Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and 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. IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment. Applications from qualified female candidates are especially encouraged. For the purpose of the vacancy, the following candidates are considered as first-tier candidates:
1. Internal candidates
2. Qualified applicants from the following NMS countries:
 
Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Congo, Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Micronesia (Federated States of), Gabon, Gambia, Guyana, Iceland, Cambodia, Comoros, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Libya, Montenegro, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mauritania, Maldives, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Seychelles, Slovenia, Suriname, El Salvador, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, United Republic of Tanzania, Holy See, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Vanuatu, Samoa
 
Context:
 
The ongoing conflict in Syria, which is dynamic, complex and multifaceted, has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. The country is experiencing a continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in country, characterized by poor access to basic goods and services, large scale displacements, increasing vulnerabilities of population in need, damages to key infrastructure and restricted movement of goods and people, with large regions not being accessible. While the UN Security Council Resolutions 2165 and 2191 enabled some cross border assistance into Syria, there is still an estimated 4.8 million Syrians who continue to live without regular access to food or medical care inside hard to reach or besieged areas, with needs increasing. According to the figures of the 2016 Syria response plan, there are 5.1 million IDPs in Syria of which 5.6 million are children, and 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
 
Most of the current IOM cross-border activities focus on NFI distribution, with protection activities only at an embryonic stage. GBV survivors, child labour cases, child and early marriages as well as trafficking cases remain under-identified, under-reported and under-addressed, and have been identified as areas of current and future work. Of particular concern are unspecified numbers of unaccompanied and separated children who are displaced and separated from their families for various reasons and do not get tracked nor assisted properly by the current operations inside Syria. In addition, the child protection concerns which could have links with trafficking incidents are early and forced marriage, child labour, and child recruitment by all armed forces involved in the conflict. No comprehensive data exists on numbers of children affected by these occurrences, but anecdotal evidence suggests that as the humanitarian situation in Syria deteriorates, increasing families are resorting to or fall prey to such measures/abuses.
 
Children are separated from their families due to conflict and displacement, left behind by parents who might seek treatment from injury elsewhere, or are sent to other areas to seek work. There is a mismatch between the increasing accounts of unaccompanied and separated children inside Syria and the few numbers of identified unaccompanied and separated children among the refugee population in Turkey. Against this backdrop, IOM wishes to recruit a protection officer able to enhance protection related activities of the IOM cross-border team.
 
Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub-Office in Gaziantep and the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator, the successful candidate will contribute to the integration of protection considerations in on-going response operations as well as to the development of protection focused activities.
 
Core Functions / Responsibilities:

• Regularly participate in inter-agency protection fora (e.g. protection cluster, child-protection sub-cluster, gender -based violence sub-cluster, relevant task forces, as well as Whole of Syria protection meetings happening in Turkey etc.).
• In consultation with the Programme Coordinator, ensure regular liaison with relevant HQ colleagues in Geneva and contribute to the development and follow-up of the IOM Whole of Syria protection component.
• Propose protection related variables to be included into assessments conducted by IOM (NPM) and support their analysis and treatment within IOM and other key protection actors.
• Ensure that IOM staff and IPs benefit from planned trainings organized by protection actors and gradually mainstream GBV, Child Protection and counter-human trafficking into other sectorial interventions (NFI and shelter, livelihood projects, transportation). In the absence of planned trainings, deliver trainings directly to the benefit of implementing partners.
• Contribute to the management of projects, notably on identification, referral and assistance activities for children (special focus on unaccompanied and separated children), victims of human trafficking and exploitation, victims of gender-based violence and/or other survivors of violence, exploitation and abuse, in coordination with other colleagues and concerned protection actors.
• When needed and feasible, support the provision of responses to individual cases of concern and refer or treat them as appropriate (e.g. screening, interview, counseling, development of referral pathways or identify direct assistance options, depending on programme capacities).
• Support capacity building efforts among field based colleagues on both IOM protection modus operandi and internal guidelines, counter-trafficking IOM, protection mainstreaming standards and practices as well as international protection standards (Sphere, Child Protection Minimum Standards, ICRC Professional Protection Standards, etc.).
• Prepare regular reports covering protection activities; prepare briefing, statistical/narrative reports and background information as required including specific information requested by IOM and other entities.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

 
Required Qualifications and Experience:
 
Education
 

• Master’s degree in Political Science, Social 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

•  
• Experience in the field of migration, IDP (Internally Displaced Person) and refugee assistance and protection (including specific knowledge of GBV, Child Protection and Human Trafficking);
• Experience in emergency operations and liaison with other UN and non-UN humanitarian actors;
• Understanding of complex social-political environments;
• Knowledge of the Syrian conflict and its impact on the affected population;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture, especially in relation to protection (focus on internal displacement, child protection, gender-based violence, identity documentation, etc.);
• Understanding and knowledge of human trafficking phenomena;
• Understanding of complex social-political environments;
• Knowledge of the Syrian conflict and its impact on the affected population;
• Working experience in the region is an asset;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture, especially in relation to protection (focus on internal displacement, child protection, gender-based violence, identity documentation, etc.);
• Good level of computer literacy;
• Proven ability to draft clearly and concisely in English;
• Working experience in the region is an asset.

 
Languages: Fluency in English and working knowledge of Arabic is required. Working knowledge of Turkish is an advantage.
 
Desirable Competencies:
 
Behavioral

• Accountability – takes responsibility for action and manages constructive criticisms;
• Client Orientation – works effectively well with client and stakeholders;
• Continuous Learning – promotes continuous learning for self and others;
• Communication – listens and communicates clearly, adapting delivery to the audience;
• Creativity and Initiative – actively seeks new ways of improving programmes or services;
• Leadership and Negotiation – develops effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Performance Management – identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others;
• Planning and Organizing - plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Professionalism - displays mastery of subject matter
• Teamwork – contributes to a collegial team environment; incorporates gender related needs, perspectives, concerns and promotes equal gender participation;
• Technological Awareness - displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
• Resource Mobilization - works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.

 
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.The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. 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.