Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator (P4) Dakar, Senegal

Position Title: Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator

Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P4

Type of Appointment: Special short-term graded, 9 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 21 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. External female candidates:
3. Candidate from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; 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 of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

IOM is committed to supporting regional institutions and Member States to reduce exposure and vulnerability to risks, enhance communities’ resilience and augment the capacity of crisis response agencies. The Emergency and Post-Crisis Units (EPC) in IOM’s Regional Offices provide direct support to the Organization’s crisis-related work, including emergency preparedness, response, risk reduction and support to recovery, transition, and peacebuilding processes. IOM supports capacity building and long-term risk reduction efforts in order to strengthen national responses and assure the operational presence required for rapid response and scale-up during sudden onset disasters or manmade conflict. This enables life-saving responses, the ability to provide real time displacement monitoring, support for recovery efforts and the identification and establishment of durable solutions for affected communities. As a part of these efforts, IOM is creating Regional Rapid Response Teams (RRRTs) in order to support emergency response capacities in the Region.

The IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROWCA) in Dakar, Senegal is one of the 6 IOM Regional Offices (RO) that oversees and provides strategic and technical support to IOM activities within the Region. In close collaboration with the other IOM’s Regional Offices, the Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator will be responsible for the emergency response aspects of the Rapid Response Team managed by the Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal.

Under the overall supervision of Deputy Regional Director for Operations and direct supervision of the Senior Regional Thematic Specialist (EPC), the Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator will be responsible and accountable for supporting and providing guidance to Country Offices in establishing or scaling up IOM’s emergency operations in countries affected by crisis. The Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator will also be responsible for coordinating the Rapid Response Team during deployments, in coordination with RO Dakar Deputy RD and EPC team, or, where applicable, other ROs. The Chief of Mission of the country of deployment will supervise the day-to-day work of the Coordinator during deployments.

The Rapid Response Teams are expected to deploy to assigned emergency situations anywhere in the world, ideally within 72 hours, for periods in general not exceeding two months, subject to extension in exceptional circumstances. The Rapid Response Crisis Coordinator should be prepared to travel for approximately 2/3 of the working time, while adhering to ‘downtime’ guidelines.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Deploy in rapid onset and/or major emergencies, in support to Country Offices to start-up or scale-up emergency response operations. This includes enhancing country office capacity to respond, setting up systems and monitoring progress towards enhanced response emergency capacity, in close coordination with the Chief of Mission, the Regional Office, and Headquarters.

2. Under the day-to-day supervision of the relevant Chief of Mission during deployments, manage all operational, financial and administrative aspects of the emergency programs including recruitment of new staff and expansion of the emergency portfolio.

3. In close coordination with Country and Regional offices, assess, strengthen and/or develop the overall direction and strategy of the emergency response in the country of deployment.

4. Ensure a comprehensive emergency response including good and effective coordination of emergency projects activities:

   – Lead and coordinate emergency needs and other assessments, in partnership with other agencies, sectors, governments, etc., where applicable;

   – Establish or expand emergency response programmes, including, for example, establishing Shelter/NFI pipelines, overseeing distributions, establishing or scaling up Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) or other data operations, establishing or scaling up other sectoral programming;

   – Lead and coordinate the development of a common strategic vision for emergency operations;

   – Ensure that response efforts are inclusive and coordinated by regularly convening and leading coordination meetings, and participating in all relevant coordination mechanisms;

   – Lead inclusive resource mobilization efforts, including liaison with governments, donors, partners; and,

   – Liaise with programme managers, sector coordinators, relevant sectors and humanitarian actors to ensure timely, safe and unimpeded access by emergency programmes to populations in need.

5. Work in close collaboration with the CoM and Country Office staff to ensure that all the components of the emergency response and the regular recovery and development activities operate in a coherent and mutually supportive manner, including by ensuring synergies and cohesion with existing Country Office structures and programmes.

6. Monitor and evaluate project activities while ensuring proper utilization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), manuals, guidance notes, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tools and methodologies in the implementation of project activities.

7. Ensure adequate information management and reporting on project activities. Ensure compliance with IOM and donor regulations and obligations as indicated in the funding agreements, project documents, work plans and budgets, with emphasis on timely and accurate reporting.

8. Ensure IOM visibility through oversight of public information related to emergency response, in close coordination with DMC staff and focal points in the Country and Regional offices. Provide regular updates and develop summaries, press releases and other relevant materials.

9. Develop and maintain strong partnerships and regular liaison with IOM program partners such as key Government institutions, UN agencies, private sector actors and NGOs aiming at enhancing coordination of humanitarian activities, facilitating the implementation of ongoing activities and implementation of joint activities.

10. Liaise and engage with donor representatives, including periodically briefing them on current and planned programs in order to mobilize necessary financial support.

11. Identify opportunities for emergency response programmes and develop new project proposals in line with IOM humanitarian response strategy and, in coordination with the CoM, Project Development Unit, relevant Regional Thematic Specialists and Project Managers.

12. Ensure the integration of IOM’s cross-cutting priorities in emergency programming, such as integrity, transparency, and accountability (including Accountability to Affected Populations – (AAP)); equality, diversity, and inclusion (including age, gender, and diversity considerations, comprising of Gender Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation and disability inclusion); protection centered (including the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – (PSEA)); and considering environmental sustainability.

13. Represent IOM in humanitarian partner meetings and ensure the adequate liaison with other relevant stakeholders as requested.

14. Provide supervision, guidance and direction to all staff in the emergency response, while at all times ensuring synergies and cohesion with the country office structure.

15. Undertake frequent and regular duty travel to the field to monitor emergency programs and to identify bottlenecks and implement solutions.

16. At the end of each deployment, ensure complete handover, reporting, budget reconciliation and other procedures established for the RRRTs and ensure remote support to Country Office in transitioning post deployments as needed.

17. Provide technical and capacity building support to Country Office during time when not on deployment.

18. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in emergency settings and complex environments;
• Experience in programme management with strong knowledge of IOM/UN project life cycles;
• Experience in liaising with government authorities, inter-governmental institutions, other national and international institutions and national and international NGOs;
• Experience in Camp Coordination and Camp Management, ES/NFI, Shelter, DTM and socio-economic recovery; and,
• A solid understanding of conflict sensitivity as a core principle and the ability to incorporate it throughout a project cycle, including experience applying conflict analysis tools and adjusting programming according to potential influence on conflict dynamics.

Skills

• Excellent leadership, coordination and communication skills;
• Sound judgment, ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data and make decision rapidly to resolve operational problems;
• Capacity to work effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments;
• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in MS Office package (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); and,
• Familiarity with IOM/UN administrative and financial management.

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 and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic 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 3

• 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.

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.