project associate

Organizational Context and Scope :

Established in 1951, IOM is a leading inter-governmental organization providing services to governments and migrants in the field of migration. With its 173 member States and offices in more than 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.

Pakistan remains the third-largest refugee-hosting country globally, hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards issued by the Government, 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, and an estimated 775,000 undocumented Afghan migrants. With the recent unprecedented change in the political and security situation in Afghanistan, the number of Afghan nationals crossing into Pakistan has increased. Owing to their partly informal status, the Afghan migrant populations have largely remained under the radar, not being eligible for any systematic humanitarian assistance – thereby facing significant challenges.

Under the overall supervision of the Protection Officer, and the direct supervision of the National Protection Officer, and in collaboration with relevant units, the Project Associate (Protection) will be responsible for assisting the implementation of protection activities for beneficiaries under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) Relocation and Integration Project. The Project Associate (Protection) will work closely with the Afghan Relocations Islamabad Team (ARIT) and other stakeholders to facilitate the effective delivery of individual case management services, identification and mitigation of protection risks, and facilitation of access to specialized services, in alignment with IOM's protection policies and the objectives of the project through tailored support plans.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities :

Coordination and Referrals:

• Assist in coordinating, monitoring, and improving the timely and safe implementation of specialized protection services in line with IOM's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work plans and project objectives, including through weekly and monthly project tracking and reporting tools.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of referral pathways to specialized services, including legal, medical, child protection, and gender-based violence (GBV) services.
• Support the National Officer in the coordination with IOM's partners, including the Afghan Relocations Islamabad Team (ARIT), local authorities, and other stakeholders to support beneficiaries' protection concerns.
• Conduct referrals to specialized services, including legal, medical, child protection, and GBV services. Verify that referrals are made in a timely and effective manner.

Safeguarding and Protection:

• Implement safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable adults, children, and youth.
• Support the rollout of awareness and training sessions on protection risks, including GBV and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), in coordination with the Senior Project Assistant (Capacity Building).
• Assist in conducting risk assessments, including safety and accessibility audits, in all locations hosting Afghan nationals to identify potential protection concerns and inform additional support options, as needed.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and secure case records, promoting data protection and confidentiality.
• Contribute to regular project monitoring, including beneficiary feedback mechanisms and project reporting.

Capacity Building:

• As and when needed, assist the National Protection Officer in providing capacity building to the ARIT team on protection topics, maintaining adherence to IOM's protection standards and guidelines.
• Support training initiatives for IOM staff and implementing partners on protection case management practices.

Community Engagement :

• Act as focal point for administrative coordination of awareness-raising activities to inform beneficiaries about available services and their rights.
• Facilitate feedback mechanisms to address beneficiaries' concerns and adapt service delivery accordingly.

Emergency Response :

• Respond to urgent protection concerns, including supporting the administrative aspects , duties, as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience :

Education :

• High school diploma with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• Bachelor's degree in development studies, political sciences, social sciences, gender studies, human rights, or other relevant field from an accredited academic institution with three (3) years of relevant professional experience

Experience :

• Proven experience in supporting protection case management, including working with vulnerable populations such as refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced persons.
• Good understanding of the protection sector in Pakistan, including its key challenges, priorities, and referral pathways, with awareness of safe referral principles.
• Experience in managing GBV, child protection, and psychosocial support cases is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of data protection principles and knowledge of safe, confidential, and ethical data collection, processing, and analysis.\
• Familiarity with IOM policies and procedures is an advantage.

Skills :

• Good understanding of protection principles, including Age, Gender, Diversity, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
• Proficiency in protection referrals, mainstreaming, and capacity building.
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills.

Languages :

IOM's official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

Required :

Fluency in English and Pashto/Dari is required (oral and written).

Desirable :

• Knowledge of Urdu or other local languages

Required Competencies :

Values

Inclusion and respect for diversity :Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies : Behavioural indicators – Level 1

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization's priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.

Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Note :

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

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

1

September 4, 2025

September 13, 2025

UN-IOM

Project Management

Special Short Term

Bachelors

GS-5

3 Years