National Project Coordinator – NOB (DC) 1 at ILO – International Labour Organization: (Deadline 13 February 2024)

Introduction

The ILO is looking to recruit a National Project Coordinator (NPC) to be based in Kigali (Rwanda) for a new development cooperation project, titled “Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda’s Digital Economy.”

Rwanda’s Vision 2050 formulates the ambition of fully developing the country’s economic and social potential. The blueprint recognizes the critical importance of the Rwandan “demographic dividend” as young people (16 to 30 years old) make up 27 per cent of the total population. However, young people face a severe lack of decent and productive employment. Many youth in Rwanda are un- and under-employment, with young women being considerably over-represented. At the same time, Rwanda has highly prioritized digitalization as means to transform Rwanda’s socio-economic development. The digitalization of the Rwandan economy is conceived as a cross-cutting enabler for the growth of other sectors of the economy but also and a source for the creation of decent and productive jobs within and beyond the ICT sector.

The project “Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda’s Digital Economy” (the Project) will support Rwanda’s structural transformation and contribute to a just transition towards a digital economy. It is financially supported by the Government of Luxembourg with an implementation period of four years. Its main goal is to enable more young women and men in Rwanda to access decent jobs in Rwanda’s digital economy, focusing on the youth between the age brackets of 16 and 30 years from Secondary Cities as well as Kigali.

The three main components of the project are:

• Promoting job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities in the digital economy, including through supporting employment policy development and implementing interventions that stimulate enterprise growth.
• Improve digital skills of young women and men, including by supporting Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions in developing and implementing digital skills trainings.
• Facilitate young people’s transition to decent work in the digital economy, including through digital internship and career guidance schemes as well as strengthening online job search platforms.

The project thus takes a systemic approach focussing on labour demand, labour supply and labour mediation. Implementation will be based on evidence and research and will emphasise public-private partnerships, collaboration with national and sectoral stakeholders and development partners and involvement of young people .

Reporting Lines:

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the “Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda’s Digital Economy” project, based in Kigali, Rwanda.

The ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda will provide programmatic and operational support to the project team. In close coordination with the Project Manager, the NPC will also receive technical support from technical specialists based in the ILO Regional Office for Africa and in the Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The incumbent will be working in a project team consisting of an International Project Manager, a Finance and Administrative Assistant and a Driver.

Description of Duties

• In close coordination with the Project Manager, develop a detailed project work plan in alignment with the project’s objectives and expected results as well as support the effective implementation of activities with criteria of timeliness, quality and effectiveness, gender-sensitivity, while ensuring the achievement of planned results in the time frame and within budget, in accordance with the project’s requirements and the policies, values and procedures of the ILO;
• Organize and participate in project meetings and events, including awareness raising, implementation and validation workshops with stakeholders;
• Identify and conclude partnerships with implementing partners to deliver jointly the necessary tools and support services to project beneficiaries, including in the areas of digital business development services, digital skills development and digital employment services.
• Closely support implementation partners throughout the delivery of project activities and ensure timely and quality delivery of services to project beneficiaries, with a focus on ensuring a gender-sensitive approach and inclusion of young people with disabilities in the project’s activities;
• Engage in efforts to strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with government ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, non-governmental organizations, UN organisation and other development partners , target groups, particularly young people, and donors in the planning and implementation of project activities;
• Develop and follow up on monitoring and evaluation activities, monitoring the project’s progress in line with the M&E framework, prepare inputs to communication material and project progress reports, including documentation of good practices and lessons learned;
• Effectively communicate project results to internal as well as external stakeholders; disseminate knowledge products and studies produced by the project;
• Undertake missions relating to project implementation;
• Undertake any other duties or tasks as needed.

Required qualifications

Education

A first level university degree in development, social science, economics, education, labour or a related discipline/field.

Experience

The successful candidate should have at least three years of professional experience in the area of designing, managing and implementing development cooperation projects.

Prior experience and in and familiarity with one of the following areas relating to youth employment programmes in the digital economy is required: (1) digital skills development, incl. TVET; (2) promotion of enterprises and start-ups in the digital economy; (3) delivery of digital employment services. Experiences in several of the aforementioned areas is considered a strong asset.

Familiarity with ILO policies, technical programmes and procedures, including experience working with the United Nations, Ministries of Labour, TVET, Education, ITC or other government Ministries Departments and Agencies, would be an added advantage, as would experience working in the digital economy.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Good knowledge of French is considered an asset.

Competencies

• Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain systems within project operations.
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office
• Proven ability to implement projects in cooperation with project partners and key stakeholders
• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.