Regional Thematic Specialist (Data and Analysis) at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Core Functions / Responsibilities:
Technical support and Coordination

• Lead the identification, analysis and interpretation of trends or patterns, using statistical methods to identify relevant features and variables in structured and unstructured sources of information and data; as well as providing guidance along the full data analytics lifecycle analysis (including data requirements, activities and design).
• Represent IOM on technical data and research matters in inter-agency, regional and global meetings, and workshops, in coordination with relevant colleagues in the RO; present in seminars, workshops and conferences, and contribute to inter-agency publications and reports, ensuring that IOM global and regional capabilities are well reflected both on migration and displacement in coordination with relevant departments.
• Lead the design of governmental statistical development initiatives in collaboration with IOM Country Offices to strengthen the regional evidence base on migration and displacement in close liaison with national statistical offices (NSOs), key line ministries and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) aiming to enhance the production, harmonization and dissemination of official migration statistics.
• Lead the research efforts in East and Hon of Africa on migration and displacement (including durable solution), including by designing and implementing large scale assessments and thematic surveys as per regional programmatic needs. Coordinate the regular publication of research reports, academic papers, policy brief and information products on mixed migration and related topics with a regional perspective in coordination with relevant focal points at the national and regional level and with relevant partners. Ensure the organization of regular dissemination activities or events for internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen partnerships with United Nations organizations, governments, international non-governmental organizations and academic partners to develop evidence based and promote the use of IOM’s data and resources.
• Ensure regular coordination and information sharing with IOM country offices data and research officers/units and with other regional data hubs, RTSs, and HQ Departments, especially the GDI, including by maintaining a regional repository of data, information products and tools used at Country Offices.
• Lead the mainstreaming of the Migration Data Strategy (MDS) into country strategies and streamlining of the data and research work at the regional level. Provide data and research guidance to Project Managers through sharing of information with the COs at the regional level and general technical support upon request from the field, ensuring a coherent and strategic regional approach.
• Management of projects and mobilization of resources
• Identify new regional programmatic opportunities and describe and justify program possibilities, consistent with approved program and ongoing activities. Design, supervise and monitor ongoing internal and external data initiatives and activities including, but not limited to: the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), measuring migration in population censuses; improving administrative records on migration; Sustainable Development Goal indicators and Migration Governance Indicators (MGIs); follow-up to data-related objectives of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM); supporting Knowledge Management (KM); counter-trafficking data; Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) data. Renew country and/or regional activities and recommend program improvements.
• Identify needs and opportunities for data products, activities and initiatives and produce
• coordinated, well-written project proposals both specifically on data and analysis and as part of
• other proposed project and program initiatives.
• Engage and liaise with potential donors in support of the RDH and its work. Lead technical team and collaborate across organization
• Supervise the Regional Data Hub Team, provide guidance and capacity-building to its staff and develop a strategy to support a coherent data and research approach in the region. Plan, develop and oversee the implementation of all activities of the RDH, ensuring quality output, allocation of resources to achieve the identified outputs, selection of personnel and partners, and overall management functions.
• Review, endorse and track data and research-related project proposals developed by country offices in the region, and provide regular updates to the relevant HQ Divisions on projects endorsed. Provide project endorsement in coordination with relevant HQ Divisions and RTSs.
• Oversee the implementation of the DTM initiatives and activities in the Region in accordance with global standards and methodologies, in close coordination with the global DTM support team in IOM’s GDI. Identify synergies with thematic areas (Labour Migration, Counter-Trafficking and Migrant Protection, Transition & Recovery, Emergency Response, Migration Health, Migration, Environment and Climate Change etc.), in close coordination with Regional Thematic Specialists, IOM HQ and IOM Country Offices.
• Plan, develop and supervise the implementation of all activities of the RDH ensuring quality output, allocation of resources to achieve the identified outputs, selection of personnel and partners, and overall management functions. Provide technical guidance and oversight of Programme Officers, Technical Advisors, Project Assistants and Operational teams and assign tasks in compliance with programme implementation strategy.
• Supervise a multi-cultural team comprised of permanent and temporary highly technical staff (GIS, Data, Analysis, Statisticians, etc.)
• Keep abreast of policies, international standards, global initiatives, academic and policy-oriented research and publications, specific developments in the East and Horn of Africa Region to improve future coordination.
• Provide on-site or remote direct operational and technical support to data initiatives and programming in the Region as required, including regular travel to IOM Country Offices to support their implementation.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education

•  Master’s degree in computer information systems, geospatial science, computer science, data science, statistics, computational social sciences and social studies, including demography and economics, migration studies, information management, sociology, disaster risk management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,  University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

•  Experience in humanitarian emergencies an asset;
•  Experience in the development and implementation of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) or similar assessment and information management activities an asset;
•  Experience in a wide variety of software applications including GIS, Database, and Visual analytics required;
•  Demonstrated understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods;
•  Demonstrated ability to supervise and manage staff at an operational level humanitarian emergencies an asset;
•  Experience in Information Management or Disaster Risk Management an asset;
•  Experience in the development and implementation of population database an asset;
•  Experience in analysis and use of official statistics and primary and secondary data, as well as data innovation initiatives a requirement;
•  Experience in designing data analysis and research methodologies on human migration and/or mobility and finalizing research reports a requirement;
•  Experience in developing and coordinating and working on capacity-building programmes, preferably related to data;
•  Experience in working with a broad range of institutions producing relevant data and analysis, including national migration agencies, statistical offices, regional bodies, UN agencies, academia, civil society and the private sector, among others; and,
•  Working experience in the region is an asset.

Skills

•  Extensive and in-depth knowledge of technologies for cleaning, preparing, and transforming raw data for data analysis and visualization projects is required;
•  Demonstrated understanding of information processes such as data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting is required;
•  Knowledge in GIS, R programming, Adobe suite, Power BI and/or Power Query is an asset;
•  Knowledge of the latest technological developments in information technology and information system an asset;
•  Ability to assist the creation of IM-related technical requirements and Standard Operating Procedures an asset;
•  Demonstrated team building and information management skills required;
•  Ability to deal with tight deadlines from multiple clients/teams;
•  Excellent organizational skills;
•  Excellent English writing and editing skills required; and,
•  In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization an asset.

Languages

• IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.
• For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French and Arabic is an advantage.
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.