Special Vacancy Notice
SVN 2023- XK- 301123
Open to Internal and External Candidates

Position Title: National Project Officer
Duty Station: Prishtina, Kosovo (UNSC 1244)
Classification: National Officer Category-NOA
Type of Appointment: Special Fixed Term, 9 months with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: December 14, 2023

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 a diverse and inclusive environment. Internal and external candidates are eligibleto apply to this vacancy.For the purposeof the vacancy, internal candidates are considered as first-tier candidates.

Project Context:

IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migrationissues, to assist in the search for practical solutionsto migration challenges and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

The Youth Empowered through Inclusive School and Societies (YESS) project, funded by the UN- Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund and jointly implemented by UNICEF and IOM under the UN Development Coordinator's guidance in Kosovo, focuses on empowering children and youth aged 13 to 24. This 24-monthinitiative adopts a bottom-up, community-based approach, centering on schools and surrounding communities as platforms for engaging children,young men, and women, especially from marginalized groups historically excluded from decision-making processes. The project aims tocultivate positive agents of change who promote tolerance, diversity, mutual understanding, and social cohesionamong various communities in Kosovo.

The initiative will involve children, youth, their teachers, municipal educational authorities, parents, and broader communities across 10 selected municipalities in Kosovo.

The projectaims to foster tolerance, diversity, and social connections within and betweencommunities, despite the challenges of dual educationsystems and politicalsensitivities. Rather than aligningwith either system,the project will work horizontally with schools, local structures, employingnon-formal education programsand youth-led activities to promote change at individual and communitylevels. Leveraging existingpolicies on socialcohesion and multilingualism, the project aimsto empower young people with critical thinking skills, facilitating dialogue, human rights promotion, and resilience to conflict. The comprehensive approach addresses ethnic polarization and other conflict factors,targeting diverse schoolsand municipalities, and involves incremental implementation considering the political and security climate.

The project, carefully aligned with both local and global methodologies, will impact schools and universities and individuals in selected municipalities, focusing on two main outputs: sensitizing schools and local authorities to create peaceful environments, and enhancing collaboration among youth-led initiatives and stakeholders for community development and peacebuilding. Activities include empowering students, enhancing teachers'capacities, fostering cooperation with local authorities, supporting language learninginitiatives, fostering inter-community cooperation, partnering with the privatesector, and amplifying youth voices throughmedia and culturalpartnerships.

Under the overall supervision of Chief of Mission and the Steering Committee of the Project, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with the ProgrammeSupport Unit (PSU), and will coordinate with UNICEF staff and oversee a Team of assistants as well as all phases of the project including:

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

• Facilitation of strategic oversight and arbitration the Steering Committee as and whenrequired by the project, including but not limitedto, facilitating the objectives and scope setting, process planning and implementation.
• Project coordination and operational management, including, but not limited to, documentation, organisational communication and socialisation with stakeholders and implementing partners.
• Project organisational communications, socialisation and onboarding, with a view toensuring active participation and inclusivity of stakeholders
• Leading with editorial revision and execution(content vetting, validation and integration of documents) leveraging the support of the ProjectAssistants and other relevant technicalfocal points
• Ensuring project finalisation and dissemination through competent organism internally to the organization as wellas externally, and/or other preferred channels
• Coordination and monitoring of the operational, administrative and financial aspects of the projectin accordance with IOM policiesand practices as well as donor’s requirements.
• Keep the supervisor informed on the status of project implementation; identify gaps and suggest actionsto improve implementation.
• Participate in the development and adjustment of work plans, project budgets,Monitoring & Evaluation tools and standard operations procedures.
• Coordinate the collection, verification and analysis of data and background information;update information management systems and social media platforms on project related activities including project awareness and visibility, summaries, press releases and other relevant materials.
• Coordinate timely preparation and dissemination of project reports in accordance with IOM procedures and donor requirements.
• Liaise and coordinate with donors, partners, United Nations agencies, local authorities and stakeholders and government counterparts.
• Contribute to the planning, development, organization and delivery of capacity buildingactivities targeting IOM staff, government and civil societypartners, implementing partnersand communities.
• Attend relevant conferences, workshops, working groups,interagency coordination meetings,and other forums
• Participate in the preparation of a diverse range of communication products, concept notes and other planning documents
• Supervise and provide training and technical guidanceto project staff.
• Undertake duty travel relating to project implementation, monitoring visits, project assessments, liaison with counterparts, etc.
• Perform other related duties as required Key responsibilities expected include:
• Design and implementation of workshops and trainings: The Project Coordinator will facilitate the design and delivery of capacity development initiatives, including workshops, training, and other activities. This involves developing agendas, identifyingfacilitators, and trackingthe budget to ensurealignment with organizational goals.
• Stakeholder coordination and communication: The Project Coordinator will coordinate with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring seamless communication. This includespreparing talking pointsand presentations, disseminating invites, and compilingnotes and reportsto maintain transparency and foster collaboration.
• Effective collaboration: Leveraging strong interpersonal skills, the Project Coordinatorwill work effectively with diverse stakeholders, focusing on promotingcontinuous learning, clear communication, and teamwork within the scope of the project.
• Planning and Management: With a strategic mindset, the Project Coordinator will plan work, set clear and attainable goals within the area of responsibility, anticipate potential risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring the project stays on track.
• Gender incorporation: The Project Coordinator is committed to incorporating gender- related needs, perspectives, and concerns into the project, promoting equal gender participation. Additionally, the Coordinator will stay abreastof and apply relevant innovative solutions where necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the project.

Tangible and Measurable Work Outputs with Delivery Dates

• Design and implementin close collaboration with stakeholders a capacity development plan, that will includea monitoring and evaluation plan
• Provide advice and technical assistance on different aspects of the outputs and activities derivedfrom the project.
• Plan and organizeactivities within the project scope
• Liaise with authorities, program partners, civil society, the international communityand donor

RequiredQualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, Anthropology, Sociology, Social ResearchMethods, or related fields.

Experience

• 5 or more years of relevant professional and field experience related to development programmes, and institutional structures, preferably in relation to youth, gender and migration, as well as capacity development and/or programme and knowledge management;
• Knowledge of key contexts issues is essential;
• Experience working and managing a Team in a multicultural environment, on a hybrid mode, both presential as well on virtually and engaging individuals from a diverse range of functional areas
• Experience in MEAL and Community participation
• Experience in establishing contacts and liaisingwith partner organisations/companies.
• Previous experience working in an International Organisation and/or UN organisation desirable.

Languages

For all applicants fluencyin English, Albanian and Serbian is required (oral and written).

Skills

• Solid understanding of UN relevantinstruments, such as the agenda 2030 and, understanding peacebuilding frameworks and how the projectcan contribute to achieving them
• Knowledge of currentthinking and development in peacebuilding, capacitydevelopment and effectiveknowledge transfer models,concepts and principles relevant to humanitarian contexts
• Familiarity with programmeand project lifecycletools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable.
• Demonstrated data collection and analytical writingskills, including abilityto analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information to understand and identify gap and needs,as well as project’s entry points.
• Good operational, analytical and problem solvingskills;
• Demonstratedability to producehigh-quality written outputsand ability to present themin English and at leastone of the officiallanguages in Kosovo.

Required Competencies

The incumbentis expected to demonstrate the following valuesand competencies:

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respectfor diversity respectsand promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion whereverpossible.
• Integrity and transparency; maintains high ethical standards and acts in a mannerconsistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates abilityto work in a composed, competent, and committedmanner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 1

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across unitsto achieve sharedgoals and optimize results.
• Delivering results; producesand delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner;is action oriented and committed to achieving agreedoutcomes.
• Managing and sharingknowledge; continuously seeks to learn, share knowledgeand innovate.
• Accountability:takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s prioritiesand assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication:encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex mattersin an informative, inspiring, and motivational way.

ManagerialCompetencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.
• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enablingenvironment where staff cancontribute their best and developtheir potential.
• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

Other

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancynotice is subjectto funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidateis medically fit for appointment and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.

This post is subject to local recruitment. Only persons holding a valid residence and work permit for Kosovowill be eligible for consideration.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications – Personal History Form (click here to download)and Cover Letter to [email protected] by 14 of December 2023, midnightat the latest, referring to SVN 2023-XK- 301123 in the subjectline.

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts applications duly completed. Only shortlisted candidates will becontacted.

Posting period:

From 30.11.2023 – 14.12.2024