Vacancy Notice No.: Organisational Unit/Department: Centralised or Decentralised Project Position (Title) Proposed grade Duty Station: Type of contract: Duration: TC/EIIP/113/Dec.14 Employment Injury Insurance Programme (EIIP) Decentralized Project Programme Officer NO - B Dhaka, Bangladesh Fixed Term One year (with the possibility to renew) Background The Employment Injury Insurance Programme (EIIP) builds on lessons learnt from ILO s unique intervention to address the provision of medical care and the financial compensation of injured workers and family dependents of workers who lost their lives in the Rana Plaza accident of 24 April 2013 in Bangladesh. In the aftermath of the accident, the ILO was called upon to ensure that the victims of the accident receive medical and allied care and payments in line with the requirements of the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No.121) to bridge for the lack of an effective national legislation framework on employment injuries, accidents and deaths in Bangladesh. The ILO intervention has been multi-faceted and contributed to building up arrangements to ensure that victims of the Rana Plaza accident have access to medical care and allied benefits, as well as cash payments, at least in line with the minimum requirements of ILO Convention No. 121. The EIIP is aligned with the priorities of the Area of Critical Importance on Implementing Social protection Floors (ACI.3). It supports the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme for Bangladesh and contributes although in an unusual manner to implementing minimum guarantees of social protection as foreseen in the context of the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) as well as the type and levels of protection set out in the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) (Part VI Employment Injury Benefits) and the Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121). It contributes as well to the on-going large scale ILO project on Working Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh set up in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza accident, which started in 2013. In the short-term, the programme aims at completing the support extended to Bangladesh for the operationalization of the Rana Plaza Arrangement and delivery of payments to injured workers and the dependents of the deceased or missing workers as a result of the accident. Starting also initially but extending beyond the initial period, the programme envisages building up ILO s capability to be more systematically equipped and ready to address financial compensation and medical care needs to support member States that may possibly face large scale work accidents and work-related diseases and deaths in the future. At the same time, the programme anticipates the need for preparing a solid ground for the future development of an employment injury insurance (EII) scheme in Bangladesh. In this way, the support to the Rana Plaza Compensation Arrangement (RPCA) builds the ILO s response to the Government s request for technical cooperation for the development of a tripartite protocol for employment injury compensation based on ILO Convention No. 121, a key component of the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety for the Ready-Made Garment in Bangladesh (adopted as revised 25 July 2013). To meet the above stated objectives, a policy and operational handbook will be prepared, documenting the experience of the RPCA design and delivery and compiling and analysing lessons learnt Page 1 of 5
Draft for review, 12.09.13 in the context of the Bangladesh social protection system. At the same time, national institutional capacities will be strengthened through workshops and training courses for national policy-makers, representatives of relevant ministries and government agencies, of employers and workers as well as other key national and international stakeholders t (such as UN agencies and other technical and financial partners in Bangladesh, international buyers, etc.). Study tours in neighbouring countries with experiences in setting up Employment injury protection systems such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand and others will also be organised for such purposes. A major event, bringing together tripartite constituents and other national stakeholders as well as key international stakeholders will be held in Dhaka to disseminate and share these products and experiences and to discuss the extension of the social protection system in Bangladesh. An international conference will raise awareness and solicit the commitment of different stakeholders in Bangladesh, as well as in neighbouring countries where social protection systems are lacking, as well as of the key international stakeholders, namely in relation to those related to workers in export-processing industries. The outcome of this event should be consensus towards a strategy for the development of social protection including the establishment of EII schemes for workers. In summary, the 12-month project aims at consolidating employment injury compensation and social protection efforts in Bangladesh, drawing lessons for possible future catastrophic events, and kickstarting a process upon which to build an ILO capacity to be ready to address demands of member States in the event of catastrophic accidents. At the same time, it serves to prepare national stakeholders for the possible establishment of an EII scheme, giving effect to their tripartite commitment undertaken under the National Action Plan on Fire and Safety, and the development of the national social protection system. Further support will be required following this period for the follow up and actual implementation of benefit schemes that may be decided during the 12-months. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall guidance of the ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, the Programme Officer will be responsible for implementation of this Programme. This programme will be technically backstopped by concerned specialists from ILO Geneva and ILO DWT Delhi. The Programme Officer maintains and enhances strong relations with the ILO s strategic partners, in particular with line ministries and its social partners. The responsibilities and tasks of the position will be carried out within the ILO management system and respecting ILO rules and regulations. In particular, the Programme Officer will undertake the following duties: 1. Review and analyse relevant information on employment, occupation safety and health (OSH) and social protection schemes. Identify strategic areas for support and interventions within the sectoral areas. 2. In consultation with responsible experts, develop work plans and implementation strategies focusing on achievement with partners and beneficiaries. Monitor progress of the programme activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. 3. Responsible for effective programme implementation and monitoring activities. Introduce performance indicators, success criteria, targets and milestones. Evaluate programme impact and timely readjust implementation strategies. 4. Provide technical and administrative inputs during the implementation of the programme. Page 2 of 5
5. Coordinate and work closely with the programme implementing agencies/partners. 6. Follow-up with relevant departments, implementing agencies/partners, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets. 7. Manage and administer programme budget. Prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. 8. Prepare briefs, progress reports, financial reports, ad-hoc reports and statistical data on status of programme activities for the ILO Country Office, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, donors and other related units/organizations. 9. Participate in the preparation of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings. Speak on behalf of the ILO programme when attending these gatherings alone. 10. Develop terms of references for the organization of trainings, workshops, and seminars for the constituents, local and national stakeholders and the target beneficiaries. 11. Identify best practices and lessons learnt. Establish networks and contribute knowledge sharing activities including internal communications and knowledge building. 12. Serve as liaison officer and promote the programme activities. Establish and maintain close relations with the relevant partners, including governmental organizations, employers and workers organizations, nongovernmental organizations as appropriate to obtain their cooperation and technical input for the programme implementation, and participate actively in the policy dialogue meetings on the relevant topics. 13. Facilitate an informed dialogue among the national constituents and other stakeholders to select what policy issues could be addressed. Detailed planning and implementation at the local level is needed and will be guided through a participatory dialogues process. 14. Prepare presentations for regional workshops and seminars. 15. Undertake missions to programme sites independently or accompanying other officials. 16. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. Education First level University degree in a relevant field Experience Two or more years of professional experience at the national level in project management and relevant occupational area. Operational experience in development issues is desirable. Familiarity with UN in-house procedures is an asset. Page 3 of 5
Draft for review, 12.09.13 Languages Excellent English and Bengali Required Competencies 1. Good knowledge of Bangladesh Labour Laws and policy and guidelines regarding social protection and OSH issues including injury insurance schemes. 2. Good knowledge of programme and budget, project administration, project formulation and evaluation techniques and practices. 3. Experience with the formulation and implementation of projects and ability to interpret projects and ability to interpret project information. 4. Knowledge of office-wide activities and priorities. 5. Excellent drafting skills, excellent analytical, writing and communication skills with the ability to conceptualize in English and Bengali. 6. Strong ability to use websites and multi-media, social networking approach is an asset. 7. Ability to produce a variety of written and visual communications products in a clear, concise style. 8. Experience in identifying and drafting stories, case studies, features etc. 9. Ability to prepare for and conduct interviews and dealing with media request. 10. Ability to develop relationships with the media, existing contacts with media in Bangladesh an asset. 11. Strong knowledge of computer software packages required for producing information materials, internet applications for information collection management and dissemination. 12. Good knowledge of the organization's mandate and its programme of activities. Reviewed by RHRD, RO-Bangkok 3 December 2014 NO-B Programme Officer Page 4 of 5
Page 5 of 5