Programme Officer (Labour Migration) at International Organization for Migration - IOM

Context

• Adopted in 2015 by African Union (AU) Member States, the AU/ILO/IOM/UNECA Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration in Africa (JLMP) is a long-term joint undertaking among the four organizations in coordination with other relevant partners operating in Africa, including development cooperation actors, private sector organizations and civil society representatives. 
• The objective of the JLMP is to contribute to strengthening effective governance, and regulation of labour migration and mobility, for enhanced sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and regional integration of the African Continent. 
• JLMP is dedicated to the implementation of the 5th Key Priority Area of the Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment, Poverty Eradication, and Inclusive Development, which was adopted by the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments (AU/Assembly/AU/20(XXIV)/Annex 3, January 2015) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as labour mobility components of the Migration Policy Framework (MPFA) and Plan of Action for Africa (2018-2030).
• The JLMP objective is implemented through several interventions led by the AU, including: the JLMP the JLMP Action (2021-2024) and JLMP Lead (2022-2025) projects. In 2020, after five years of the implementation of the JLMP, the AU, in collaboration with JLMP Implementing Partners (ILO and (IOM), adopted the JLMP Strategic Framework and Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (2020-2030).
• The JLMP Strategic Framework provides a 10-year-strategic vision while consolidating results of the implementation of the first five-years’ period of the JLMP. Its implementation strategy continues to focus on intra-African labour migration management, while addressing emerging issues related to African migrant workers to other regions to ultimately support African migrant workers and their families to live satisfied and dignified lives and contribute to Africa’s development.
• The sustainability of JLMP interventions hinges on close collaboration among the AU, ILO, IOM and ECA, in cooperation with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Member States and relevant stakeholders, to support activities at national level aiming to enhance the adoption and implementation of gender responsive legal instruments and promote binding commitments to ongoing actions. 
• The AUC hosts the JLMP Programme Support Unit (PSU) within the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS). The PSU is the JLMP’s Secretariat to support programmatic and technical coordination and coherence, and quality assurance of the JLMP, under the leadership of the JLMP Program Coordinator. 
• At RECs’ level, the PSU is supported by dedicated Programme Officers responsible for supporting JLMP implementation and aligning the JLMP vision to RECs’ policy and programmes on labour migration management.
• Under the overall supervision of the Director of IOM Special Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa, the direct technical supervision of the Programme Coordinator (JLMP) in Addis Ababa and the administrative supervision of the Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria as relevant, and in regular technical oversight of the Sr.
• Regional Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Specialist (ROWCA) and JLMP Programme Coordinators at the African Union Commission (AUC), and IOM in coordination with the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) Secretariat, and in close cooperation with the Programme Steering Committee, the Programme Officer (Labour Migration) will be responsible for providing technical support and assistance with the coordination and implementation of the JLMP Programme.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

• Act as JLMP Programme Focal Point in coordinating and streamlining the “JLMP Action and Lead” interventions to the overall JLMP Programme at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
• Facilitate the timely implementation of the “JLMP Action and Lead” projects in the ECOWAS region in accordance with the planned activities in the workplan.
• In close collaboration with the IOM Regional Office (RO) Dakar and the JLMP team in SLO Addis Ababa, support the ECOWAS Commission in analysing and formulating appropriate responses in the area of labour mobility and related sectors.
• Attend expert meetings and relevant consultative forums at the ECOWAS and work to increase awareness about the JLMP Programme
• In close coordination with the Sr. Regional Labour Migration and Social Inclusion Specialist in ROWCA, provide substantive support for communication, report writing and resource mobilization to relevant institutions at the ECOWAS and MS level on Labour Migration Issues.
• In close coordination with relevant colleagues in RO Dakar, assist in strengthening and support the ECOWAS migration programme portfolio in the operationalization of the ECOWAS Migration Policy Framework at regional and national levels.
• Provide substantive support to advance the labour migration portfolio within ECOWAS and affiliated entities, through capacity building, partnership building, communication, report writing and resource mobilization.
• Strengthen linkages and coordination of the JLMP Programme with other thematic areas, units and specialized institutions within the ECOWAS and its development partners on issues related to labour migration.
• Maintain good working relationships with key interlocutors engaged with migration policy issues within and beyond ECOWAS.
• In close coordination with the Sr. Regional Labour Migration and Social Inclusion Specialist in ROWCA, ensure regular Labour Migration policy analysis at the ECOWAS and MS level, provide technical support in managing the JLMP Programme, its implementation, and its monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide assistance to decision makers at ECOWAS and the Member States level for the adoption and mainstreaming of JLMP Programme activities and initiatives through relevant policy organs.
• Enhance coordination between ECOWAS, AUC, the JLMP Programme Support Unit (PSU) and the JLMP Implementing Partners.
• Coordinate the work of Labour Migration and Social Protection Working Groups of the Social Dialogue Forum and support the revamping of the labour migration working group under the Migration Dialogue for Western Africa.
•  Work to promote engagement with a broad spectrum of labour migration actors within and beyond the ECOWAS region.
• Act as the ECOWAS Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person monitoring Programme implementation under JLMP as stipulated in the M&E framework.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience
Educational Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Development Economics, Political Science, Business Administration, Project Management, Public Administration/Management, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or
• University Degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with relevant Government and Non-Governmental counterparts, international organizations, civil society or private sector entities;
• Familiarity with the Labour migration aspects, Labor migration policy and legal frameworks;
• Proven knowledge and experience on project management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting;
• Familiarity with the AU-ILO-IOM-ECA Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration (better known as the Joint Labour Migration Programme or JLMP) in Africa;
• Capacity to provide technical support in the area of labour, employment and labour migration, labour market information systems, as well as on AU Policy Organs relevant for the project implementation, policy oversight and monitoring (Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment, Executive Council, Assembly of Heads of States and Government, Pan African parliament, etc.);
• Working experience and collaboration with continental and regional social partners’ organizations (Business Africa, Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa); M&E, follow-up on employment, labour and social protection policy frameworks, including MS, RECs and international partners; 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment; and,
• Ability to prepare high quality and technically sound reports.

Skills:

• Problem solving capability;
• Experience in budget formulation, financial management and administration;
• Experience in developing and maintaining partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners;
• Knowledge of, and ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses in the field of the project;
• Experience in working with the RECs, IOM, ECA, ILO and EU on the fields of labour, employment, social protection, labour migration and labour market information systems;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing in either French or English; and,
• Excellent command of office software, such as MS Office, spreadsheets, databases.

Languages:

• IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.
• External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).
• For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an advantage.
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

N.B:  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. 
• 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 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. 
• Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.