National Project Coordinator – NOB (DC) Domestic Workers

Domestic workers play a key role in supporting the direct and indirect care needs of households; yet, they are frequently exposed to some of the poorest working conditions, including low salaries, long hours, and informal working arrangements. The domestic work sector in Zambia is largely informal but important in its own right given its significant contribution to employment in the labour market. It is also a particularly important source of employment among women. Informality and vulnerability among the domestic workers is driven by several factors including the following but not limited to: weak labour enforcement mechanisms, low awareness among workers and employers about their respective rights and responsibilities, pervasive social norms that domestic work is not real work, low levels of education, and inadequate knowledge about social protection including rights at work. Employer’s typically have inadequate knowledge of their legal obligations, resulting in few domestic workers having written contracts, and low rates of social security registration. Since domestic work is performed within the confines of a private household, it is particularly difficult for authorities to monitor and enforce compliance. Experience in countries around the world indicates that ensuring decent work for domestic workers, including adequate and effective social security coverage, requires sector-specific strategies that take into account the needs, perceptions and typical behaviours of both employers and domestic workers. The sector is unique as a result of the high representation of female workers, and as such warrants additional investment to progress gender and labour rights equity.

The following are the specific objectives of the project:

• To enhance understanding of the incidence, forms and drivers of informality and impacts of COVID-19 in the domestic sector.
• To devise and promote the adoption of new or revised policies, regulations, compliance mechanisms, to improve the conditions of work and social security coverage of the domestic sector, as part of the National Strategy on Extension of Coverage
•  To build the capacity of domestic workers’ organizations and organizations of employers of domestic workers to promote formal employment, including through registration to social security.

Reporting lines

Under the overall responsibility of the Director of the ILO Country office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, the National Project Coordinator will directly report to the Technical Advisor (TA) – Social Protection in the ILO Lusaka Country Office. The NPC will also receive technical guidance from the Technical Specialist on Social Security in the Decent Work Team (DWT) in Pretoria, the technical specialist in INWORK in charge of domestic workers and other relevant technical departments at ILO Headquarters.

The NPC will work in coordination and collaboration with other social protection projects under the mandate of the ILO Lusaka Country Office, specifically the Social Protection for Informal and Rural Economy Workers (SPIREWORK); the UN Joint Program on Social Protection; and the Irish Aid – Inclusive Growth and Social Protection, amongst others.

1. Lead the timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project work plan.

2. Leverage technical experts in the social security sector, the domestic work sector, and from the behavioural sciences, to support the development of adapted solutions to benefit the formalization and extension of social security coverage to the domestic sector.

3. Closely co-ordinate, promote cooperation and coordination with government, employers’ and workers’ association, National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) and other stakeholders in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.

4. Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

5. Prepare training materials and conduct seminars and workshops and consequently contribute to stakeholders training and capacity development in the areas of extension of social security coverage.

6. Promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with stakeholders, inclusive of social assistance, social health protection, workers compensation and disability inclusion, as well with with other relevant ILO projects and the donor community.

7. Raise the project profile through communication outreach activities and strategic engagements with a view to increase project impact as well as harness partnership and resource mobilization opportunities.

8. Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project’s components according to the project’s document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.

9. Supporting the implementation of day to day project activities in collaboration with the broader Project Management Team from the National Pension Scheme Authority.

10. Undertake administrative management of the project inclusive of periodic reporting, monitoring and evaluation of all project components for submission to the ILO and project donor(s).

11. Perform other related duties as assigned.

First level university degree in economics, social sciences, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Zambia. A Master’s degree will be added advantage.

At least three years of experience in relevant professional experience at national level, with thematic emphasis on domestic work, labour and social protection, administration, policy formulation and reform, project implementation.

Excellent command of English and good knowledge of another language of the duty station

• Good knowledge about the Zambia social protection and social security landscape; plus economic development (including labour and employment) trends in the country, with an emphasis on the informal economy.
•  Understanding of ILO standards on social security, formalization, and domestic work.
• 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 diversified environments.
• 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.

ONLY ACKNOWLEDGED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

“Assessed candidates who will be considered as appointable but not selected for this position can also be offered to be assigned on another temporary position at the same or at a lower grade provided that said candidates possesses the minimum qualifications for this position”.