Programme Associate (Protection)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants alike. Established in 1951, IOM has grown to include 173 member states and operates in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization aims to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, focusing on the needs of migrants and the communities they are part of. IOM's mission includes addressing the challenges of migration, enhancing the understanding of migration issues, and providing practical solutions to migration-related challenges.

Job Overview:
The Programme Associate (Protection) position is crucial for supporting the implementation and monitoring of protection services through Implementing Partner (IP) organizations within IOM’s protection programme in Pakistan. The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator (Protection) and the direct supervision of the National Programme Officer (Protection). This role involves assisting with various administrative, operational, and logistical functions related to the selection of IPs, planning, activity follow-up, capacity building, reporting, visibility, and other support tasks. The Programme Associate will play a vital role in ensuring that protection activities are effectively coordinated and aligned with IOM standards and donor requirements, contributing to the overall success of the protection programme.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Programme Associate (Protection) include:

• Coordinating the planning and implementation of ongoing and new protection activities by Implementing Partners (IPs), ensuring alignment with IOM standards and project frameworks.
• Providing administrative and logistical support in the selection, vetting, enrollment, and extension of protection IPs, including processing documentation in accordance with IOM internal procedures.
• Tracking deadlines for the submission of reports and fund requests by protection IPs, ensuring timely and accurate documentation.
• Contributing to capacity-building efforts by participating in IP needs assessments and assisting in the development of tailored training plans.
• Preparing visibility plans for each protection IP to showcase IOM’s work in line with donor requirements.
• Assisting with coordination meetings with protection IPs and maintaining accurate documentation of meeting minutes and action points.
• Supporting the verification of specialized protection services provided by IOM’s IPs to ensure alignment with inter-agency standards.
• Collecting and compiling data from IPs on project achievements and entering it into relevant databases for monitoring and reporting purposes.
• Assisting with other tasks as needed to support the protection programme.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Programme Associate (Protection) position include:

• A Bachelor’s degree in development studies, political sciences, social sciences, gender studies, law, human rights, or a relevant field from an accredited academic institution, along with three years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, a high school diploma with five years of experience is acceptable.
• Experience supporting general protection, child protection (CP), and gender-based violence (GBV) activities, including direct work with beneficiaries.
• Some experience in protection information management is considered an asset.
• A basic understanding of the protection sector in Pakistan, including challenges, priorities, and referral pathways.
• Experience assisting with capacity-building efforts related to general protection, GBV, CP, and other cross-cutting issues.
• Awareness of key data protection principles and knowledge of ethical data handling practices.
• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as development studies, political sciences, social sciences, gender studies, law, or human rights from an accredited institution. Accredited universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. A high school diploma is acceptable if accompanied by five years of relevant experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in the field of protection, with a focus on general protection, child protection, and gender-based violence activities. Experience working directly with beneficiaries is essential, and familiarity with protection information management is advantageous. Candidates should also have experience in capacity-building efforts related to protection issues and a basic understanding of the protection sector in Pakistan.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Urdu is required for this position, both oral and written. Additionally, a working knowledge of Pashtu, Dari, or any other local languages is desirable. Proficiency in these languages will be evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
This position is subject to local recruitment, and only candidates holding a valid residence and work permit for Pakistan will be considered. The appointment will be contingent upon certification of medical fitness, verification of residency, visa, and necessary government authorizations. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct incompatible with its objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and discrimination. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and only accepts applications submitted through its online recruitment system.