United Nations Partnerships Officer

Grade: P3 

Vacancy no.: RAPS/1/2024/PARTNERSHIPS/01
Publication date: 29th February 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time):  2nd April 2024

Job ID: 11698 
Department: PARTNERSHIPS 
Organization Unit: PARTNERSHIPS 
Location: Geneva   
Contract type: Fixed Term 

The following are eligible to apply:

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

Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply.

Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).

Applicants 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

In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.

Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, candidates applying for the professional category vacancies who have not already successfully completed their probationary period within the ILO and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed they may be required to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

PARTNERSHIPS establishes and develops strategic partnerships in close interaction with other portfolios ILO and with the Regions. It is responsible for developing the ILO’s strategy for development cooperation. PARTNERSHIPS leads consultations and negotiations with development cooperation partners and is responsible for mobilizing voluntary contributions for the ILO’s programme, as well as coordinating technical and financial reporting to partners. PARTNERSHIPS facilitates streamlining of work processes and procedures and provide assistance to enhance service delivery in the field. 

PARTNERSHIPS comprises: The Development Cooperation and Management Support Unit, the Bilateral Partnerships Unit, the South-south Technical Cooperation & Emerging Partnerships Unit, the International Economic Organizations Unit, and the UN and Civil Society Branch. The position is located in the UN and Civil Society Branch.

The United Nations and Civil Society Branch is responsible for building and maintaining relations with the UN system and the civil society within the remit of ILO’s mandate towards decent work and social justice. This involves building partnerships for both policy coherence and mobilizing funding for development cooperation. 

The United Nations Partnerships Officer Programme and Operations Officer will work with a team of professionals in the area of multilateral policy coherence, resource mobilization and development cooperation, and will coordinate specifically on ILO engagement with, and resource mobilization through the UN system.  

Under the overall supervision of the Director of PARTNERSHIPS, the position reports to the Director of the UN and Civil Society Branch. The incumbent will work closely with technical specialists, programme officers and directors in HQ and in the Regions and with the ILO New York Office. 

1.    Contribute to the formulation of ILO policies and operational guidelines/internal procedures in response to a changing international and UN system-wide context in coordination with the field structure, technical and the administrative sectors.
2.    Broaden and strengthen the partnerships with other UN entities and serve as focal point regarding the UN portfolio projects and the relations with the Multi Partners Trust Fund Office, as well as UN Funds and Programmes. Provide substantive inputs and support to ILO relations with UN agencies within the United Nations Reform and system-wide coherence processes.
3.    Work closely with relevant departments dealing in the office with issues relating to the operationalization of the UN system-wide coherence, and relevant work items dealing with the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, in particular related to operations at country level.
4.    Ensure that the ILO field structure is continuously informed of changes in the UN operational activities and guided by appropriate instructions, policies and procedures, as well as good practices and lessons learned, generated by the relevant UNSDG machinery.  Participate in capacity development activities in this context.
5.    Support relations with the emerging countries as they pertain to the UN system: (a) identification of trends and opportunities within the UN system to promote the Decent Work Agenda in the framework of South-South and triangular cooperation, in close cooperation with the SSTC & Emerging Partnerships Unit. (b) support the management of the development cooperation projects portfolio within that remit.
6.    Support the representation of the ILO in discussions in inter-agency and UN fora on operational activities. Represent the UN & Civil Society Branch at international, regional and national fora and undertake field missions as required.
7.    Coordinate the submission of proposals, ensuring quality and relevance to UN partner requirements (e.g.in terms of formats and timing), including pro-active support to field offices for local engagement.
8.    Propose funding mechanisms for UN partners to ILO programmes, especially for strategic priorities, including appropriate pooled and parallel funding arrangements where feasible.
9.    Maintain an overview of the status of negotiation of funding agreements with partners, including corporate framework agreements, and ensure compliance with ILO rules, regulations, directives and procedures. Handle formal correspondence with UN partners in relations to signed agreements and related internal instructions;
10.    Prepare multilateral donor reviews and assessments of the ILO. Plan and follow-up on annual consultations and review meetings with individual development partners.
11.    Maintain oversight of project portfolios by UN partner, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations of funding agreements. Ensure and facilitate the timely start-up and closure of projects.
12.    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.    Identify, describe and justify project possibilities in connection with approved development cooperation programmes and ongoing activities. 

2.    Provide administrative and technical backstopping to projects.

3.    Exchange information required for project formulation and implementation with relevant substantive units, field offices, administrative services, and donor agency representatives.

4.    In consultation with relevant technical units and external offices, analyse and appraise project proposals for multi-bilateral financing. Recommend the selection of project proposals for submission to donors. Follow up on donor negotiations, and prepare project agreements with donors upon approval.

5.    Review and adjust project proposals to ensure consistency with national, sub-regional, regional and sectoral priorities and programmes, and with available resources. Formulate and present such proposals on the basis of technical and substantive input in accordance with required format for final review and approval.

6.    Monitor the various ongoing projects and report on their progress to the relevant donor(s). Maintain contact with donor representatives and undertake visits to donor organisations as required. 

7.    Monitor and expedite programme implementation through discussions with technical, substantive and project staff, field visits, analysis of progress reports, and participation in reviews and evaluations. Prepare reports based on the information obtained as an input to corrective decision making and revisions.

8.    Participate in workshops and seminars and prepare reports, training materials and presentations.

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, social science, international studies 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.

At least five years of professional experience related to the negotiation of funding agreements including framework agreements, for development cooperation programmes, in the UN system. 

Excellent command of one working language and a working knowledge of a second working language. One of these languages must be English.

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

•    Good knowledge of the role and operations of UN system activities for development and its reform process;
•    Good knowledge of evaluation concepts and procedures, the Organization’s financial rules and regulations, administrative policies, procedures, practices and programmes of the Organization, specifically related to development cooperation, including on how these are captured and negotiated in funding agreements;
•    Good knowledge of project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices;
•    Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects;
•    Proven ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to deal with people with tact and diplomacy. 
•    Ability to negotiate persuasively with UN partner representatives and to resolve issues;
•    Excellent analytical skills    
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Conditions of employment

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
• The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
• A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
• Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Important Information

Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. 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 3 to 4 months 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.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse. 
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

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.