Position Title: Regional Emergency GBV Mainstreaming Officer

Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P3

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

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 27 November 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; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; 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; Saint Lucia; 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:

As an important function of its mandate, IOM is the Cluster Lead Agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) for disaster-induced displacement situations under the 2005 Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Humanitarian Reform. Since 2015, IOM Headquarters (HQ) has been implementing a global project on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation activities in humanitarian responses under the Safe from the Start initiative (SftS) supported by Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). This project has allowed IOM to advance commitments made to the global Call to Action on Protection from GBV in Emergencies and become one of the leading agencies on mainstreaming GBV risk mitigation measures in humanitarian settings.

As part of the effort to better address needs at the operational level, IOM is reinforcing regional capacity to support GBV risk mitigation mainstreaming in emergency programming, in line with the objectives set in the Global SftS project. Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, and direct supervision of the EPC Regional Thematic Specialist (RTS) and in coordination with the SftS Project Coordinator and Global GBV Support Team in HQ, the Regional Emergency GBV Mainstreaming Officer will be responsible and accountable for: 1) Supporting emergency programming in West and Central Africa, providing in-country and remote technical support to Country Office – including rapid response based on identified needs; 2) initiating and supporting GBV risk mitigation initiatives across the Region, supporting also the roll out of the GBV in Crises (GBViC) Institutional Framework at country level, when needed, in coordination with the Protection Division (PXD), as required.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Provide review, endorsement and tracking support to the RTS for the project proposals developed by COs in the Region, and maintain regular coordination with relevant HQ Divisions on endorsement, reporting and monitoring of results. Ensure that all endorsed projects are:

a. Consistent with the IOM Constitution, IOM Global and Regional Strategies and the Organization’s policies, thematic guidelines and manuals and any relevant national and/or regional strategies;

b. Coherent, relevant, and feasible, and take into account good practices in the respective migration/thematic area(s) inclusive of risk mitigation strategies;

c. Developed according to IOM’s project development procedures as established in the IOM Handbook on Projects;

d. Integrating IOM’s cross-cutting priorities, such as integrity, transparency, and accountability (including accountability to affected populations – AAP); equality, diversity, and inclusion conflict sensitivity; protection centered (including the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse – PSEA); and considering environmental sustainability; and,

e. Integrating GBV risk mitigation actions across all relevant sectors in all IOM emergency response programming proposals.

2. Support and guide Country Offices under the RO in developing their emergency portfolio by supporting the development of activities, looking at enhancing the overall quality of programming, and ensuring the integration of GBV risk mitigation and aligned mainstreaming actions across technical sectors, such as CCCM, Shelter, WASH, among others.

3. In coordination with Protection (PXD) unit in the RO, regularly monitor and assess current initiatives supporting GBV interventions in emergency programming at Country and Regional levels and identify potential areas of expansion.

4. Provide in-country surge support as needed and requested by Country Offices in emergencies, including to ensure GBV is mainstreamed from the launch of IOM humanitarian interventions, advise on responding to reported challenges, and help teams devise strategies to uphold the safety, dignity and privacy of people affected by humanitarian crises.

5. At the request of the RTS and in coordination with relevant units in the Regional Office, represent IOM and actively engage in the regional Emergency coordination fora; establish and further develop partnerships at the regional and operational level with external stakeholders.

6. Under the guidance of the RTS and with the technical support of the Global Teams, work with relevant units to develop technical guidance on good programming and how to strengthen inclusion and protection/GBV mainstreaming in the development, implementation and monitoring of IOM programmes at both regional and country levels.

7. Be aware of the activities implemented under the SftS initiative in the Region, such as the Women’s Participation Project, and identify potential synergies and opportunities for expansion.

8. In coordination with the Global Project Team in HQ and the PXD unit in the RO, support the roll out of IOM’s Institutional Framework on addressing GBV in crisis at Regional and Country levels by supporting the development of contextualized GBViC Country action plans and providing overall technical oversight on their implementation.

9. Design and adapt training materials aiming to address protection risks and GBV issues in IOM crisis operations, ensure complementarities with the IASC GBV Guidelines, ensure linkages and alignments with IOM’s Global Gender and Diversity, PSEA, PXD and GBV risk mitigation efforts and strengthen internal capacity and expertise within the Region for staff at both Country and Regional levels.

10. Support the IASC GBV guidelines initiatives in the Region, including capacity building activities and act as Focal Point for supporting the CCCM and Shelter and Settlements sectors within the IASC GBV Guidelines reference group in the Region.

11. Review, write or contribute to emergency related proposals, reports, position papers, strategies, collection of lessons learned and good practices, and other documents and publications as required, and ensure the mainstreaming of actions on GBV and inclusion.

12. Keep HQ informed of progress and undertake periodical reporting, as per global SftS project requirements.

13. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Gender Studies, Human Rights, Social Work, 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

• Solid expertise in Emergency response, Protection and GBV programming in emergency settings, including extensive field experience at the operational level in various humanitarian responses, including support to displaced populations and large migratory movements;
• Demonstrable experience developing strategies, operational frameworks and tools to address protection needs and GBV in emergency settings;
• Experience in developing capacity building materials and delivering trainings for various stakeholders – including humanitarian teams, national authorities, partners etc.;
• Previous experience in mainstreaming GBV within CCCM, Shelter and NFIs, WASH, DTM and other IOM emergency technical areas, highly desirable;
• Excellent knowledge of and solid experience working with global and national coordinating mechanisms – including humanitarian clusters, and working groups;
• Excellent ability to develop and support partnerships, strong representation and communication skills, and proven experience working with national authorities, humanitarian partners, donors, and other key stakeholders;
• 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 is desirable;
• Prior experience with a UN agency, or an international organization, is an advantage; and,
• Experience in liaising with other UN agencies, partner organizations, government authorities, inter-governmental institutions, other national and international institutions and national and international NGOs.

Skills

• Sound ability to communicate practical knowledge on actions to address Protection and GBV issues at the operational level; and,
• Proven expertise coordinating, working with and providing technical support various teams, including non-protection specialists.

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 Portuguese 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

Previous candidates do not need to re-apply.

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.

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.