National Coordinator for Lao PDR

The National Coordinator for Lao PDR is responsible for national coordination duties and liaison to support the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and the Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR. The role facilitates the implementation of the ILO’s mandate including the Decent Work Country Programme in Lao PDR, supports inter-agency cooperation with the UN Country Team, and provides programming and administrative support to development cooperation activities in the country.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of operational and administrative contact for ILO tripartite constituents in Lao PDR and maintain liaison and cooperation with UNCT members.
• Responsible for all programme and administrative functions in the country, collaborating with ILO project staff, government, employers' and workers' organizations, and other partners on programme/project initiation and implementation.
• Participate in the formulation of national country strategies related to the Decent Work Agenda.
• Coordinate, plan and perform a wide variety of technical/programming and administrative-related functions in relation to the implementation of the DWCP.
• Prepare regular and ad hoc reports and briefs as requested.
• Review and analyse country-specific development plans and priorities, socioeconomic data, reports and other relevant information; identify potential development cooperation project areas and provide written analysis to DWT/CO-Bangkok.
• Contribute creative ideas for programme/project development and serve as senior national programme officer to the DWT/CO-Bangkok and draft portions of national concept papers, policies and country strategy papers.
• Identify problems, propose solutions and follow-up with DWT/CO-Bangkok, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation of agreed activities and meet targets.
• Participate in the preparation of seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings specified in the DWCP work plan; speak on behalf of the ILO when attending these gatherings alone.
• Serve as focal point for selected technical subjects and attend meetings, workshops and inter-agency activities, and present reports and papers.
• Promote ILO activities in Lao PDR by drafting, editing and/or translating news releases, official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information material.
• Participate in policy dialogue and technical consultations; draft speeches and address meetings on behalf of the ILO.
• Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on the country programme and its developments.
• Facilitate inter-agency information-sharing and interaction with the UNCT and liaise with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office and other UNCT members for One UN related issues.
• Participate in donor meetings at the country level.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job.
• First-level university degree with equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• At least three years of professional experience at the national level in the relevant occupational area.
• Excellent command of English and Lao.
• Good knowledge of programme and budget, project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices.
• Good knowledge of the role and operations of UN system activities for development of project or joint activities.
• Knowledge of the UN or ILO's financial rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of Office-wide activities and priorities.
• Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and ability to negotiate.
• Good computer applications skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to understand and work effectively with government, employers' and workers' organizations, other UN agencies and development partners.
• Ability to represent the Organization.
• Ability to supervise staff.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Skills

• Programme Budgeting
• Project Formulation
• Project Administration
• Project Evaluation
• UN System Operations
• UN financial rules and regulations
• Conceptual Analysis
• Drafting Skills
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• Analytical Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Computer Applications
• Organizational Skills
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Staff Supervision
• Multicultural Work Environment
• Gender-sensitive Health Practices
• Inter-agency Coordination

Languages

English, Lao