Regional Programme Officer (CBI)

Position Title : Regional Programme Officer (CBI)

Duty Station : Panama City, Panama

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 : 1 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:

In response to the massive outflow of the large-scale population movements registered in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as a result of the political, socio-economic and human rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and in line with its mandate, the IOM is implementing the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) in 17 countries in LAC regions. As of June 2020, more than 5.1 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are outside their country of origin, with 4.3 million in the region alone. As per current trends, it is estimated that it will reach up to 5.5 million by the end of 2020. Moreover, as mandated by the UN Secretary-General, IOM and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are co-leading this regional response and have established a Regional Inter-agency Coordination Platform based in Panama. The Regional Platform aims at addressing the protection, assistance, and integration needs of both refugees and migrants from Venezuela in affected Latin American and Caribbean states.

In this context, the International Organization for Migration recognizes the importance of accurate and timely information to advise an adequate humanitarian response in a local and regional level.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General’s Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation, based in Panama, and the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Program Coordinator, and in coordination with information management focal points of Country Offices under the Venezuela Response and with Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Unit (R4V) colleagues, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing advice, substantive support and assistance for information management activities in relation to the regional response to the Venezuela Situation.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. In coordination with the Senior Regional Programme Coordinator, the Regional Integration Officer and relevant focal points in the missions: (a) Oversee Cash Based Interventions (CBI) in the missions participating to the RMRP, ensuring timely implementation in line with RMRP and other relevant international standards and in compliance with internal instructions and guidelines. (b) Regularly assess CBI needs, opportunities, challenges and capacity gaps in relevant missions and advise the Regional Integration Officer and the Senior Regional Programme Coordinator and relevant CBI colleagues in the Regional Office (RO) and Headquarters (HQs) on CBI engagement, including on integrating CBIs into operational plans and strategies to efficiently meet program objectives, liaising with technical sectors.

2. In coordination with the Senior Regional Programme Coordinator, provide timely and tailored assistance to missions requesting CBI support, including, but not limited to: (a) Ensuring compliance to IOM internal guidelines and best practices related to CBI as well as to international standard and specific guidelines developed in the context of the RMRP. (b) Substantively supporting missions in the development of technical guidelines, CBI Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), advising on and supporting project planning, design and implementation and/or scaling up of existing programs, considering local context, and available technologies in line with IOM’s policies and procedures for CBIs based programming. (c) Supporting missions in the implementation of needs assessments to select, design and implement appropriate cash modalities and methodologies. (d) Providing expert guidance on market assessments and price monitoring for key commodities based on identified needs for mission programs and context.

3. Assess and identify capacity building needs, and develop and conduct relevant thematic trainings to address these capacity gaps in coordination with the Senior Regional Programme Coordinator and relevant colleagues in ROs and HQs.

4. Closely coordinate with the Programme Implementation Team and the Programme Support Unit to ensure that relevant output and outcome indicators for CBI are systematically being collected and analyzed in a manner that will help the VRT efficiency and effectiveness of CBI delivery as well as the appropriateness of the transfer modality choice.

5. In coordination with the Senior Regional Programme Coordinator and the Regional Integration Officer, develop and update risk management strategy or CBI based program implementation.

6. Provide advice and substantive inputs to the Project Support Unit in proposal development and actively contribute to the mobilization of resources and to the promotion of innovative approaches for CBI in the context of the Regional response to the Venezuelan Situation.

7. Prepare ad hoc and other reports on IOM’s CBI based activities in the region, including proposals for operational improvements and potential scope for IOM’s CBI programming.

8. Prepare VRT CBI-related information and/or key messages for talking points, presentations, media requests, and reporting.

9. Ensure knowledge management of VRT CBI initiatives, ensuring filing on VRT Sharepoint of all relevant tools, reports, presentations, training material, etc. Develop a mapping of VRT CBI initiatives and regularly update and share with VRT senior management and CBI team in HQs.

10. Ensure compliance with IOM’s policies and procedures for CBI based programming.

11. Represent IOM in the Response for Venezuela (R4V) CBI Regional Working Group as requested.

12. Perform field support and/or monitoring visits as requested.

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

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Migration Studies, Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Social Research Methods, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or

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

Experience

• Experience working in the field, with at least two years of international experience in programming in CBI;

• Experience of CBI implementation in health emergencies an advantage;

• Experience with sectoral CBIs (protection, shelter, health, nutrition, food security, WASH, livelihoods, education, etc.);

• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national/international institutions and

NGOs and building effective partnerships with private sector;

• Experience monitoring large-scale project activities and implementation;

• Experience in the Latin America and Caribbean region is an advantage.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of CBIs in humanitarian emergencies, early recovery contexts and/or development contexts throughout the project cycle;

• Knowledge and understanding of key developments and actors within the humanitarian area;

• Proven ability to coordinate, train and direct staff and operations in various contexts.

Languages

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

For this position, fluency in English and Spanish is required (oral and written). Knowledge of Portuguese and/ or French 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.

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 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.