National Voluntary Humanitarian Return Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a leading intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. Established in 1951, IOM has grown to include 173 member states and offices in over 100 countries, focusing on migration management, humanitarian assistance, and the protection of migrants' rights. IOM's mission is to ensure that migration is safe, orderly, and dignified, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and providing support in crisis situations. The organization operates various programs, including the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, which assists migrants stranded in crisis-affected areas, particularly in Libya, where the Central Mediterranean Route poses significant risks to migrants.

Job Overview:
The National Voluntary Humanitarian Return Officer plays a crucial role in implementing and coordinating activities related to the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program. This position is vital in providing protection-oriented assistance to vulnerable migrants, including survivors of gender-based violence, unaccompanied children, and victims of trafficking. The officer will work under the guidance of the Senior Programme Coordinator (Protection) and the direct supervision of the Programme Manager (Migrant Returns & Reintegration). The incumbent will engage proactively with IOM’s comprehensive protection programming, ensuring that the needs of migrants are met through tailored support during their stay, return journey, and upon arrival in their home countries. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and community organizations, to enhance the safety and dignity of migrants along their migratory routes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of VHR program activities, including operational and reporting tasks as per assigned guidance.
• Assist in supervising project activities and provide day-to-day technical support to team leaders and staff involved in return case management, reintegration, and advocacy.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of VHR activity plans in coordination with relevant IOM Units, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and community-oriented approaches.
• Support the design of interventions for vulnerable groups such as survivors of gender-based violence, children, and trafficking victims, promoting protection and multi-sectoral responses.
• Maintain cooperative relationships with communities, government bodies, NGOs, diplomatic representatives, and partners to support VHR activities.
• Support coordination and consultations with internal and external stakeholders to address key protection priorities in a collaborative manner.
• Support teams in conducting vulnerability screenings and protection assessments promoting compliance with data protection standards using established tools and procedures.
• Collaborate with the PX National Consular and Liaison Officer on programmes implemented with partners such as embassies and immigration authorities.
• Support adherence to IOM SOPs, programme objectives, and donor requirements within assigned tasks in VHR operations. 1
• Assist in tracking reporting briefs, analyses, and data related to VHR and protection activities, ensuring information accuracy and compliance. 1
• Contribute to the preparation of internal and donor briefings as required, participate in coordination meetings, and support communication on programme progress and needs. 1
• Assist in developing training materials and contribute to delivering training sessions to improve staff capacity in vulnerability identification and appropriate support. 1
• Support the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned to strengthen programme effectiveness and ongoing improvement. 1
• Identify operational challenges within assigned responsibilities, propose improvements for workflow and efficiency, and raise issues to supervisors when needed. 1
• Perform other tasks as assigned in alignment with the objectives of the VHR programme.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• Master’s degree in the above-mentioned fields.
• Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
• Experience in the field of assistance to vulnerable individuals.
• Experience working with international or non-governmental organizations, particularly with the IOM VHR program is an advantage.
• Experience in project implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Experience liaising with governmental authorities, national/international institutions, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law, or a related area. Candidates with a Master’s degree in these fields are also eligible. It is essential that the educational qualifications are obtained from accredited institutions recognized by the UNESCO World Higher Education Database, ensuring that the candidates possess the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the complexities surrounding migration and humanitarian assistance.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in the field of assistance to vulnerable individuals. Experience working with international or non-governmental organizations is highly valued, particularly if it involves direct engagement with the IOM VHR program. Candidates should also have a background in project implementation, monitoring, and reporting, as well as experience in liaising with governmental authorities and various stakeholders, including national and international institutions, United Nations agencies, and NGOs. This experience is crucial for effectively managing the responsibilities associated with the role and ensuring that the needs of vulnerable migrants are met.

Languages:
For this position, fluency in both English and Arabic is required, encompassing both oral and written communication skills. This bilingual proficiency is essential for effective interaction with diverse stakeholders and for ensuring that the needs of migrants are adequately addressed. Additionally, a working knowledge of French is considered desirable, as it may enhance communication with certain migrant populations and stakeholders. The proficiency in these languages will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments to ensure that candidates possess the necessary language skills for the role.

Additional Notes:
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, and recommended candidates will remain eligible for appointment in a similar position for a period of 24 months. National Professional Officers should be nationals of the country of their employment, performing work at the professional level with the same standards of recruitment qualifications and performance required for International Professional staff. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background, or disabilities. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, or other fees) and does not request any information related to bank accounts. IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system, which also allows candidates to track the status of their application. For further information and other job postings, candidates are encouraged to visit the IOM Careers and Job Vacancies website.