Senior Project Associate (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants)

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting human and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM Ethiopia's vision is to place the rights and well-being of migrants at the centre of its interventions, adopting a preventive, protective, and responsive approach. Its protection interventions in Ethiopia follow a six-pillar intervention that includes direct assistance to migrants, displaced persons and affected communities, thematic guidance, capacity development, advocacy, and research. The Protection Unit (PXU) works closely with the government of Ethiopia and various stakeholders in emergency, displacement, and migration settings to reduce protection risks and address the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities. IOM is guided by rights-based approaches across its migration programming, demonstrating commitment to the safeguarding of vulnerable groups.

Within PXU, under the Migrant Protection and Assistance sub-unit, programming areas include assistance to vulnerable migrants (AVM), Counter-Trafficking, and community outreach. The AVM programming, along with other interventions, supports migrants in vulnerable situations through increasing access to legal aid services, facilitating the registration of migrants in the national ID program, and engagement with relevant government counterparts to facilitate access to rights, remedies, civil documentation, and protection services.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer (Protection), and direct supervision of the National Officer (Protection), the successful candidate will support the implementation of legal aid and protection interventions, including facilitating access to legal assistance and representation for migrants in vulnerable situations, coordinating referrals with legal service providers and government counterparts, supporting legal identity registration initiatives, and strengthening coordination with relevant authorities responsible for civil registration, documentation, justice, and protection services. The incumbent will also support capacity-building initiatives related to migrant rights, legal identity, access to justice, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, and protection-sensitive assistance. The selected candidate will also be required to provide additional support, as necessary, to other protection teams, including the Return and Reintegration teams, Protection Emergencies, Policy and Liaison, and to coordinate with other programmatic units in the mission.

In particular, he/she will undertake the following responsibilities and accountabilities

1. Assist in the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of legal aid, legal identity, and access-to-justice activities for migrants in vulnerable situations project activities. 

2. Compile, summarize, analyze, and present information/data on legal aid, legal identity, civil documentation, and protection issues, highlighting noteworthy issues for the consideration of appropriate parties.

3. Monitor budget implementation and propose adjustments as necessary.   

4. Act as a focal point for the administrative coordination of legal aid and legal identity activities, involving extensive liaison with diverse organizational units and external parties to initiate requests, obtain necessary clearances, follow up on administrative actions, etc.

5. Draft status reports; identify shortfalls in the delivery of legal aid and legal identity issues, bring them to the attention of the supervisor, and suggest corrective measures. 

6. Draft correspondence on legal aid and legal identity to migrants' rights, access to Justice, trafficking in persons, and relevant legal frameworks; prepare and update reports, briefing notes, graphics, statistical tables, and other forms of documentation.

7. Organize meetings, workshops, and training sessions related to migrant rights, legal identity, access to justice, trafficking in persons, protection principles, and relevant legal frameworks; prepare training materials and participate in the delivery of capacity-building workshops

8. Respond to complex information requests and inquiries related to legal aid, legal identity registration, documentation procedures, referral pathways and available protection services; set up and maintain files/records; set up and maintain files/records.

9. Participate in meetings and conferences; maintain effective liaison and coordination with government authorities, justice sector institutions,  partners, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, donors and other stakeholders relevant to the project. 

10. Monitor the work of implementing partners and service providers and report any non-compliance to the supervisor.

11. Provide inputs for the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and concept papers and provide general support for the development of new projects.

12. Provide guidance/training and assist in coordinating and monitoring work of other staff in the unit; may supervise other staff as assigned. 

13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

• School diploma with six years of relevant experience; or,

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Human Rights, Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Public Administration, Governance, Legal Studies, or related fields from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

• Experience working with government justice institutions, civil registration authorities, legal aid providers, bar associations, non-governmental organizations and UN agencies preferred.

• Experience in legal aid programming, protection case management, legal referrals, or assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations preferred.

• Experience supporting legal identity, civil registration and documentation initiatives is an advantage.

• Experience in organizing events, workshops, and meetings.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination and safety of beneficiaries at all times.

• Good written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

• Ability to organize work, work independently and prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Strong analytical and report writing skills.

• Ability to work methodically and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

• Awareness of legal aid, access to Justice, legal identity, migration and protection issues affecting migrants in vulnerable situations.

• Knowledge of referral pathways, civil documentation processes, and protection principles.

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds.

• Excellent Computer and data base skills

• Good interpersonal and problem-solving skills

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

For this position, fluency in English and Amharic is required (Oral and written). Knowledge of other Ethiopian National Languages (Afaan Oromo; Somali; Tigrinya, etc.) is desirable.

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

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category.

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.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies