Project Officer (MECC)

Position Title : Project Officer (MECC)

Duty Station : Georgetown, Guyana

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment : Special short-term graded, nine months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 28 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; 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:

The Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Risk Reduction Division is the institutional focal point for the integration of considerations related to human mobility and climate change, disasters and environmental degradation in all relevant governance instruments and policy processes, at global, regional, national and local levels. The Division leads the implementation of IOM’s Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment and Climate Change 2021–2030, in coordination with all relevant entities across the Organization. The Division has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the development of policy guidance for activities with a migration, environment and climate change dimension. It formulates global strategies that address the long-term impacts on human mobility in the context of environmental change, land degradation, natural hazards leading to disasters, and climate change impacts on livelihoods; integrates environmental and climatic factors in other migration management sectors; and maintains the IOM Environmental Migration Portal.

Caribbean countries are amongst the most vulnerable worldwide to the impacts of climate change, both in terms of sudden onset hazards (hurricanes, floods) and slower onset processes (droughts, coastal erosion, sea level rise). Different patterns of human mobility related to climate change have been reported across the region, including disaster displacement and evacuations, labour migration and urbanization in contexts of environmental degradation, and planned relocation processes. In response, IOM is implementing an 18-month project to support the development of coherent approaches in the Caribbean to address the challenges of human mobility in the context of sudden-onset and slow-onset disasters, including by taking into consideration relevant recommendations from international frameworks, such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean and Chief of Mission in Guyana, and in close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialist on Migration, Environment and Climate for the Americas, the Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Risk Reduction Division and the IOM missions of the Caribbean, the successful candidate will supervise the implementation of the Caribbean component of a global programme on implementing global policies on environmental migration and disaster displacement at the regional level and will support the roll-out of IOM’s interventions on migration, environment and climate change across the Caribbean.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Supervise the implementation of the Caribbean component of a global IOM programme on implementing global policies on environmental migration and disaster displacement at the sub-regional level.

2. Provide technical and administrative support to IOM interventions on migration, environment and climate change and disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean, in partnership with IOM country missions or remotely in countries with no IOM presence.

3. Engage with a wide range of partners at the regional and national levels on migration, environment and climate change issues, as well as disaster risk reduction, in the framework of the project.

4. Liaise with the donor of the global programme on implementing global policies on environmental migration and disaster displacement at the sub-regional level in close collaboration with the IOM Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Division.

5. Draft programme reports and other information material related to the Caribbean component of the global programme and more generally to IOM’s intervention on the thematic area in the Caribbean.

6. Contribute to the development of new project proposals on migration, environment and climate change as well as disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean in close collaboration with the Regional Thematic Specialist.

7. Support the organization on a wide range of virtual and in-person events with counterparts in the thematic area and provide technical inputs for discussions.

8. Draft, review and coordinate the production of documents and reports on migration, environment and climate change as well as disaster risk reduction for government counterparts, the international community and other stakeholders.

9. Undertake duty travel as required.

10. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Economics, Business Administration, 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 implementing activities related to migration, environment and climate change and/or disaster risk reduction.

• Experience in project and budget management – experience in and knowledge of IOM project and budget software is an advantage.

• Experience working in or on the Caribbean region.

• Experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic representatives.

• Experience working in international organizations is desirable.

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of migration, environment and climate change and/or disaster risk reduction issues, trends and policies.

• Advanced knowledge of the Caribbean region.

• Proven analytical and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage simultaneous critical tasks;

• Capacity to work independently under pressure with tight deadlines;

• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to drive consensus among diverse stakeholders with tact and discretion;

• Excellent communication skills, especially in a multilingual setting;

• First rate drafting skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly, succinctly and in a manner that appeals to a wide audience;

• Maturity of judgement to ensure appropriate handling of sensitive issues;

• High sense of responsibility and motivation;

• IT proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and

Teams as well as experience with virtual coworking tools.

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).

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 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 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.