Social Protection Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Social Protection Officer
Location: Abidjan
Country: Côte d'Ivoire
Deadline Date: 17 December 2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote social justice and fair labor practices. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. The organization operates in over 180 countries and has a diverse workforce committed to improving labor conditions globally. The ILO's Regional Office for Africa (RO-Africa) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of its principles and policies across the African continent, working closely with various stakeholders including governments, employers, and workers' organizations.

Job Overview:
The Social Protection Officer will play a crucial role in the implementation of the second phase of the project "Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in Africa," which aims to eliminate child labor through targeted actions in selected supply chains across several African countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda. This position requires a strong focus on social protection systems, particularly in addressing the root causes of child labor. The officer will lead the social protection components of the project, ensuring that policies and programs are developed and implemented effectively to extend social protection coverage and improve livelihoods for vulnerable populations. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government ministries and international organizations, to promote decent work and social health protection as essential tools in combating child labor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the Project Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) and project team in implementing the project by providing technical inputs in social protection.
• Organize consultations with relevant ministries and stakeholders to develop an action plan for social protection activities.
• Develop and implement institutional arrangements for social protection activities.
• Support the development of policies and programs to extend social protection, particularly in supply chains.
• Monitor progress in social protection extension and its impact on child labor reduction.
• Contribute to partnership frameworks with organizations like the African Union and World Bank.
• Identify capacity building needs and design appropriate activities.
• Develop mechanisms to facilitate access to social protection schemes.
• Prepare technical materials for project activities. 1
• Serve as a resource person at conferences and workshops. 1
• Promote gender equality and non-discrimination in project activities. 1
• Carry out additional tasks as assigned by the CTA and Deputy Regional Director.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, social protection, law, public administration, development, political sciences, or social sciences, with proven expertise in social protection. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Candidates should demonstrate substantive knowledge of poverty, inequality, and social protection strategies, as well as strong analytical skills and the ability to contribute to research and policy-oriented activities.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) may be accepted if accompanied by additional relevant experience. The educational background should include a focus on social protection, economics, law, or related fields.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of professional experience in social protection is required. Experience in project administration, implementation, and monitoring related to social protection is advantageous. Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures, as well as experience in inter-agency collaboration, is preferred. Candidates with practical experience in linking social protection to child labor prevention will be given additional consideration.

Languages:
Excellent command of English is mandatory, along with a good working knowledge of French. Proficiency in both languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the diverse context of the ILO's operations in Africa.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract for two years, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The ILO values diversity and encourages applications from qualified female candidates and individuals with disabilities. The recruitment process includes an online application, and selected candidates may be contacted for a written test or interview. The ILO has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse and conducts background checks on candidates under consideration.