Social Protection Specialist

The specialist works in collaboration with the other specialists from the Social Protection Department at headquarters in Geneva, but also with specialists from other Country offices in the Africa region. The incumbent is expected to interact with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions (IFIs) and United Nations agencies at national and regional levels, on social protection, particularly supporting advocacy for the expansion of budgetary space for social protection but also the positioning of the Office.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• As specialist in the area(s) of social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality, the incumbent is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities for social protection through various schemes, 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.
• 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 social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits and the design of tools supporting the operationalization of social protection policies. This includes advice on the institutional framework of national social protection systems, particularly with regard to the financing, governance and administration of social protection schemes and programs 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 field of the world of work, social protection, the management of related national policies and programs and the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality 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 to/in the area of social protection. Contribute to Office reports on subregional and national social protection trends and issues, including the flagship report on Global Social Protection.
• Develop and lead/coordinate the development of policies, initiatives and strategies for extending social protection, particularly in health, with a view to universal coverage and emphasizing the redefined role of community-based schemes and microinsurance systems which are already in place. place, with a view to their reform and possible integration in terms of affiliation and benefits to support national strategies for universal health care, as well 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.
• 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.
• 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 field of social protection, management of related national policies and programs, management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality. 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 in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable
• Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the field of social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality 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 and academia, civil society and other key stakeholders with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence, the design and implementation of joint programmes, the awareness raising of ILO’s values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization, and the influence of policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives related to social protection.
• 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 and subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality].
• Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional, subregional and national priorities relating to social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality 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.
• Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of social protection, the management of related national policies and programs, the management of systems of access to benefits while respecting gender equality. In addition, the specialist should master the issues linked to the Global Accelerator on employment and social protection for just transitions and better social justice in the world of work. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:
Education

• Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economy, social sciences, actuary studies, law or another 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 social insurance or social protection. Proven experience in designing, supporting implementation and evaluating social protection programs. Experience in the design and/or management of development programs or projects would be an advantage, a relevant experience in a field duty station would also be an advantage. Professional experience of tripartism and working with ILO constituents would also be an advantage.

Languages:

• Excellent command of English and working knowledge of French. Knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish would be an advantage.

Source: https://jobs.ilo.org/job/Yaounde-Social-Protection-Specialist/1042439601/