Pakistan: Senior Project Assistant (Child Protection)

Under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) provide critical support and processing assistance for resettlement to the US. As part of an MOU between IOM and the US State Department Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM manages several RSCs which prepare applications for adjudication by and provide support to visiting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers, facilitate security and medical screenings, provide information about arriving individuals to resettlement agencies in the US and offer Cultural Orientation (CO) training to individuals departing for the US.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (COM) and direct supervision of the Project Officer, the successful candidate will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan and will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Responsibilities and Accountabilities: 

• Oversee protection activities related to at-risk individuals served by Processing site Pakistan, such as children, the elderly, survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) persons and other marginalized individuals, including providing training, drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tools and reference materials, monitoring the implementation of SOPs and tools and providing regular reports on at-risk cases.
• Oversee the efficient and effective management of protection-related refugee case expedites, including, if assigned, monitoring Processing site Pakistan expedite cases, drafting and updating SOPs related to expedite processing, monitoring the implementation of expedite-related SOPs, maintaining an expedite database, acting as the primary liaison with partners on expedite cases, working with other units and departments to ensure expedite cases are processed efficiently and drafting regular reports related to expedite cases in Processing site Pakistan.
• Support the coordination of Best Interest Assessments (BIA) on children and completing documentation related to refugee minors counselling and arranging the expedition of at-risk cases as needed. In this capacity, support screening processes, training such as Best Interets Assessments (BIAs) and Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), guide staff interactions with beneficiaries, provide guidance on working with minors, produce practical tools and liaise as needed on child protection and other inclusion issues.
• Assist in training activities for Processing site Pakistan on best practices for interviewing and working with populations who have experienced trauma, particularly children. This includes but is not limited to sensitive interviewing skills, communication approaches, and strategies for managing vicarious trauma. Coordinate with the focal point on Child Protection, Inclusion and with the USRAP Training Unit in IOM Washington, D.C., to ensure training on children and inclusion topics are up to date.
• In consultation with the Child Protection focal point and Inclusion Officer, propose and integrate child-friendly and age, disability, gender and SOGIESC-inclusive facilities, language, activities and protection safeguards throughout the USRAP process and where appropriate. This includes but is not limited to, RSC physical spaces (interview rooms, waiting areas, etc.) and RSC program counselling at all stages of the process.
• In close coordination with the Child Protection Officer, follow-up on child protection intervention feedback mechanisms that enable beneficiaries to provide feedback on programs, submit complaints and activate appropriate processes and procedures to respond promptly.
• Collect available information and conduct desktop research on child protection principles and best practices to ensure USRAP processing aligns with these principles. Regularly engage with IOM’s Gender and Diversity Unit, disability expert, and SOGIESC Focal Point to maintain knowledge of other areas of inclusion and ensure USRAP processing is in line with IOM’s institutional guidance and recommendations.
• In coordination with the Project Officer, Inclusion & AAP, liaise as needed with other teams and units in Processing site Pakistan and with external partners such as USCIS, the Refugee Processing Center (RPC), panel physicians, the U.S. Embassy, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Prepare team statistics and regularly report to Processing site Pakistan management on relevant activities, problems, and solutions related to the workflow and processing pipeline.
• Provide necessary support, including travel to processing sites, to complete a wide range of special and generally independent projects serving the Inclusion & AAP Pillar and other pillars related to child protection.
• Provide support as needed to Processing site Pakistan management on a regional level on a wide variety of reporting needs, including compiling information then drafting, editing and designing reports for internal RSC use and/or relevant IOM offices.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the USRAP, SOPs and START and remain professional, impartial and unbiased during all interactions with refugee applicants, colleagues and partners. Support the development and implementation of SOPs as needed.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience: 

EDUCATION: 

• High school diploma with six years of working experience; or, Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Social Science or a related field from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant experience.

EXPERIENCE: 

• Prior experience working with youth or on protection-related issues is a distinct advantage

SKILLS: 

• Excellent computer skills – Word, Excel and Internet;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Attention to detail and ability to organize;
• Self-motivated and objective driven; and,
• Ability to use own initiative and work under pressure with minimum supervision

Languages:

REQUIRED:

• For all applicants, fluency in English and Urdu is required (oral and written).

DESIRABLE:

• Working Knowledge of any local language/s.

Note: Only short-listed candidates who is matching required criteria for the position will be contacted by IOM.

IOM provides equal opportunity to all qualified female and male including the physically challenged candidates.

How to Apply: 

Interested Candidates are invited to submit your application by 03 March 2024 through http://jobs.un.org.pk.

The application should be written in English.

Other:

The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. No late applications will be accepted.

Posting period: From 19.02.2024 to 03.03.2024