Introduction

Pakistan’s informal employment stands at 84%. Informality is high among Home-based workers (HBWs), small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and also in leading export sectors, including textile and ready garment sectors (87%), auto parts.

ILO and Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) identified obstacles to SME formalization: the benefits to formalization are not clear for many SMEs and compliance costs outweigh any perceived benefits. Informality calls for an integrated approach that focuses on formalization of economic units and the formalisation of jobs.

Climate change will change production methods across supply chains impacting jobs and work processes, including in the textiles and automotive sectors. SMEs and HBWs usually lack the skills and resources to adjust and need support for the transition to be just.

Pakistan’s GSP+ status and the anticipated impact of EU Due Diligence and EU Green Deal legislation commit the government and social partners to promote labour conditions and formalisation throughout the supply chain of exporting sectors.

Based on previous ILO-supported research this proposal will, at the macro level, develop a national roadmap for formalisation and identify space to reduce enterprise and job formalisation transaction costs. At the meso level, the proposal will leverage large enterprises to advance a digital tool for the formalisation of their suppliers and the workers therein. The proposal will also strengthen the incentives of formalisation by designing training for SMEs and HBWs that support their just transition by better adjusting to the changes arising from the textile and auto parts markets shift to sustainability (e.g. climate change mitigation and resource efficiency efforts). At the micro level, the proposal will facilitate access to formalisation clinics that include measures to formalise workers in these SMEs and generate incentives by promoting access to trade fairs and other Business-to-Business platforms, thereby building evidence on the business case for formalisation. The proposal will pay specific attention to the diversity of HBWs and their specific needs and conditions.

This RBSA proposal has secured commitment from the Ministry of Industries through SMEDA which has the mandate to promote SME formalisation. The Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) and textile and automotive trade associations have also committed to engage large enterprises and their suppliers. ,

Beneficiaries: Informal SMEs and HBWs engaged textiles and automotive supply chains. HBWs often include women, migrants, or individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Geographic focus: Policy support is national, while the work with SMEs and HBWs will focus in Karachi in Sindh and Lahore in Punjab.

Partners: SMEDA, EFP, Associations of textiles and automotives enterprises, Pakistan Workers Federation, HBWs and sector-specific worker organisations.

Reporting lines

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director in the ILO Country Office in Islamabad, the technical supervision of the Skills and Enterprise Specialists in the Decent Work Team for South Asia and Headquarters, the National Project Coordinator will substantively support the implementation of SME formalisation initiatives in Karachi and Lahore.

The National Project Coordinator will work in close collaboration with the ILO Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISE) and the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia, as well as staff from the country office and ILO projects beyond to strengthen synergies and facilitate the technical integration of project products and activities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator in Pakistan will be responsible for implementing the RBSA interventions for the formalisation of SMEs in Karachi and Lahore. In addition, the Project Officer will be supporting the relevant activities aimed at achieving outcomes CPO PAK-176 and PAK-204 formalisation and enterprise development. Duties include:

1. 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.
2. Contribute proposals for project development and draft portions of programme and budget proposals, project proposals, programme background, objectives, project reviews and evaluation. Monitor progress of ILO programmes, projects and activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
3. Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
4. Provide or ensure access to legal and policy advice to the government and the social partners on issues related to the formalisation of enterprises and employment.
5. Organize training programmes and awareness raising activities to improve understanding on formalisation of enterprises and employment.
6. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs, including qualitative and quantitative research in line with ILO core conventions on formalisation.
7. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.
8. Establish and develop knowledge management system covering technical activities under the project including other economic and social issues of relevance to the project.
9. Represent the project in various fora, under the guidance of the ILO Director.

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10. Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO Decent Work Team in New Delhi, other colleagues in the field and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions.

11. 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.

12. Responsible for the effective administrative management of the project, including guidance and supervision of the personnel assigned to the project.

13. 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 CO-Islamabad maintain relations with mass media and concerned media groups in order to increase the impact of the project in society as a whole.

14. Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications required

Education: First level university degree in economics, social sciences, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Pakistan

Experience: At least three years of experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, engaging with employers, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the project donor).

Technical requirements: Good knowledge of enterprise development, SMEs, supply chains, formalisation, labour economics as well as economic development, poverty reduction, and social policies. Knowledge of the policy making process.

Languages: Excellent knowledge of the working language of the duty station and a good knowledge of English.

Knowledge and Competencies (technical/behavioural)

Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts.
Good knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation).
Good knowledge of resource mobilization.
Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors.
Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities.
Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

Research and analytical skills.
Drafting skills.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for designing and assessing quality and efficiency of process execution.
Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
Ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.
Ability to oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff.
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.