Policy Officer (Migration Governance and Partnerships)

Position Title : Policy Officer (Migration Governance and Partnerships)

Duty Station : San Salvador, El Salvador

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade UG

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

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 09 March 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.

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Context:

The Central American Integration System (SICA) with the Member States Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic is an economic-political community that aspires to the integration of the region. It is endowed with an institutional framework made up of bodies and institutions whose main objective is to carry out the integration of Central America, to constitute it as a region of peace, freedom, democracy, and development. The SG-SICA is the community organ that contributes to promoting the development of the regional integration of SICA.

IOM and the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA in Spanish) have been collaborating closely in migration governance and other related matters in the Central American region, particularly in three regional processes: the Central American Commission of Directors of Migration (OCAM in Spanish), the Commission of Visa Homologation (VUCA) and the CA-4 Agreement, as well as the design and implementation of the Central American Security Strategy (ESCA in Spanish). Since 2019, IOM has been supporting the SG-SICA in drafting a regional study on the causes and consequences of migration and the development of the Comprehensive Action Plan to Address Migration in Central America (known as PAIM-SICA).

Under the overall guidance of the WHP Senior Regional Program Coordinator, the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission of IOM El Salvador, and in close coordination with the Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Officer, the Policy Officer (Migration governance and partnerships) will be responsible for executing the following tasks:

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Provide strategic advice and guidance on migration and displacement issues to the SICA Presidency Pro Tempore, the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes, including OCAM (Comisión de Autoridades Migratorias), SISCA (Secretaría de la Integración Social Centroamericana) , SIECA (Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana) , COMISCA (Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica) and COMMCA (Consejo de Ministras de la Mujer de Centroamérica).

2. Promote and support policy coherence and the mainstreaming of migration policy, migration governance, displacement, and related issues in the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes agendas, work plans and activities.

3. Support the Presidency Pro Tempore, SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes in coordinating on migration and displacement issues with SICA Member States, regional processes, mechanisms, and initiatives such as the Regional Conference on Migration, the Marco Integral Regional de Protección y Soluciones, the Comprehensive Development Plan for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, UN agencies, development cooperation actors, civil society organizations, among others.

4. Provide and coordinate technical support including capacity building on migration and displacement issues to the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes.

5. Provide technical support to the Central American Commission of Directors of Migration Secretariat, hosted by IOM.

6. Liaise with and provide advice and guidance to IOM´s Regional Office and relevant country offices on migration and displacement issues within the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes including needs, challenges and opportunities for engagement and partnerships.

7. Assist in organizing meetings, seminars, workshops, and other events undertaken to strengthen the link of the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes with United Nations agencies, notably to advance the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration.

8. Support resource mobilization efforts for activities involving SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes and ensure the coordinated and sustainable implementation of activities, in line with regional agreements and global frameworks.

9. Coordinate with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the finalization and implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan to Address Migration in Central America (PAIM-SICA).

10. Prepare responses to migration and displacement related inquiries to the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes.

11. Draft policy papers on issues of migration and displacement issues in the region with the aim of disseminating updated information through regular publications and/or information bulletins.

12. As requested, participate at regional and international conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings on migration and displacement issues.

13. Support the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes in the organization and execution of training and awareness initiatives aimed at government authorities at the national and local level, civil society organizations, as well as other relevant actors.

14. Contribute to maintaining and strengthening cooperative relationships with key national counterparts (government and civil society) and international organizations involved, to explore synergies and avoid duplication of actions.

15. Assist in the compilation and drafting of documents and in the preparation of periodic reports, as required by IOM or the SG-SICA as well as SICA entities and processes, project donors and other governmental and non-governmental partners.

16. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, International Relations, Law, Programme Evaluation, 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

• Proven experience in migration governance, international affairs and development, preferably for a Central America institution, or intergovernmental organization in Central America;

• Experience in project planning, coordination, development, management, monitoring and evaluation;

• Proven experience in liaising with high level governmental authorities and other national/international institutions with proven record;

• Experience in coordinating regional teams, as well as in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and institutional counterparts.

Skills

• Proven liaison and negotiation skills;

• Excellent written and oral communications skills;

• Sound knowledge of program development, management, capacity building methodologies and operational strategies;

• Sound strategic and creative thinking;

• Effective resource management skills;

• Personnel commitment, efficiency, flexibility, drives for results, and open management style;

• Demonstrated ability in leading multicultural teams and in mentoring and coaching individuals;

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;

• In depth knowledge of international frameworks and policies on migration;

• Working knowledge of international institutions such as the SICA and UN.

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 Spanish is required (oral and written).

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

Notes

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

• 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.

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. 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.