23396 Regional Programme Specialist (Regional Responses to Climate Displacement (RE2CLID)) (P) Freelance NEW

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN Migration Agency. With 175 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, governments, and civil society to:

1. Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration and human mobility;

2. Advance understanding of migration issues;

3. Encourage social and economic development through migration; and

4. Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

Over the past years, IOM has worked closely with national and local authorities and communities across sub-Saharan Africa to address displacement, supporting the planning of and implementation of evacuation measures, the provision of humanitarian assistance to displaced populations, the coordination and management of sites hosting displaced communities, and promoting the achievement of durable solutions. IOM is also at the forefront of efforts to support the mainstreaming of migration into disaster preparedness, disaster response, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation into continental, regional, and national development policies and plans, and actively engages with governments, communities, and local partners to build the resilience of communities to climate change.

In May 2023, representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission began discussions on an action to be implemented under the Regional Multi-Annual Indicative Plan for Sub-Saharan Africa (RMIP SSA) for 2024, which resulted in the development of the “Regional Responses to Climate Displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa” programme (RE2CLID) outlining a regional response to climate displacement.

The RE2CLID programme seeks to enhance the resilience, self-reliance, and protection of Displacement-Affected Communities (DACs) living in areas at risk of disasters, environmental degradation, and the adverse effects of climate change. The programme operates across two highly vulnerable sub-regional clusters, inclusive of Cluster 1 – the Lake Tanganyika Basin, encompassing Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania, and Cluster 2 – the Southern Africa and South-West Indian Ocean region, including Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros. The objective of the programme is to improve overall capacity to respond to and increase overall resilience to disaster displacement at the regional level through strategic interventions regionally, nationally, and locally.

The action is framed around three main objectives: Strengthen systems that enable us to avert, minimize, and address displacement, and promote effective adaptation and resilience of communities most exposed to displacement risks due to climate hazards; Improve the governance and management of natural resources and agricultural land use in ways that create sustainable livelihoods for displaced and host communities; Help population displaced attain climate resilient durable solutions and enable social cohesion in host and return communities. By addressing the root causes of disaster-induced displacement and fostering inclusive, climate-resilient solutions, RE2CLID aims to reduce vulnerability and enhance long-term resilience in displacement-affected communities.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Deputy Director for Operations, the overall supervision of the Regional Director for East Horn and Southern Africa, and in close coordination with Managing Missions and Country project teams, the Regional Thematic Specialists and the Global Office, the Regional Programme Specialist, Regional Responses to Climate Displacement (RE2CLID) will be responsible and accountable for the overall strategic and technical coordination of the RE2CLID programme to ensure the implementation of harmonized, coherent, and technically sound activities based on timely and informed decision-making at regional level. The Regional Programme Specialist, Regional Responses to Climate Displacement (RE2CLID), will also lead regional activities of the RE2CLID, supervise the Regional Support Team, act as the principal focal point for regional organizations, and serve as the primary liaison with the European Commission and other institutional partners at the regional level.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the implementation of the programme at the regional level and facilitate decision-making in a timely, harmonised/coherent, and informed manner at the level of action.
Lead the planning and implementation of regional activities and lead stakeholder engagement and partnership development at the regional level, and actively identify resource mobilization opportunities to complement, amplify the impact, and strengthen the sustainability of RE2CLID initiatives.
In coordination with the Managing Missions and Global Office (GO) Brussels, engage regularly with the European Commission on the overall programme strategy and orientation, participate in Regional Steering Committees, and provide high-level guidance on the development, implementation and adjustment of programme activities.
Work with Managing Missions to ensure alignment with donor requirements and compliance with IOM’s institutional project management policies and procedures, including financial management, human resources, reporting, visibility, and risk management protocols.
Ensure the development and use of harmonized systems, procedures, and tools for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the project, including budgets and annual workplans; provide capacity development to missions on their use, and provide troubleshooting in coordination with Cluster Management missions and relevant Regional Office (RO) and GO Units.
Provide day-to-day technical guidance and support to implementing missions, conduct regular in-country deployments, and ensure the integration of global policy directions and thematic innovations into RE2CLID programming, in coordination with Managing missions.
Identify needs for additional technical and programmatic support and mobilize internal and external resources as necessary in close coordination with the Managing missions, Regional Thematic Specialists, Regional Resource Management Unit, the Global Office and Headquarters (HQ) Units.
Support the integration of actions to address protection risks, including gender-based violence, and ensure the integration of inclusive approaches within all programme components regionally, emphasizing the active participation of women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, DACs, and marginalized groups.
Provide guidance on the development of area-based approaches and localization of activities implemented to ensure the sustainability of actions and the development of exit strategies.
Facilitate timely and coherent communication and information sharing across clusters, conduct cross-cluster trend analysis and promote cross-cluster and institutional learning, including by preparing policy inputs and capturing lessons from implementation at the regional level.
Supervise the Regional Support Team, regularly track progress made in the implementation of the action in coordination with Managing Missions, support problem-solving and escalate any high-level unresolved issues for timely decision-making.
Convene and lead the Internal Programme Committee to ensure cross-cluster coordination and strategic alignment, and participate in the RE2CLID Senior Management Team meeting to raise unresolved issues and ensure high-level decision-making in coordination with the Deputy Regional Director.
Represent IOM and RE2CLID in related regional and global strategic forums, lead advocacy and visibility efforts at the regional level, and ensure the implementation of an effective external communication strategy of programme achievements and lessons learned, in close coordination with Cluster Managing Missions, the European Union Delegations (EUDs), Country managers and IOM’s Media and Communication Department.
Serve as the primary liaison with key regional partners, including but not limited to Regional Economic Communities, Regional Organizations, Regional Offices of the UN, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Multilateral Banks, etc.
Ensure coordination with other IOM offices and programmes not directly included in RE2CLID, identifying synergies, sharing tools, and supporting institutional coherence on disaster preparedness, disaster response, disaster risk reduction, climate action and durable solutions to increase impact of the RE2CLID initiative regionally.
Guide Cluster Managing missions with the drafting and timely submission of periodic progress reports, briefings, and other documents, and ensure accurate documentation of RE2CLID programme achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices at regional level
Ensure the implementation of baseline, midline, and endline assessments regionally.
Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Management, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
University degree in the above fields with at least nine years of relevant professional experience.
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

Significant experience in programme management and coordination, including multi-country or regional programmes on disaster preparedness, disaster response, displacement management, disaster risk reduction, and durable solutions is essential;
Extensive operational experience in contexts affected by displacement due to crises – including disasters and conflict – is essential;
Significant experience in developing and implementing area-based and localization strategies is essential;
Extensive experience in coordinating multi-country actions, supervising diverse and multicultural teams, managing technical backstopping structures, and coordinating programme support functions across countries; and,
Strong expertise covering a wide range of thematic areas, particularly those related to displacement management, emergency preparedness, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, durable solutions, climate change adaptation, and environmental governance; with at least six years of relevant experience in displacement crisis and post-crisis contexts.
Skills

Proven expertise in designing strategic guidance and operationalizing “whole of displacement” responses across the humanitarian, peace, and development nexus is essential;
Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale donor-funded initiatives, particularly with the European Union, including donor relations, strategic planning, visibility, and reporting;
Proven ability to lead regional partnership development, policy engagement, and high-level representation, including with UN agencies, regional organizations, government entities, and civil society, in regional and global fora;
Familiarity with regional cooperation mechanisms in areas targeted by the action is highly desirable;
Demonstrated strategic leadership and coordination skills in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with sound judgment and the ability to make timely, informed decisions;
Capacity to analyse and synthesize technical and policy information and to translate complex concepts into actionable strategies, plans, and guidance;
Proven ability to maintain flexibility and professionalism under pressure, and to adapt quickly to changing priorities and evolving circumstances;
Excellent interpersonal and representational skills, including the ability to communicate effectively, negotiate diplomatically, and foster collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders; and,
High proficiency in digital collaboration tools and office applications, including spreadsheets, databases, and knowledge management systems.
Languages

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

Working knowledge of Portuguese and another official UN languages (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.

How to apply
Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. 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.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

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Tagged as: International Organization for Migration, Program/Project Management