Transitional Justice and Memorialization Consultant At International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

In the early hours of 3 August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attacked Sinjar, the ancestral homeland of the Yazidis in northwest Iraq. ISIL launched a genocidal campaign against the minority group, causing over 90 percent of Sinjar’s residents to flee, including thousands who were forced to ascend the nearby mountain range on foot. Over the following hours and days, it is estimated that 3,100 Yazidis were killed, and over 6,400 others were abducted. In addition, ISIS killed approximately 2000 Shia cadets in central Iraq in the so-called Speicher Massacre. The armed group also targeted other groups, such as Shia, Shabak, and Turkmen.

On March 1, 2021, Iraqi Council of Representatives adopted the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law (YSL), a pivotal transitional justice measure for addressing the legacy of mass atrocities committed by ISIL against the Yazidi as well as Turkmen, Christian and Shabak communities, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), mass killings, and abduction. Survivors’ Law provides official recognition to victims of genocide and other grave violations of international law and stipulates a wide range of state-sponsored reparation measures, including inclusion of accurate accounts of violations in education and media to reinforce public memory and commemorating the atrocities perpetrated against the Yazidi community and others. The main implementing body Directorate for Survivors Affairs (Directorate) for this legislation is established under Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA).

Since 2019, leveraging IOM’s global expertise in developing and implementing reparation programs, IOM Iraq has been providing support to the development of a reparation framework for survivors in Iraq. After adoption of the Draft Law, technical support to institutions and civil society has entered a new phase focused on strengthening capacity of the relevant institutions to implement the reparations program in line with best practices and international standards for state reparation programs; expanding participation of civil society and survivors in the implementation and monitoring of the reparation process; and enhancing survivors’ access to reparation benefits.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator, and the direct supervision of the Programme Officer (Transitional Justice).

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

Peacebuilding and Stabilization Division

Responsibilities

The International Organization for Migration is seeking a home-based consultant with a relevant background and experience in transitional justice to support IOM’s work on memorialization in Iraq ensuring participatory, community-led processes promoting communal healing and social reconstruction. Specifically, s/he will be tasked with the following:

1. Mapping existing memorialization initiatives concerning ISIL atrocities against Yazidi, Turkmen, Christian and Shabak communities (both state and civil society/community-led) and supporting IOM to design tools to measure the impact of past memorialization efforts over time and inform strategy for future memorialization projects;

2. As part of the mapping/impact measuring exercise, designing and leading an inclusive, participatory and gender-sensitive community consultation and engagement process to explore diverse perspectives on what form memorialization measures should take, who should design them, and how they should be designed, remaining mindful of project resources;

3. Sharing knowledge on memorialization in other contexts with IOM, GDSA and other stakeholders to facilitate exposure to and consideration of the array of tools and approaches that can be utilized, as well as lessons learned in terms of process and outcomes;

4. Advising IOM on emerging risks, such as creation or entrenchment of divisions within and between communities, and providing guidance on ways to ensure that the process and forms of memorialization are contributing positively to communal healing and social reconstruction;

5. Supporting IOM to design consultancies, competitions, tenders, etc., and to prepare terms of reference (ToRs), calls for proposals (CfPs), calls for expressions of interest, and other related documentation for memorialization projects;

6. Preparing a report on the memorialization landscape of post-ISIL Iraq, capturing their impact, any lessons learned and good practices, as well as potential avenues for future memorialization efforts that correspond to community demands;

7. A detailed workplan, including a timeline and deliverables, will be developed together with IOM upon the inception of the consultancy.

Tentative Workplan:

Month 1

• Desk research on existing memorialization initiatives
• Designing the impact study and the methodology for consultations, including identification of potential participants (survivors, community leaders, key informants), drafting questionnaire/interview/focus group discussion questions, ethical requirements and logistical arrangements
• Preparing a concept note for an international conference on memorialization
• Incorporating feedback to the study design and conference concept note

Month 1-2

• Conducting in-person and online (if necessary) fieldwork to gather data
• Identifying topics and potential speakers for the international conference; liaising with IOM staff for logistics

Month 2-3

• Data analysis and drafting of the report

Month 3

• Holding the international conference, including a session in which report findings will be presented for feedback from participants (including survivors/community members)
• Incorporating feedback from IOM and conference participants and finalizing the report

Qualifications

Education

• A Master’s degree or PhD in anthropology, history, design, curating, law, or a related discipline

Experience

• Eight to ten years of experience, including specific experience in transitional justice and/or memorialization processes. Knowledge of Iraq and the 2014 genocide of the Yezidis, along with demonstrated experience in gender-sensitive and inclusive community consultation and engagement processes, is also essential.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Kurdish and/or Arabic is an advantage.

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

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Travel required

• The position is home-based, with travel to Iraq required.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

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.
• 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

• 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.

Notes

1. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
2. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
3. IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
4. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
5. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
6. IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies