Position Title: Regional Protection Officer

Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P2

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

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 31 January 2022

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; Aruba (Netherlands); Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros;Congo (the); Cook Islands; Cuba; Curaçao; Fiji; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; Luxembourg; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; 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:

Irregular migration along the Mediterranean routes is increasingly dangerous for migrants. Crossing the Mediterranean is by far the deadliest route, with recorded deaths of over 45,334 people since 2014 (IOM, 2021). In addition, human trafficking and other exploitative practices along the route are heavily affecting migrants during their migratory journey along the routes of the Central Mediterranean.

To meet these challenges IOM, with support from the European Union (EU), has been implementing targeted interventions in 13 countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia) to protect the security, dignity and rights of migrants along these important and dangerous migration routes and to help in improving the reintegration of returnees through an innovative approach. This is achieved through different types of interventions including protection and assistance to vulnerable and stranded migrants, provision of direct assistance through search and rescue support, identification, referral and direct assistance to vulnerable migrants, assistance for voluntary return, support for sustainable reintegration in the communities of origin, the dissemination of accurate information on migration to migrants, potential migrants and communities, and the collection of data on migration flows. The aim is to strengthen the technical and material capacities of authorities and organizations involved in these areas so that they can ultimately take over the policies and programmes related to the protection and reintegration of migrants developed and/or strengthened in the Region, with a view to improving the governance of migration in the region.

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator (EUTF Regional Coordination Unit), with the thematic support of the Regional Specialist on Migrant Protection and Assistance, and the direct supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator, the Regional Protection Officer is responsible for coordinating and implementing migrant assistance and protection activities in the Region. Activities will be carried out in coordination with the United Nations, coordinated humanitarian strategies and government counterparts.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Carry out preliminary assessments of migrant protection and assistance needs at the regional level, identify problems/gaps and propose/prioritise timely practical actions to respond to particular protection problems.
2. In collaboration with the Regional MHPSS Officer, coordinate assistance to individual cases of concern and facilitate referral and treatment (e.g., screening, interview, counselling, referral or assistance, depending on programme capacities) in line with IOM standards and guidelines.
3. Assist and provide technical guidance to IOM Country Offices (CO) in the establishment of referral mechanisms and in the selection and monitoring of implementing partners in charge of providing protection services in line with IOM standards and guidelines.
4. Support COs in the coordination of transit centres for migrants and shelters for victims of trafficking in line with IOM counter-trafficking and protection standards.
5. Communicate with appropriate IOM Headquarters (HQ) units, COs, the Regional Office, and other relevant counterparts, and provide information and technical guidance as required on regional migrant protection activities.
6. Participate in reviewing proposals and reports related to migrant protection activities prepared by COs for consistency and accuracy and facilitate proper information exchange on policy and operational aspects of the projects between IOM, donors, and other stakeholders.
7. Contribute to knowledge management in the Region by compiling and sharing information on protection tools and best practices.
8. Assess training needs on protection issues and need for capacity building among IOM staff and relevant counterparts (government, civil society).
9. Provide technical inputs for the development and delivery of relevant training curricula to IOM’s staff and relevant counterparts at the regional and national levels.
10. In coordination with the Regional Emergency and Post Crisis Unit, regularly participate in inter-agency regional protection fora (e.g., protection cluster, child-protection sub-cluster, Gender-Based Violence sub-cluster, relevant task forces, etc.) and monitor the protection needs of mobile populations as well as communities affected by mobility and their systematic reporting and resolution.
11. Undertake duty travel as per need.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.