Rural Development TVET Officer

Grade: P3

Vacancy no.: DC/DILI/P/2023/17
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 2 November 2023

Job ID: 11330
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Jakarta
Location: Dili  
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: One year with possible extension subject to funds availability

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

The following are eligible to apply:

• ILO 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 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.

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Introduction

The European Union (EU) Agroforestry Skills for Employment and Resilience in Timor-Leste (EU Agroforestry-Skills Programme) seeks to promote green and sustainable economic diversification and resilience in Timor-Leste through private sector development, technical and vocational education training (TVET) for youth integration in the labour market.

Carried out over 48 months, the Programme will contribute to the diversification of the Timorese economy, youth employment and strengthening of rural TVET. The entry point is through private sector development, namely by tapping into the potential of the agroforestry sector.

One of the priorities of the Government of Timor-Leste is to diversify the economy, giving special focus to Agroforestry private sector development. This involves enhancing the small and medium enterprises sector, while also removing some of the binding constraints to private sector growth and improving infrastructure, increasing efficiency in the public sector, facilitating credit, and the building up of skilled labour.

A lack of skilled workers and high youth unemployment, particularly of young women, are major development challenges.  The Agroforestry-Skills Programme aims to increase quality employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the agroforestry sector through skills and private sector development, for youth, particularly young women and girls, while promoting a green and circular economy.

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The Programme will facilitate skills provision in TVET to be more closely aligned with the needs of the local rural economy of the target geographies, supported by improved capacity of trainers and training institutions and greater participation of industry and the private sector.  These factors are critical for ensuring that TVET programmes are producing graduates with the skills that employers in the area are seeking and/or local entrepreneurship capabilities are enhanced.

The Programme is focused through four outputs:

• Creation and development of an observatory of the Agroforestry Sector to identify the green and circular economy needs and opportunities for employment of the agroforestry sector in Timor-Leste.
• Improvement in the quality and inclusivity of the TVET through the development of processes and methodologies linked to the private sector demands and training offers.
• An increase in the skills and competences of managers, trainers, and trainees of Agroforestry TVET organisations in Timor-Leste.
• Youth and women are further integrated in the labour market and employment, using digital platforms and facilitation services.

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Reporting Lines

The Rural Development/TVET Officer will report directly to the Programme Manager. He/she will receive technical guidance and support from the Programme Manager and relevant skills and employability specialists, employment specialists, youth employment specialists, enterprise specialists, employers and workers’ specialists at the HQ and in the region.

He/she will work in close collaboration with stakeholder partners of the Programme, other ILO project/programme in Timor-Leste and UN Agencies in Timor-Leste.

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Description of Duties

1. Work in close alignment and collaboration with private sectors and government to identify the green and circular economy need and opportunities for employment of the agroforestry sector in Timor-Leste.
2. Set up collaborative partnerships for the development of a strategic and sustainable Agroforestry Roadmap and value chain analysis.
3. Conduct Skills Needs and Skills Gap Analyses.
4. Work in close collaboration with training and accreditation institutions for revisions and updates of the training offers; development of skills/competency standards and design of curriculum and assessment; according to the Agroforestry Roadmap designed in response to industry and community needs.
5. Provide advice and guidance to selected accredited training centres for the development of business plans and analysis of financial models for the sustainability of the training centres.
6. Work with training institutions for development of various trainers’ development programmes and creation of an inclusive programme to develop the soft and entrepreneurial skills of the students and trainees, including the implementation of mobile training units to reach rural areas.
7. Engage and facilitate social dialogue with rural or disadvantaged communities.
8. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.
9. Any other duties requested by the responsible Programme Manager.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, education, skills and  or TVET system development, social sciences, development studies or a related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Certification as a Trainer and/or Assessor is desirable.

Experience

• At least five years’ experience in rural development and/or competency-based technical and vocational education and training
• Proven experience in instructional design and/or materials production and in instructor training
• Successful experience in TVET technical assistance and an understanding of TVET system (particularly in Timor Leste) is desirable.
• Experience working with the development of national competency-based standards and/or accreditation institutions (desirable)
• Experience of financing models / improving access to finance (desirable)
• Experience of working in agroforestry and/or the sustainable economy (desirable)
• Experience on Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) methodology (desirable)
• Experience on Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification (STED) methodology (desirable)

Languages

Fluency in English is essential. A working knowledge of Tetun, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesian would be an asset.

Competencies

• Ability to conceptualise and design research tools
• Experience coordinating and supervising the work of external collaborators and service providers
• Ability to draft high quality reports and policy notes and engage in policy dialogue with senior officials
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently on highly specialized tasks
• Computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet and word-processing software
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes
• Ability to plan and organize work and to provide guidance and training to staff members
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and to create a conducive learning environment for counterpart

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.
• Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

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

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.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.

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 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.

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