Senior Project Associate (Social)

Vacancy Notice No: SVN#NP/07/24

Open to Internal and External Candidates

Position Title: Senior Project Associate (Social)

Duty Station: Jajarkot or West Rukum district, Karnali Province, Nepal 

Classification: General Service Staff, Grade-6

Type of Appointment: Special Short Term, 6 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 01 May, 2024

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.

Organizational Context and Scope

On 3 November 2023, Nepal’s deadliest earthquake since April 2015 struck Jajarkot District in Karnali Province in the west of the country. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which was followed by over 300 aftershocks, killed 154 (84 females and 70 males, including 81 children)2, injured 366, and displaced tens of thousands of people, forcing many to sleep outside in freezing overnight temperatures for fear of aftershocks. According to the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), approximately 62,011 households were damaged (completely and partially) and 250,000 people were affected (127,750 females and 122,250 males, including 69,575 children), with Jajarkot and Rukum West districts bearing the brunt of the damage. Despite the earthquake's relatively low magnitude, the high levels of damage and casualties were caused by substandard construction of homes and as it occurred at night when most people were asleep in their homes.

In February 2024, the Joint Recovery Action Plan: Western Nepal Earthquake was launched by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Nepal with three pronged objectives 1) Support livelihoods and the continuation of basic service delivery 2) Create enabling environments for long term recovery and reconstruction of affected communities 3) support the current season and build resilience to natural shocks in 2024. Under the Joint Recovery UN Project, IOM is leading the Shelter Recovery interventions planned from May 2024 until January 2025. 

Under the guidance from Chief of Mission and overall supervision of the National Program Officer/Head MECR (Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Risk Reduction) and the direct supervision of the Shelter Expert, the successful candidate will be responsible for coordination in the filed for project management and smooth implementation of the program.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Facilitate community meetings and consultations to understand the needs and preferences of the affected population.
2. Promote active participation of community members in decision-making processes related to shelter and settlement designs.
3. Promote and facilitate the inclusion of marginalized groups, such as women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities, in the planning and implementation phases.
4. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies (DDMC, LDMC among others), NGOs, and community leaders, to assess shelter needs and develop comprehensive project plans.
5. Coordinate the mobilization of resources, including human, financial, and material, necessary for the implementation of shelter assistance activities.
6. Establish and maintain effective communication channels with all project stakeholders to facilitate smooth coordination and timely delivery of services.
7. Conduct community consultations and need assessments to identify vulnerable populations and prioritize their shelter needs.
8. Facilitate community participation in project planning, implementation, and decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their preferences are considered into project localization.
9. Promote social inclusion and gender sensitivity in shelter assistance activities, addressing the specific needs of women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities.
10. Provide training and capacity-building support to implementing partners, community members, local organizations, and government counterparts on shelter construction techniques, disaster preparedness, and risk reduction strategies.
11. Collect and analyse data on shelter outcomes, community feedback, and challenges encountered, to inform adaptive management and continuous improvement of project interventions.
12. Prepare regular reports and updates on project activities, achievements, and challenges, for internal and external stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
13. Collaborate with National PSEA Officer to implement, monitor, and report on protection related interventions.
14. Perform any duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Development Studies, International Relations, Law or related field from accredited Institution with 4 years of relevant work experience.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in emergency response and humanitarian aid delivery, especially in providing shelter and settlement solutions in crisis situations.
• Experience in coordinating with various stakeholders such as government, UN agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and international organizations to ensure effective project implementation and collaboration.
• Familiarity with shelter construction techniques, settlement planning, and disaster risk reduction strategies. Knowledge of relevant guidelines and standards such as Sphere Standards, UN guidelines, and Shelter Cluster coordination mechanisms is preferred.
• Experience in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems to track project progress, measure impact, and identify areas for improvement.
• Ability to advocate for the rights and needs of displaced populations, as well as excellent communication skills to effectively convey project objectives, achievements, and challenges to various stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of social dynamics, community engagement methodologies, and participatory approaches to development.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and in challenging environments.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, including neutrality, impartiality, and respect for human dignity.

Skills

• Computer literate (MS office, Advance MS-XLS, A-CAD, spreadsheet, database, and statistical packages, etc.);
• Database management systems (e.g., SQL, Oracle), familiarity of Monitoring and evaluation software is advantage. 
• Project planning, supervision and team building skills;
• Environmental sensitive planning, DRRM governance, and coordination in humanitarian settings
• Works effectively with Donors, local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance country office or regional objectives.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Nepali is required (oral and written).

Required Competencies

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.

Other

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment. Only Nepali Nationals will be considered for this position.

How to apply:

Interested Candidates are requested to submit their application indicating clearly the position applied, VN number and CV with three references to the following address: Human Resource Department, International Organization for Migration, P.O. Box 25503, Lazimpat Road, Panipokhari, Kathmandu or email to iomnepaljobs@iom.int by 01 May 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview.

Posting period:

From 24.04.2024 to 01.05.2024