With the funding contribution from USAID, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is implementing a Rural Employment Promotion (REP) project, which aims to support the Government of Lao PDR in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Strategy (NRES). The Rural Employment Promotion (REP) project addresses the root causes of factors constraining economic growth, employment creation, and poverty reduction in rural areas as outlined in NRES and elaborated in Section 1 of this concept note. It hopes to reverse the phenomenon of slow and low job growth experienced by the country during the recent years and exacerbated by the movement restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project will help build ability of enterprises and rural workers to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in the market and market systems brought about by the COVID-19 crisis and years of “jobless growth” in ways that reduce vulnerability, support worker retention, and generate decent employment opportunities for returning migrants and rural workers. The design of the REP project is anchored on the directions and thrusts of the NRES as well as builds upon the achievements and learnings from the precursor project, which also facilitated the formulation of the NRES.
This joint initiative will ensure better synergy, harmonization and cost effectiveness of support from the UN and development partners in promoting rural employment in Lao PDR. The project will leverage experiences and technical expertise of the ILO and UNFPA with the Government, led by Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW), workers’ and employers’ organizations as the main implementing partner to:
Strengthen the capacity of government and relevant membership organizations to facilitate the implementation of NRES and create an enabling environment for rural investment and employment through promotion of public-private partnerships, policy dialogues, and capacity building.
Increase demand for labour and generate better employment opportunities for rural women and men, including persons with disabilities, youth, returned migrant workers, and LGBTQI by addressing systemic barriers to productivity, competition, trade, and market integration.
Enhance employability of rural women and men, including persons with disabilities, youth, returned migrant workers and LGBTQI especially in off-farm sectors and effectively link them to decent employment opportunities through skills upgrading and strengthening of employment services.
Increase access of rural women particularly those of ethnic minority groups to economic opportunities and the power to act on these opportunities and make decisions that benefit themselves, their families and their communities as a result of the enhanced conducive environment, elimination of discriminatory social norms, realignment of incentive structures, rules, relationships and support services in a way that promotes women’s reproductive and sexual health rights and gender equality.
Reporting line
The National Project Coordinator will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager. He/she will work in close coordination with the ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR and collaborate with related programmes/projects of the ILO Country Office in Lao PDR as required. He/she will receive technical guidance and support from relevant technical support from the Decent Work Team for Asia and the Pacific and Headquarter in Geneva.
Description of Duties
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the NPC ensures effective management (including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) of the project’s activities in accordance with the policies, programme strategies, programming guidelines, administrative and financial procedures of the ILO and country/action programmes.
Review and analyse national and province specific development plans and priorities, socioeconomic data, reports and other relevant information; identify potential areas for rural employment promotion and inform the technical specialists.
Monitor progress of ILO programmes, projects and activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
Follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
Provide programming and technical support to programmes and projects in areas of responsibility.
Prepare briefs, background information, periodical reports and statistical data on status of programme/project activities.
Assemble and edit basic data required for planning and negotiation of programme/project activities, considering different approaches and alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements.
Assist in the programming and control of resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations to management for remedial action.
Participate in the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings.
Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on programme matters.
Undertake missions to project sites, normally accompanying other officials.
Supervise the work of support staff.
Perform other duties as may be assigned by the overall project supervisor, national programme coordinator of Lao, and DWT specialists but related to the central theme of rural employment promotion.
Contribute to the development of training material, particularly by providing information and recommendations on the local context and challenges. Promote ILO principles and standards during this development.
Undertake missions independently or accompanying others.
Prepare terms of references for external collaborators, identify consultants, guide and assess their work.
Required qualifications
Education
University degree in Rural Development, Community Development, Enterprise development, skill development or other relevant subject.
Experience
At least 3 years direct work experience in on a project, including in aspects of rural development, enterprise development, skills development, and community participation. Familiarity with income generation strategies and the use of local resource-based employment generation approaches is an advantage. Experience in working with local authorities on cross cutting issues such as rural employment.
Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations.
Concrete experience in one or more of the following areas will be an advantage:
Proven ability to understand, analyse and evaluate the operation of individual businesses in various industries and service activities.
Wide interdisciplinary experience of working not only in national but also in international context.
Extensive experience in advisory services for business management, economic development, enterprise development, skills development.
Languages
Excellent command of oral and written English and Lao languages.
