour in a multi-country and multi-sectoral approach, enhancing synergies and developing innovative and evidence-based solutions in contexts where more than one prominent driver of child labour coexist. The outcome of the project will go beyond the targeted countries, thus benefiting the whole region through the promotion of partnerships and knowledge sharing.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor of the Project and within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the National Project Coordinator (NPC) will be responsible for the project implementation at national level, contributing to the timely and effective delivery of activities and outputs of the Project. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Reporting lines:

Under the overall responsibility of the Director of the ILO Country Office for for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the Project based in the ILO Regional Office in AbidjanThe NPC works under the direct supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Abuja, and under the strategic and technical supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the Project based in the ILO Regional Office in Abidjan.

The incumbent will also receive technical guidance from technical specialists in FUNDAMENTALS and in other technical units in HQ concerned, in the Regional Office and in the Decent Work Team in Pretoria.

The NPC will also oversee the work of a number of national staff in the project office in Accra, including a national programme officer and general service staff.

Description of Duties

1. Lead the timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Ghana component of the Project through management functions, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the Project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project document and work plan.

2. Collaborate effectively with Human Resources, participate in the recruitment process as required and provide effective performance management for national project staff under their supervision.

3. Under the supervision of the CTA, develop and present for approval of sub-contracts by the Director of the Office, monitor the performance of sub-contractors and ensure timely implementation of sub-contracts.

4. Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

5. Provide or ensure access to legal and policy advice to the government and the social partners on issues related to the effective implementation of the fundamental principles and rights at work, with a particular emphasis on child labour.

6. Organize training programmes and awareness raising activities to improve understanding on fundamental principles and rights at work and child labour in particular.

7. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs, including qualitative and quantitative research in line with ILO core conventions on fundamental rights at work.

8. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers’ and workers’ organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.

9. Promote and support Alliance 8.7 initiatives at country level.

10. Establish and develop knowledge management system covering technical activities under the project including other economic and social issues of relevance to the project and proactively share knowledge on the subject of child labour, particularly in Ghana.

11. Represent the Project in various fora, under the guidance of the ILO Director and the CTA.

12. Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO Decent Work Team in Dakar, other colleagues in the Regional Office and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions.

13. Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project’s components according to the project’s document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.

14. Ensure high-level communications to increase Project’s visibility at the national and international levels. This includes the responsibility to liaise with the UN country team through the Office Director, and other key stakeholders to ensure effective coordination with relevant national strategies and related technical projects. Under direct guidance of the ILO Country Office in Abuja maintain relations with mass media and concerned media groups in order to increase the impact of the project in society as a whole.

15. Supervise the work of project staff involved in the implementation of the project.
16. Develop and implementa collaborative initiatives with other related projects in the country

17. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director and the Chief Technical Advisor.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in economics, social sciences, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Ghana.

Experience

At least three years of experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the project donor).

Work experience in the field of labor law and/or human rights or a relevant field at national level.

Languages

Excellent command of English.

Competencies

• o Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skill with governments, social partners, industry associations, and mobilizing the support of international donor agencies
  o Experience in working on child labour issues in a sector-specific setting such as agriculture or garment processing, as well as in value chain issues.
  o Knowledge of area based monitoring and referral systems, migration, labour law enforcement, education and social protection of children,
  o Good knowledge about social, economic development, including labor and employment, trends in the country
  o Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders and ability to maintain systems within project operations.
  o Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations.
  o Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.
  o Ability to conduct action oriented research and write analytical technical report in English.
  o Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
  o Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles.
  o Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
  o Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes
  o Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
  o Ability to train and guide personnel.
  o Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
  o Ability to work in diversified environments.
  o Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office
  o Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.