Position Title :  Community Engagement Officer

Duty Station  :   Dakar, Senegal

Classification  :   Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment  :   Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date  :   As soon as possible

Closing Date  :   04 June 2019

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, 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 work environment.  Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM.  For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this VN, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Djibouti; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Lesotho; Libya; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

IOM implements innovative approaches and initiatives aimed at positively affecting the knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviours of youth and potential migrants in West and Central Africa. At the community level, these initiatives encourage the public and private sectors to develop new ways to prevent exploitation by building capacity to apply Communication for Development (C4D) practices to outreach activities. One of such initiatives is the IOM’s innovative C4D campaign, Migrants as Messenger.

A growing body of research suggests that potential migrants are generally distrustful of information campaigns on irregular migration and that they are more likely to believe information obtained through trusted social networks. Migrants as Messengers (MaM) addresses this distrust by influencing decisions in migration-prone communities in West Africa through peer-to-peer messaging.

The project started in 3 countries in November 2017 and will expand to include 7 countries in the region (Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia) over 3 years. It is carried out by volunteer returned migrants using storytelling techniques to record peer interviews broadcast on social media and includes a substantial non-digital community engagement component.

Under the direct supervision of the Communication for Development Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for implementing aspects of the overall community engagement strategy of the Migrants as Messengers project, and contributing to the design, planning and implementation of activities in all 7 target countries. The position will be based in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar, Senegal.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Contribute technical inputs for the development and implementation of an outreach strategy that helps the project staff identify, engage with and recruit migrant returnees interested in volunteering for the project.

2. Work closely with project staff and partners and contribute to the development and implementation of capacity building, mentoring and coaching for Volunteer Field Officers (VFOs).

3. Participate in the development of activities focused on community engagement, advocacy and social mobilization that will provide volunteers and other key actors of the project with a platform for organic intervention at the community level. Collaborate with country focal points and core staff on ongoing community engagement programs in their respective countries.

4. Assist the Regional Awareness Raising Officer to develop tools and methodologies for peer-to-peer communication.

5. Maintain relationships with key institutional and civil society actors and stakeholders and encourage partnerships to help drive and fund community engagement activities.

6. Provide inputs to promote and strengthen participation of women in project activities.

7. Implement training and training of trainers targeting media, journalists, community radios, and civil society actors engaged in awareness raising initiatives.

8. Work closely with Impact Evaluation team to facilitate the integration of an impact evaluation component in community engagement activities

9. Provide technical guidance to project staff for knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

10. Contribute materials for regular communications on community engagement activities and quarterly progress reports

11. Assist focal points in the design and implementation of a recognition structure and growth path for volunteers.

12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Communications 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

• At least two years’ experience in managing and/or implementing community engagement projects, and public information;

• Experience in dealing with socially relevant topics;

• Experience in dealing with International Institutions and Organisations (UN, etc.); Demonstrated experience working with European Union communication guidelines and requirements;

• Familiarity with international organizations;

• Good knowledge of dynamics of irregular migration, human trafficking and other issues related to migration and exploitation in West and Central Africa;

• Excellent grasp of the evolving media environment, including new media in West and Central Africa, as well as the political, cultural and economic impact of the changing landscape on non-profit campaigns.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of other local languages of West and Central Africa, Spanish is an advantage.

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results. • Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

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.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by 04 June 2019  at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment