Introduction

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 ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Applications are welcome from internal and external candidates. 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, internal and internal-equivalent candidates are considered as first-tier candidates.

Organizational Context and Scope

International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been implementing Migrant Protection and Assistance (MPA) projects since 2007, providing humanitarian and protection support to thousands of migrants transiting across Somalia through Migration Response Centers (MRCs) positioned along the eastern migration corridor thereby promoting safe, orderly and regular migration. Through donor-funded programmes, MPA provides four levels of assistance: 1) individual level protection and reintegration support including migrants and returnees; 2) community-based reintegration to foster relationships between returnees, migrants and communities of origin; 3) structural support related to policy and legal frameworks and 4) capacity-building and advocacy to key stakeholders.

These initiatives are in line with Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Migration Policy Frameworks at continental and regional levels, development agencies such as the National Development Plans (NDPs), now National Transformation Plan, 2025-2029. Additionally, these efforts incorporate organizational operations related to Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) and related Internal Guidance Notes (INs).

As a result of strategic level interventions and the Federal Government of Somalia’s (FGS) plans to address migration issues through a whole of government and whole of society approaches, MPA aims to provide strategic support to achieve effective migration management and government across the stakeholders sitting in the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM). MPA has been providing support to drafting relevant legal and policy frameworks including counter-trafficking acts, National Migration Policy (NMP), and contribute extensively to relevant efforts involving regional and global stakeholders such as the GCM, IMD and regional convenings. 

To undertake structural level interventions in MPA, for the Senior Policy Associate will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and will support the implementation of migration governance related activities. The Senior Policy Associate is expected to support the planning, implementation, communication and reporting of MPA activities in close coordination with MPA programme staff and partners including stakeholders from the Federal Government of Somalia. 

Under the overall supervision of Deputy Chief of Mission and the MPA Programme Manager – MPA (PM), and the direct supervision of the National Programme Officer, the Senior Policy Associate will be responsible for the following duties and tasks: