Humanitarian Access Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a leading intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants alike. Established in 1951, IOM has grown to encompass over 173 member states and operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. The organization is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, ensuring that migration is safe, orderly, and dignified. IOM's mission includes addressing the challenges of migration, providing humanitarian assistance, and supporting the development of migration policies that respect human rights and promote social cohesion.

Job Overview:
The Humanitarian Access Assistant will play a crucial role in enhancing principled humanitarian access across IOM’s activities in Afghanistan. This position involves working under the overall oversight of the Humanitarian Access Officer and direct supervision of the National Access and Liaison Officer. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate humanitarian access for IOM project activities. The role requires maintaining a statistical database of access incidents, supporting female staff access to work, organizing correspondence with authorities, and monitoring impacts of new edicts affecting access. The assistant will also be involved in addressing access constraints, providing administrative support to the access team, and performing other related duties as required by the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate principled humanitarian access for IOM project activities.
• Maintain a statistical database of all access incidents occurring in different regions, ensuring gender mainstreaming is considered.
• Support female staff access to work in all regions in close coordination with the IOM gender focal point and report relevant constraints timely.
• Organize and manage the filing system of correspondence with authorities, ensuring accessibility for the access team.
• Monitor impacts of new edicts and decrees from authorities affecting female staff working in Kabul and regions, suggesting appropriate solutions.
• Record minutes of various meetings, including Access & security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security bi-weekly meetings, and follow up on action points.
• Collaborate with the National Liaison & Access Officer to address and resolve access constraints, particularly those related to gender.
• Provide general administrative and logistical assistance to the access team in Kabul and provinces.
• Perform other related duties as required by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, law, or other relevant field with three years of relevant professional experience; or a High School diploma with five years of relevant professional experience.
• Progressively responsible experience in humanitarian access-related activities.
• Work experience in an international organization is preferred.
• Proven experience leading a team.
• Ability to work efficiently and deliver under pressure and strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of principled humanitarian access concepts and humanitarian negotiation skills.
• Strong contextual awareness and understanding of dynamics impacting humanitarian operations.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in social science, law, or a relevant field. Alternatively, candidates with a High School diploma and five years of relevant professional experience will also be considered. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively engage in humanitarian access activities and understand the legal and social frameworks that govern such work.

Experience:
Candidates must have progressively responsible experience in humanitarian access-related activities, with a preference for those who have worked in international organizations. The role demands a proven ability to lead a team and work efficiently under pressure, meeting strict deadlines. Experience in humanitarian negotiation and contextual assessments is highly valued, as is familiarity with the dynamics that impact humanitarian operations in Afghanistan.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, both oral and written. Additionally, a working knowledge of Pashto or Dari is required. Fluency in all national languages is considered a significant advantage, as it facilitates communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

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