rotection Officer., Closing date: Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Closing date: Tuesday, 24 February 2015

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position Title: Protection Officer

Duty Station: Erbil, Iraq

Type of Appointment: Consultancy Contract

Duration: 3 months with possibility of extension

Estimated start date: As soon as possible

Background

The humanitarian situation in Iraq has been deteriorating rapidly since June 2014 exacerbating pre-existing divisions across the country and neighbouring countries. In August 2014, a system wide Level 3 emergency has been declared for the country. It is estimated that around 1.8 million people have been displaced since January 2014 and scattered across more than 1700 locations. More than 20 million people have been affected by the crisis 1 . As per IOM DTM (Displacement Tracking Matrix) analysis, patterns of displacement could be summarized into three different moments 1) from January to June 2014: displacement occurred mostly within the Anbar governorate with smaller displaced populations fleeing to bordering governorates including Baghdad and Salah al Din. A significant population also fled to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI); 2) after June displacement spread into the governorate of Ninewa and expanded into Central Iraq; 3) from August: internal displacement touched also Sinjar and north of Mosul with the biggest wave of internal displacement recorded for 2014 2 . Initially the displaced population started to settle with friends and relatives, subsequent waves have increasingly pushed people to find shelter in unfinished buildings, in public buildings or squatting in informal settlements. Within this scenario, IOM is responding through a wide spectrum activities ranging from NFI distribution, to shelter, health and psychosocial as well as livelihood activities. With regards to migration, there are increasing reports on the emerging prevalence of smuggling networks as Iraqi and Syrian refugees, in particular, consider onward irregular migration. Cases of human trafficking have also been reported.

Prioritization of the most vulnerable as well as prevention and response to discrimination leading to exploitation, neglect and abuse of some section of the affected population represents a challenge faced by the humanitarian actors. IOM wishes to enhance its in- country capacity of integrating protection considerations (targeting and prioritizing aid according to specific gender, age, sex considerations, disabilities, allegiance to a specific ethnic minority, other drivers of vulnerability) into existing on-going programmes as well as develop new protection activities targeted at identifying, providing responses or referring victims of exploitation, abuse and neglect among the displaced, host 1 Iraq, Humanitarian Needs Overview, September 2014. 2 DTM Overview Report, 3 October 2014. communities as well as mobile population, in coordination with other protection humanitarian actors.

General Functions

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission in Iraq and the direct supervision of the IOM Iraq Sr. Emergency Program Coordinator with thematic support from the Regional Office Cairo and IOM Headquarters where needed, the incumbent will be responsible for enhancing and/or integrating protection considerations in on-going response operations as well as develop protection focused activities

In particular, he/she will

1. Regularly participate in inter-agency protection fora (e.g. protection cluster, child- protection sub-cluster, gender -based violence sub-cluster, relevant task forces, etc.) and ensure that the protection needs of mobile populations as well as communities affected by mobility are systematically reported and appropriately addressed through specific and/or joint activities.
2. Efficiently integrate protection related variables into assessments conducted by IOM (DTM and others) and coordinate their analysis and treatment within IOM and other key protection actors;
3. Plan, implement and assist in coordination of ongoing protection strategies, notably identification, referral and assistance activities for children (special focus on unaccompanied and separated children), victims of human trafficking and exploitation, survivors of gender-based violence or other forms of violence, exploitation and abuse, in collaboration with other colleagues and concerned protection actors. Findings and recommendations of an assessment conducted during in November and December 2014 on human trafficking phenomena in times of crisis will represent the basis for counter-trafficking activities to be proposed by the protection officer ;
4. Coordinate the implementation of existing protection activities and develop new ones; communicate and co-ordinate with appropriate IOM units and field offices, including with IOM colleagues in charge of psychosocial activities, IOM counter- trafficking and other vulnerable groups regular programmes on-going in the Mission, RO Cairo and HQ relevant counterparts;
5. When needed and feasible, coordinate response to individual cases of concern and refer or treat them as appropriate (e.g. screening, interview, counseling, referral or assistance, depending on programme capacities);
6. Build capacities or enhance existing ones among field based colleagues including the RART and PS team on both: IOM protection modus operandi and internal guidelines, counter-trafficking IOM standards and practices as well as international protection standards (Sphere, Child Protection Minimum Standards, ICRC Professional Protection Standards, etc.). Develop new guidelines/ SoPs where needed.
7. Participate in protection focused seminars and other meetings representing the Organization at gatherings of governmental and non-governmental entities, as requested.
8. Prepare regular reports covering protection activities; prepare briefing, statistical/narrative reports and background information as required including specific information requested by Governments and other entities.
9. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Proposed deliverables:

• Action plan proposed to the Emergency Coordinator and Senior Management Staff for integration of protection considerations into current emergency response programmes. The action plan should include tested and feasible action points and proposed responsible units.
• Set of internal trainings delivered to IOM Iraq staff on the proposed actions and modalities to implement them (special focus on unaccompanied and separated children, victims of human trafficking and exploitation, survivors of gender-based violence or other forms of violence, exploitation and abuse).
• Regular participation to all protection related external fora and coordination ensured with technical division and departments in Iraq and HQ.
• Proposals developed integrating above mentioned actions and/or more specific recommendations stemming from human trafficking phenomena in times of crisis' assessment conducted in November-December 2014.

Desirable qualifications

Education, Experience and competencies

• University degree, preferably in Political or Social Sciences, or Social Work, or a competencies equivalent combination of training and experience. Minimum of 5 years experience in the field of migration, IDP and refugee assistance and protection. Experience in emergency operations and liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities as well as with international institutions. Good level of computer literacy. Ability to draft clearly and concisely. Ability to supervise staff and coordinate administrative activities. Working experience in the region is asset.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Understanding of complex social- political environments. Strong strategic and creative thinking. Ability to work under extreme pressure in difficult conditions while maintaining security awareness. Flexibility and focus on processes and their improvements. Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds. Stamina, determination, commitment and adaptability in the workplace are required.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic desirable.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted to: iraqvacancy@iom.int stating the vacancy title - Protection Officer on the subject line on or before 24 February 2015.