Outreach and Community-Based Protection (CBP) Officer (P)

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

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 vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, 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.

Organizational Context and Scope

The Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) remains one of the most dangerous migration routes worldwide. A significant number of migrants continue to travel from their countries of origin to Northern Africa enroute to Europe, in search of better economic opportunities. International Organization for Migration (IOM) data shows that from 2017 to date, 30% of migrants in transit and destination countries in the CMR route experience exploitative practices during their migratory journey and need protection services. Those identified in Libya, receive need-based support from IOM protection teams. IOM continues to address these challenges and support affected populations, with the support from the European Commission (EU), the governments of The Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom to implement comprehensive protection programmes aimed at promoting the safety, dignity, and rights of migrants along this dangerous migration route.

Since 2023, the instability at the borders with neighbouring countries impacted migration to and from Libya and further exacerbated risks and vulnerabilities inside Libya. As of August 2023, 125,802 individuals are identified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 705,426 are identified as returnees (previously displaced persons returned to their locations of origin). As of July 2025, IOM Libya's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme identified over 867,000 migrants in Libya. Around eight in ten (78%) were men, 11 per cent were women, and 11 per cent were unaccompanied children. The main nationalities were Niger, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria, which remain similar for each round of data collection.

The protection crisis in Libya disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups, and severe human rights violations continue to be perpetrated with impunity. IOM protection work in Libya is multi-fold and aims to improve service delivery to populations in vulnerable situations including but not limited to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), unaccompanied and separated children and victims of trafficking; implement Community-Based Protection (CBP) programming to raise awareness and foster resilience; strengthen institutional mechanisms through capacity building and advocacy on topics such as counter trafficking and smuggling of migrants, child protection, access to education, and human rights; and advocate for the decriminalization of irregular migration and establishment of alternatives to detention, especially for migrants in the most vulnerable situations including but not limited to children, women and migrants with health needs.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator (SPC) and the direct supervision of the Programme Manager (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants (AVM)), the Outreach and CBP Officer provides technical and operational support in the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of interventions focused on community-based programming.

Responsibilities

1. Assist the AVM Programme Manager in the development and management of community-based interventions, in compliance with donor and IOM institutional requirements.
2. Supervise the daily activities of community-based protection, outreach and host family teams, organise the team in achieving their tasks, provide technical guidance and training, and check compliance with IOM guidelines, policy and standards.
3. Coordinate closely with the AVM Programme Manager to support the development and implementation of community-based protection activities and approaches, in close coordination with relevant teams to support a coordinated approach to the implementation of IOM’s rights-based and community-based engagements and contribute to the achievement of IOM’s commitments to accountability to affected populations by empowering communities’ protective capacities.
4. Support the development of community-based interventions (CBP and Outreach key messages) in close collaboration with communities through effective participatory approaches based on IOM’s Community-Based Planning Manual.
5. Assist in maintaining effective working relationships with communities, government entities, non-governmental organisations, and other partners which contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions through people-centered, community-based, and gender and diversity responsive approaches.
6. Support consultative processes with counterparts at national and local levels to facilitate the development of integrated approaches and activities that address key community-based protection priorities.
7. Support the tracking and follow-up on the development and sharing of briefs, analyses, and reports related to community-based protection and other activities as required and ensure that data and reporting are up-to-date and compliant with IOM’s data protection principles.
8. Participate in meetings as requested and provide technical inputs for the development of required reports or briefs and other programme documents as necessary.
9. Assist with the organization and delivery of capacity building initiatives focused on community-based protection and provide technical and process-related inputs to support the development of tools and guidance materials, as necessary through close collaboration with the Protection Policy and Capacity Development team.
10. Undertake duty travel as required.
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Law, International Relations, Psychology, Social Sciences, Development Studies, and Planning 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 coordinating within the United Nations (UN) system, particularly with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and amongst interagency partners, including governments, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and communities;
• Experience in organizing and facilitating community-based protection interventions, outreach interventions, related strategic, operational, and communication materials to promote behaviour change;
• Experience in proposal development and preparing standard operating procedures and tools;
• Experience using KOBO and other software to track community-based initiatives and well versed in community-based protection approaches that are highly participatory, inclusive and foster a sense of ownership among community members;
• Experience in project management and monitoring and evaluation is an asset;
• Knowledge and experience in working with Project Information and Management Application (PRIMA) is an advantage; and,
• Experience in developing and implementing interventions on disability inclusion and gender is desirable.

Skills

• Ability to independently organize and prioritize work even under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, maintain attention to detail, and coordinate with a variety of stakeholders;
• Excellent knowledge of data protection; implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on protection information management is an advantage;
• Knowledge of Protection programming in emergency and post-crisis settings including CBP;
• Knowledge of international protection standards Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), IOMs Global Community-Based Planning Framework, Global Protection standards, GBV, and Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CPAOR);
• Demonstrated ability to work across a wide variety of sectors/ teams on cross-cutting themes;
• Good written and oral communication skills and effective in representation and liaison with external partners;
• Efficiency, flexibility, high level of professionalism and ability to work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines;
• Familiarity with IOM’s Accountability to Affected Populations framework and safeguarding policy is preferable;
• Knowledge and understanding of IASC and/or IOM’s approach on community-based interventions, GBV, safeguarding, child protection and related strategies, policies, rules and regulations;
• Knowledge of the UN system and architecture;
• Knowledge of mainstreaming best practices and partnership models to ensure coordination of the same across a diversified range of actors; and
• Ability to work with and maintain strict confidentiality, when necessary.

Languages

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

Working knowledge of another official UN language (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.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• 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.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

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 actions 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 leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

Notes

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, any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies