Introduction

Through its distinctive rights-based development approach, the ILO contributes to building the resilience and supporting the recovery of nations and people caught in fragile, conflict and disaster. The ILO promotes the adoption of rights-based social protection approaches in fragile and crisis contexts, supporting the full utilization of national systems and the adoption of social security standards. The strategic objective is to ensure that national systems are resilient, better prepared to withstand and respond to shocks, and inclusive of all, particularly the forcibly displaced. Climate change is often referred to as a threat and crisis multiplier, as the effects of climate change may multiply existing challenges and inequalities. Social Protection is a critical tool to support people adapt to and cope with climate-related shocks, but also can cushion families, workers, and enterprises to ensure just green transitions, as highlighted in the World Social Protection Report 2024-26.

The ILO has reinforced its commitment to the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) through key policies such as the 2016 Guiding Principles on the Access of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons to the Labour Market and Recommendation No. 205 on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience (2017). Building on these foundations, the ILO launched its 2023 Action Programme on Crisis and Post-Crisis, further embedding its role within the HDPN framework. Central to these efforts is the ILO-Sida Global Partnership (2022–2025), which prioritizes promoting decent work in fragile and conflict-affected regions. The ‘PROSPECTS’ Partnership for improving Prospects for host communities and forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), was launched by the Government of the Netherlands in 2019 in response to forced displacement crises, bringing together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank. Both programmes place a strong emphasis on the need to bridge short-term cash transfer mechanisms with comprehensive social protection system, including with a particular focus on the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations.

Introduction (continued)

In addition to the SIDA and Netherlands funded projects mentioned above, there are other relevant entry points for the ILO to further develop to the link between displacement, climate change and social protection, within the broader HDPN framework in the MENA region. The ILO is the co-chair of the regional Issue Based Coalition on Social Protection and Jobs, which includes a sub-group on social protection in the HDPN. In addition, the ILO is one of the UN partners promoting TRANSFORM, a capacity-building and leadership development for social protection floors in the Arab region.

The incumbent will support the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States, the ILO country teams and constituents to articulate the ILO position and deliver support in the area of social protection and crisis, with a particular focus on the HDP nexus and climate change. S/he will support the ILO PROSPECTS programme teams in Jordan and Lebanon in the design and implementation of the social protection component of the Multi-Annual Country Programmes and in coordinating work on social protection with the other PROSPECTS partners in the region. S/he will support the implementation of the strategic activities of the SIDA project in the region. The incumbent will also support the engagement of ILO ROAS in key regional initiatives linked to the Nexus such at both the IBC on the HDPN and the TRANSFORM initiative in the MENA region.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent will administratively report to the Director or Coordinator for the country in which the position will be based. Substantively, the incumbent will directly report to the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO in the Arab States. The incumbent will work under the technical guidance of the Senior Social Protection Specialist in ROAS and under the overall programmatic guidance of the PROSPECTS Chief Technical Advisor in the Arab States and the CTA of SIDA project (AP/Crisis). Close coordination will also be ensured with the Regional Crisis Response and Just Transition Specialists and with experts in SOCPRO, the global PROSPECTS team and AP-CRISIS ILO HQ teams.

Description of Duties

1. Support the development of ILO regional and country strategy on engagement in social protection in HDP nexus and crisis settings and in the context of climate change, in line with regional strategy in this field, including building on recommendations from recent Amman regional Nexus workshop related to social protection and the recent ILO HDNP strategic engagement review.

2. Under the guidance of the technical supervisor, the PROSPECTS Regional CTA and the HDPN CTA, coordinate the ILO engagement in social protection in HDP nexus and crisis settings and in the context of climate change. Steer strategic engagement with other ILO country teams, units, UN agencies, partners and donors relevant for humanitarian-development-peace coordination and just transition in social protection. Supervise the team of junior technical and administrative staff and consultant working in support of ILO engagement in these areas, as it may be required.

3. Support the regional office on the planning and delivery of key regional level activities in social protection in HDP nexus and crisis settings. Ensure effective interfacing and engagement with other regional initiatives and coordination platform through regional engagement on strategic and operational matters, including the Regional UN Issue Based Coalition on Social Protection and Jobs, the TRANSFORM initiative, the regional initiative with FAO on extending social security to agriculture workers in the MENA region, and other relevant ILO regional initiatives in the field of social protection.

Description of Duties (continued)

4. Under the guidance of the technical supervisor, the PROSPECTS Regional CTA and the HDPN CTA, provide support to ILO country teams on social protection programming in HDP nexus and crisis settings. Support the ILO PROSPECTS programme teams in Jordan and Lebanon in the design, implementation and evaluation of the social protection components within Multi-annual Country Programmes (MACPs). Support relevant countries (Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan and Sria) in the operationalization of the social protection component of the country action programmes developed at the Amman Nexus workshop.

5. Provide country teams, constituents and partners, including humanitarian partners, with technical assistance for the advancement of ILO social security standards in fragile and crisis context and support dialogue and engagement with humanitarian and development stakeholders for the advancement of a rights-based social protection agenda in crisis and fragility settings, and in the context of climate change.

6. Promote linkages and integration between social protection and broader decent work agenda in crisis contexts. Promote the extension of social protection coverage in crisis context, including amongst refugee populations, assess the impact of improved access to social protection and other social protection benefits on both refugees and host communities, and support innovation in the articulation of livelihoods and social protection interventions delivered by the ILO and its partners.

7. Develop guidance materials, tools, approaches and reference documents on social protection topics relevant to the areas of focus of the assignment. Develop good practices and knowledge products in relation with the contribution to social protection in the HDPN and to feed into the Global HDPN Knowledge hub and PROSPECT knowledge management processes.

Description of Duties (continued)

8. Provide technical inputs into regional dialogue under both programmes as well as other regional plaforms as required. Support the organization of regional and country level meetings and events for interchange of experiences, organize and support peer-to-peer learning, exchange and knowledge development initiatives for ILO constituents and partners across the region. Support ILO engagement in global and regional fora and platforms that are relevant to the topic.

9. Support and facilitate partners engagement, communication, reporting, planning and resource mobilization efforts for ILO social protection work in HDP nexus and crisis settings and in the context of climate change and environmental degradation.

10. Undertake such other tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

• Advanced university degree in the relevant field (such as economics, social policy, development studies and/or other relevant social sciences field), with demonstrated expertise on social protection issues.
• 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.

Experience

• At least five years of relevant professional experience with thematic emphasis on social protection.
• Experience with articulating social protection strategies in humanitarian-development and peace, displacement and/or climate change contexts would be an advantage.
• Experience with social protection systems in MENA and Arab States region would be an advantage.
• Exposure with UN coordination and donor engagement would be an advantage.

Languages

• Excellent command of English is required.
• Arabic would be an advantag.

Competencies

• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization.
• Ability to conceptualise and design research techniques and analyse complex cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field.
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation.
• Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists, carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Good computer skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.

optional section (if needed)

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.