Regional CBI Officer – Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific At International Organization for Migration

Position Title: Regional CBI Officer – Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific

Duty Station: To be determined

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade UG

Type of Appointment: Special short-term ungraded, six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 21 March 2023

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

While the position is placed in the Cash-Based Initiatives (CBI) Unit in Headquarters, the selected candidate will be home-based in Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) as well as the Asia and the Pacific regions and undertakes regular duty travel in support of IOM Country Offices in the region. The CBI Unit leads IOM’s effort to increase, coordinate and standardize the use of CBI as a modality to deliver assistance across the organization and implement the IOM CBI Strategy 2022-2026. This includes designing relevant tools and reviewing internal processes in coordination with all relevant stakeholders, while also providing technical support and capacity-building to IOM country and regional offices to make sure they are well-equipped to efficiently implement CBI.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director General for Operations and direct supervision of the Senior Cash-Based Interventions (CBI) Officer at HQ; and in close collaboration with relevant units at the regional level and Headquarters, the Regional CBI Officer will support Country Offices in designing projects and improving CBI processes, as well as improving coordination and contributing to capacity-building efforts.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Advise IOM Country Offices on the implementation of the IOM CBI Strategy 2022-2026 at the country level and integrating CBI into operational plans, strategies and projects.
2. Coordinate with Country Offices to develop country-level CBI Strategies and related work plans to ensure an increased and improved use of CBI, in line with IOM CBI Strategy.
3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with United Nations partners, international and national Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), research institutions and private sector entities at the regional level to ensure complementarity in the implementation of CBI.
4. Represent IOM in regional forums and in meetings with donors, partners and other stakeholders on cash and voucher assistance, in coordination with Regional Offices and Headquarters.
5. Advise all Country Offices in the region on CBI, ensuring adequate design, implementation and monitoring of activities using cash and voucher modalities, in line with IOM CBI Strategy.
6. Follow up on the development of standard operating procedures and risk control measures and adapt available tools to project needs to ensure compliance with IOM’s policies and procedures for CBI programming across the region.
7. Advise the Senior CBI Officer at HQ of any bottlenecks in the region or at the country level that may impede the timely delivery of CBI to beneficiaries and take action to resolve problems.
8. Provide technical support to Country Offices on feasibility studies and market assessments to support efforts at the country-level to select the most adequate CBI modality.
9. Periodically review the appropriateness of the use of CBI to deliver assistance to respond to the evolving needs in the region, including humanitarian, transition and recovery, development, and return and reintegration programmes.
10. Review project proposals with CBI components and contribute to project proposal preparation to ensure they are in line with institutional best practices and priorities.
11. Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on IOM’s cash and voucher-based activities in the region (not project-specific reports), including proposing operational improvements and potential future scope for IOM’s CBI programming in the region and contribute to systematize lessons learnt and good practices on CBI across the region, in coordination with Regional and Country Offices
12. Keep an updated list of IOM CBI focal points in country offices, as well as Coordinate and conduct capacity-building initiatives for staff involved in the planning and management of CBI.
13. Encourage regular and proactive participation of IOM in Cash Working Groups at country levels and contribute to Regional Cash Working Groups, such as the Americas Cash Working Group and the Regional Cash Working Group for the Venezuela Response.
14. Ensure that cross-cutting issues, such as Gender-Based Violence, Disability Inclusion, ChildProtection and Accountability to Affected Populations, are streamlined and considered across all the IOM CBI activities.
15. Coordinate regional efforts to link humanitarian CBI with existing social protection programmes, where possible, as well as other referrals pathways to ensure that humanitarian and emergency cash projects have a defined time limit after which a clear transition strategy towards solutions is in place.
16. Undertake travel on duty to Country Offices to provide technical assistance to achieve project objectives.
17. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Political Science 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

• Strong international experience in cash programming in humanitarian contexts, preferably across multiple sectors, including experience in emergency and conflict environments;
• Experience liaising with governmental authorities, other national and international institutions and NGOs and building effective local partnerships including with the private sector;
• Work experience in the relevant region(s) would be an advantage;
• Previous experience working in an international organization and knowledge of the UN is essential.

Skills

• Ability to effectively represent IOM and its interests to key stakeholders;
• Ability to timely understand the Organization’s structure and portfolios;
• Excellent knowledge of CBI in humanitarian emergencies and/or early recovery contexts, throughout the project cycle;
• Knowledge and understanding of key developments and actors within the humanitarian area;
• Proven ability to supervise, train and direct staff and operations;
• Good knowledge of project development, management and evaluation concepts and procedures;
• Excellent managerial, communication, analytical and organizational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including negotiation, relationship management, influencing and networking;
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds;
• Good level of computer literacy.

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 in either French and/or Arabic language is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

This vacancy is primarily based in Cairo or Bangkok. The selected candidates locations may be different depending on available flexible working arrangements opportunities based on prevailing policies.

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 five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• 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.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• 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 actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

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.

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.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.