Project Associate

Location: Ankara, Türkiye

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.

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.

Organizational Context and Scope

Under the direct supervision of the National Project Officer (coordination), the incumbent will be responsible for supporting and coordinating the achievement of the objectives and results of the projects as well as successful day to day implementation of the activities under EU funded project ‘Promoting Sustainable and Socially Inclusive Labour Market Integration’. 

Turkiye hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with over 4.6 million foreign nationals living in the country, including approximately 3.2 million Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs) and around 300,000 Persons under International Protection (PuIPs). Given the considerable size and diversity of the migrant and refugee population, providing means for their social and economic integration is a very challenging process for both national and local authorities. Türkiye was also hit by a series of debilitating earthquakes in February 2023, which caused widespread displacement, damage and disruption in 11 provinces that already hosted half of the SuTPs and PuIPs in the country. The disaster affected the local labour market dynamics, skills needs and social cohesion in the region. 

In response to the challenges, the “Promoting Sustainable and Socially Inclusive Labour Market Integration” project aims to increase formal employment of SuTPs, PuIPs and host community members and strengthen the harmonization process in Türkiye. The project will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), the Social Security Institution (SSI) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) of the Ministry of Interior. 

The project will propose a two-prong approach that will ensure that targeted populations have improved levels of employability and are better integrated in their host communities. This will be done by strengthening the institutional capacities at the national and provincial level for delivering efficient employability and integration services for the targeted populations. The project will also promote respect for all groups, without distinction of race, gender, religion, colour, national origin, marital status, age, and physical disability, and pay special attention to the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities. 

The main beneficiary institutions of the project are MoLSS, SSI and PMM. The target groups of the project are government institutions, non-government institutions, employers, employability service users and private sector partners involved in the labour market and harmonization process. The final beneficiaries of the project are SuTPs, PuIPs and host community members.

 

Apply by: 17/08/2026 Under the direct supervision of the National Project Officer (coordination), the incumbent will be responsible for supporting and coordinating the achievement of the objectives and results of the projects as well as successful day to day implementation of the activities under EU funded project ‘Promoting Sustainable and Socially Inclusive Labour Market Integration’.