Introduction

Bangladesh gained lower-middle-income status in 2015 and is now on a path to graduate from the list of Least Developed Country (LDC) by 2026. While progress has been made, the country continues to face recurring challenges relating to weak legislative frameworks, that are not yet in full compliance with international labour standards, deficient labour market governance institutions, including dispute resolution, as well as labour and occupational safety and health inspection systems.

Since 2013, the ILO through its various development cooperation projects has worked closely with and supported the Government of Bangladesh as the country progresses through major legal and administrative reforms to uphold labour rights and improve workplace safety in Bangladesh. Recent legal reforms include:

-The amendment to the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA), 2006 in 2013 and 2018 (November 2018). 

-The adoption of EPZ Labour Act (ELA) in February 2019. 

-The formulation of Bangladesh Labour Rules, 2015. 

-The upgrade, in January 2014, of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) with 575 new inspectors and field level offices for the effective enforcement of the Bangladesh Labour Act,

-The upgrade of the Directorate of Labour via the recruitment of new staff members.  

Momentum must be maintained to support the ambitious goals set by the country to move out of LDC and to assist Bangladesh in the development of modern and effective labour market institutions.  

Rationale

CO-Dhaka is currently transforming its development cooperation initiatives established as a response to the Rana Plaza accident with the goal to better fit with the requirements for the current industrial and economic development of Bangladesh. While taking stock of the lessons learned from mostly Ready-Made Garment (RMG) centric projects, a broader and comprehensive ILO Development Cooperation Programme on labour administration and working conditions (LAWC) has been in the making over the Covid 19 period.

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The LAWC is designed to address broader labour market needs and decent work deficits in a new structure which will host all related projects. The LAWC is meant to effectively serve the ILO constituent and partners.

 
Along with the Government of Bangladesh’s development frameworks, the new Bangladesh Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP 2021-2026), as well as the Government’s ILO Roadmap and EU National Action Plan offer a renewed momentum and policy framework for addressing existing labour market challenges.

The goal of the new “Labour Administration and Working Conditions” cluster (LAWC) is to better equip CO-Dhaka and its RMG related DC projects to increase synergies between CO-Dhaka operations, and to limit overlaps and duplications. It proposes greater efficiency, collaboration, accountability, and leadership trough working through one comprehensive and coordinated programme.  

The National Programme Officer will work as part of the Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue team and support the LAWC programme in LAB/ADMIN Reform Unit
 

Organizational Setting

This position is in the Country Office Dhaka.

Main Purpose

As a LAWC programme member the incumbent provides a range of programming and administrative support services for the coordination of the labour administration reform unit project’s implementation activities.  The incumbent performs at a fully operational level and in an efficient, effective, and client-oriented manner.  The incumbent applies the principles of results-based management (RBM) and ensures the correct application of established rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.

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Reporting Lines and Working Relationships

The incumbent will work under the guidance of the ILO Director Country Office Dhaka and will report directly to the Programme Manager: Labour Administration and Working Conditions. 
The National Project Officer will also work in close consultation with the Labour Administration and Working Conditions Programme Manager, CTA’s, National Project Officers, and National Project Coordinators, the Government of Bangladesh (relevant Ministries and Agencies), including the Roadmap Implementation Coordination Unit (RICU), the EU, and other international and national partners to successfully implement all the programmes’ activities.
 

Description of Duties

1.    Support the day-to-day operations of the labour administration reform unit, including working with the different project subunits to track delivery, quality, and progress to ensure high quality on-time delivery.
2.    Conduct basic research and analysis and draft components of reports and presentations for situation analyses at the national level.
3.    Contribute to revise project work plans where necessary including the preparation of the projects’ documents: strategy notes, annual and rolling workplans, annual management plan and other relevant documents ensuring adherence to ILO policies and guidelines.
4.    Review progress of different project units against plans and take appropriate actions to ensure that the implementation remains on track.
5.    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. 
6.    Manage the implementation of project monitoring, including data collection, data management and data analysis.
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 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.    Put in place structures and tools for information management (ex. Dashboards, Sharepoint, etc.) and ensure that project team members use a well-structured cloud-based system for storing, labelling, organizing accessing and collaborating on documents.

10.    Maintain a record of Office meetings, decisions, and follow-up actions
11.    Provide inputs to support the Office’s communication activities.
12.    Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in, development Studies, economics, business administration or a relevant field or equivalent in experience.

Experience

At least two years 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 command of written and spoken English and Bengali.

Competencies

⦁    Good knowledge of the programme management, project administration and monitoring and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate of Government of Bangladesh regarding labour market institutions.
⦁    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 analyse problems with implementation.
⦁    Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
⦁    Demonstrated collaborative and teamwork experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as 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 deadlines.
⦁    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 to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.