Policy Officer At International Organization for Migration

Position Title: Policy 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: 22 February 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; Madagascar; 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:

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. In September 2016, IOM became a related agency of the United Nations (UN), thereby becoming the UN Migration Agency. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services to migrants and advice to governments, including in the development of coherent and rights-based migration policies and mainstreaming migration into the development agenda. In this regard, and in the context of the UN Network on Migration, an important responsibility of IOM is the provision of support and advice to governments on the implementation, follow-up and review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

IOM is actively supporting West and Central African countries to ensure that the development and implementation of migration policies is informed by evidence-based research and analysis and integrates innovative and sustainable good practices. To this end, the IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar (RO Dakar) engages closely with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Commission based in Libreville, Gabon and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission with based in Abuja, Nigeria. ECCAS and ECOWAS (hereafter: the Commissions) work to foster collaboration among their respective Member States and ensure a common regional approach to migration issues and challenges by facilitating information exchange, dialogue and cooperation on various thematic areas of migration, including labour mobility, diaspora engagement, cross-border trade, climate change, land degradation, irregular migration, terrorism, poverty, economic instability and endemic conflict. The Commissions also play a crucial role in the implementation, follow-up and review of the GCM as most of the migration in West and Central Africa is intra-regional.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Regional Policy and Liaison Officer (Sr. RPLO) and the direct supervision of the Regional Policy and Liaison Officer (RPLO), the successful candidate will collaborate closely with relevant Regional Office colleagues to support engagement with ECCAS and ECOWAS. Furthermore, the successful candidate will backstop the Office’s work on migration and development, engagement with the UN at the local, national and regional levels, and assistance to support advocacy, policy and strategic engagements with governments and other partners.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Support RO Dakar’s coordination with IOM Offices that have liaison functions with regional bodies, notably IOM Nigeria for the ECOWAS Commission and IOM Gabon for the ECOWAS Commission, in particular in preparing background material, briefs, and meeting notes.
2. In close coordination with the policy unit and relevant thematic colleagues in RO Dakar, support the development of policy briefs on issues relevant to the ECCAS and the ECOWAS regions for internal and external use.
3. In coordination with the policy unit and the liaison officers in Gabon and Nigeria, support the timely preparation of standard briefings notes, reports and policy updates on IOM activities in relation with the Commissions’ dialogues and programmes.
4. Support the Liaison Officers in Gabon and Nigeria in ensuring that senior IOM staff are well-prepared for participation in key ECCAS and ECOWAS meetings and are aware of background information and preparatory discussions leading up to those meetings by providing regular updates.
5. Assist the activities of the Regional and National UN Migration Networks by supporting capacity building initiatives directed towards their members and by supporting the facilitation of internal cross-sectoral coordination involving the Regional Office, Country Offices, IOM Headquarters and other entities.
6. Compile, draft and disseminate various situation reports, summaries and updates among Country Offices as needed.
7. Assist with the preparations of key high-level regional events, such as the Regional Chiefs of Mission / Heads of Office strategic Planning Retreat, virtual trainings and webinars, Commission meetings related to migration, including meetings of the Commissions’ Regional Consultative Processes on Migration.
8. Undertake focused research on various migratory trends to support preparations of policy briefs, talking points, presentations, and other advocacy materials.
9. Support RO Dakar’s policy unit in compiling and updating activity profiles of Country Offices in view to facilitate effective engagement with governments and other development partners.
10. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Migration studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in liaising with regional multilateral bodies, governments and other national/international institutions is desirable;

• Work experience in the West and Central African region is an asset;

• Experience in developing policies, strategies, and strategic partnerships an asset;

• Experience in the areas of inter-state cooperation on migration, migration governance andmigration policy a strong advantage;

• Experience supporting and working with cross-functional teams in a dynamic multicultural environment;

• Experience organizing meetings and events is desirable.

Skills

• Great writing skills in French and English;

• Good knowledge of project formulation, implementation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices;

• Knowledge of displacement, refugee and migration related issues in fragile and conflict affected countries;

• Knowledge of technical cooperation principles, concepts and techniques;

• Skills in facilitating partnerships and collaboration on strategic areas;

• Seeking to bring innovation in programmes and policy approaches;

• Proven analytical skills, both qualitative and quantitative;

• Excellent communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write clearly, succinctly and in a manner that appeals to a wide audience;

• Strategic thinking, including demonstrated ability to effectively synthesize information, organize complex ideas and place them in a wider organizational context;

• Understanding of migration issues, trends and policies.

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 and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Portuguese 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 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.

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 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 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.