National Project Coordinator - NOB (DC)

To attain high economic growth and graduation from LDC to Middle Income Country is one of the long term visions of the government of Nepal. Social capital is considered as a leading enabler of economic growth. In order to strengthen social capital Government has defined a goal to make social security and protection sustainable, inclusive and accessible for all citizens. DWCP also reflects the priorities set out in UNDAF (2018-2022) and is linked to UNDAF Priority One on sustainable and inclusive economic growth and contributes to Priority Two on social development. 

In this context, the EC-ILO-UNICEF Action “Improving synergies between social protection and public finance management” aims to support the government to accelerate and expand the on-going social protection interventions by organizing and building upon the country’s existing social protection programmes to cover the most excluded, so that the vulnerabilities of the population are adequately addressed. Project strategy will be guided by the fiscal space of the government and the SDG target. This, in turn, will enable Nepal to meet its economic and social development aspirations, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), graduation from LDC status by 2022 and realisation of a more equitable Nepal as enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal 2072. 

Nepal is one of 8 countries that have been included in the EC-ILO-UNICEF Action and further countries will be identified during the three years implementation phase. In addition to the implementation of activities in Nepal, the project will facilitate the documentation of experiences and knowledge exchange across the countries included in the Action.

Reporting lines

The Action is a joint project between UNICEF and the ILO. Unicef is the lead agency. In the ILO Office, the  National Project Coordinator will work under close technical backstopping and guidance from specialists of Social Protection, Workers’ and Employers ‘activities, social dialogue, and Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination of the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia (DWT-SA), and also work closely with other technical specialists in the ILO DWT-SA, the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok, and Headquarters. The NPC will work under direct supervision of the Country Office Director in Nepal and will directly report to the Country Director.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provide substantial professional services for the development and delivery of quality, timely and widely accessible outputs as established in the work plan, including knowledge products and research and oversee the work of and provide guidance to consultants. Supervise staff as applicable.

2. Lead the project timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation through management functions, including the development of work plans, preparation and monitoring of budget, provision of technical and administrative supervision to the project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project document and work plan.

3. Organise quarterly in-house project review meetings, identify problems/challenges in technical and financial delivery of the project, and propose solutions, action and follow-up with relevant ILO units including those in the headquarters and regional office, government offices, constituents and other organizations including project’s implementing partners to expedite implementation and meet technical as well as financial delivery targets.

4. Periodically monitor and report progress of the project and activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO.

5. In coordination with UNICEF, take responsibility for the communication and visibility activities of the project activities, including commission, research, write, edit and/or translate from/to the local language audience-specific communication and information products, conduct surveys, maintenance and updating of websites, organize press conferences, media interviews and other public information events, provide media briefings, in order to communicate persuasive, evidence-based and solution-oriented messages on the project activities.

6. Advise the day-to-day operational management of the project, facilitate budgeting and expenditure tracking, regular review of financial reports and records, monitor status of obligations.

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(continued, duties)

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

1. Close coordination with UNICEF and EU for the implementation of the project and HQ for reporting. This includes supporting UNICEF in the timely development and regular updating of detailed work plans and budgets, support the setting up and subsequent participation in the national country steering committee of the Action, ensuring sound monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the ILO allocation at country level and developing related annual progress reports for the country level activities
2. Mobilize partnerships within the UN family and with donors for better results of the project, such as for example WB and EU in the area of Public Finance Management; EU member countries for technical collaboration in social protection related programme/projects; UNDP to 9. promote shock responsive social protection; UNCDF to build E-governance capacities of social protection institutions. 
3. Develop partnership with the national institutions in charge of SDG monitoring – and in particular the National Planning Commission,  UN Agencies  and Social Partners to strengthen the monitoring and reporting on SDG 1, 8, 10, & 16 and especially   Targets 1.3; 5.a;  8.10; 10.4 &13.b.
4. Maintain effective coordination  with other ILO executed Projects in Nepal in particular, the Skills for Employment funded by DFID which has a strong component on improving enabling environment for businesses especially through improved implementation of labour law and social security law.
5. Serve as focal person for ILO’s SP work and represent in various fora, under the guidance of the ILO Director, take proactive actions for resource mobilisation to expand SP development programmes of the ILO.
6. Ensure high-level communications to increase project’s visibility at the national and international levels. This includes the responsibility to liaise with the UN country team, and other key stakeholders, to ensure effective coordination with relevant national strategies and related technical projects. Under direct guidance of the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nepal in Kathmandu and in close collaboration with the Communication Officer, maintain relations with mass media and concerned media groups in order to increase the impact of the project in society as a whole.
7. Ensure documenting experiences and sharing of information across the other projects of the Action.
8. Other related duties as assigned including translation and interpretation.

First level university degree in one of the following disciplines: Economics, Social Protection, Political Sciences, Anthropology, Demography, and Population Studies,

At least three years of experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperation agreement requirements. Experience in mobilising high level officials of the constituents to influence policy and institutional reforms, mainstreaming social dialogue, ILS and gender, and working with different SP stakeholders is a preference.

Technical requirements: Good knowledge of labour economics as well as economic developments, poverty reduction, and social policies. Knowledge of the policy making process.

Excellent command of English and Nepali languages.

• Good knowledge about social, economic development, including labor and employment, trends in  the country
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain systems within project operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations.
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.
• Ability to conduct action oriented research and write analytical technical report in English.
• Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles.
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
• Ability to train and guide personnel.
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.