IOM recruits a Senior Project Assistant

International Organization for Migration (IOM) hiring a Senior Project Assistant.

Open to Internal and External Candidates

  • ROWCA-HR-20-080
  • Position Title:Senior Project Assistant
  • Duty Station:Dakar, Senegal (Regional Office for West and Central Africa)
  • Classification:General Service Staff, Grade G6
  • Type of Appointment:Temporary, 8 months with possibility of extension
  • Estimated Start Date:As soon as possible
  • Closing Date:04-Jun-20

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 environment. Internal and external candidates are eligible to apply to this vacancy. For all IOM vacancies, applications from internal candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible external candidates in the selection process.

Context

IOM is implementing activities in 23 countries in the West and Central Africa (WCA) region, including two regional programs:

  • The project Safety, Support and Solutions (SSS) II in the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) is implemented since 2018 in 10 countries, including 7 countries in WCA (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and The Gambia). The intervention is based on four interrelated components: 1) Protection of migrants 2) Strengthening the capacities of state and non-state partners 3) Data collection and 4) Research, Learning and Adaptive programming. The overall objective of the project is to ensure protection and better understanding of migrants’ needs in relation to migration challenges.
  • The European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have developed the Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Africa (hereinafter “Joint Initiative”). Implemented in 13 countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia) through 14 specific actions, it aims to protect the security, dignity and rights of migrants along this important and dangerous migration route and to help improving the reintegration of returnees through an innovative approach. This will be achieved through different types of interventions including protection and assistance to vulnerable and stranded migrants, assistance for voluntary return, and support for sustainable reintegration in the communities of origin, the dissemination of accurate information on migration to migrants, potential migrants and communities, and the collection of data on migration flows. The Initiative will aim at strengthening the technical and material capacities of the authorities and organizations involved in these areas so that they can ultimately take over policies and programmes related to the protection and reintegration of migrants in the region, with a view to improving the governance of migration in the region.

The purpose of the Regional Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) pilot project, funded under the SSS II and JI projects, is to support country offices in the region to improve, strengthen and formalise their AAP systems, particularly their Beneficiary Feedback Mechanisms, and to ensure a coherent approach in terms of AAP in the region, respecting the variety and diversity of existing context specific mechanisms in the different missions. The objective of the pilot project is twofold: 1) to build institutional capacities and AAP systems in-country and 2) to support the implementation of AAP mechanisms in a few selected countries.

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Programme Coordination Officer, the direct supervision of the Regional MEAL Officer, and in close collaboration with the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and the relevant units at Headquarters, Regional office and Country office levels, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the implementation of a pilot project which seeks to carry out a diagnosis of existing AAP systems in place in the region, to develop a regional toolkit and to support few selected country offices in adapting their systems to meet regional standards while respecting

country specificities, and to build their capacities to use the tools put in place and roll out, monitor and evaluate beneficiary feedback mechanisms.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

  1. Undertake a diagnosis (mapping exercise) of existing AAP systems in the WCA region;
  2. Maintain relationships with AAP focal points in Country Offices (CO), and support them in developing a needs assessment, implementation workplan and clear roadmap;
  3. Contribute to the development and dissemination of a regional AAP strategy;
  4. Support the development of a Regional AAP Toolkit, including planning/management tools e.g. SOPs, M&E tools, communication tools, and a training package (including tools fit to different audiences and responsibilities: basic training for all COs staff, advanced training for senior management and AAP focal points), based on existing resources, and taking into account CO’s needs;
  5. Provide support to COs in developing and/or operating their AAP systems, building on the Regional AAP toolkit and on existing tools and mechanisms;
  6. Support the development and operate AAP systems for the WCA Regional Office (RO);
  7. Facilitate trainings for staff members at the RO and CO levels;
  8. Roll out beneficiary feedback mechanisms in the RO, which can include the reception of, and response to beneficiary feedback in accordance with IOM AAP principles;
  9. Monitor the roll out of beneficiary feedback mechanisms in CO;
  10. Develop M&E tools and assist with the monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting components of the pilot project;
  11. Undertake any other duty as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Humanitarian Law, or a related field from an accredited academic institution, with four years of relevant professional experience, or
  • High school Diploma/Certificate with six years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

  • Experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector, with significant experience working on AAP in the field. Experience working on migration is an advantage.
  • Experience in developing community engagement strategies in humanitarian contexts.
  • Experience with delivering trainings, sensitisation and/or capacity building sessions at different levels, within diverse multicultural teams.
  • Experience in designing tools / producing written documents.
  • Experience in the UN System, and in organizations working on Migration is an advantage.
  • Experience in monitoring and evaluation is an advantage.

Skills

  • Strong background in AAP and knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
  • Knowledge of migration related subject areas.
  • Very good command of MS office.
  • Excellent writing and editing skills.

Languages

  • Fluency in French and English is required (oral and written). Fluency in West or Central African local languages is desirable.

Required Competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

Values

  • Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
  • Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
  • Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies

  • Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
  • Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
  • Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
  • Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
  • Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Other

  • Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
  • Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
  • Only candidates residing in Senegal will be considered. A prerequisite for taking up the position is legal residency in the country of the duty station, and work permit, as applicable.

Application 

Interested candidates are invited to send their applications (CV and cover letter in a unique PDF file) to: recrutementdkr@iom.int by June 4, 2020, with email subject: ‘Application AAP’.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.