Programme Coordinator (Protection)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM's mission is to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, saving lives and protecting people on the move. The organization drives solutions to displacement and facilitates pathways for regular migration while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. The organization operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on various aspects of migration and humanitarian assistance.

Job Overview:
The Programme Coordinator (Protection) will be responsible for managing, implementing, coordinating, executing, and monitoring IOM Afghanistan’s protection projects. This role involves elevating the reduction of protection risks at the mission strategic level in alignment with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Protection Policy. The Programme Coordinator will ensure synergies with concurrent programming in the country and work in coordination with the Afghanistan Protection Cluster, relevant protection-related working groups, and de facto authorities at both national and sub-national levels. Additionally, the Programme Coordinator will provide protection mainstreaming expertise to other units and coordinate with the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network. The position requires a proactive approach to developing and implementing protection strategies, analyzing protection risks, and ensuring the integrity and quality of core protection activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Coordinator will manage and coordinate the development of IOM Protection activities in line with IOM and interagency policies and procedures. This includes applying and upholding standards in protection approaches and specialized programming to ensure the rights and dignity of all persons while reducing protection risks. Responsibilities include resource mobilization, development, monitoring, and reporting of all projects under the Protection Programme portfolio. The Coordinator will strengthen the CO’s capacity to analyze protection risks and deliver on the centrality of protection based on a protection strategy. They will monitor, supervise, train, and oversee protection staff, ensuring a harmonized response across thematic and geographical areas of intervention. The Coordinator will develop a protection strategy based on context analysis, represent protection activities at relevant meetings, mentor staff, and support capacity-building efforts among field-based colleagues. Regular duty travel may be required to inform knowledge and understanding of evolving contexts and project implementation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Business Administration, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, a University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Candidates should demonstrate extensive experience in direct implementation of protection programming in contexts of conflict, crisis, migration, internal displacement, and/or refugee assistance and protection. Prior experience in specialized fields such as addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Child Protection, Housing Land and Property, and Human Trafficking is essential. Experience in community-based protection, protection monitoring, and project management is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as Political or Social Sciences, Business Administration, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law, or a related field. Alternatively, a University degree in these fields is acceptable if accompanied by seven years of relevant professional experience. The educational qualifications must be from accredited institutions recognized by the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience:
Candidates should have demonstrated extensive experience in direct implementation of protection programming in various contexts, including conflict, crisis, migration, and refugee assistance. This includes prior experience in specialized fields such as GBV, Child Protection, and Human Trafficking. Experience in managing and coordinating protection teams, as well as in strategic representation and coordination in protection clusters or platforms, is essential. Familiarity with emergency operations and collaboration with UN and non-UN humanitarian actors is also required. Working experience in the region is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, both oral and written. A working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is advantageous. The proficiency of required languages will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
The position is internationally recruited, and staff are required to be mobile. The appointment is subject to funding confirmation and all necessary clearances, including medical and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security checks. The selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations, and recommended candidates will remain eligible for appointment in a similar position for a period of 24 months. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and discrimination. IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process and only accepts applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system.