Project Assistant

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

Organizational Context and Scope

IOM’s Strategic Plan 2024-2028 recognizes that migration patterns are increasingly complex with climate change, environmental degradation and uneven development driving increasing numbers of displacement and irregular migration. The Organization works to address challenges as well as create opportunities through migration and under the following institutional objectives: 

1. Saving lives and protecting people on the move 

2. Driving solutions to displacement 

3. Facilitating pathways for regular migration 

More specifically, the IOM’s Climate Action Division is guided by three strategic objectives, which are; to develop solutions for people to move; for those on the move and; for people to stay in the context of climate and environmental drivers. 

IOM’s Special Liaison Office (SLO) to the African Union (AU) was established in 1998 in Addis Ababa and entered a Cooperation Agreement with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in the same year. A new three-year Cooperation Agreement was signed between AU and IOM for the period 2022-2024 and renewed for 2025-2027. 

IOM SLO works to increase awareness on the link between migration and climate and works on joint advocacy and research to support and inform policy making that integrates migration in to continental migration and climate policies in Africa. IOM SLO through funding support from the IOM Development Fund (IOM DF) is undertaking a project supporting African climate negotiators to address human mobility in Africa. The project aims to provide capacity development and technical support to the negotiators and relevant stakeholders- Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the African Union Commission (AUC) supporting to address human mobility in Africa. 

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Climate Action Specialist in IOM SLO and the direct supervision of the National Policy and Liaison Officer, the Project Assistant will be responsible for providing general administrative and clerical support to the implementation of IOM SLO’s Climate Action activities and projects, including support with information management, project visibility and the organization of meetings, workshops, and other project activities. 

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Applications are welcome from internal and external candidates. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. For the purpose of this vacancy, internal and internal-equivalent candidates are considered as first-tier candidates.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Climate Action Specialist in IOM SLO and the direct supervision of the National Policy and Liaison Officer, the Project Assistant will be responsible for providing general administrative and clerical support to the implementation of IOM SLO’s Climate Action activities and projects, including support with information management, project visibility and the organization of meetings, workshops, and other project activities.