Vacancy no.: DC/ASHGABAT/GS/2025/01
Publication date: 20 August 2025
Application deadline (midnight Moscow time): 17 September 2025
Job ID: 13175
Department: RO-Europe and Central Asia
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Moscow
Location: Ashkhabad
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 24 months, starting September 2025
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 above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.
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 recruitment process for General Service positions is subject to specific local recruitment criteria. The ILO may only offer a contract to persons who have a valid residency status and work permit in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
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.
The offer of appointment will be made subject to availability of funding.
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.
*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is 14,367 United States Dollars yearly.
Introduction
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1919 to promote social justice and brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
The ILO and the Government of Turkmenistan entered a first joint framework for cooperation in 2023 to strengthen application of the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No.105), which was ratified by Turkmenistan in 1997. This programme of cooperation was developed as direct follow up to recommendations from the ILO supervisory bodies. The 2021 Conclusions of the ILO Conference Committee on the Application of Standards regarding the application of Convention No.105 had urged the Government of Turkmenistan to take effective and time-bound measures to ensure there would not be any forced labour or child labour in the annual state-sponsored cotton harvest in Turkmenistan.
More recently, the ILO and Government of Turkmenistan entered a Roadmap for Cooperation for 2024-2025. This Roadmap provides an ambitious framework for action within a longer-term partnership aimed at addressing the concerns of ILO supervisory bodies regarding forced and child labour and strengthening social and economic development in Turkmenistan through the promotion of decent work.
An EU-funded development cooperation project has been developed to build on results achieved to date under the 2024-2025 Roadmap. The project will provide technical assistance and capacity building support to government institutions and other stakeholders to develop and implement labour laws and policies that promote decent work practices and prevent child and forced labour. The project will also provide technical assistance for the ratification and implementation of ILO instruments that have been identified as priorities, with a focus on preventing and addressing risks of forced and child labour in the cotton harvest.
Reporting Lines
The position is located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and is assigned to Decent Work Technical Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The position reports to the Project Manager.
Description of Duties
Process all project payments ensuring accuracy and documenting all financial transactions. Process contracts for financial clearance and payment. Ensure the correctness and appropriateness of types of contracts used with each activity, and ensure all necessary supporting documents are attached. Prepare routine correspondence to verify data, answer queries and obtain additional information, follow-up as necessary with project and ILO staff, consultants and counterparts. Draw the attention of the Project Manager and, where necessary, the Administrative/Finance support in the Decent Work Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, to matters requiring immediate attention. Prepare financial transactions for processing in IRIS including contracts, travel requests, purchase orders and requisitions, external payment authorizations and others as may be necessary. Liaise and coordinate with the staff in the DWT for Eastern Europe and Central Asia to process IRIS requests. Arrange for the procurement, shipment and receipt of office and project supplies, equipment and materials and household effect, including customs clearance. Verify and process claims for payment, and check payment vouchers, prices and claims invoices. Provide administrative and financial backstopping and guidance for project staff and consultants, with respect to payments, entitlements, travel claims, and other requirements relating to accounts and finance. Consult with the Finance Unit at the DWT for Eastern Europe and Central Asia on rules, regulations and procedures, and inform project staff, partners, consultants, interns of new or revised procedures and practices. Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for donor reporting, for budget preparation, audits or other reasons. Calculate and compile cost estimates and participate in budget analysis and projections as required by the Project Manager and project staff. Provide support to project-related missions and activities, including preparing budgets, coordinating travel and lodging of officials and participants, recruitment and payment of resources persons, and taking notes at meetings/seminars. Provide informal interpretation and translation. Perform other duties as assigned by the Project Manager, project staff and, where necessary, the Finance Unit in the DWT for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.Required qualifications
Education
Completion of secondary school education.
Experience
At least five years of experience in project or management support (in administration and finance). Familiarity with UN administrative procedures is preferred.
Languages
Excellent command of English and Turkmen. Proficiency in Russian would be an advantage.
Competencies
Knowledge of general office support and operational areas. Awareness of the nature of ILO programme and activities. Proficient in computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office (i.e. IRIS). Ability to obtain services from other work units inside or outside the office for completion of tasks. Thorough knowledge of practices and procedures for preparing administrative documents and maintaining file systems. Ability to determine relevant background and reference materials for others, and to screen for urgency and priority. Ability to respond to requests from officials from government offices, ministries, ILO constituents and NGOs.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:
Ability to organize own work. Ability to prioritize work assignments, organize own schedule, perform routine work independently, meet deadlines and adapt to changing demands and multitask. Ability to search and retrieve information from databases and compile reports. Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems. Drafting skills. Accuracy and ability to pay attention to detail. A high degree of discretion with sense of responsibility in dealing with confidential matters. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Customer service experience in order to provide courteous, prompt and efficient responses to clients. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
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.