Research and Programme Officer

Position Title : Research and Programme Officer

Duty Station : IOM Somalia in Nairobi*, Kenya

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 15 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.

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; Guyana; 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:

Since the formation of the Federal Government of Somalia, the country has made significant progress towards restoring peace and security. However, significant destabilizing factors remain. These include, most notably, the extant presence of violent extremist group al-Shabaab, particularly in rural areas; recurrent and unresolved clan, land and resource-based conflicts; weak and nascent institutions; and the internal displacement of more than 2 million individuals. Whilst the transition, recovery, and development needs of Somalia, after almost 3 decades of civic conflict and violent extremism remain a long term, if not generational process, such progress will be unachievable in the absence of solid foundations for peace and security, particularly at community levels.

Within this context, IOM is building on its existing stabilization programming and will be working further to support stabilization efforts in newly recovered, unstable, and fragile areas in South and Central Somalia: Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Jubaland, South West State and Benadir Regional Administration through IOM’s programmes including, but not limited to, two EU-funded stabilization programmes, one that is locally named Daryeel, and the other is the Brekaing the Climate-Conflict in Somalia, and through IOM’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Stabilization Through Education Programme (STEP) in Jubaland and South West State. IOM’s programmes harness the stabilization gains made by previous IOM stabilization programmes (EU Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) Phase I and Somalia Stabilization Initiative (SSI)) and aim to contribute to stabilization efforts in Somalia through creating conditions for restoring trust among communities, and between communities and local leadership, thereby re-building the social contract between Somali citizens and state institutions and providing a bridge to longer-term development interventions within this context.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Programme Manager primarily to lead and coordinate all aspects of the Community Stabilization Index (COSI) as it expands from Lower Shabelle to Middle Shabelle and beyond in Somalia, and to provide programmatic support to the EU-funded Daryeel Programme, the USAID-funded Stabilization Through Education Programme (STEP), the EU-funded Climate and Conflict project, the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) funded joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-IOM project, and others as needed. The Research and Programme Officer will be responsible to coordinate programmatic, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), research and communications efforts, and efficiently complete administrative and procurement tasks to facilitate the successful implementation of stabilization activities throughout target areas in Somalia as well as demonstrate their ability to manage, promote, and attract funding for a large-scale, innovative research initiative such as the COSI.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and supervise successive iterations of the Community Stabilization Index (COSI) in Lower Shabelle (and potential expansion to other locations), including contributing to work plan development and coordination, budget monitoring, procurement, recruitment, donor reporting, execution of data collection plan and overall analysis of data.

2. Facilitate expansion of COSI to new locations in Somalia through information sharing and other engagement with potential donors, key partners, and the communities of practice around stabilization research in Somalia and beyond.

3. Coordinate research and analysis in support of IOM Transition and Recovery Pillar Community Stabilization programming with the aim of identifying similarities, patterns, trends, ‘problem clusters’, and gaps and to feed into strengthening and adapting Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) programming. Activities include qualitative and quantitative analysis, case studies, contracting third party research firms, participation in discussions with key partners, donors, and relevant communities of practice.

4. Coordinate Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) planning for the USAID Stabilization through Education Programme (STEP) initiative, and other programmes to be assigned to ensure proper tracking of indicators and progress towards outcome by developing a tracking matrix, ensuring outcome and output indicators are tracked and regularly monitored for reporting to donor and for internal lessons learned feedback, supervision of relevant staff and contractors, assisting with contracting and supervising an external evaluator for base and end line outcome indicator reporting per donor’s requirements.

5. Implement communications activities for STEP (and others as assigned) to showcase progress and achievements of the programme through contributing to the development of visibility/communications plans, drafting and compiling regular, high quality activity updates, social media content, sitreps, external reports, factsheets, case studies, briefs and success stories and assisting in contracting third parties to produce appropriate communications products.

6. Coordinate with FAO counterparts in support of the PBF IOM-FAO project, support contracting of key implementing partner, and the procurement process, facilitate coordination of the programme team with the implementing partner on the ground, ensure monitoring and tracking of indicators, progress and achievements, draft reporting to the donor, and of communications materials for the project.

7. Support overall unit by contributing to the development of visibility and communications products in accordance with communications plan and donor compliance for dissemination to help increase IOM Community Stabilization visibility through drafting press notes, thematic features, and success stories with accompanying photographs of Community Stabilization Programme activities, and support via graphic design, and reviewing content of project level visibility products such as short brochures, fact sheets, photo products and activity booklets.

8. Undertake duty travels to Somalia to support monitoring, donor visits, capacity building, and technical support for activity implementation and visibility efforts as needed.

9. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Conflict, African Studies, Development Studies, International Relations or a related field from 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 migration and community driven development initiatives.

• Experience in developing, coordinating multi-site perception surveys with a focus on community stabilization and migration issues.

• Experience triangulating perception survey results objective information, public datasets, and with desk review to draft final reports from large-scale research projects.

• Experience coordinating with other sub-units and stabilization partners in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment is highly desirable.

Skills

• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization.

• Demonstrated proficiency and knowledge of information technology in Microsoft Office applications especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming.

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 Somali

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

This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to Somalia.

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.

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 endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board 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.