National Protection Officer

Established in 1951, IOM is a leading inter-governmental organization providing services to governments and migrants in the field of migration. With its 173 member States and offices in more than 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.

Pakistan remains the third-largest refugee-hosting country globally, hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards issued by the Government, 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, and an estimated 775,000 undocumented Afghan migrants. With the recent unprecedented change in the political and security situation in Afghanistan, the number of Afghan nationals crossing into Pakistan has increased. Owing to their partly informal status, the Afghan migrant populations have largely remained under the radar, not being eligible for any systematic humanitarian assistance – thereby facing significant challenges.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator (Protection), and the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, the incumbent will support in providing technical guidance and support to IOM Pakistan’s protection portfolio.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Under the guidance and supervision of the Protection Officer, lead and independently conduct research activities on relevant thematic areas, including but not limited to housing, land, and property rights (HLP), bonded-labor, legal documentation of migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Draft regular and ad hoc legal and protection analysis, liaising with relevant stakeholders, including United Nations (UN) agencies, implementing partners (IPs), government counterparts, academia, and research institutes, as needed.
• Assist the Programme Coordinator (Protection) and the Protection Officer in providing relevant technical guidance across all thematic pillars and protection interventions implemented by the Protection Unit, including support to other National Protection Officers overseeing each thematic pillars, other IOM staff, field teams and implementing partners (IPs).
• Contribute to project conceptualization and development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts as well as reporting, as needed, and assist the Protection Officer and other colleagues in further expanding the portfolio of protection projects and interventions implemented by the Protection Unit.
• Participate in, and support capacity building intiativies for IOM field teams, implementing partners (IPs), local authorities, government stakeholders.
• Represent the Protection Unit, and participate in relevant coordination mechanisms, conferences, workshops, working groups, donor visits and other forums, where and when required.
• Support the Protection Officer to strengthen synergies and linkages between protection projects and interventions across provinces and implementing partners and identify potential new programmatic areas relevant to IOM in Pakistan.
• Stay abreast of political, legal, social, economic developments that have an impact on the protection environment in Pakistan, and take initiatives to analyse and document these developments to inform IOM programmes.
• Undertake travel duties in provinces, as required.
• Perform other related duties, as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or related fields from an accredited academic institution
• Or
• Bachelors degree in the above fields with two years of relevant professional experience

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups; and,
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, national/international institutions, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations;
• Experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, protection and human rights;
• Experience in protection in emergencies and familiarity with related coordination mechanisms;
• Experience in liaising and coordinating with external actors within academia, UN, and civil society
• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organization in a multi-cultural setting is an advantage.

Languages:

REQUIRED:

• Fluency in English and Urdu.

DESIRABLE:

• Working knowledge of Pashto and Dari.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances.

Only short-listed candidates who are matching required criteria for the position will be contacted by IOM.

IOM provides equal opportunity to all qualified female and male including the physically challenged candidates.