Programme Officer 182 views0 applications

Position Title: Programme Officer

Duty Station: N’Djamena, Chad

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade UG

Type of Appointment: Special short-term ungraded, 6 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 17 May 2021

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.

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Context:

The ten-year violent conflict in the Lake Chad Basin Region (Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon) has created a deepening social, political, security and humanitarian crisis that has displaced approximately 2.6 million people and affected some 17 million. In response to requests from Governments of the region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting activities aiming to create the necessary pre-conditions for the identification and reintegration of ‘low-risk’ former associates of Boko Haram, reducing recruitment into violent extremist organizations and promoting broad reconciliation for sustained reintegration and peacebuilding.

Working under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, and in close coordination with the Regional Senior Disengagement, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) Coordinator and Emergency and Post Crisis (EPC) Regional Thematic Specialist (RTS) at the Regional Office of West and Central Africa (ROWCA), the successful candidate will be responsible for the provision of support to the management and coordination of the Disengagement, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) programme in Chad. The successful candidate will support the implementation and oversight of IOM’s country-level DDRR activities with a particular focus on supporting a government-led process, including the development of respective national legal and policy frameworks, and supporting aspects such as registration and vetting processes, public outreach and communications, community-based reconciliation mechanisms to provide locally tailored reintegration assistance to individuals who have separated from Boko Haram, as a critical step for regional peace-building and restoration of social cohesion. S/he will convene multiple stakeholders across government, in the international community, and within the Organization to facilitate programme success.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will have the following overall responsibilities:

1. Support the Programme Manager in ensuring the proper management of DDRR programme operations at the country level and the programmatic, financial, administrative and technical oversight of programme activities in line with IOM policies and procedures, as well as relevant donor requirements.
2. Contribute to coordinating the design and development of DDRR and DDRR-related projects and programmes including the assessment of strategic opportunities within the programme framework, regular risk analysis, and proposal development with detailed budgets and work plans. Make operational recommendations for improved coherence, risk management and delivery.
3. Under the guidance of the Programme Manager, frame programme interventions with the national Government, including through technical cooperation partnerships, and community engagement frameworks, addressing resource requirements, and activity-level development, coordinate and strengthen strategic alliances with institutional and operational partners.
4. Upon request by Program Manager, maintain collaborative relationships with donors, local grantees, local government authorities, local contractors, international NGOs, donors, and other key stakeholders.
5. Discuss with the Programme Manager new/improved activity concepts identified by programme staff, and provide technical inputs for the development of new project activities accordingly.
6. Ensure operational oversight across four pillars of concurrent activity, building on regular context analysis and programme assessment, to include national policy and framework development; technical government capacities and transition processes; individual beneficiary profiling, needs and support; and community-based return, reintegration and reconciliation activities, including the development of information and strategic communications activities.
7. Supervise and train DDRR programme staff.
8. Train and sensitize staff on the principles of humanitarian action and Do No Harm and ensure that conflict sensitivity is integrated in programme analysis, planning, recruitment, procurement, partnerships, communications and monitoring and evaluation; support the development of and training on risk management strategies.
9. Promote access to facilitate programme activities and undertake regular field travel and on-site monitoring; oversee implementation of programme impact evaluations, as required.
10. Upon request by the Programme Manager, represent IOM at relevant seminars, meetings and other events to promote awareness of DDRR initiatives, conflict reduction and prevention of violent extremism and disseminate stakeholder views of context analysis, initiatives and the results of broad partnership initiatives.
11. Support the financial management of the programme at the country level and facilitate the Programme Manager’s oversight of procurement processes.
12. Support programme and institutional reporting obligations and ensure that reporting deadlines to different donor are met.
13. Uphold security procedures and requirements towards ensuring the safety and integrity of programme staff and operations.
14. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Law, International Relations, Development Studies, Planning 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

• Professional experience in managing crisis response, recovery and development projects and managing staff;

• Experience with handling confidential data;

• Professional experience the field of DDRR;

• Experience working with specialized international agencies (UN agencies, international organizations, and international NGOs);

• Prior work experience with IOM is an asset;

• Experience in project management and monitoring and evaluation;

• Experience supervising a team with diverse background;

• Experience working effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance country office or regional objectives as an asset;

• Prior work experience in the region and understanding of regional issues and trends is an advantage.

Skills

• Knowledge of MS Office suite (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook, etc);

• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization; and,

• Excellent demonstrated analytical skills applied on a wide range of factors, parameters, policies and priorities for the assessment and resolution of complex situations, including technical understanding.

Languages

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 (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese).

For all applicants, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic, and/or local language 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

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

• 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

• 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.

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.