Senior Programme Officer (Free Movement of Persons Protocol (African Union))

Position Title: Senior Programme Officer (Free Movement of Persons Protocol (African Union))

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P4

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

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 10 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. External female candidates:
3. Candidate 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 of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Special Liaison Office (SLO) to the African Union Commission (AUC) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), has for the last two decades partnered with the AUC in addressing mutual priorities on migration in Africa. Both organizations advocate the role of good migration governance in the continent’s development and integration agenda, and the subsequent need to enhance migration governance for safer, more orderly, and humane migration practices. In this regard, IOM works closely with various AUC departments, including Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS), Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) and Citizens and Diaspora, among others, for the evolution and advancement of migration discourse and strategic policy development and programming for the Continent.

Since 2016, IOM has been collaborating with the AUC on its continent-wide initiative to facilitate free movement of persons in Africa, particularly through the popularization of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence – also known as the Free Movement of Persons Protocol (FMP). The FMP was adopted in 2018 with 32 Member State signatories and is defined as “the right of nationals of a Member State to enter, move freely and reside in another Member State in accordance with the laws of the host Member State and to exit the host Member State in accordance with the laws and procedures for existing that Member State”.

Under the direct supervision of the Director of IOM Special Liaison Office Addis Ababa in coordination with the IOM Migration Policy Officer (Project Support); as well as the technical supervision of the Head of the Division for Humanitarian Affairs (as first supervisor), and the Director of Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs (as second supervisor), within the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS), the Senior Programme Officer (Free Movement of Persons Protocol (African Union)) will be based in the AUC and will be responsible for providing strategic technical interventions for the AUC free movement of persons agenda towards the ratification and implementation of the FMP Protocol.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Lead the development and implementation of AUC FMP workplan and a strategic landscape to fast-track the ratification and implementation of the FMP Protocol, its roadmap, and the African Passport, as guided by the AUC.
2. Provide technical advice to the Humanitarian Division in enhancing the capacity of AU Member States including in resource mobilization and partnership building, including as outlined in the AUC-IOM 3-year Cooperation Framework and Joint Implementation Plan for ensuring sustainable funding of the implementation plan of the FMP Protocol.
3. Advocacy and technical assistance on capacity development initiatives for governmental and non-governmental entities for the popularization and implementation of the FMP Protocol.
4. Support the establishment and operationalization of the office of the FMP Champion and the Special Envoy.
5. Provide technical support towards the development/implementation of key strategies(popularization, communication etc.) with respect to the process towards full ratification of the Protocol to enhance the understanding of the protocol by different stakeholders.
6. Coordinate and drive the AUC agenda in meetings/engagements with Regional Economic Communities (REC), Member States (MS), Pan-African Parliaments, AU bodies and affiliates which advocate for and strengthen capacities to implement the FMP.
7. Brief Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee/ Specialized Technical Committees (STC) and AU decision making Organs on the implementation status of the FMP protocol and ongoing initiatives.
8. Strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation engagements, with a focus on the free movement of persons regime including with a diversity of stakeholders including relevant authorities, immigration and border agencies, civil society, and the private sector.
9. Build inter-departmental collaboration among the AUC departments and organs to strengthen linkages of continental free movement of persons with ongoing Continental priorities and identify potentials for joint programs.
10. In close collaboration with IOM’s Special Liaison Office, provide strategic and technical guidance, and implementation of the joint IOM – AUC project on accelerating the implementation of the Free Movement of Persons Protocol, which will outline the continental and regional processes necessary to accelerate ratifications and implementation of the FMP and its roadmap.
11. In close collaboration with IOM’s Special Liaison Office, identify opportunities / entry points for IOM to support the FMP and its roadmap, including by identifying potential synergies with IOM efforts at Headquarters (HQ), Regional and Country levels.
12. Keep abreast of, analyse, and provide advice on developments related to free movement of persons as an integration agenda and its interplay with related sectors, considering regional and global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the 2063 and 2030 Agendas.
13. Compile an exhaustive repository of key outcomes of discussions and meetings with relevance to migration and free movement of persons in the context of inter-regional fora.
14. Prepare technical presentations and papers on issues related to human mobility and admission and stay policies, contributing to the formulation of programmes, coordination of institutional policy responses, positions, and guidance on the question of complex migration flows which facilitates the work of the department.
15. Conduct research and analyse research papers and provide strategic implementation of the findings.
16. Closely work with IOM/SLO towards developing a joint resource mobilization strategy for the implementation of the Project, as well as providing inputs to policy documents and advocacy materials developed by IOM/SLO.
17. Coordinate the preparation of responses to ad-hoc requests from AU member states, and subregional and continental bodies on free movement related issues.
18. Participate in regular team meetings with IOM/SLO to synergize FMP activities being done at IOM and AUC levels and engage in donor discussions when required.
19. Provide supervisory functions of IOM FMP team seconded to the AUC.
20. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Law, International Relations, Conflict Studies, Economics, Development Studies, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Proven experience in the development or humanitarian sectors, particularly in the field of integration issues and the facilitation of regular migration channels. Proven experience coordinating continental level policy frameworks, monitoring, and evaluation Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national / International institutions, and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs);
• Working experience with the African Union, African Union Commission, African Union organs and African Union Member States;
• Experience in drafting policy documents, strategic and research papers, and briefing notes for officials of governmental institutions or intergovernmental organizations;
• Experience in leading and overseeing multi-dynamic team;
• Experience in management and administrative procedures to implement regional programs.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of migration policy planning and implementation;
• Capacity to initiate and implement technical cooperation programmes, with the AUC and key integration partners for advocacy on the FMP;
• Capacity to provide technical advice on migration, continental development, peace and security, cross-border management, and integration;
• Knowledge of, and ability to perform a variety of conceptual analysis in the field of the project;
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
• Problem solving capability;
• Ability to prepare high quality and technically sound documents;
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), follow-up on the project outputs and outcomes and reporting;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Computer competencies: (Microsoft Word, Power point, Excel, etc.).

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). Working knowledge of one other AU language 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 3

• 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 3

• 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.p df

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.