Intern – Policy Coordination

Position Title: Intern – Policy Coordination

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Classification: Intern, Grade Other

Type of Appointment: Internship, four months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 07 July 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.

Context:

Background Information

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 and advice to governments and migrants.

The Department of Policy and Research (DPR) coordinates and spearheads IOM’s work in the areas of migration policy, law and research and international migration law, as well as supporting knowledge management, encouraging learning and innovation, to contribute to good migration governance. This is achieved by fostering and strengthening the interlinkages between, and promoting systemic approaches to, institutional policy coordination and development, migration research, knowledge creation and management, innovation and learning across the Organization, as well as delivery of advice to and enhancing capacity of internal and external stakeholders on migration policy, research and international migration law.

The Policy Coordination Unit (PCU) within the DPR serves as an institutional focal point for the identification of cross-cutting issues and institutional policy gaps and for addressing them through the coordination of forward-looking and organization-wide migration policy development processes that are based on evidence and firmly rooted in IOM’s knowledge and programmatic experience. The Unit also facilitates strategic foresight and scenario planning for use in the development of IOM migration policy perspectives and advice to external stakeholders, provides guidance and technical support in migration policy development, develops and delivers training to IOM staff on strategic migration policy, manages and curates migration policy-relevant knowledge management tools and platforms.

Supervision

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Policy Officer in the PCU, the Intern will work in close coordination with the other units and divisions of the DPR, as well as other IOM Offices and Departments to help build institutional migration policy capacity.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Assist in researching, collecting and analysing relevant information on identified issues withinthe field of migration (pertaining e.g. to migration management, migration law, migrants’ rights, migration crisis, migration data and statistics, regional consultative processes on migration, migration and development, etc.).
2. Support the development and roll-out of staff training initiatives and other measures tostrengthen policy capacity within IOM.
3. Support migration policy knowledge management in IOM, including through support torelevant communities of practice, collection of good practices and lessons learned from regional and country offices.
4. Support the development of PCU visibility and communications materials and activities.
5. Contribute to the preparation of public information materials on the work of the PCU andDPR, including statements, talking points, briefing materials as well as written summaries, as requested.
6. Support the PCU team in the substantive and logistical organization of internal and externalmeetings.
7. Facilitate internal coordination by supporting the organization of and follow up to meetingsand webinars, and maintaining relevant sections of the IOM intranet and website.
8. Attend conferences and other meetings organized by International Organizations based inGeneva and compile reports on the events attended; and
9. Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Training Components and Learning Elements

• Familiarization with major themes in the field of migration;
• Understanding of policy-making processes and migration policy development and coordinationat IOM;
• Experience in policy-relevant knowledge management; and
• Exposure to the multicultural environment and procedures of an international organization.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

A University degree (preferably advanced) in Political Science, International Relations, Social Sciences, or a related field from an accredited academic institution.

Experience

• Demonstrated interest in the field of international migration, for example research/publications on migration- related issues, through course work, volunteer work or a work experience;
• Experience carrying out research and analysis;
• Experience supporting and working with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment;
• Experience in event organization, including virtual is desirable;
• Experience in knowledge management and curation is desirable; and
• Training and capacity building experience is desirable.

Skills

• Proven ability to prioritize and manage simultaneous critical tasks and think strategically;
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• High sense of responsibility and motivation;
• Excellent communication skills, including first rate drafting skills;
• Proven research skills;
• Proven analytical skills;
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage simultaneous critical tasks;
• Attention to detail;
• Ability to work in cross-cultural teams;
• Ability to handle competing priorities; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook,and Teams); familiarity with information scanning through internet sources, and with electronic tools for visual presentations and virtual facilitation desirable.

Languages

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

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Spanish or French is an advantage.

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

Note

Eligibility and Selection

In general, the Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who:

1. have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities;
2. are holding a scholarship for internship placements in international organizations and/or for whom internship is required to complete their studies; or
3. are sponsored by governmental/non governmental institutions and/or academia to work in specific areas relevant to both IOM and the sponsor.
4. are either students approaching the end of their studies and preparing a thesis, or recently graduated, who have less than two years of relevant working experience. e) are between 20 and 36 years of age.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and additional enquiries will only be addressed if the candidate is shortlisted.
• Depending on experience and location, IOM provides a small monthly stipend to help offset costs.
• Please consider the cost of living in Geneva prior to applying.

Applications must be submitted by 7 July 2022

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

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

• 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:

The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.

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.

No late applications will be accepted.