Project Officer (AVUMED II)

Job Description

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity. Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba (Netherlands); Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Curaçao; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People's Democratic Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu Second tier candidates include: All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:
Movements in West and Central Africa (WCA) are complex and perilous. The WCA region has
experienced a variety of migration flows caused by population pressure, poverty, poor economic
performances and endemic conflicts. Despite the myriad of challenges and risks faced by
irregular migrants from WCA, irregular migration remains commonplace. Large numbers of West
and Central Africans without the option of migrating regularly have no alternative than
interacting with smuggling networks, which significantly increases migrants' vulnerability to
violence, exploitation and abuse.
Against this background, between June 2020 and September 2022, IOM Dakar has
implemented two French funded projects: the RDAF Bis project (Regional Direct Assistance
Fund for Vulnerable Cases no covered by the European Union’s Emergency Trust Fund) and the AVUMED project (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants Stranded on the Central Mediterranean Route). RDAF Bis and AVUMED provided a timely tool to address urgent and unforeseen protection assistance needs to stranded migrants, for whom support was not available from any alternative sources or programmes, while also allowing to strengthen Protection staff and partners’ capacities. In addition, AVUMED project rolled out data collection systems on possible cases of trafficking and missing migrants in Mali and Niger, and enhanced promotion of good health and disease prevention in migrant centres in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Responsibilities

Core Functions / Responsibilities:
1. Coordinate, supervise and monitor all budgetary, administrative, and technical aspects
related to AVUMED II project, checking that they are in line with IOM’s policies and procedures,
in close coordination with the Protection (PXD), Regional Data Hub (RDH) and the Migration
Health Division (MDH) units and involved Country Offices (COs).
2. Coordinate the regional direct assistance fund and country office requests to use it in close
coordination with the Regional Programme Officer (Protection (PXD)).
3. Provide regular guidance on Protection standards and institutional guidelines (including, but
not limited to, IN 198, IN 208 and IN 236) to case managers in the region, with a focus on
AVUMED II cases, to facilitate adequate identification, needs assessment and assistance
provision to beneficiaries.
4. Coordinate the organization of a regional Protection Retreat for protection staff in the region,
in close coordination with the PXD RTS and the Regional Programme Officer (Protection
(PXD)).
5. Provide technical and administrative support in identifying problems/gaps and propose timely
practical actions to respond to particular protection problems in close coordination with the PXD
RTS and the Regional Programme Officer (Protection (PXD)).
6. Support knowledge management on the PXD portfolio and facilitate exchanges between
Country Offices, including through a regular monitoring of existing online platforms (MS Teams,etc.).
7. With the support of the Protection Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer, contribute to the
development of a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan, tools and data collection methods for
AVUMED II and RAMMP projects.
8. In close coordination with the Protection M&E Officer, compile and analyze programmatic
information and data on specific project topics as per internal and external (partners, donors)
requests.
9. Regularly monitor budget implementation for AVUMED II and propose adjustments as
necessary, with the support of the M&E Officer and in close coordination with PXD, RDH and
MDH units.
10. Facilitate timely narrative and financial reporting of AVUMED II project.
11. Undertake duty travel as required.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Educational Requirements

Master’s degree in International Law, Development Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Social Studies, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or, • University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience Requirements

Experience in protection of migrants and/or displaced persons including child protection,
counter-trafficking, return and reintegration, as well as direct assistance to or interactions with
vulnerable groups (at least two years);
• Experience in project management or implementation, preferably in migration;
• Knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and experience in developing M&E tools
preferred;
• Experience in Project Cycle Management (PCM) and Results Based Management (RBM);
• Experience in supporting teams remotely an advantage;
• Experience working with specialized international agencies and Protection Partners (UN
Agencies, International Organizations, and International NGOs) an advantage;
• Experience in regional coordination between different stakeholders is an asset; and,
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, donors, academia, other
national/international institutions, and NGOs is an asset.

Additional Requirements

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.
External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in
English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (Arabic,
Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).
For all applicants, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process,
which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Skills

Sound knowledge and understanding of the importance of protection mainstreaming across
other migration issues, including but not limited to health and labour migration;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong strategic and creative thinking;
• Efficiency, flexibility, high level of professionalism and ability to work under pressure and
adhere to strict deadlines;
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and
professional backgrounds;
• Ability to coordinate administrative matters;
• Excellent drafting skills in English and French; and,
• Good command of information technology tools (including applications for team collaboration such as Microsoft Teams).