Regional Social Protection Specialist (Temporary position)

Grade: P4

Vacancy no.: CALL/P/2025/4

Publication date: 5 February 2025

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 19 February 2025

Job ID: 12720

Department: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Organization Unit: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Location: Beirut

Contract type: Fixed Term

The ILO is issuing a call for expression of interest for the above position. This is an assignment of a purely temporary nature, not expected to lead to a career in the ILO. Duration is 12 months.

The selection process is not subject to the rules and procedures defined in Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations

The following are eligible to apply:

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

The ILO values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to E-Mail schreiben.

Applications from qualified candidates 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

Introduction

The temporary position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Arab States (DWT-Beirut). DWT-Beirut provides technical support in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and other ILO country support activities within the framework of outcome-based work plans.

The main role of the position is to provide policy advice and technical assistance on social protection at regional, subregional and national level to influence policies aiming at ensuring that more people have access to better managed, comprehensive, more adequate and gender-equitable social protection benefits in line with international labour standards. The incumbent will actively promote, support and provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects on social protection in the region.

The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director/Director of DWT for the Arab States.

The incumbent receives technical guidance and advice from the Director of the Universal Social Protection Department in Geneva.

The incumbent will be part of the Global Technical Team on Social Protection and will work in close cooperation with other technical specialists and project staff in the Arab States Region and in the Universal Social Protection Department in Geneva.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Identify priorities for social protection in the region, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical advice to constituents at regional and national levels.

2. Initiate, design, conduct/commission research and analysis related to social protection to support the formulation of policy advice and the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts in the area of social protection.

3. Provide technical inputs to, oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other office documents related to social protection, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.

4. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, lead and/or coordinate capacity development programmes, knowledge sharing and training events including in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable.

5. Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the social protection area and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with entities of the UN system and international financial institutions with a view to advancing ILO’s social protection agenda.

6. Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals on social protection, engage with donors to seek funding. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge sharing among projects.

7. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, actuarial science, law, social policy, international relations, policy analysis or development or management-related field, social science or other relevant field.

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

Experience

At least seven years of experience in Social Protection, including at the international level.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following is required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of Social Protection with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.

Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.

Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.

Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.

Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action.

Ability to mobilize resources.

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO People. 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 2 to 4 weeks 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.

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 E-Mail schreiben - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.