Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist

Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist

Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: RAPS/2/2023/AF/04
Publication date: 21 April 2023
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 23 May 2023

Job ID: 10739
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Cairo
Location: Cairo
Contract type: Fixed Term

The following are eligible to apply:

• ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.
• External candidates.

Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply.

Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).

Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States

In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.

Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, candidates applying for the professional category vacancies who have not already successfully completed their probationary period within the ILO and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed they may be required to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

Please note that in the context of the new ILO organigram, the naming of the departments may be subject to change.

Introduction
The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for North Africa and Country Office for Egypt and Eritrea (DWT/CO-Cairo) based in Cairo, Egypt. DWT/CO-Cairo is responsible for supporting ILO constituents in developing and implementing activities in the context of the Decent Work Agenda and provides the technical backstopping for those activities. DWT/Cairo comprises Specialists of various technical disciplines, who provide technical support and guidance to ILO activities in the countries for which they have geographical competence. The mix of technical skills in each DWT is intended to enable the ILO to respond effectively to the diverse needs of ILO constituents for effective promotion of decent work, social justice and equality at national/country level; to ensure that the interests of the tripartite constituency are respected in the design and execution of field activities; and that appropriate links are maintained among the various means of action of the ILO.

The specific functions of the Specialist include: technical advisory services and technical analysis of problems and developments in their area of expertise; assistance in the identification of country priorities, strategies and programmes and related research and analytical needs; and design and support for the implementation and evaluation of development cooperation programmes and projects.

The Specialist will provide required technical support to the countries within the sub-region in close working relationship with the ILO Offices and ILO constituents in the respective countries. The position will report to the DWT/CO-Cairo Director and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Director of the Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISES) at ILO headquarters. The incumbent will be a member of the ILO Global Enterprises Team and will work in close consultation and collaboration with ENTERPRISES and its units as well as other technical departments at ILO headquarters to ensure policy and operational coherence.

Specific Duties

1. Provide advice to countries in the sub-region on enterprise development and job creation through sustainable enterprises, within the framework of the Decent Work Country Programmes and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. Provide technical services to countries in the sub-region on the design, management, and evaluation of development cooperation projects on entrepreneurship and enterprise development, in line with the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
3. Advise government and social partners on appropriate national policies and programmes to stimulate and actively support enterprise development and the development of an entrepreneurship culture, including among youth and women, and of an enterprise-friendly environment, particularly for micro/small enterprises. This involves: analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles and methodologies.
4. Develop and implement coherent strategies, policies and practice. This includes applying ILO approaches and tools in the areas of micro/small/medium enterprise development, multinational enterprises, corporate social responsibility, development of cooperatives and the wider social solidarity economy, green economy, local economic development, and social finance.
5. Network extensively within ILO to seek technical support and establish synergies; and externally with national institutions and the private sector, donor and other international agencies to promote coordination and partnerships, synergies and mobilize resources.
6. Contribute to the development and implementation of UN system-wide activities in support of the SDGs with a focus on, but not limited to, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
7. Organize and conduct capacity-building for national constituents; promote and ensure knowledge sharing.
8. Disseminate, advocate and market ILO tools, programmes and approaches related to entrepreneurship and enterprise development, including through the media.
9. 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

1. 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.
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. 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.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Required qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, business, social sciences or other relevant field.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience
At least seven years of experience, including at the international level, in areas related to local economic development and the promotion of a diverse range of sustainable enterprises – including micro, small and medium enterprises, social and solidarity economy entities and multinational enterprises. Relevant work experience in North Africa and in East Africa would be considered a strong advantage.

Languages
Excellent command of English and a working knowledge of French. Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

Competencies
In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical

Solid understanding of good practices at the national, regional and international levels of business development, including for micro/small/medium enterprises, multinational enterprises, social solidarity economy entities, local economic development, social finance and the green economy. The ability to: synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for programme development in Member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and the International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects. Ability to formulate and provide policy recommendations and the ability to coordinate activities among projects. Excellent analytical skills and ability to undertake high quality research in the related technical field.

Behavioural

Ability to effectively engage with and support the ILO constituents and other stakeholders. Ability to facilitate knowledge sharing. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Conditions of employment

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
• The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
• A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
• Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Important Information

Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account – @ilo.org – should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.