Regional Data Hub Coordinator At International Organization for Migration

Position Title: Regional Data Hub Coordinator

Duty Station: Cairo, Egypt

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: 23 May 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. External female candidates:
3. Candidate from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba (Netherlands); Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Cuba; Curaçao; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; 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 of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the technical guidance of the Director of IOM’s Global Data Institute (GDI), and in close collaboration with respective units in headquarters (HQ) and thematic leads at the Regional Office (RO), the successful candidate will be responsible for managing the Regional Data Hub (RDH) established in the MENA RO. The successful candidate will coordinate data and research related activities at the regional level, while providing technical support in these areas to country offices, working closely with Regional Thematic Specialists (RTSs) on respective topics on migration and displacement as of relevance to the region and coordinating with partners at the regional, sub-regional and national level, in close coordination with the Liaison Policy and with the country missions. The RDH and its Coordinator also fulfil the function of ensuring compliance with global standards, quality of country-level outputs and adherence to global/regional/country data-sharing procedures.

Activities and objectives of the Regional Data Hub are in line with the objectives of the IOM Migration Data Strategy: 1) Strengthen the evidence base on migration and mixed migration; 2) Develop the capacity of States and other relevant partners to enhance the regional and national evidence base; 3) Improve the use of data for evidence-based policy and planning, as well as for well-informed communication about migration. They are also aligned with continental frameworks on statistics, such as the African Union Commission Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA), IOM’s Continental Strategy for Africa as well as the Middle East and North Africa 2020-2024 Strategy and Strategy for the Gulf Countries 2021-2024.

The Regional Data Hub Coordinator will oversee data and research related to migration and displacement in the region, the production of regional mixed migration analyses in partnership with relevant regional, national, and sub-regional bodies, including academic institutions, NGOs, private actors, and civil society organizations. The successful candidate will also provide technical support to design capacity development initiatives for governmental stakeholders on strengthening migration (and where relevant displacement) data at the regional and national level, acting as main focal point for collaboration with the African Union Pan-African Institute of Statistics (StatAfric) in Tunis, and the Africa Migration Observatory in Rabat for continental capacity-development initiatives, in coordination with IOM’s Regional Offices in Africa, IOM’s Special Liaison Office with the African Union and IOM’s Africa Capacity-Building Centre, as well as partners of the Africa Migration Data Network.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

Management and Supervision

1.Supervise the Regional Data Hub team, provide guidance and capacity-building to its staff and develop a strategy to support a coherent data and research approach in the region. Plan, develop and oversee the implementation of all activities of the RDH, ensuring quality output, allocation of resources to achieve the identified outputs, selection of personnel and partners, and overall management functions.

2.Provide technical guidance and oversight to programme officers, technical advisors, project assistants and operational teams, and assign tasks in compliance with programme implementation strategies.

3.Identify new regional programmatic opportunities and describe and justify programme possibilities, consistent with approved programmes and ongoing activities. Renew country and/or regional activities and recommend programme improvements.

4.Review, endorse and track data and research-related project proposals developed by country offices in the MENA region, and provide regular updates to relevant HQ divisions on projects endorsed. Provide project endorsement in coordination with relevant HQ divisions and RTSs.

5.Ensure timely preparation and submission of all programme reports, according to IOM and donor formats, as required. Coordinate the preparation of regular updates, programme summaries and other relevant materials, as needed.

Representation and Coordination

6.Represent IOM on technical data and research matters in inter-agency, regional and global meetings, and workshops, in coordination with relevant colleagues in the RO; present in seminars, workshops and conferences, and contribute to inter-agency publications and reports, ensuring that IOM global and regional capabilities are well reflected both on migration and displacement in coordination with relevant departments.

7.Support the development of strategic partnerships, in line with IOM’s Strategic Vision and relevant to the achievement of IOM’s Migration Data Strategy objectives, and MENA and Strategy for the Gulf, ensuring that IOM’s visibility is enhanced in country and regional fora and technical working groups on data and research topics.

8.Liaise with the AU Pan African Institute for Statistics and the Africa Migration Observatory, acting as IOM focal point for continental initiatives related to migration statistics, in coordination with IOM’s Global Data Institute, the SLO with the AU and the Africa Capacity Building Centre.

9.Ensure regular coordination and information sharing with IOM country offices data and research officers /units and with other regional data hubs, RTSs, M-HUB, and HQ departments, especially the GDI, including by maintaining a regional repository of data, information products and tools used at country offices.

Technical Support and Guidance

10.Provide strategic, technical, and operational inputs, coordinate and support the design, development and implementation of IOM data and research initiatives at the national and regional levels in the MENA region, in line with IOM’s Migration Data Strategy, continental frameworks relevant to data, agreements, policies and standards.

11.Contribute to the design of governmental statistical development initiatives, in collaboration with relevant RO Liaison and Policy Units, IOM missions and relevant regional (UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia, League of Arab States) and continental entities (the Africa Migration Observatory, AU StatAfric), among others, to strengthen migration and displacement data and coordination mechanisms for better migration governance.

12.Oversee the implementation of the Displacement Tracking & Monitoring (DTM) initiatives in the region, in accordance with global standards and methodologies, in close coordination with the global DTM support team in IOM’s GDI. Identify synergies with thematic areas (Labour Migration, Counter-Trafficking and Migrant Protection, Transition & Recovery, Emergency Response, etc.), in close coordination with Regional Thematic Specialists, IOM HQ and IOM Country Offices.

13.Lead the research efforts in MENA on migration and displacement (including durable solutions), including by designing and implementing large scale assessments and thematic surveys as per regional programmatic needs, in coordination with other country missions, and promoting their dissemination and usage among the international community and governmental stakeholders. Coordinate the regular publication of research reports, academic papers, policy brief and information products on mixed migration and related topics with a regional perspective in coordination with relevant focal points at the national and regional level and with relevant partners.

14.Lead the mainstreaming of the Migration Data Strategy (MDS) into country strategies and streamlining of the data and research work at the regional level. Provide data and research guidance to Project Managers through sharing of information with the COs at the regional level and general technical support upon request from the field, ensuring a coherent and strategic regional approach

15.Identify emerging issues relevant to data and research and contribute to the development of thematic reports. Monitor developments in the thematic areas, in close collaboration with the Regional Policy and Liaison Officer (RPLO), RTSs and, where relevant, COs and HQ Departments.

16.Contribute to the development and implementation of data innovation initiatives at the regional level, including by advising on the ethical and responsible use of new data sources and innovative methods to analyse mobility and migration patterns, in collaboration with the Big Data for Migration Alliance (BD4M) partners and coordination with the GDI.

17.Ensure the organization of regular dissemination activities or events for internal and external stakeholders to present relevant research outputs and findings, in close collaboration with communications and liaison and policy focal points at the regional and country level and with the GDI.

18.Ensure the integration of gender perspectives and attention to specific women/girl’s and children’s rights issues (vulnerable groups) within all IDPs/returnee activities and promote the usage and dissemination of DTM Protection enhanced indicators through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other referral mechanisms. Act as a Data Protection Officer at the regional level, as delegated by the Regional Director.

19.Perform such other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Demography and Statistics, Migration and Refugees Studies, Economics, Information Management, Data science 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

• Experience in analysis and use of official statistics and primary and secondary data, as well as data innovation initiatives;

• Experience in designing research methodologies and finalizing research reports; and,

• Experience in data capacity development with internal and government counterparts, particularly in Africa and Middle East.

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 French and/or Arabic or other languages 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.