Introduction

Note: Recruitment for this vacancy is subject to the availability of funding.

The ILO’s Global Programme on the Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) has played a pioneering role in applying the market systems development approach to the context of fragile and forced displacement contexts. First developed in 2014 in close collaboration with the UNHCR, AIMS is now used in over 20 countries to promote refugee-inclusive growth and decent job creation.

AIMS focuses on identifying and developing sectors with potential and engages the private sector to drive market-based solutions that create decent employment opportunities for both refugees and host communities. By partnering with private enterprises, industry actors, and business associations, AIMS aligns market incentives with social goals, enabling businesses to invest in sectors that absorb refugee labour and stimulate local economies.

To further foster refugee-inclusive growth and job creation globally, Austrian Development Aid (ADA) seeks to contribute to the Global ILO AIMS programmes. ADA’s contribution would build on the existing AIMS programme and focus on expanding AIMS interventions in two priority countries—Lebanon and Kenya—while systematically feeding lessons from field implementation back into the global programme to influence policy and practitioner exchanges across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

In Kenya, ADA’s contribution will focus on implementing an AIMS initiative that seeks to foster refugee-inclusive growth and decent work creation in the beauty and artisanal work sectors. This will build on an AIMS analysis that identified the beauty and construction as sectors with particular potential and relevance for urban refugees based in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru. 

Actions under the ADA-funded initiative would focus on promoting refugee-inclusive growth and job creation in Kenya’s beauty and artisanal sectors. By supporting selected high-potential MSMEs and start-ups in the sector to innovate and expand outreach and to develop refugee-inclusive business models respective of decent work standards, the initiative aims to improve incomes and living standards of refugee and host community beauticians and artisanal workers.  

The incumbent would be working as part of the ILO’s Global AIMS programme particularly on advancing the ADA-funded AIMS initiative in Kenya to promote refugee-inclusive growth and job creation in Kenya’s beauty and artisanal sectors. 

Reporting Lines:

The National Project Coordinator for inclusive market systems development in Kenya will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Dar es salaam, and with the technical guidance of the ILO Senior Specialist for Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and the Just Transition at the Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa (DWT Pretoria) as well as other DWT Specialists when required. Additional technical guidance will also be provided by the ILO HQ AIMS team at MSME/ENTERPRISES.

Description of Duties

• Lead the project timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation through management functions, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project document and work plan
• Contribute proposals for programme/project development and serve as national programme advisor to the Directorate and draft portions of programme and budget proposals, project proposals, programme background, country strategy papers, objectives and project reviews and evaluation. Monitor progress of ILO Global AIMS programmes, projects and activities, by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.
• Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and DWT/CO-Pretoria Specialists, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet target.
• Conduct research, including market systems analyses and field assessments, to support analyses of Kenya’s beauty and construction sector sectors, and design innovate strategies to promote refugee-inclusive growth and job creation in the sector.
• Provide or ensure access to legal and policy advice to the government and the social partners on issues related to the effective implementation of the market systems development interventions.
• Contribute to the organization of training programmes and awareness raising activities for private sector partners, constituents, relevant public institutions and other project partners as needed, to improve their understanding on market systems development.
• Provide inputs to action plans for the implementation of market systems development interventions to develop the beauty and construction sectors in close collaboration with key private sector actors, undertake travel to different regions of Kenya to coordinate project activities with relevant project partners. 
• Support the development, implementation, and assessment of overall project activities, including pilot interventions to develop
• Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria, and other colleagues in the field and HQ, on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions
• Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project’s components according to the project’s document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.
• Responsible for the effective administrative management of the project, including guidance and supervision of the personnel assigned to the project
• Ensure high-level communications to increase project’s visibility at the national and international levels. This includes the responsibility to liaise with the UN country team, and other key stakeholders, to ensure effective coordination with relevant national strategies and related technical projects. Under direct guidance of the Director and the DWT/CO-Pretoria specialists, maintain relations with mass media and concerned media groups in order to increase the impact of the project in society as a whole
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the ILO Country Director  

Required qualifications

Education

• First level university degree in business administration, economics, private sector development, environmental or development studies or any other relevant field
• Training on and/or experience with market systems development will be considered an advantage 

Experience

• At least three years of relevant professional experience at the national level involving private sector development and/or value chain and market systems development. 
• Knowledge of tools and approaches to market systems development and/or value chain development will be an asset.     

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English

Competencies

• In addition to ILO core personal or behavioural competencies (Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning & knowledge sharing, Communication, Client orientation, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality
• Good knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurship and business start-up development and/or value chain and market systems development
• Good understanding of the local economic and political context of Lebanon 
• Good analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and plan project activities
• Ability to conduct action-oriented research and write analytical technical report in English. 
• Ability to organize trainings and workshops and coordinate project activities and implementation with project partners 
• Ability to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators and general service staff in the area of enterprise development
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behavior and attitudes are required
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.