Regional Programme Specialist (Regional Responses to Climate Displacement (RE2CLID)) (P)
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN Migration Agency, dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. Established in 1951, it operates globally, assisting governments and migrants. This role is within the "Regional Responses to Climate Displacement (RE2CLID)" programme, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. The position reports to the Regional Deputy Director for Operations and the Regional Director for East Horn and Southern Africa.
Job Purpose
The Regional Programme Specialist (RE2CLID) is responsible for the strategic and technical coordination of the RE2CLID programme, ensuring harmonized, coherent, and technically sound activities. This role leads regional activities, supervises the Regional Support Team, and serves as the primary liaison with regional organizations and the European Commission. The purpose is to enhance the resilience, self-reliance, and protection of displacement-affected communities in sub-Saharan Africa by improving regional capacity to respond to and build resilience against disaster displacement through strategic interventions at regional, national, and local levels. The role contributes to averting, minimizing, and addressing displacement, improving natural resource governance, and facilitating climate-resilient durable solutions.
Responsibilities
Coordinate regional programme implementation and facilitate decision-making. Lead regional activities, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development, identifying resource mobilization opportunities. Engage with the European Commission on programme strategy and participate in Steering Committees. Ensure alignment with donor requirements and IOM policies, including financial management and reporting. Develop and implement harmonized systems for planning, implementation, and monitoring, providing capacity development. Offer technical guidance and support to implementing missions, ensuring integration of global policy directions. Mobilize internal and external resources for technical and programmatic support. Integrate protection risks and inclusive approaches, emphasizing vulnerable groups. Provide guidance on area-based approaches and localization for sustainability. Facilitate communication, information sharing, and cross-cluster learning. Supervise the Regional Support Team and manage programme progress. Represent IOM and RE2CLID in forums, leading advocacy and visibility efforts. Serve as the primary liaison with key regional partners. Ensure coordination with other IOM offices for synergies and institutional coherence. Guide missions in reporting and documentation of achievements and lessons learned. Ensure regional implementation of assessments.
Work Experience
Essential experience includes programme management and coordination of multi-country/regional programmes on disaster preparedness, response, displacement management, disaster risk reduction, and durable solutions. Extensive operational experience in displacement contexts due to crises (disasters, conflict) is required. Significant experience in developing and implementing area-based and localization strategies is also essential. Extensive experience in coordinating multi-country actions, supervising diverse teams, and managing programme support functions across countries is necessary. Strong expertise in displacement management, emergency preparedness/response, disaster risk reduction, durable solutions, climate change adaptation, and environmental governance is required, with at least six years in displacement crisis/post-crisis contexts.
Skills
Proven expertise in designing strategic guidance and operationalizing "whole of displacement" responses across humanitarian, peace, and development nexus. Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale donor-funded initiatives (especially EU), including donor relations, strategic planning, and reporting. Proven ability to lead regional partnership development, policy engagement, and high-level representation. Demonstrated strategic leadership and coordination skills in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Capacity to analyze and synthesize technical and policy information. Ability to maintain flexibility and professionalism under pressure. Excellent interpersonal and representational skills. High proficiency in digital collaboration tools and office applications.