Project Manager P4

Grade: P4

Vacancy no.: DC/ABIDJAN/P/2026/01
Publication date: 26 June 2026
Application deadline (midnight Abidjan time): 17 July 2026

Job ID: 13717
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: RO-Africa
Location: Abidjan
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: One year with possiblity of extension

Recruitment is strictly conditional upon the signature of the project agreement and the confirmed availability of funds. No offer will be made to a candidate until the funding has been transferred to the ILO.

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

The following are eligible to apply:

• ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
• External candidates.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Regional Office for Africa (ROAF) based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Regional Office has overall political and management responsibilities for the operations of the ILO's network of Country Offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in the African Region, and provides strategic guidance to the promotion of ILO's principles and policies.

The Responsible Business Conduct in Africa Project (RBC-Africa) is a regional initiative jointly implemented by five implementing organizations (IOs): the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union. The ILO is the administrative and convening agent of this multi-partner action.

The project aims to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) among governments, social partners, enterprises, civil society and other stakeholders across 11 countries in Africa—Angola, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia - based on RBC international instruments, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.

Within the ILO policy, financial and operational procedures , the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and management of the outputs led by the ILO and provide high-quality technical advisory services to constituents, and other partners, as well as to participating ILO Country Offices to support the development and implementation of programmes in the area of responsible business conduct in the target countries. The Project Manager will ensure that the objectives set out in the RBC-Africa project document are achieved within the approved time frame and budget, and that activities comply with ILO financial rules and regulations. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Reporting lines

The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Africa and will receive technical guidance from the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct unit (MULTI/RBC) in ILO HQ. For the implementation of the project, the incumbent will work closely with the directors of the ILO Offices in the 11 targets countries of the project and the DWT specialists in the region.

Main duties and responsibilities

Project management:

1. Ensure effective implementation of the ILO-led outputs of the Project in the 11 target countries through: the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, the planning and monitoring of activities. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and the administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible Field offices, if applicable.

2. Coordinate the organization of the ILO-led activities and events at the regional and sub-regional level, including events involving the participation of multiple project countries and/or regional economic communities while ensuring synergies and coordination with the activities organized by the other implementing organizations.

3. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the ILO for the project, assigned to the 11 countries and other regional and sub-regional activities of the project.

4. Manage the human resources of the ILO project team efficiently, including recruitment, performance and talent management. Oversee the work of a Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, two Project Officers, a Project Assistant as well as administrative support staff of the Project, and any other international or local consultants hired during the course of the project implementation.

5. Prepare project implementation reports and the project closure report that highlights the project's achievements, challenges, and lessons learned of the ILO component of the project. Share the final report with stakeholders, funders, and other relevant parties. Ensure all financial, administrative, and legal obligations are fulfilled in accordance with project agreements.

6. As representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent of the RBC-Africa project, ensure coordination of joint programme structures including Joint Steering Committee meetings comprised of EU, ILO, ITC, OECD, OHCHR and UNDP, and participate in such joint structure meetings.

7. Prepare, with the support of the Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer, the project’s overall annual implementation reports, ensuring coordination with the other IOs on their inputs and validation of the joint narrative progress and submit the final reports to the EU as representative of the ILO as contractual lead/convening agent.

8. In addition to the overall responsibility of the ILO component of the RBC-Africa project, manage the implementation of ILO project activities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia.

9. In Côte d’Ivoire where the ILO is playing the role of lead country contact agency, serve as the primary liaison with the EU Delegation, ensure timely transmission of communications and requests to other IOs, compile inputs for the country annual joint workplan, identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration and joint activities, organize coordination meetings involving the EU Delegation and organize country project launch event.

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Technical leadership and advice:

10. Provide policy and technical advice to relevant ministries and other government agencies, employer and business membership organizations, workers’ organizations, and other stakeholders on issues related to RBC and the business contribution to decent work in the framework of the implementation of this project and in coordination with technical specialists in the countries concerned, in close collaboration with the technical backstopping unit (MULTI/RBC).

11. Review, analyse and interpret economic, social and political trends in the 11 countries under the programme. Identify trends or developments for which further research and programme development work is required to adequately respond to growing and changing needs in the area of RBC.

12. Ensure technical coherence among various ILO activities and projects in the area of RBC in the 11 countries under the project and share expertise on RBC with ILO specialists and other ILO projects in the region; promote linkages between the RBC-Africa project and other projects.

13. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

14. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with governments, ministries, employer and business membership organizations, workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donor, in the planning and implementation of activities of the project in the 11 target countries.

15. Liaise with the EU delegations in the 11 countries under the project and with the other IOs to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions.

16. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project (promotion of sustainable enterprises, responsible business conduct, sustainable trade and investment), the fundamental principles and rights at work, the relevant international labour standards and the ILO MNE Declaration, in collaboration with other technical specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

17. Work in collaboration with the other IOs to ensure policy coherence in all project interventions and appropriate references to ILO instruments and other international instruments on RBC, namely the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, in consultation with the OHCHR and the OECD.

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Mobilization of resources:

18. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project’s objective, topic and intervention in coordination with the responsible Country Office, the technical backstopping unit (MULTI/RBC) and PARTNERSHIPS.

Knowledge management:

19. Write and disseminate knowledge products, including the project’s deliverables through digital and print publications, news items for the website and press releases with the support of the Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer.

20. Ensure representation in international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.

21. Ensure the development of information databases covering project activities with the support of the Monitoring and Knowledge-Management Officer.

22. Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports for the donor on the implementation status as needed and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programmes.

23. Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master‘s or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, business administration, law or a relevant field.

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 seven years of relevant professional experience, including at the regional/international level implementing or providing technical backstopping of activities and development cooperation projects on RBC or related fields. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects in the technical field of RBC.

Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations.

Experience in managing a development cooperation project in Africa and multi-partner projects, involving various international organizations as implementing partners will be considered as assets.

A strong knowledge of responsible business conduct (RBC) issues in the region is required.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of French is a requirement as the project covers both English-speaking and French-speaking countries in Africa.

Competencies

• - Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with directors and specialists in ILO offices as well as with officials of ministries of labour and social partners; - Familiarity with other international organizations/UN agencies and skills to manage relations with the partners of the project, outside ILO; - Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards; - Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development; - Ability to advocate and provide policy advice; - Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills; - Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings; - Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level; - Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners; - Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services; - Ability to plan and support the development of individuals’ skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities; - Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures; - Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement; - Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Conditions of employment

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
• Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.