Position Title : Programme Support Officer

Duty Station : Panama City, Panama

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 13 July 2020

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; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Djibouti; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People's Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; 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:

In response to the massive outflow of the large-scale population movements registered in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as a result of the political, socio-economic and human rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and line with its mandate, IOM is one of the agencies taking part in the implementation the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan in 17 countries in the LAC region. As of May 2020, more than 5.1 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are outside their country of origin, with 4.3 million in the Region alone. Moreover, as mandated by the UN Secretary-General to IOM and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are co-leading this regional response and have established a Joint Response Platform in Panama. Moreover, as of 25 March 2020, IOM is joining the health and humanitarian community to launch the interagency COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP), which includes the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) for the Venezuela crisis.

The Office of the Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation (hereinafter Venezuela Regional Team) manages a portfolio of projects in the areas of emergency response, protection, and socio-economic integration in the region. To effectively manage a large and complex programme portfolio, IOM has established a centralized Programme Support Unit. The successful candidate will contribute to Programme Support duties for projects in the region related to the Venezuela Situation. In particular, s/he will support reporting, project development, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) functions of the office.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General’s Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation, and the direct supervision of the Head of the Programme Support Unit, the successful candidate will support the organization’s donor liaison, project development, reporting actions through contributing to the development, review and submission of project proposals and donor reports, in coordination with donor representatives in Panama, the region, and Headquarters (HQ) levels, Regional Project Development Officers, and other relevant IOM regional/HQ colleagues.

S/he will also assist in regional Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) efforts and with the development of strategies, methodologies, and contingency plans that respond to new and emerging operational challenges for the regional response to the Venezuela Situation.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

  1. Contribute to timely and accurate reporting including official monthly, interim, and final reports for donors and the Venezuela Response Team (VRT) based on programme objectives, work plans, and timelines set by project agreements. In addition, contribute to periodic and activity-specific reports from the Country offices (CO), Regional, and Headquarters, as may be required.

  2. Support the organization’s project development actions by maintaining regular contact with relevant counterparts and by providing technical inputs and drafted sections of project funding submissions, proposals, and appeals, as well as supporting the VRT in all Project Information and Management Application (PRIMA) tasks.

  3. Contribute to the Organization’s MEAL actions by supporting development of MEAL tools and supporting MEAL activities related to the regional project portfolio (ex: indicators development/tracking, liaison with external evaluation teams), and coordination with MEAL focal points in relevant CO, RO/HQ offices.

  4. Support and assist in liaison with relevant authorities, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders.

  5. Research, analyse, and draft other documents such as speeches, talking points, etc. necessary for reporting and stakeholder liaison purposes.

  6. Monitor, analyse, and draft progress reports on emergency preparedness and response, socio-economic integration and development, and migration management programming in the region as it relates to the Venezuela Situation.

  7. Maintain contacts and close coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders for information collection and sharing, to jointly contribute to project development, reporting, and MEAL duties, discuss trends and lessons learned, and to provide information regarding emergency preparedness and response, socio-economic integration and development, and migration management programming in the region as it relates to the Venezuela Situation.

  8. Take part in the planning, organizing, and coordinating of the Programme Support Unit Work Plan and development and updating of a project, reporting, and MEAL schedule for all regionally managed projects.

  9. Keep accurate and pertinent records of all correspondence, project development and reporting files, and other Programme Support information, including management of files in IOM SharePoint.

  10. Provide general administrative and technical support such as preparation and organization of conferences, meetings, trainings, and other events, as well as communication and liaison with donors and counterparts.

  11. Undertake duty travel within and outside Panama to provide technical and procedural information and guidance to support reporting, MEAL, and project development efforts.

  12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Science, International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Policy/Administration, 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

• Previous experience working in an international organization and knowledge of the UN is essential;

• Previous experience with and knowledge of donor funding mechanisms is essential;

• Previous work in relevant issues such as migration, displacement, humanitarian assistance, socio-economic integration, is essential.

Skills

• Understanding of the situation within Venezuela, as well as the region, is essential;

• Knowledge of the programme management cycle;

• Computer skills and knowledge of relational databases, Microsoft applications, spreadsheets, word processing, etc.;

• Sound knowledge of project implementation and donor reporting procedures; familiarity with financial management;

• Experience in project development and report writing skills.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position fluency in English and Spanish is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Portuguese and/ or French is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database

(https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

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 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 – behavioural indicators level 2

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.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in

the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you