Duty Station : Panama City, Panama
Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P3
Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible
Closing Date : 22 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:
Internal candidates
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; 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:
Established in 1951, IOM is leading inter-governmental organization providing services to governments and migrants in the field of migration. With 172-member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, 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.
As of July 2020, the Regional Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (RV4) estimated that more than 5.1 million refugees and migrants were outside of Venezuela, with the mast majority being in Latin America and the Caribbean. Many of them are in situations of extreme vulnerability which highlights the need to increase the international commitment and solidarity in support of plans to respond to concerned governments, addressing the more urgent humanitarian, protection and integration needs. On 12 April 2018, the UN Secretary-General, had tasked United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and IOM to lead and coordinate the response at the regional level. On 28 May 2018, the IOM Director General, and the High Commissioner for Refugees, sent to the Secretary General a joint letter informing him of the establishment by the two agencies of an inclusive, overarching Regional Inter-Agency Platform to steer the response to the Venezuelan refugees and migrants. The Regional Coordination Platform aims at developing a coherent and coordinated regional operational response in support of government authorities and national platforms. Protection is a key pillar of the R4V Platform’s work reflected in the Regional Refugee and Migration Response Plan (RMRP), the work of the R4V Protection Sector as well as the work of the sub-sectors on Child Protection, Human trafficking and smuggling and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) respectively.
IOM is committed to the principle of the centrality of protection in its humanitarian operations and has advocated for the human rights of migrants, including the rights of migrants in vulnerable situations. In this sense, it draws on decades of operational experienced, including from its work to address the crime of trafficking in person and assist victims of trafficking.
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 Interagency Coordination Unit, who also serves as Regional Coordinator for the R4V Platform, and in coordination with relevant Regional Thematic Specialists (RTS), including primarily the RTS for Migrant Protection and Assistance in IOM’s Regional Office of Buenos Aires, the successful candidate will be responsible for representing protection issues within the R4V Platform and for providing technical advice and assistance to improve the quality and impact of the R4V Platform’s work in this thematic area.
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
Act as the IOM focal point in the R4V Protection sector for thematic initiatives, as coordinated with R4V members, including (but not limited to) on trafficking in persons and human smuggling, child protection and support spaces and other mechanisms for identification and protection of migrants in vulnerable situations.
Establish and further effective working relationships on protection, at the regional and field level, with external stakeholders. Act as the IOM focal point for engagement in relevant advocacy initiatives, task forces, coordination activities, and committees convened.
Strengthen synergies of the R4V with other protection mechanisms, including by linking to Global and Humanitarian Response Plan(s) (HRP) Protection Clusters, as relevant.
Contribute to the development and lead the implementation of strategies and operational measures to reflect the centrality of protection in key intersectoral activities of the R4V Platform.
Actively seek and foster synergies with IOM’s response teams and with relevant regional processes, including foremost the Quito Process.
Develop and implement a Protection Action Plan for IOM’s activities to guide its work under the R4V Platform work.
Develop systematic supportive relationships and mentorship systems (as appropriate) and provide regular program and technical advice, information, support, and assistance to international and national staff and programs, including to other technical assistance team members in the Platform.
Develop and facilitate protection training modules for humanitarian staff, including United Nations (UN), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and serve as an internal resource person on protection issues for the R4V and IOM implementation teams.
Engage with regional networks and local stakeholders, such as NGOs, community leaders and local authorities, to seek synergies in addressing the vulnerabilities faced by Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the region. Such engagement may range from meetings to sensitization trainings and collaborating on joint advocacy strategies.
Review, write or contribute to proposals, reports, position papers, strategies and other documents and publications as required, with a protection focus.
Assist in the documentation and evaluation of processes and lessons learned from the field.
Supervise and build the capacity of program support officers, Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), consultants and interns.
Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Development Studies, Political Science, International Relations or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in protection programming in emergency contexts;
• Proven experience in inter-agency coordination in humanitarian settings;
• Proven expertise in assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations and victims of trafficking in particular;
• Demonstrable experience in drafting protection capacity building materials and ability to communicate technical expertise and practical knowledge on protection-related practices;
• Experience in field support and creation of tools, frameworks and/or policies;
• Experience in global as well as national coordinating mechanisms.
Skills
• Solid analytical and drafting skills.
• Excellent internal and external communication skills;
• Knowledge of the Cluster system and/or similar experience in migrant protection work.
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 French and/or Portuguese is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
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.