Specialist, Skills Development and Employability,
ILO,
Cairo,Egypt,
Closing Date : 14 May 2018
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The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for North Africa and ILO Country office for Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan, based in Cairo (DWT/CO-Cairo). The DWT provides high-quality, timely and integrated technical support to Country Offices under its geographical competence in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country programmes (DWCPs) in response to their requests within the framework of Outcome based workplans. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses.
The position will be responsible for policy advisory services to constituents and for the design and technical backstopping of development cooperation projects in the field of skills development and employment services, which includes targeting both formal and informal skills development systems. Significant emphasis will be given to addressing the training and skills needs of women, youth, persons with disabilities and informal economy workers.
The position reports to the Director of the DWT/CO-Cairo and receives technical guidance and advice from the Skills and Employability Branch of the EMPLOYMENT Department at headquarters. The incumbent will collaborate and work closely with other specialists in the African Region.
Specific Duties
1. Analyse trends and developments in the countries covered which have a direct bearing on skills development policies and on the linkages between skills development and employment promotion, private sector development and trade. Integrate skills development in national employment assessments and policy strategies, labour market information systems, local economic and development initiatives, industry sector development strategies, youth employment promotion, labour migration policies, and poverty reduction strategies and policies.
2. Analyse implications of contemporary issues such as technological changes, climate change, migration and refugees, private sector development and trade for skills development and provide advice to constituents on addressing these challenges to promote employability of young people
3. Develop and support the implementation of coherent DWCPs and UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) in partnership with specialists in other technical fields. In particular, support inter-ministerial coordination to link basic education, vocational training, employment services and lifelong learning and to integrate skills development in the work of line ministries (e.g. agriculture, industry, environment, enterprise development, youth employment).
4. Support constituents in undertaking needs assessment and comparative policy analyses. Build constituents' capacity to design policies, implement them, and monitor their implementation and impact. Facilitate the effective participation of employers' and workers organizations in skills policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Provide advice to constituents to anticipate new skills needs of emerging industries and sectors that have high job-creation potential.
5. Provide advice on various systems of training delivery, including apprenticeship systems, qualifications development, teacher training and working conditions, skills recognition systems, lifelong learning and training quality assurance. Provide advice on focusing skills development policies and provision on meeting the needs of workers and operators in rural areas and the informal economy, as well as the special needs of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
6. Provide advice on building systems to sustain cooperation between public and private training systems, industrial sectors and other important stakeholders in order to link training provision to the needs of employers.
7. Provide advice on career guidance and counselling policies and systems, through curriculum-based, centre-based, web-based or individual delivery models, and the effective provision of public and private employment services.
optional section (only if needed)
8. Mainstream a focus on gender equality and diversity issues in national skills development policies and systems and, where appropriate, promote policies and programmes targeting women's access to quality and relevant training as part of broader ILO support for gender equality.
9. Develop and maintain close contacts with national and regional representatives of the donor community, international financial institutions and other development agencies active in skills development. Promote ILO policy objectives in national and sub-regional development programmes funded by these agencies.
10. Represent the ILO at policy-making levels and in conferences and meetings in the sub-region concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of skills and employability.
11. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate good practices on conducive national policies and local initiatives on skills development and employment strategies as part of regional and global knowledge-management systems.
12. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.
These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:
Generic Duties
- Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation.
- Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
- Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
- Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
- Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
- Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
- Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
- Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
- Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
- Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
- Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
- Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
- Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.
Required qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree in vocational education and training, human resources development, labour economics, or other social sciences.
Experience
Eight years of applied experience at national level or five at the international level in human resources development, vocational education and training and skills development including for the informal economy. Experience in the design and implementation of development cooperation projects in skills development and relevant work in developing countries would be an advantage. Previous work experience in the area of employment services would also be an advantage.
Languages
Excellent command of English is required and working knowledge of French. Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.
Competencies
In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires: