Regional Migration Data and Research Officer

Position Title : Regional Migration Data and Research Officer

Duty Station : Vienna, Austria

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P3

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

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 22 February 2021

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; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Fiji; Gabon; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Luxembourg; 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:

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director (RD) for South Eastern Europe, Eastern

Europe and Central Asia (SEEECA) Region, and in close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialists (RTS), Programme Managers (PM), Chiefs of Mission (CoM) and Heads of Office (HoO), and relevant units in the Headquarters (HQ), the successful candidate will be responsible for the management, coordination and implementation of all activities related to the collection, analysis, capacity-building, knowledge management, data innovation, data analysis, and dissemination of migration data as well as the coordination of research on different migration and displacement topics.

The successful candidate will support the alignment of the Regional Strategy and country strategies with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Migration Data Strategy and facilitate its implementation within the region, including by providing technical support to the Governments in the region with regards to strengthening national migration data systems. This will be done in close coordination with the RTS in the Regional Office (RO) in Vienna, IOM’s Global Migration Data Centre (GMDAC) in Berlin, the Migration Policy Research Division and the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) support team in IOM HQ.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Strengthen the regional evidence-base on international migration by improving and investing in the collection, analysis and dissemination of accurate, reliable and comparable data, disaggregated by sex, age, migration status, and other characteristics relevant in regional and national contexts, while upholding the right to privacy under international human rights law and protecting personal data. Coordinate closely with Country Offices (CO), CoMs, and relevant project managers to ensure that research projects are well integrated in the mission’s strategy and the various programmes in different locations.

2. Devise a regional data strategy for improving collection, analysing and presenting migration data, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, and statistical offices in alignment with IOM’s global data strategy.

3. Contribute to the development of a resource mobilization strategy on migration data and research, draft new projects, and identify possible donors and research partners.

4. Ensure the effective management and implementation of migration data and research projects.

5. Effect control of data quality.

6. Contribute to the capacity building and provide support to missions to: (a) Enhance national capacities of IOM staff and counterparts in data collection, analysis, dissemination data gaps identification, and in assessing key migration trends, through dedicated training and technical assistance. (b) Support COs in developing country-specific migration profiles, which include disaggregated data on all migration-relevant aspects in a national context, including those on labour market needs, demand for and availability of skills, the economic, environmental and social impacts of migration, remittance transfer costs, health, education, occupation, living and working conditions, wages, and the needs of migrants and receiving communities, in order to develop evidence-based migration policies. (c) Manage and train staff of the research and migration data unit, and provide technical support to different programme units and programme support units, including Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) focal point, to ensure a better use and dissemination of data within IOM and facilitate the integration of data and research findings in new projects. (d) Provide guidance to PMs on data protection and data governance in line with the IOM Data Protection Principles.

7. Cooperation with internal and external stakeholders: such as Member States and the UN. (a) Cooperate with relevant stakeholders to develop research, studies, and surveys on migration. (b) Encourage inter and intra agency collaboration on the use of global and regional data portals, databases, and depositories, including the IOM’s GMDAC, DTM as well as, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) World Bank data and others. (c) Provide technical support and source external expertise to support relevant institutions and ministries in the Government within the SEEECA Region to develop and strengthen national, sub-regional and regional migration data systems that can produce, analyse and disseminate reliable migration statistics in a sustainable manner.

8. Development and improvement of data collection activities, tools and processes on migration and displacement. (a) Support the inclusion and integration of migration-related data into national censuses, as early as practicable, such as on country of birth, country of birth of parents, country of citizenship, country of residence five years prior to the census, most recent arrival date and reason for migrating, to ensure timely analysis and dissemination of results, disaggregated and tabulated in accordance with international standards, for statistical purposes. (b) Support household, labour force, and other surveys as well as national statistical offices to collect information on disaggregated information on migrants, the administrative status of migrants, and the social and economic impact of migration. (c) Collect, collate, analyse, and present migrant stocks and flows, and migration patterns and trends, characteristics of migrants, leveraging new data sources, including big data, where available. (d) Collect, analyse, and present data on migration, as well as the contributions of migrants and diasporas to sustainable development, with a view to informing migration-related frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda, Global Compact on Migration, and other such frameworks as requested with a view to maximizing the value of disaggregated migration data. (e) Develop multi-layered quantitative and qualitative data collection tools to gather timely information on cross border and internal migration, displacement, and other forms of population mobility and movements, including but not limited to, displacement/returns and mobility tracking, flow monitoring, and village assessment surveys. (f) Adapt the DTM methodology tools for data collection to ensure that it meets partners’ and humanitarian actors’ needs on information related to IDP and return trends. (g) Collect (further) data on migration profiles and trends through IOM programmes and services, i.e. awareness raising programme, direct assistance in transit centres, disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration (DDRR), emergency response. (h) Coordinate and support data cleaning, ensure safe data storage, and (further) analyse migration data that is already available in the mission through the implementation of different projects) i.e. Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR), Human Counter Trafficking (CT), Direct Assistance to stranded migrants, i.e. Migrant Assistance Registration System (MARS).

9. Development and dissemination of migration data/research products:

   (a) Develop high quality, user-friendly, reports with clear findings, conclusions and recommendations, including, but not limited to, analytical and statistical reports on migration trends, displacement profiles, and maps and develop some of these reports into IOM publications, in close coordination with the publications unit in IOM HQ. (b) Organize high level events to launch publications in partnership with strategic partners based in the region. (c) Regularly produce user-friendly information products, summaries, analyses on migration trends and disseminate these products through various means of communication to key partners in the government, donors, United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society.

10. Coordinate a mechanism for data storage at central and regional levels. Research and Partnerships: (a) Develop new stand-alone research projects and integrate research components into other IOM projects and manage research projects throughout the different phases of the research cycle: research conceptualization, questionnaire design, data collection, data analysis, and report writing, and provide technical input and support the day-to-day research. (b) Develop and maintain a network of research consultants and partners including universities, research centers, and think tanks inside and outside the region and look for joined opportunities for research activities, and coordination closely with programme units on new/existing partnerships with research partners. (c) Closely coordinate with the various programme units to ensure that new research studies developed are in line with and contribute to SEEECA Region strategic priorities. Provide technical inputs and support across research cycle, including objectives of new research projects.

11. Research methods, recruitment of research consultants etc.: (a) Liaise with relevant authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks, government authorities, academic institutions, and other stakeholders on migration and displacement related research activities. Represent IOM at relevant meetings. (b) Represent IOM through participation in international events, conferences and working groups related to data analysis and research on population displacements.

12. Information management (a) Oversee, in close coordination with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)and other relevant units the correct use of IOM’s migration data systems including Migrant Management Operational System Application (MIMOSA) and MARS and facilitate/coordinate training of IOM staff on migration data systems. (b) Closely liaise with program officers, and other relevant staff, to ensure that correct migration data is collected through MARS and data protection principles are adhered to.

13. Perform such other related duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Science, Information Management, Statistics, or a related field from an accredited academic institution1 with five years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Proven professional experience on the development of data systems, data collection, analysis, and research in humanitarian emergencies and/or migration assistance and development;

• Experience in the development and implementation of projects on migration data and research and development and implementation of data collection tools in different migration contexts;

• Proven experience and ability to work with governments and other key stakeholders on migration data systems and policies.

Skills

• Excellent analysis and writing skills (reports, dashboards, proposal development) coupled with a good understanding of data visualization.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise and manage staff on research and migration data activities.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Russian, German, French, Spanish and/or any other language of the region 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

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…

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 and who do not have prior experience outside the duty station’s country as staff member in the Professional category 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.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.