Project Assistant (Capacity Building - Reintegration)

Funded by the European Union through the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) is IOM’s flagship initiative supporting vulnerable and stranded migrants. Operating in 16 countries across the Atlantic/Western and Central Mediterranean corridors, it mobilizes protection, reintegration, knowledge exchange, and partnership networks to make return safer, more dignified, and sustainable. The programme is structured around two key components

1. The provision of a comprehensive gender-responsive, rights-based and disability-inclusive protection and other essential support for migrants stranded in relevant Sub-Saharan transit countries in the Atlantic/Western and Central Mediterranean routes. The support provided includes search and rescue operations, protection services, and the facilitation of assisted voluntary return to safer areas in their countries of origin, where they can access basic services. Additional support includes pre-departure services such as hospitality, medical and psychological assistance, and help with travel documentation. Upon arrival, migrants also receive short-term post-arrival assistance to aid their initial reintegration.
2. The provision of an individual reintegration assistance in countries of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim to support psychosocial, social and economic sustainable reintegration whilst ensuring a gender- and age-sensitive approach. This component also covers reintegration support for Sub-Saharan returnees from North African countries.

In The Gambia, IOM is delivering the programme’s component on post-arrival assistance and sustainable individual-level reintegration, in coordination with various stakeholders.

Under the overall supervision of the MPRR-SSA Project Manager and direct supervision of the Reintegration officer, the successful candidate will contribute to the implementation of the Project, with a specific focus on strengthening the capacity and partnership of, including with Government, civil society, and other national and local partners, as well as providing technical and administrative support to implementation of project activities- to support the protection of vulnerable migrants and reintegration of returnees.

Responsibilities

1. Provide overall support to capacity-building activities for improving reintegration of returning migrants and strengthening national structures and capabilities for managing reintegration in a dignified and sustainable manner, in close coordination with other colleagues.
2. Support the mapping exercise of socio-economic profile of areas of return in up to six key areas of origin in The Gambia and analyse the findings to assess the needs of communities and identify gaps in the provision of basic services for returnees and potential migrants.
3. Assist in the identification of relevant Government and non-governmental actors in migration governance, particularly in direct assistance and reintegration, and contribute to building and strengthening IOM’s relationship with them through regular communication.
4. Support the strengthening of a national coordination structure to strengthen migration governance through a whole-of-government approach.
5. Contribute to the strengthening of a national referral mechanism among main stakeholders in The Gambia for the return, rehabilitation and reintegration work of Gambian returnees, with a focus on vulnerable migrants, such as unaccompanied migrant children and victims of trafficking.
6. Support the task to draft capacity development plans jointly with relevant Government and non-governmental counterparts.
7. Organize capacity building activities, including workshops, training, technical assistance, and study tours, for relevant Government and non-governmental partners to reinforce the inter-ministerial structure for migration governance.
8. Contribute to the design and preparation of training materials and case study exercises and support the preparation of reports on project activities according to IOM and donor formats as required, contribute to and/or prepare weekly progress updates on project activities.
9. Assist in liaison activities with relevant governmental and non-governmental entities, international organizations as well as other relevant stakeholders for effective implementation of project activities and represent IOM, where required, at coordination meetings on return and reintegration with governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
10. Support the facilitation of meetings with relevant regional and national stakeholders on return and reintegration and ensure that reintegration actors are involved in the implementation of the government-driven Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
11. Support the preparation of M&E reports, carefully considering disaggregated gender data of the beneficiaries.
12. Contribute to monitoring, tracking, and reporting of capacity building activities and preparation of monthly financial, narrative and monitoring reports.
13. Provide general support to the assessment of the qualitative and quantitative impact of capacity building activities.
14. Perform any other duties as may be assigned

Qualifications

University degree from an accredited institution in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or related fields from an accredited academic institution with three years of relevant professional experience.

• Five years of experience (or three years for candidates holding University Degree) in in the field of migration issues including operational and field experience or related field;Demonstrated experience in project development, implementation, management, reporting, Monitoring, and evaluation, especially in the field of migration and return and reintegration, community-based development, social cohesion, and climate and disaster-related displacement and migration.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with relevant Government counterparts, international organizations, civil society organizations/NGOs, and private sector entities
• Experience in assessment, review, and development of guidelines, polices, SOPs, and capacity-building activities;
• Experience in partnership development, or stakeholder engagement, organizing consultations, workshops, seminars with stakeholders, and conducting training for various audiences
• Proven understanding of internal and international migration issues in the country and in-depth knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subjects
• Experience in working and liaising with various stakeholders, including government authorities, as well as communities, community-based organizations, UN agencies, and donors and NGOs, and building effective partnerships;
• Previous working experience at the community level is advantageous.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks under pressure, meet deadlines, and work with minimal supervision.
• Willing to conduct constant travel within the Area of Responsibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge of information technology and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and SharePoint;
• Experience in supporting all aspects of project management and familiarity with international standards and EU regulations is advantageous, preferably within the United Nations or within the international humanitarian field.