Protection Officer (P3) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Position Title: Protection Officer

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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: 03 July 2024

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; Barbados; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Fiji; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

The IOM Special Liaison Office (SLO) to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is accredited to the African Union and UNECA and maintains strategic liaison functions with UN liaison offices, Diplomatic missions, and International Non-Governmental Organizations. The IOM SLO Addis Ababa works to enhance IOM’s strategic engagement with these bodies, by ensuring the mainstreaming of migration in development-related, economic, political, social, environmental, humanitarian and peace and security policy agendas. This it does including through support to policy development, advocacy, and political engagements, building partnerships, programming, and enhancing capacities on migration management and governance principles in Africa. The IOM SLO Addis Ababa expands IOM’s institutional approach by ensuring alignment of the objectives of the Global Compact on Safe Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the UN Agenda 2030, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and other key continental migration policy frameworks and priorities.

While significant advancements have been made in strengthening systems for migrant protection those efforts need to be further supported and built upon, in the recognition that capacity development and strengthening of ownership are long-term processes and require a lot of investment. IOM works towards promoting and upholding the rights of migrants, host communities and other vulnerable populations; addressing protection risks and supporting governments to manage migration in a rights-based manner by implementing preventive, responsive and remedial actions.

Under the overall supervision of the Director for the IOM Special Liaison Office Addis Ababa, the direct supervision of the Senior Liaison Officer (UNECA) and via technical coordination with HQ Protection and related Divisions, the Protection Officer will support and coordinate IOM SLO in advancing the protection of migrants’ rights, fostering the application of international migration law and principles and ensuring the integration of migrants’ rights in policy and practice.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate engagements and provide advice and technical support including coordination with key partners, UNECA and relevant AUC departments on migrant protection and assistance policies and strategies.
2. Coordinate the implementation of protection interventions, including case management, development of protection tools and guidance, ensuring safe programming in line with Inter Agency Standing committee (IASC) Guidelines on Protection and IOM Policies and frameworks.
3. Coordinate engagements with African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), to advance protection of migrants’ rights.
4. Support mainstreaming of migrant protection and assistance in AU policies specifically for migrants in vulnerable situations, including trafficked survivors, unaccompanied and separated children, migrants with health-related needs.
5. Support coordination of protection interventions across RO and HQ to facilitate complementarity, synergies, and avoid duplication.
6. Standardize the application of protection related tools, guidelines and policies in protection programming, advocacy, and policy development.
7. Develop project proposals and manage projects/initiatives with a focus on protection and migrant’s rights and mobilizing the required resources.
8. Lead SLO Addis’s work on the protection of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in coordination with relevant partners and agencies. This will focus on project development, implementation, research & analysis and liaison work based on IOM institutional policy frameworks on provision of assistance to migrants.
9. Draft policy/position papers on issues of migrant protection in the African continent, with the aim of disseminating updated information through regular publications or information bulletins.
10. Prepare responses to ad-hoc requests from IOM offices, UNECA, AUC, donors and partners on issues of migrant protection.
11. Keep abreast of, analyze and provide advice on developments related to migrant protection as critical for the continent.
12. Represent SLO Addis at a technical level on protection-related issues and provide talking points or background information upon request.
13. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in International Law, Development Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Social Studies, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience with demonstrated concrete results; or,
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience with demonstrated concrete results.

Experience

• Working experience in migrant protection, migration affairs and development, preferably for a national government or intergovernmental organizations in Africa;
• Demonstrated work successes on protection issues (e.g., child protection, GBV, counter-trafficking, Return and Reintegration) including in the provision of direct assistance in a policy space;
• Proven track record of working closely with the African Union Commission is a strong advantage;
• Experience in translating protection policies to programmes highly desirable; and,
• Strong experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national/international institutions with proven record.

Skills

• Efficiency, flexibility, high level of professionalism and ability to work under pressure anda dhere to strict deadlines;
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds;
• Good knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming;
• Strong organizational, facilitation, communication, writing and presentations skills;
• Knowledge on migration and mobility issues, particularly in Africa will be added value;
• Project planning, coordination, development, management, monitoring and evaluation; and,
• Proven high-level representation skills, such as speaking at meetings and providing situational analysis.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of any of the AU and UN Official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) 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 five 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 – 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 actions 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 leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

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 and who do not have prior experience outside the duty station’s country as staff member in the Professional category 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 background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

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