Regional MECC Partnerships and Research Officer at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Context:

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN Migration Agency. With 174 member states, it is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Established in 1951 and now active in over 400 field locations worldwide, IOM works with partners, government and civil society to:
  • Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration and mobility;
  • Advance understanding of migration issues;
  • Encourage social and economic development through migration; and
  • Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants and mobile populations.
• IOM’s Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa supports and monitors the following countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Through a team of specialists, the Regional Office supports the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of projects and initiatives undertaken by country offices and regional programmes.
• Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Senior Regional Policy and Programme Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Migration, Environment and Climate Change Specialist and the thematic oversight of the Climate Action Division (CAD) at Headquarters (HQ), the Regional Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Partnerships and Research Officer will support the Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division at the Regional Office (RO) for the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA). They will assist and support the Regional Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Specialist in three particular functions; (1) liaison between IOM and key partners such as Regional Economic Communities (RECs) (e.g. East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)) and other agencies e.g. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (2) research, data gathering, compilation and analysis on a wide range of MECC-related topics, (3) supporting the capacity building of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC) Expert Working Group (EWG) and UNFCCC climate change negotiators.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:
Partnerships:

• Map current and potential future partnerships with other UN Agencies (particularly the UNFCCC), RECs and private sector.
• Participate in the coordination and strengthening of the relationship with partners (internal e.g. Department of Emergencies/Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion as well as external) by preparing technical inputs and compiling information to support the development of joint initiatives including studies, strategy documents, projects, attendance and invitations to conferences and workshops.
• Help build strategic networks and strong relationships with UNFCCC climate change negotiators in all the IOM RO Member States by providing technical and administrative guidance and support.

Research:

• Research and recommend actionable options and new funding mechanisms on Migration and Climate Change for Africa in line with the commitments and requests under the KDMECC.
• Research and draft technical inputs to support the development of policy briefs or other short publications targeted towards relevant high-level conferences such as PAFoM, Climate Weeks and COPs as well as other key events and in response to trends, including cross-thematic topics.
• In close collaboration with the IOM Regional Data Hub, provide information and technical inputs to support the development of proposals for regional or continental data and knowledge platforms.
• Provide technical and administrative support to the MECC Programme Coordinator for the KDMECC project, particularly in relation to the capacity building of the Expert Working Group.
• Coordinate research, studies and quick analyses in line with the established research and evidence strategy for the Climate Action Division.
• Disseminate the results of research and studies undertaken by the Climate Action Division to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical information and guidance to support the IOM Country Offices in improving the standard of their MECC research and studies as well as the quality of their reports in line with IOM’s publishing guidelines.
• In close collaboration with the Regional Media and Communications Unit (MCU), facilitate the integration of the results of research and studies undertaken by the Climate Action Division into both targeted and general communication materials and visibility products.
• Perform such other related duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education

•  Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Economics, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law, Climate Change, Development or Environmental Studies 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

•  Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, donors, academia, other national/ international institutions and NGOs; and,
•  Experience in undertaking research and analyses, writing reports and preparing inputs for publications on migration and environmental issues.

Skills

•  Excellent teamwork skills with a track record in team coordination and building trust;
•  Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation;
•  Excellent understanding on migration in relation to environment, climate change and disasters;
•  Demonstrated high level of expertise in research related to migration and environmental issues;
•  Sound knowledge of international fora and policy process in the areas of migration, climate change, environment, disaster risk reduction, knowledge of frameworks such as UN Conventions on Climate Change, ecosystems, desertification, etc.;
•  Understanding of legal frameworks human rights approaches, soft law and protection issues related to environmental migration; and,
•  Proven flexibility to coordinate contributions from diverse stakeholders.

Languages

• IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
• For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another
• official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and 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.