Humanitarian Access Officer At International Organization for Migration

Position Title : Humanitarian Access Officer

Duty Station : Kabul, Afghanistan

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P3

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

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 07 October 2021

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; Fiji; Gabon; 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:

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Country Office (CO) in Afghanistan was established in 1992 and has maintained an uninterrupted presence in the country. IOM Afghanistan is one of the largest IOM COs worldwide, with over 540 personnel.

40 years of conflict have shaped Afghanistan as a country of displacement, migration and return. The intensifying armed conflict in 2020 and continuing deterioration of the protection environment for civilians, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, is driving displacement and cross-border out-flows into Iran, Pakistan and beyond.

2020 was one of the highest cross-border return years on record, with over 865,000 Afghan migrant returns. Internal displacement is driven by conflict and natural disasters with hundreds

of thousands of Afghans displaced annually. In addition to ongoing insecurity and the US and NATO announcements of complete troop withdrawals by 11 September 2021, the regional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic now striking India, Pakistan and Iran, and related economic down-turn, severe drought-like conditions are projected for Afghanistan in 2021.

The successful candidate’s core responsibility is to monitor the overall security situation in close coordination and collaboration with the Office of Staff Security, provide sound and timely advice to IOM staff and field management in order to support the safe access and efficient and improved delivery of programme activities. The incumbent will provide humanitarian access and security risk management advice and analysis on building relationships with stakeholders, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, managing critical incidents, and providing timely advisories.

The successful candidate will help maximize the effectiveness of IOM’s activities in Afghanistan by contributing to the design and ongoing adaptation of programming to ensure it is contextually appropriate. Where applicable, Humanitarian Access Officer will also provide guidance and support to partner organizations and ensure the capacity building of IOM staff and partners with active hands-on roll out and facilitation of training curricula.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) of IOM Afghanistan, the successful candidate will facilitate humanitarian access coordination efforts both in the field and in Kabul to help in ensuring improved outcomes for IOM programmes and partners. This position will work closely with all progamme units, the Programme Support Unit and the Office of Staff Security.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Lead the establishment of a CO-wide framework for collecting, analyzing and reporting on access issues.
2. Facilitate a coherent, strategic and coordinated approach to humanitarian access, civil military coordination and protection related issues and advise on applicable legal and policy frameworks.
3. Promote initiatives to safeguard protection principles including safe and equitable access, to minimize protection risks and work to build and maintain humanitarian acceptance while ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
4. Oversee the establishment and roll out of a training curriculum for field staff on humanitarian access negotiation and related themes.
5. Undertake detailed analysis of conflict dynamics and their impact on IOM’s humanitarian operations, producing high quality sitreps, reports and briefings towards impacting programme development and expansion in close coordination with the Programme Support Unit, programme managers and the Office of Staff Safety.
6. Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in order to backstop programmatic decision making and staff safety.
7. Partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that the latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
8. Represent IOM at the Humanitarian Access Group, Inter-Cluster Coordination Team and the Humanitarian Country Team in coordination with CoM and provides support to cluster working groups as required inclusive of facilitating exchange on cross cutting issues.
9. Establish and maintain contacts with government officials, other United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic COs and related access focal points.
10. Establish relationships with other IOM COs, Regional Office (RO), Headquarters (HQ) towards facilitation of a community of practice on access coordination in countries in crisis.
11. Support field level programmatic engagement with parties to the conflict, including non-state armed groups, for the purposes of facilitating effective and principled humanitarian action.International Organization for MigrationInternational Organization for Migration
12. Support advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners, government officials, the media, etc.
13. Participate in regular field trips to IOM sub-offices and project sites to undertake in-depth reviews of IOM operations, provide training/capacity building for staff and to engage with local stakeholders towards information sharing and strengthening of coordination. Makes regular contributions to the CO’s Business Continuity Plan as required.
14. Perform such other duties as maybe assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, International Relations, Political Science, 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

• Minimum three (3) years of work experience in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) at an international level is required;

• Has experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area;

• Knowledge and experience of working with humanitarian coordination mechanisms, including

Humanitarian Country Teams, Inter-Cluster Coordination Groups and Clusters;

• Experience in the field of humanitarian/post conflict recovery affairs, knowledge on global policies and guidelines related to humanitarian/recovery affairs and humanitarian reform;

• Experience working in implementation and delivery of humanitarian/recovery projects at the field level is a must;

• Experience working in complex and conflict affected settings that require sound judgment, leadership and operational flexibility is mandatory;

• Previous experience in a similar capacity with humanitarian agencies, in particular the UN Common System is desirable;

• Experience in humanitarian access, protection or civil military coordination in a complex emergency setting with state and non-state actors is required;

• Experience designing and implementing training programmes on humanitarian access negotiation, crisis management and related themes strongly preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of humanitarian delivery considerations, including ensuring accountability to affected people.

• Ability to conceptualize and strategically analyze capacity, including analyzation and articulation of humanitarian dimension of complex issues that require coordination with UN response.

• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems.

• Proven ability to create networks and build relationships in conflict affected, dynamic settings with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Understanding of humanitarian principles and access challenges in Afghanistan, preferred;

• Ability to frequently travel to the provinces/IOM sub-offices, project offices/sites is a must.

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively in English; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Completion of Emergency Trauma Bag, IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit), UNDSS security management system trainings, and other related humanitarian access certification courses preferred.

• Sound computer skills.

• Proven high-level representation skills, such as speaking/presenting at meetings and providing situational analysis.

• Proven capacity to work effectively in small teams.

Languages

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

External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese).

For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Dari, Pashto or other local 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 be based in IOM Kabul main office, with frequent travel to field locations and sub-offices required.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Previous applicants do not need to re-apply.

1 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 three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• 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.

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 action 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 potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

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 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.

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