Technical Officer

Introduction

With 46% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide stemming from burning of coal, the coal industry is the single largest contributor to climate change. Coal-fired electricity generation alone accounts for 30% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. The timely reduction of coal-related emissions is key to delivering the Paris climate targets. The Asia-Pacific region, accounting for over half of global coal consumption, can significantly reduce its carbon footprint by swiftly embracing renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power. The scale and speed of the transition can only be reached if it is  backed by broad-based support and if addresses the linkages to economic and social goals.   The energy transition not only holds the potential to create over 11 million additional jobs in the region by 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), but also presents an opportunity for economic revitalization and social progress. While the transition can act as a net generator of jobs, deliberate policies are necessary to deliver positive social outcomes that are inclusive. A just transition refers to shifting towards greener, resilient and climate-neutral economies and societies in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, maximising the positive aspects of the transition, creating decent work opportunities, mitigating negative social consequences and leaving no one behind.

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO)’ Guidelines for Just Transition for Environmentally Sustainable Economies offer a set of principles and potential policy entry points to orient action on the ground, anchored in national and local priorities. The Guidelines  emphasise the importance of  social dialogue, labour rights and gender equality and inclusion as foundation to design and implement fair and ambitious policies that deliver on social, economic and climate goals.  They also highlight the need for coherent responses across policy areas, ranging from environmental to employment and social policies. 

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The ILO assists countries in the Asia-Pacific region in promoting a just transition by through technical support, diagnostics and capacity development, including through international knowledge exchanges and learning. The ILO development cooperation portfolio includes the project ‘Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition’ (IKI-JET) funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the European Commission, which the ILO implements as part of a consortium that includes GIZ, the Climate Action Network, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and Wuppertal Institute. The IKI-JET aims at supporting and accelerating a Just Energy Transition (JET) away from coal to renewable energy and other sustainable economic activities in the global south, contributing to a timely reduction of GHG emissions from coal. Focusing on the required economic transformations in coal regions, IKI-JET works with government, industry, unions, communities, civil society and academia to spur localized pathways to low-carbon and climate resilient energy systems and sustainable and just local economies and jobs. In addition to a country component in Indonesia, it supports interregional peer-to-peer exchange, learning, capacity building, technical assistance and policy dialogue in an international network of coal regions from Latin America, Africa and Asia and information sharing on JET and innovation in coal regions.

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A key focus of the ILO’s interregional component is on enhancing the capacities of stakeholders in coal regions in Asia to develop and implement just energy transition plans and policies are strengthened through peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, particularly through a Community of Practice (CoP). A CoP will be set up and facilitated targeting policy makers in Asia for  supporting peer learning and knowledge sharing on (regionally) relevant JET topics (which may include deep dives on selected countries) and engaging in regional processes. Linkages and synergies with other  networks and platforms will be fostered. The CoP will leverage knowledge and good practices to help accelerate and catalyze a just energy transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy sources, supporting environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity of coal regions in Asia Pacific that are part of the IKI JET project. The CoP will facilitate exchanges of experiences, lessons learnt and good practices on policies, programmes and initiatives relevant to promoting a just energy transition in coal regions. It will facilitate peer learning and  serve to enhance stakeholders capacities to contribute to just transition policies and programmes.

It is in this context that the ILO is seeking to recruit a Project Technical Officer who will provide technical expertise on just transition, support implementation and coordination of project activities in the interregional component of the IKI JET project  in Asia to effectively advance the goals of the just energy transition. The Project Technical Officer will be based in the ILO Country Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, which will help to foster the linkages with the country component of the IKI JET project in Indonesia, facilitating two-ways knowledge flows between the country and interregional component.

Reporting Lines

The Project Technical Officer will report directly to the Director of CO-Jakarta while at the same time receiving guidance and technical backstopping support from the Technical Specialist on Green Jobs Climate Action and Resilience / Environment and Decent Work Specialist at DWT-Bangkok and working in close collaboration with the team in Jakarta and Timor-Leste and liaising with the Priority Action Programme on Just Transitions in Geneva.

Description of Duties

1. Coordination and Implementation: Oversee the execution of activities related to the CoP on just energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring alignment with project objectives and timelines and gender sensitivity. Coordinate closely with stakeholders, including government agencies, social partners, and sectoral organizations, and consortium partners to facilitate collaboration and synergy in project implementation.

2. Knowledge Management and Networking: Facilitate knowledge sharing, peer learning, and exchange of experiences; establish and maintain effective communication channels with stakeholders, including with the consortium partners of the IKI JET project, and external relevant organisations managing similar platforms program and the community of practice on a just energy transition in the Asia region.

3. Work closely with constituents and relevant stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of key technical components of the project activities,

4. Assist and participate in knowledge sharing and dissemination, through web-based platforms and/or seminars and face-to-face workshops.

5. Where needed, work closely with government partners in reviewing and upgrading their assistance to align with the principles of just energy transition, so that policies, programs, and initiatives support the adoption of renewable energy sources, promote social equity, and drive inclusive economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

6. Assist and support relevant office to prepare updated work and/or implementation plans, including relevant Terms of References/Concept Notes, expenditure forecasts, budget proposals and estimates for budgeting purposes. 

7. Participate in relevant meetings of the project and with external partners.  

8. Liaise with relevant ILO Offices and units and relevant project offices in obtaining approvals and fulfilling any other programming and administrative duties required for the project’s successful implementation.

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9. Monitor the progress of the activities and prepare technical reports and other documentation related to project activities.

10. Provide technical advice to national constituents in various areas resulting from existing or newly acquired expertise related to the Office needs, particularly in at least one of the following fields: human capital development for transforming green industries and economies, economic modelling for just transition, green jobs promotion, green business promotion, policy coordination on environmental sustainability/employment and social policies.

11. Identify, and/or guide and/or manage the development, implementation, and assessment of overall country office projects activities, including assessments, sectoral diagnostic and studies related to green jobs and skills needs, potential impact of green and climate policies on jobs and skills, greening standard educational curricula and TVET, human capital development and human capital policy recommendations, sectoral diagnostic and studies related to green oriented economic units (end products or processes).

12. Where needed, manage the relations with national stakeholders, governmental entities, social partners, selected development partners and current or potential funding partners (multi-lateral and bilateral donors) ensuring effective engagement and with a view to promote ILO values.

13. Where needed, support the development and implementation of an effective communication, outreach, and knowledge sharing strategy, targeting relevant national and international audiences. Represent the Office at project meetings, seminars, and evaluations.

14. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the CO-Jakarta Director and/or the Backstopping Specialist in the DWT Bangkok.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the relevant technical field.  

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) 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 3 years of practical professional experience at the national and/ or international levels on sustainable development. Knowledge and experience in one or more of these technical areas: human capital development for transforming green industries and economies, economic modelling for just transition/employment/social impacts of climate policies, green jobs promotion, green business promotion, policy coordination between employment/social and environmental policy areas will be strongly preferred.

Knowledge and experience in project administration, capacity building, and enterprise development is an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command in spoken and written English is required.  Knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia will be an advantage.

Competencies

• Knowledge of project administration, monitoring and evaluation.
• Capacity to liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including government officials, employers’ and workers, union and NGOs.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.  Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy. 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Sensitivity to diversity.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written.
• Good computer applications skills and organizational skills. 

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