Senior Project Associate (assistance To Vulnerable Migrants)

Organizational Context

IOM is a leading intergovernmental organization promoting orderly migration. IOM Ethiopia focuses on migrant rights and well-being through a six-pillar approach, including direct assistance and protection interventions. The Protection Unit (PXU) collaborates with government and stakeholders to reduce protection risks for vulnerable individuals in emergency and migration settings, guided by rights-based approaches.

Job Purpose

The Senior Project Associate (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants) supports the implementation of legal aid and protection interventions within IOM Ethiopia's Protection Unit. This role focuses on enhancing access to legal assistance and representation for vulnerable migrants, coordinating referrals with legal service providers and government counterparts, and supporting legal identity registration initiatives. The position also strengthens coordination with authorities responsible for civil registration, documentation, justice, and protection services, while contributing to capacity-building efforts on migrant rights, legal identity, access to justice, and protection-sensitive assistance. The role may also provide support to other protection teams and programmatic units.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include assisting in the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of legal aid, legal identity, and access-to-justice activities for vulnerable migrants. This involves compiling and analyzing data on relevant issues, monitoring budget implementation, and acting as a focal point for administrative coordination. The role requires drafting status reports, correspondence, and briefing notes, as well as preparing and updating various documentation. Organizing and facilitating meetings, workshops, and training sessions on migrant rights and protection principles is essential. The incumbent will respond to information requests, maintain records, and liaise with government authorities, justice sector institutions, partners, and other stakeholders. Monitoring implementing partners, providing inputs for SOPs and concept papers, and potentially supervising other staff are also key duties.

Work Experience

Preferred experience includes working with government justice institutions, civil registration authorities, legal aid providers, NGOs, and UN agencies. Experience in legal aid programming, protection case management, legal referrals, or assisting vulnerable migrants is advantageous. Experience supporting legal identity and civil registration initiatives, organizing events, and maintaining confidentiality is also beneficial.

Skills

Excellent communication, analytical, and report writing skills. Ability to work methodically, meet deadlines, and function with minimal supervision. Awareness of legal aid, access to justice, legal identity, migration, and protection issues affecting vulnerable migrants. Knowledge of referral pathways, civil documentation processes, and protection principles. Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with excellent computer and database proficiency.

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