Head Of Protection, Return And Reintegration Unit

Organizational Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been active in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2006, addressing migration, humanitarian, and development challenges. IOM CAR's expanding operations include humanitarian assistance, protection services, displacement tracking, migration governance support, community stabilization, and reintegration programs for displaced populations.

Job Purpose

This role is responsible for leading and managing IOM's Protection, Return, and Reintegration Unit in the Central African Republic. The Head of Unit will oversee the implementation of protection strategies, ensuring the safe and dignified return and reintegration of displaced persons. This includes managing case management, protection risks, and post-arrival assistance for vulnerable migrants. The position requires close coordination with government bodies, UN agencies, NGOs, and internal IOM units to ensure comprehensive and rights-based migration management and protection services.

Responsibilities

The Head of Protection, Return and Reintegration Unit is accountable for establishing and managing IOM's protection response, including case management for general protection, GBV, child protection, and anti-trafficking. This involves ensuring the proper implementation of return and reintegration processes according to IOM policies and Global AVR Programme guidelines. The role includes supervising protection activities and staff, coordinating post-arrival assistance for third-country nationals, and maintaining liaison with stakeholders to ensure protection mainstreaming. The Head of Unit will provide technical advice, develop risk assessments and SOPs, manage protection analysis at facilities, and oversee capacity building for staff and partners on protection-related topics. Reporting on protection activities and representing the team in coordination meetings are also key duties.

Work Experience

Requires professional experience in leading protection programming for migration/displacement, Return and Reintegration, and refugee/IDP issues. Demonstrated experience in coordinating AVR programs, specialized protection programming (Migrant Protection, Child Protection Case Management, GBV), and protection mainstreaming is essential. Experience with MiMOSA, protection information management, coordinating migrant responses in centers, leading multidisciplinary teams, and working with government/non-government partners is also required. Fieldwork in multiple duty stations is expected.

Skills

Demonstrated work ethics and commitment to humanitarian principles. Proven leadership, negotiation, strategic coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills. Ability to think strategically, analytically, and creatively. Capacity to work under extreme pressure and flexibility in process improvement.

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