Program Associate

Job Description

Job Summary

The Program Associatewill support the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of reintegration assistance for eligible migrants and returnees. The role involves assessing beneficiaries’ individual needs and capacities, developing integrated reintegration plans, facilitating access to relevant services, conducting case follow-ups, and coordinating with government institutions, implementing partners, and other stakeholders. The officer will also maintain accurate beneficiary records, support field activities and capacity development initiatives, and contribute to reporting and project development in line with IOM and donor requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual meetings with eligible returnees to identify their needs and capacities and support returnees to develop an integrated reintegration plan considering the migrants’ economic, social and psychosocial needs and capacities as well as the socioeconomic context and market dynamics of their communities.
• When requested, participate in remote pre-departure sessions to inform migrants of the assistance available and the reception and reintegration processes.
• As applicable, coordinate with sending missions the provision of reintegration assistance to returnees, including the confirmation of eligibility and level of assistance, validation of reintegration plans, and validation of payment of service fees.
• Refer migrants to relevant specialized services, and conduct regular case follow-up and monitoring.
• Maintain case files of individual beneficiaries, ensure mission-specific tracking tools are up to date, and systematically update case information and supporting documents in IOM’s Migrant Management Operational System Application (MiMOSA). Verify compliance of Returnee data/profile information including area of return of all assisted returnees ensuring cleanliness and accuracy of information and data collected on all supported returnee before entry in to database.
• Prepare and undertake field missions related to reintegration activities, including for the provision of training, local procurement, beneficiary/project monitoring.
• Support administrative coordination of implementation, involving liaison with the procurement and finance units to initiate requests, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions.
• Coordinate with government and non-government counterparts at zonal and woreda levels to facilitate field missions, facilitate beneficiaries’ access to available services, and assist in coordinating timely provision of direct assistance to beneficiaries.
• Identify shortfalls in delivery in a timely manner and bring them to the attention of the supervisor and sending missions.
• Participate in the selection process for Implementing Partners (IP), including participating in selection committees, liaising with RMU on administrative procedures, and providing guidance to IPs on IOM and project requirements and minimum standards.
• Participate in activities related to the Community-Based Planning (CBP) methodology.
• Support with the organization and implementation of internal and external capacity development activities, including but not limited to conducting capacity assessments, preparation of training materials, the (co)facilitation of trainings, and the drafting and review of documents.
• Support with the preparation of reports on reintegration activities in line with IOM and donor requirements and contribute to the development of new project proposals, drawing on lessons learned from previous projects.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent from an accredited academic institution in Economics, Management, Social Work, International Relations, Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, or International Studies with three years of relevant experience, or School Diploma with five years of relevant experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Experience in working closely with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups including by providing them with counseling and referral pathways.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with government counterparts, local non-governmental partners, international organizations and private sector entities.
• Experience in return and reintegration, possibly in the framework of AVRR schemes, or experience in other relevant fields such as livelihood or protection programming.
• Previous experience with UN and International Agencies, international or local NGOs preferred.

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Ability to supervise and work effectively with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds.
• Good understanding of social protection and/or migration issues, in particular migrants’ rights and migrants’ protection is a strong advantage.

Languages

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

For this position, fluency in English and Amharic is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of other Ethiopian languages, particularly Afaan Oromoo and/or Tigrigna is highly desirable.