Humanitarian Coordinator At International Organization for Migration

Position Title: Humanitarian Coordinator

Duty Station: Yangon, Myanmar

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P4

Type of Appointment: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 04 April 2023

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.

Context:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been present in Myanmar since 2005 and is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees, Internally Displaced People (IDP), victims of trafficking, stranded migrants, and other vulnerable migrants.

In the past two years, Myanmar has faced political, economic and security challenges, on top of pre-existing crises and vulnerabilities, as well as pockets of conflict. IOM has adapted programming and expanded emergency operations across key areas of need, in particularly the North-West, Rakhine and the South-East where there continues to be escalating conflict. Concurrently, there is widespread consensus and recognition that a highly localised response, supported by national partners, is the most effective way to reach populations, while these partners require greater support, funding, capacity building and engagement with coordination structures to ensure an equal partnerships approach and assistance which meet humanitarian standards.

IOM has been responding to these new and emerging needs by expanding emergency operations across key area – including through the provision of multi-sector in-kind and cash assistance, as well as health and protection. IOM has also continued key social cohesion and resilience activities.

Building on experience in other contexts, IOM will be setting up a Rapid Response Fund (RRF) with the view to provide small grants to local partners – coupled with capacity building and on-going technical guidance – to provide critical life-saving assistance to displaced populations affected by sudden shocks and conflict in the North-West and Rakhine. Assistance will include multi-purpose cash, non-food items, shelter, provision of critical water, sanitation and hygiene. In addition, there are new programs planned for disaster risk reduction, resilience and integrated programme in vulnerable rural communities.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), the Humanitarian Coordinator will oversee humanitarian programmes in Myanmar, with particular initial focus on establishing a rapid response fund, as well as new programmes on social cohesion, resilience and disaster risk reduction. This position will initially be based in Bangkok, with transition to Yangon dependent on visas.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Provide overall leadership of Emergency and Post-Crisis programming (EPC) in Myanmar, including leading the further development and management of the programme, provision of technical oversight and support to projects in different areas of the country, and ensuring a harmonized approach in line with overall humanitarian response planning for Myanmar.
2. Oversee all recruitment, training, capacity building and staff management under the EPCProgramme, including initial recruitment, team set-up and establishment of SOPs and protocols for the implementation of RRF. Provide overall supervision to project and programme officers and assistants, translators, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), reporting and technical teams.
3. Set-up the approach for development of further partnerships under the EPC programme, including partner vetting and storing of partner information for RRF purposes, and onboarding of new partners.
4. Develop a capacity building plan for partners in a range of technical areas, in coordination with other stakeholders, technical service providers, and internal IOM teams.
5. Oversee the review of partner proposals, ensuring effective technical oversight and inputs to proposals, to ensure high-quality, principled and cost-effective multi-sector programming.
6. Lead external coordination with actors to outline the scope of IOM humanitarian programs, ensure complementarity with existing approaches, information sharing, 4W reporting and harmonization with existing cluster and working group standards. Support partners to engage with these mechanisms as part of the implementation and reporting associated with their grants.
7. Support and drive coherent localization approaches and partnership approaches within the mission, ensuring best practices, systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to other teams and units are also shared and applied, in agreement with the CoM.
8. Lead the further development and oversight of initiatives focused on social cohesion, community stabilization, and disaster risk reduction.
9. Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation approaches, as well as reporting and complaints mechanisms, to maintain accountability in partner implementation and to develop robust mechanisms to ensure high-quality implementation under challenging conflict circumstances.
10. Represent IOM in strategic planning and interagency discussions as necessary, including the Humanitarian Country Team and other interagency forums relevant to EPC programming, to ensure that IOM contributes to the response planning and participates in key decision-making processes.
11. Prepare reports, communication materials, talking points and briefings either delivered directly or for sharing internally as well as externally.
12. Play a lead role in the mission’s donor liaison and resource mobilization efforts relating to humanitarian and EPC programming, including identification of new potential donors and funding opportunities and strengthening of relationships with existing donors. Lead the development of new project proposals relating to EPC programming.
13. Ensure close coordination and hold regular meetings with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), IOM Thailand and other Country Offices (CO) for coordination, information sharing and identification of areas of collaboration as relevant.
14. Exercise administrative, financial and operational management for humanitarian programs, ensuring effective budget management and oversight, and advising on any anticipated challenges in discussion with senior management.
15. Responsible for coordinating closely with security counterparts at the mission level and ensuring team members agree to required protocols and SOPs.
16. Ensure adherence to data protection principles for handling personal data of IOM beneficiaries, in regard to collection, use, storage, disclosure and disposal of personal data.
17. Engage in duty travel as needed and required to oversee field teams, provide technical guidance and to visit areas of operation
18. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Business Administration, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law 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

• Demonstrated expertise in partnerships management;
• Strong background in managing grants, vetting partners, establishing SOPs and approaches for partnerships;
• Experience and knowledge of key discussions and trends around localization;
• Strong operational background to support implementation of multi-sector humanitarian interventions, including multi-purpose cash, shelter, Non Food Items (NFI), WASH – with preference for a technical background in at least one of these areas, and preferable experience working in more than one of these technical areas;
• Experience with disaster and conflict contexts, including with disaster risk management;
• Experience in external engagement, representation and liaison at the strategic level;
• Operational and field experience in humanitarian response and IOM relevant areas of work;
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national/ international institutions and NGOs;
• Proven experience and understanding of cross-cutting issues including accountability to affected populations- and efforts to enhance this in operational response – PSEA, gender mainstreaming and complaints, response and feedback mechanisms

Skills

• Knowledge or experience working with the humanitarian inter-agency coordination systems.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to build relationships and skills engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Myanmar 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

The successful candidate will initially be assigned to Bangkok, Thailand, pending completion of visa formalities. Upon granting of the visa, the incumbent will transfer to Yangon, Myanmar.

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.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• 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.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.

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 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. 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.