International Labour Organization (ILO) Zambia Job Recruitment


INTRODUCTION

The four year Yapasa programme, launched in 2014, seeks to generate pro-poor growth among rural youth in Zambia by improving the functioning of agricultural markets and supporting functions. Through a joint United Nations partnership of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Yapasa uses the “Making Markets Work for the Poor” approach (M4P) to implement a flexible set of interventions. Following this methodology, Yapasa delivers results by:

  • Supporting market players through facilitation rather than direct implementation with the goal of generating sustainable changes in agriculture markets
  • Adapting and changing programme interventions to deliver maximum impact

Accordingly, over the course of the program Yapasa has the flexibility to respond to market needs and seek out new agriculture and supporting markets with pro-poor potential. Through a ~$6,9 million investment from the Government of Sweden, Yapasa is set to deliver a greater than 2:1 benefit: cost ratio. To drive these results, Yapasa uses a robust intervention monitoring system to provide critical, on-going data for programmatic decision making to prove and improve programme impact

Title: Chief Technical Advisor

Vacancy No: TC/2015/CO-LUSAKA/03
Grade: P.5
Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment
Duration of contract: One year
Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 5 August 2015
Organization unit: CO-LUSAKA
Duty Station: Lusaka, Zambia

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the [YAPASA], the CTA will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the program including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, resource mobilization, country and global operations, the content of training manuals and information materials, and public statements. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other fundamental rights at work.

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will lead the programme management unit of the ILO facilitated joint UN programme on the promotion of Decent Jobs for Youth and improved food security through the development of sustainable rural enterprises. The development challenge to be addressed through the joint UN programme is the facilitation of sustainable livelihoods for young women and men in rural areas of Zambia, here through the promotion of sustainable micro-, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSME). The direct recipients of the programme are selected national-level and sector-level governmental and non-governmental intermediary organizations with a mandate to promote sustainable business in the rural economy of Zambia, among them prominently the Ministry of Agriculture and its executing agencies, national level employers and workers federations and their respective sector associations, and district-based business development support service providers. The ultimate programme beneficiaries are young women and men living and working in rural districts of the country where economic activities related to the prioritized agricultural value chain concentrate.

The CTA will work under the direct supervision of the ILO Director of the Country Office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

He / She will also oversee the UN Joint Programme and supervise international experts, national officers and any other international and local consultant hired during the course of the project.

In addition, the incumbent will be work in close collaboration with the donor client and a Programme Steering Committee comprising of social partners and additional government, UN and donor stakeholders.

Description of Duties

The CTA will be responsible for strategic management of the Programme in general and for control of the facilitation process in particular. S/he will ensure that programme staff – sub-facilitators, sub-contractors and other actors within the Programme – have, gain and sustain adequate knowledge and understanding of, commitment to and consistently apply the M4P approach throughout the Programme. In particular, it is crucial that all of these actors behave in a facilitative and non-market distortive manner – and it is the responsibility of the CTA to ensure such behaviour, through robust and regular capacity development, provision of appropriate incentives and monitoring.

The CTA will also be responsible for ensuring that administration and internal control of programme resources as well as reporting is adequately carried out, and for the efficient management of all aspects of the Programme, as elaborated in the Programme Document.

Mainstreaming Market Based Principles:

  •  Ensure effective implementation of the project through timely provision of inputs, timely and efficient delivery of outputs, and planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures.
  •  Responsible for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the project / program.
  •  Manage efficiently the human resources of the project / program including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects.
  •  The results of the Programme at impact, outcome and output levels are achieved through the activities and interventions of the Programme, they are deemed sustainable, and the results are regularly documented, monitored, evaluated, reported, communicated and used for learning and adjustment of the Programme.

Technical Leadership:

  •  Capacity on the M4P approach – understanding as well as knowledge about its practical application in a UN Joint Programme environment – has been built within the Programme with relevant staff.
  •  Develop and manage a robust results measurement framework based on DCED principles, with indicators and targets for expected results at various levels, which includes, but is not limited to a) final quantitative targets of the expected programme impact, for achievement of the programme objective, and b) comprehensive sub-sector intervention result chains, detailing specific market strategies in each sub-sector.
  •  Oversee the technical programme intervention strategy and specified interventions and activities – while remaining flexibly adaptable to new knowledge, changes in market conditions and results achieved, and hence the approach to ensure this flexibility. This includes the approach to portfolio build-up, geographical coverage and development of the Programme over time.

Governance, networking and partnership:

1. Provide technical support to relevant government agencies and other key institutions, and the national Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups in undertaking their advisory responsibilities under the project.

2. Strengthen relationship to cooperate and coordinate with relevant private sector partners, concerned government ministries and the employers’ and workers’ organizations, non-governmental organizations, the target groups and the donors, in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.

3. Liaise with the UN Country teams to promote ILO’s values within UN initiatives, increase the project’s visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project’s interventions. Ensure a more effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and the strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.

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

Mobilization of resources:

1. Work with the Director to establish and maintain strong relationships with multi-lateral and bilateral donor community in the context of the project.

2. Leverage resources from the private sector through creative intervention partnerships for sustainability and value added services.

Knowledge management:

1. Write and disseminate information materials on project / program.

2. Ensure that the programme schedule for reporting and reviews during the Implementation Phase are met in line with the project document.

3. Ensure the development of information systems covering ILO technical activities covered by the project / programme, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of program planning and implementation, and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programs.

4. Organize meetings and seminars, and develop knowledge sharing tools designed to forge partnerships, share good practices and foster sub-regional networks of government policymakers, worker’s and employer’s organizations and civil society organizations to reach the project’s/program’s goals.

5. Any other duties requested by the responsible chief.

Required Qualifications

Education

  • Masters degree in Business, Agricultural economics, Development economics, International studies or another business related relevant field.

Experience

  • At least 10 years’ experience in the management of technical cooperation activities focusing on enterprise development, International experience will be an added advantage.
  • Previous development work and knowledge of international development
  • Subject expertise in making markets work for youth in agribusiness or rural youth entrepreneurship promotion is an absolute requirement
  • Work experience in Southern, Eastern or West Africa
  • Proven track record of generating new partnerships with the private sector and successful relations with Public Sector officials
  • Ran or led projects with team-members with diverse skills and backgrounds
  • Excellent managerial and soft skills
  • Good technical knowledge: partnerships, business models, supply chain linkages, M4P, results chains, etc
  • Good private sector experience and ability to apply those principles with rural MSMEs, creativity, energy and non-traditional development thinking capacity
  • Experience in setting up, developing and managing programmes in private sector development or market development
  • Demonstrated experience in market system analysis and research

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