The ILO seeks to promote greater investment in knowledge and skills so that men and women have enhanced and equal access to productive and decent employment. To strengthen ILO’s skills work at the regional and country levels including its support to address the skill dimensions of the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP), the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) developed the Regional Skills Programme (RSP) in 2011 by building on the Asia and the Pacific Skills Development Programme (APSDEP) and Skills and Employability Programme in Asia and the Pacific (SKILLS-AP), both supported by Government of Japan. Currently, the RSP brings together and is anchored by skills projects that are regional in nature and/or target multiple countries in the region and are funded by different donors including Government of Japan.
Through greater synergy and coordination of existing ILO’s skills projects in the region, the RSP aims to better align ILO’s skills work to support regional efforts, such as those led by ASEAN, in preparing their workforce to meet skills needs of the future of work. RSP seeks to leverage the work of each ILO projects to have a greater impact at the regional level, facilitating regional dialogue, mutual learning, joint work and regional products.
The RSP’s work plan is largely linked to support ASEAN’s work plans aiming to advance the latter’s Human Resources Development agenda with a set of outputs agreed with the ASEAN Secretariat.
The regional skills projects that are currently liked with RSP are:
skills component of the ILO-Japan Multi-bilateral Programme ;
skills component of the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme;
ILO-China Partnership Programme;
Skills for Prosperity for Southeast Asia Programme (UK);
Strengthening labour market information system for skills and employment policies in ASEAN (GIZ and RECOTVET); and
Women in STEM workforce development and readiness programme in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia (JP-Morgan).
Reporting lines:
The Senior Programme Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Skills and Employability Specialist in DWT-Bangkok, leading the work on ASEAN. She/he will also work in consultation with and under the guidance of other Skills and Employability Specialists and Chief Technical Advisors (CTAs) in the region and other relevant ILO specialists.
Description of Duties
The Senior Programme Officer will be responsible for management and coordination of the implementation of the RSP and other relevant activities including the partnership programmes (hereinafter called RSP). She/he will be directly involved in its planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting. The Senior Programme Officer will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
Provide substantial professional programming inputs for the formulation, implementation, management and coordination of the RSP, ensuring alignment with DWCPs and regional and global strategic priorities. Monitor the status of the RSP programme and measure and report on performance.
In cooperation with the specialists and CTAs, provide substantive inputs to and draft portions of terms of reference, policy briefs, research products, tools, guidelines and other materials developed by the RSP. Prepare background information, reports, subject-matter technical reports and statistical data on the status of project activities and relevant developments. Initiate, plan and undertake missions to monitor, assess and report on programme implementation and propose corrective action, if required.
Contribute to the effective implementation of the RSP, through timely provision and coordination of inputs and outputs, and the planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of project activities in conformity with ILO policies and project objectives, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and their administrative and financial procedures.
Draft and provide substantive inputs and facilitate the organization of (i) regional policy dialogues, and (ii) joint work including regional research and other products through coordination of activities and outputs produced by different regional skills projects, considering different approaches and alternative methods for coordinated project activities.
Provide inputs to knowledge and information management support for activities of the RSP. By coordinating with different regional skills projects that contribute to the RSP, assemble and edit basic information and data required for planning, monitoring and reporting of project activities. Contribute to projects/programme’ problem identification and problem resolution.
Participate in negotiations and discussions with key stakeholders on the progress of programme implementation, possible adjustments, funding requirements; and undertake preparation for periodical meeting with funding partners. Prepare and review drafts of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), or equivalent, in cooperation with implementing partners and technical specialists, ensuring consistency with requirements and timelines for project implementation. optional section (if needed)
Monitor and assess programme implementation and support improvements in the monitoring and evaluation framework for results-based project management, including detailed M&E plans, performance frameworks, and risk management strategies.
Oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff in concerned programming areas. Provide advice and support to project staff of regional skills projects, consultants and regional partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of RSP activities, in coordination with ILO specialists, Country Offices and HQ.
Seek opportunities to build and enhance partnerships with a range of stakeholders. Participate in resource mobilization activities. Draft project concept notes and other inputs as required.
Contribute to regional seminars and workshops as a facilitator or presenter of the work of the RSP.
Disseminate the work of the RSP through a range of communication tools, in coordination with the Regional Communication Unit.
Co-ordinate closely, promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with other relevant ILO projects in the region, other ILO units and external stakeholders.
Promote ILO policies, fundamental rights at work and relevant International Labour Standards through effective coordination of the RSP with relevant national policies and various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.
Contribute to partnerships relevant to the RSP in collaboration with the CTAs.
Undertake other duties as required.
Required qualifications
Education
University degree in social science or related fields with demonstrated expertise or equivalent experience.
Experience
Minimum of three years of professional work experience in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation and evaluation activities at the national and/or international level development sector. Candidates with experience working on skills development and TVET issues will be prioritized. Knowledge and experience of Regional Skills Programme would be an advantage.
Languages
Excellent command of English, ability to draft report in English. Good knowledge of the local language.
