Duty Station of the Consultancy: IOM mission in Lao PDR, UN House, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR Duration of Consultancy: 11 months Nature of the consultancy: Consultant Type A – Policy and Project Development Officer Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), and in coordination with the Regional Office of the Asia and Pacific, specifically the Regional Programme Support Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for project and policy development, donor relations and resource mobilization efforts, reporting requirements as well as Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities for IOM Lao People Democratic of Republic and policy engagement on migration governance. The Policy and Project Development Coordinator will work in close collaboration with the IOM Regional and Asia Pacific Office (ROAP) and Headquarters (HQ). Project Context and Scope: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that safe and orderly migration benefits migrants and society and is essential for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IOM supports the Member States to effectively manage the various challenges related to migration and provides assistance to migrants. After over a decade since the International Organization for Migration (IOM) started its operation in Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Lao government joined as a 171st member state of IOM in June 2018. Working in various thematic areas, IOM engages in migration governance policy as its core mandate and its overall mandate to promote and support evidence-based policy making and to call attention to the benefits of mainstreaming migration into the policy planning process. As the country aspires to graduate from Least Developed Country and is drafting the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, IOM’s strategic engagement is focused on mainstreaming migration governance into policy documents. This project aims to promote development-friendly migration policies through enhancing the evidence base for policy development, strengthening coordination and information-sharing within the government and 2 encouraging dialogue on emerging migration challenges and benefits. The project is part of a broader programme on enhancing the linkage between migration management and development in the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the development of the 10th NSEDP 2026-2030 and the next generation of UNSDCF. The Project Support Unit (RPSU) at IOM provides technical and programmatic support to IOM Country Offices across the region. It ensures the quality and coherence of project proposals, aligns them with strategic priorities, and supports resource mobilization efforts. The unit also promotes knowledge sharing and capacity building to enhance the effectiveness of migration-related initiatives throughout Asia and the Pacific. Organizational Department/Unit to which the Consultant is contributing: Migration Policy Unit and Project Support Unit
Project Support:
Support the Chief of Mission in strategic planning, coordination with donors and stakeholders, and implementation of resource mobilization mission-wide initiatives. These included but were not limited to drafting strategic briefing notes, supporting strategic planning by contributing to the development of fundraising strategies and donor engagement plans, identifying funding opportunities, and applying for calls for proposals and concept notes/project proposals aligned with IOM’s strategic priorities.Support the IOM Mission in Lao PDR’s resource mobilization efforts by maintaining proactive and effective relationships with donors and partners through regular communication and timely updates. Contribute to project development by engaging with donor relations counterparts, providing technical inputs, strategic thinking for resource mobilization, and strengthening IOM’s mandate in the country, and drafting relevant sections of funding proposals, appeals, and other resource mobilization documents. Participate in coordination meetings to increase IOM’s strategic engagement and mandate within the UN system and otherwise. In coordination with the thematic units, be responsible for developing concept notes and project proposals as per the IOM Project Handbook and lead the endorsement through PRIMA, etc. Act as the focal point for the design and development of new projects in close coordination with all stakeholders. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of project implementation and PRIMA requirements and act as a focal point for IOM Lao PDR to respond to institutional queries from HQ, RO, and external counterparts. Support project units in monitoring and evaluation of projects to generate data and improve the reporting quality standards of the mission. Strengthen the data and knowledge management of the country office. In coordination with project staff, lead institutional reporting processes (timelines, requirements, etc.), and when required, support drafting of reports to be submitted to the donor, RO, and HQ.Support in facilitating training to inform relevant colleagues on project development, reporting, communication, and M&E, as well as the roll-out of institutional updates and guidance material. Research, analyze, and draft other documents necessary for project development, reporting, and donor liaison purposes.Migration Governance Policy:
Contribute to contributions and compile various periodic reports, including the yearly and mid-term reviews and IOM inputs into the United Nations (UN) Country Framework-related and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda processes, as well as inputs for national, sub-regional, and regional processes. Perform the responsibilities of an in-house consultant on migration policy governance under the IOM Development Fund project—Strengthening migration policy reform in Lao PDR through mainstreaming migration into key national policy frameworks. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of project implementation and PRIMA requirements and act as a focal point for IOM Lao PDR to respond to institutional queries from HQ, RO, and external counterparts. Prepare briefings in relation to the CoM's liaison functions for the Government, United Nations Country Team (UNCT) partners, and visiting delegations and donors. Including liaising with respective project staff for related organizational events. Work in coordination with project staff to provide guidance on assessment/research/situational reports/displacement tracking matrix, etc. In coordination with project staff, ensure IOM’s participation in related working groups—the UN Network for Migration and other UN interagency engagements. Support IOM’s visibility and engagement with wider discussion about migration, such as the human trafficking working group meeting and other related events.Other duties:
Under the direct supervision of CoMs and the CT unit, work on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration cases referred to the mission. Undertake duty travels as required. Perform such other duties as may be assigned. Education Master’s degree in political or social Sciences, Business Administration, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law 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 Experience in the field of migration issues, including operational and field experience; Experience in project development, reporting, M&E, and research; Experience of development assistance framework of donors and donor reporting templates; Demonstrated experience in coordinating projects and providing policy support as well as project development; 4 Demonstrated experience in donor liaison; Demonstrated experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national/international institutions, and NGOs; Experience in the Asia Pacific region is a distinct advantage.Skills In-depth knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subject areas dealt with by the organization. Proven skills in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and establishing and maintaining working relations with senior government officials, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors, including familiarity with the humanitarian cluster system. Demonstrated ability to identify, approach, and coordinate with stakeholders of diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise. Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming.Languages Fluency in English (oral and written) is requiredIOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. Travel required The consultant under this contract will require traveling to work based at the duty station, the Vientiane Office of IOM Lao PDR.Required Competencies IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values: Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.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.Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.Core Competencies—Behavioral Indicators 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 actions and delegated work.Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.Notes 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, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies