ILO
In June 2017, Zambia finalized the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), highlighting employment promotion as a strategic and key priority for the country, and committing to creating at least 1 million jobs by 2021 (p. 84). A similar target is also stipulated in the Strategy for Industrialization and Job Creation of 2013. To reach this goal, the Government has developed the National Employment and Labour Market Policy (NELMP), with technical assistance from the ILO. The NELMP, a strategic document that provides an overarching framework for employment promotion and labour market improvement, was submitted to Cabinet for approval in 2016. Upon adoption of 7NDP, Cabinet requested revisions to the NELMP to align it to the 7NDP. In November 2017, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security requested ILO’s support towards revising the existing draft NELMP, whose development was guided by ILO Employment Convention No. 122, already ratified by Zambia.
Given the youth employment challenges, the International Labour Organization (ILO) through its Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP) has been supporting interventions on youth employment. Building on the work previous ILO work, this project aims at realizing more and decent employment outcomes for youth, contributing to tripartite constituents’ priorities, aligned to the 7th National Development Plan, and enhanced economic diversification to create more and better job opportunities for all especially young people. The project also contributes to attainment of SDG targets, focusing on increasing relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship (Target 4.4); improving productivity within labour-intensive sectors (Target 8.2); and achieving full and productive employment and decent work and equal pay for work of equal value for all (Target 8.5).
Reporting lines
Under the overall responsibility of the Country Office Director of the ILO-CO Lusaka, the Project Assistant will undertake routine day to day programmatic and administrative functions in the project and will report directly to the National Project Coordinator.
Description of Duties
- Assist in monitoring the development plans and priorities, reports and other relevant information of project implementing partners with a view of identifying potential areas for cooperation.
- Assist the National Project Coordinator in the programming and preparation of budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring the situation of resources as compared to planned activities.
- Provide information to project’s Implementing Partners on ILO administrative and financial procedures.
- Inform the National Project Coordinator of potential difficulties that may arise from the programmatic, administrative and finance management capacity and competence of implementing partners to address the problem in timely manner.
- Provide programming and administrative support to the project, including processing and examining project budget information and data in accordance with instructions, and making the necessary abstracts and computations
- Draft correspondence on routine matters including minutes/summary notes for daily meetings
- Responsible for all administrative tasks, including logistical support to the project personnel, travel arrangements, visas, hotel reservation, etc. and provide logistics arrangements for conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings.
- Support preparation of briefs, periodical reports and statistical data on status of programmes /projects activities.
- Participate in the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings.
- Draft in, or translate into, local language(s) news releases, official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information material.
- Perform other related tasks/assignments as assigned by the Supervisor.
Required qualifications
Education
Completion of secondary education supplemented by technical or university level education in social sciences, economics, development studies or other relevant field will be an asset.
Experience
Five years of progressively responsible administrative work, programming /project implementation and some training in an administrative field. Proven experience of supporting implementation of technical cooperation projects and working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy making and with development partners would be an asset. Work experience in area of youth employment, gender, entrepreneurial and skills development, poverty reduction, applied research or social work.
Languages
Excellent knowledge of English and a good knowledge of another working language of the duty station.
Competencies
- Knowledge of programme and budget and through understanding of wide range of administrative policies and procedures.
- Ability to work with word processing, spread sheet, web-browser, as well as other computer software packages required for work.
- Thorough knowledge of in-house procedures for the preparation of documents and administrative forms, and for the creation and maintenance of filing systems.
- Ability to prepare preliminary reports and to draft correspondence.
- Good communication skills, both orally and in writing and ability to communicate with people in a polite, courteous and cooperative manner.
- Ability to organize own work and to work independently as well as work in a team.
- Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline.
- Must demonstrate responsible behaviour and attention to details.
“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”.