Introduction

Sri Lanka’s labour market faces significant challenges in social protection and gender equality, exacerbated by multiple crises. This is further intensified by the low levels of labour force participation, despite Sri Lanka’s high educational levels. The unequal distribution of unpaid care burden is one of the underlying causes of low labour force participation of women, as women naturally tend to assume the caregiving role in many households. Women face unfair employment, wage and leadership ‘penalties’ across the career cycle, due to absences for caring for family members.

Further, care work and domestic work, both paid and unpaid, is highly feminized, undervalued, and unrecognized and care workers lack decent work, representation, just remuneration, social security, and income security in old age. With an ageing population, the demand for care will grow. The care economy was highlighted as a ‘bright spot, in the recent ‘Future of Work’ study, commissioned by the ILO, highlighting its potentially significant contribution to job creation, increased women’s labour force participation and responding to a critical need as the demand for care increases in Sri Lanka.

Given the above context, ILO will support its constituents in implementing a project titled “Creating Decent Work Opportunities for Domestic and Community-based Care Workers through Transformative Actions for Gender Equality in Sri Lanka” Through this project, Domestic and community-based care workers’ income security will be strengthened, a new maternity insurance scheme for Sri Lanka will be designed and validated for increased labour force participation of women for the extension of Social protection systems to domestic and community-based care workers and will also advocate for integrated policy and investment in the care economy.

Reporting lines

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will report to the Country Director and will be responsible for managing and coordinating the project activities, under the guidance of the Country Director and technical backstopping from ILO Specialists in New Delhi (on social protection) and Bangkok (on actuarial works).

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work in close collaboration with tripartite constituents and national stakeholders, the NPC will design and revise project annual work plans, as well as to prepare the budget proposal, considering different approaches and alternative methods, management, problem identification and problem resolution, especially for the parts of the project supporting the institutional and capacity development of constituents, government agencies, line ministries, and social partners. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

2. Review, verify and analyze work plans, progress and final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness, and monitor the progress of project activities. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements to support successful completion of agreed activities.

3. Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and in other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

4. Assist in the programming and control of resources of the project, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring the situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems and propose solutions and actions.

5. Provide programming and administrative support to cooperation activities in the respective subject areas within the scope of the project and actively participate in and provide timely inputs to country office reporting relevant to the subject areas assigned.

6. Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the Project when attending these gatherings alone. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying others.

7. Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on project matters. Draft, edit, or translate into local language official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information materials.

8. Lead in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the Project.

9. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Country Director.

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Minimum Requirements

Education

First level university degree in social sciences, public policies, development studies or a relevant field.

Experience

At least one year of professional experience at the national level in the area of project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy making and with development partners would be an asset.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and a good knowledge of either of the local languages (Sinhala & Tamil) will be an advantage.

Knowledge and Competencies (technical/behavioural)

• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration, and evaluation concepts and procedures, and of the mandate and structure of labour market institutions in Sri Lanka
• Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations.
• Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and good drafting skills.
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to clarify information
• Demonstrate collaborative and teamwork experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team, as well as to work on his/her own initiative.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers, and database applications.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.