Technical Specialist on Forced Labour

Grade: P4 

Vacancy no.: CALL/P/2024/27
Publication date: 8 August 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 31 August 2024

Job ID: 12270 
Department: GOVERNANCE 
Organization Unit: FUNDAMENTALS 
Location: Geneva   
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 of the assignment is 12 months, subject to availability of funds.

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 ilojobs@ilo.org.

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

The position is located in the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FUNDAMENTALS) Branch within the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE). GOVERNANCE develops advice on labour laws and assistance on labour law reforms based on ILO Conventions and Recommendations. It provides state-of-the-art technical support and capacity-building to labour ministries and assists labour inspectorates to build capacity and develop strategies to achieve compliance with labour laws, including occupational safety and health laws. It advocates and helps constituents to build strong and functional institutions and processes for social dialogue. GOVERNANCE includes ILO programmes to realize fundamental labour rights. It incorporates the following Branches and Units: Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health; Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work; Better Work; Labour Law and Reform; and Social Dialogue and Tripartism.

FUNDAMENTALS carries out development cooperation, research, monitoring and evaluation,  advocacy and partnership functions to assist ILO constituents to respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work, which are: freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

This position will be responsible for providing technical support, advice and guidance to ensure that forced labour is fully integrated as appropriate in ILO strategies, programmes and tools. 

The position will report to the Head of the Advocacy and Partnerships Unit in FUNDAMENTALS.

1.Review, analyse and interpret economic, social and political trends, using a gender lens, in Member States regarding the basic human right at work of freedom from forced labour within an international and comparative Decent Work framework and draft policy documents, guidelines, analytical reports and other knowledge sharing material. 
2.Increase evidence-based knowledge, awareness, and implementation of the Forced Labour Protocol and its Recommendation. This work includes improving the responsiveness of national policies and action plans on forced labour and leading with strong implementation, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.
3.Provide technical advisory services to constituents and projects on policies and laws addressing forced labour, giving particular attention to the gender aspects, as well as on related institutional and capacity reinforcement. Provide technical inputs and advice to the design of activities and services.
4.Provide technical inputs and guidance on how to achieve SDG 8.7 in relation to forced labour through the development of effective partnerships and collaboration with members of the Alliance 8.7.
5.Provide inputs and draft reports for ILO governance and decisions-making bodies such as the Governing Body and International Labour Conference. Provide strategic inputs to the development of the ILO’s Strategic Policy Framework and Programme and Budgets as well as drafting reports on implementation of country-level actions that address forced labour. Develop reporting systems to ensure effective data collection of results achieved.
6.Advise and consult within and outside the Office to develop and maintain processes of cooperation to eliminate forced labour, especially with the field structure in developing and delivering on Decent Work Country Programmes and Country Programme Outcomes.
7.Represent the ILO in UN Inter-Agency networks on forced labour and other international and regional partnerships and platforms of the UN and other organizations, which will involve the coordination, design and implementation of global and regional initiatives on these subjects.
8.Develop appropriate systems for managing the acquired experience, good practices, and lessons learned with the view of facilitating and advancing knowledge sharing.
9.Liaise closely with the Bureau for Workers’ Activities and the Bureau for Employers’ Activities at ILO headquarters and ILO field offices on substantive issues related to forced labour.
10.Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Advanced university degree in economics, law, international development, 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 required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Seven years of experience, including at the international level in promoting the elimination of forced labour, and other fundamental principles and rights at work . 

Excellent command of one working language of the Organization (English, French, Spanish) and working knowledge of a second working language of the Organization.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for  programme development in member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and  ILC, technical publications, training manuals  and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor technical cooperation activities and projects. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes. 

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. 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 - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.