Protection Officer (Case Management)

Position Title: Protection Officer (Case Management)

Duty Station: Kabul, Afghanistan

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P2

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

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 23 August 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; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; 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 International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been present in Afghanistan since 1992 and works in close partnership with national and local government institutions, non-governmental agencies, community organizations and the donor community to address pressing and complex challenges in migration management, to respond to the needs created by humanitarian emergencies in the country and to ensure improved living conditions for vulnerable communities.

IOM currently implements a range of humanitarian assistance, community stabilization, development, and migration management initiatives in Afghanistan, in cooperation with humanitarian partners as well as local communities. The Covid-19 pandemic critically affects Afghanistan and created, or exacerbated protection risks for undocumented migrants, requiring additional expertise within the Protection Programme.

Under the overall supervision of Emergency Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator (Protection), and in coordination with the Protection Assistants, the Protection Officer (Case Management) will be responsible for supporting implementation of protection case management of IOM Afghanistan Country Office’s (CO) protection projects. The successful candidate will support and coordinate the synergies with concurrent protection programming in the country. In doing so, the Protection Officer (Case Management) will work in an integrated manner with the Afghanistan Protection Cluster, relevant protection-related working groups and its provincial and district offices. In addition, the Protection Officer (Case Management) will closely collaborate with the Protection Monitoring, Advocacy and Communication Officer to support IOM Afghanistan CO through provision of protection mainstreaming expertise to other units.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Support protection programming related to case management and remote protection, including specific activities such as Cash for Protection, implemented by Afghanistan CO, and provide technical support to other units in CO on Protection Mainstreaming.
2. Support the review and adaptation of IOM Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on post-arrival protection assistance and case management to allow implementation and protection access in a complex context, including development of annexes aiming to guide staff with Cash for Protection and remote protection activities
3. Participate and contribute to the inter-agency protection for a, as needed (e.g., protection cluster, child-protection sub-cluster, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sub-cluster, relevant task forces) with technical and operational input.
4. Provide training and technical support to the protection staff to strengthen capacity of IOM on post-arrival protection assistance and case management, including referral, dissemination of information, and one-off protection assistance. Specifically, support with the protection analysis to develop tailored case management assistance.
5. Conduct gender-sensitive protection analysis in Herat and Nimroz to assess violence against undocumented migrants, including contributing to the development of tools in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to record protection incidents and provide training to the staff on those tools (including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for staff).
6. Under the lead of the Programme Coordinator (Protection) and in coordination with the Protection Monitoring, Advocacy and Communication Officer, support capacity building efforts among field-based staff on both IOM protection modus operandi and internal guidelines, protection mainstreaming standards and practices, as well as international protection standards (Sphere, Child Protection Minimum Standards, International Committee of the Red Cross Professional Protection Standards, etc.). Provide technical support in development of the access strategies to ensure staff are trained and able to implement them in a safe manner.
7. Undertake regular duty travel to the borders with Pakistan and Iran, and the Sub-Offices where the Protection programme is active in order to support programme development and implementation.
8. Check that all protection staff are trained on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on post-arrival protection assistance and case management and are able to use IOM tools and support the protection analysis to tailor IOM protection response to each individual/household.
9. Support the development and/or update of tools for post-arrival protection assistance and case management to adapt to new contextual developments (including Cash for Protection) and remote working arrangements.
10. In coordination with the Protection Monitoring, Advocacy and Communication Officer andUNHCR counterparts, monitor the protection incident reporting tools that aim to support protection assistance to survivors of rights violations in accordance with international laws, and provide evidence-based information for advocacy.
11. In coordination with the Protection Monitoring, Advocacy and Communication Officer, provide training to the CO’s relevant staff on protection mainstreaming, with a specific focus on building the capacity of Protection Assistants.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Law, International Relations, 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 the field of migration, internal displacement and/or refugee assistance and protection (including specific knowledge of gender mainstreaming and responding to GBV, child protection and counter-trafficking);
• Experience in protection monitoring, community-based protection; experience in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is preferable;
• Experience on protection case management, including capacity-building training of caseworkers, development, and revision of technical tools; and field experience;
• Experience in emergency humanitarian operations and liaison with other UN and non-UN humanitarian actors; and,
• Working experience in the Region is an asset.

Skills

• Understanding of complex social-political environments;
• Knowledge of the Afghan conflict and return/displacement dynamics and the impact on the affected population;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture, especially in relation to protection (focus on internal displacement, child protection, gender mainstreaming and responding to GBV, identity documentation, etc.);
• Understanding and knowledge of human trafficking phenomena;
• Good analytical and planning skills to assess training needs and develop programs;
• Knowledge of border and migration management policy and actors in the region;
• Knowledge of the project management cycle is an advantage;
• Ability to work effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance the Mission or regional objectives;
• Good report writing skills, as well as managerial and organizational skills; and,
• Advanced level of computer literacy.

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 Dari or Pashto 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 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.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• 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 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.