Regional Sustainable Development Specialist

Context:

As the world faces the impact of major global transformations – from climate change, demographic transition, and urbanization to digitalization –, human mobility and people on the move (international migrants, internal migrants, Internally Displaced Persons – IDPs) must be part of the solution. IOM pursues a comprehensive, development-focused perspective on mobility by providing holistic, systems-strengthening as a central feature of IOM’s way of working at global, regional, and country level, as guided by its Institutional Strategy on Migration and Sustainable Development.

Managed well, human mobility can be a cornerstone of sustainable development, prosperity, and progress; a reality that is clearly recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the United Nations Secretary General Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, and various other thematic frameworks and instruments.

In practice, this is demonstrated through comprehensive and integrated operational solutions developed and implemented at regional and country level. For Regional Offices, this means supporting Country Offices (COs) to develop at-scale programmatic responses framed by the SDGs and the GCM and anchored in the multiple and complex drivers of human mobility to: advance IOM role as major development actor and coordinator of the UN Network on Migration (UNNM); open strategic partnerships and funding streams with regional bodies, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), bilateral development banks and UN agencies through a sustainable development lens; and support COs in strategically positioning IOM mandate and programming in UNCTs to influence UN planning and funding processes.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director for IOM’s Regional Office for Asia Pacific and in close coordination with the Head of the Migration and Sustainable Development Division (MSD) in the Department of Peace and Development Coordination (DPDC) at HQ, the Regional Sustainable Development Specialist will act as a topical expert for the RO and COs covered by the RO, and will directly contribute to advance IOM’s global mandate on migration and sustainable development through programmatic response, to increase access to development funds at regional and CO level, and to position IOM as the thought leader on the positive dimension of human mobility through strengthened partnerships.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:
I. Develop and support integrated programming to deliver at-scale and impactful development outcomes:
1. Provide expert advice to the Regional Director, the SRLPO, RTSs, and COMs in the COs covered by the RO in the area of migration and sustainable development; including for instance through regular updates, information sharing, and briefings on key relevant internal and external processes and opportunities.
2. Monitor and conduct analysis of regional and sub-regional human mobility trends – as well as trends around issues of relevance such as fragility, inequalities, social cohesion, governance, development opportunities and challenges; with a view to enable RO and COs to develop at-scale development anchored in the multiple and complex drivers of human mobility.
3. Applying an HDPN lens, develop RO and COs capacities to address drivers of migration and displacement at policy and programme level through prevention-oriented and integrated approaches across Thematic Divisions, including by strengthening internal coherence across humanitarian, development and peace interventions.
4. Actively engage in the conceptualization and formulation of RO and COs project proposals under the “Community Development – CD”, “Mainstreaming Migration into Development – MD” codes, and work in close collaboration with RTSs to advance integrated and at-scale solutions across other project types.
II. Develop capacities to mainstream integrated approaches across policy and planning processes:
5. Equip IOM staff in RO and COs with the capacities to leverage existing tools and resources that enable policy coherence across different levels government, including cities and sectors of governance, to effectively leverage the potential of human mobility’s impact on development.
6. In coordination with the SRPLO, lead the development of, and rollout of, trainings on harnessing the potential of migration as a catalyst for development as well as an accelerator to the attainment to the SDGs, the 2030 Agenda and other multilateral frameworks and institutes for both internal and external audiences.
7. Support COs covered by the RO to connect IOM’s thematic policy capacities on migration and displacement with overall sustainable development planning, for instance during the formulation of country/regional strategies, and for government-led solutions to displacements in line with the principle of the Action Agenda on IDPs.
8. Provide technical assistance to support RO and COs’ efforts to train regional, national stakeholders on mainstreaming human mobility into development planning and across sectoral policy processes.
III. Expand opportunities for integrated solutions funding through strengthened partnerships:
9. Actively support regional liaison efforts to expand partnerships with key development donors, and ensure IOM is better positioned to tap into new funding streams with regional bodies, MDBs, bilateral development banks and UN agencies through a sustainable development lens.
10. Develop capacities of RO and COs to position at-scale programmatic responses framed by the SDGs and the GCM anchored in the multiple and complex drivers of human mobility in joint UN country-level planning processes, notably in the UNSDCF; and to access UN pooled funds.
IV. Increase IOM’s capacity to report on the SDGs and document the positive impact of human mobility for economies and societies overall in regional and country contexts:
11. In coordination with the relevant RO and CO colleagues, contribute to set up and entertain a dynamic community of practice on migration and sustainable development across COs within the RO, between ROs, and with HQ.
12. Oversee the formulation of regional knowledge management and public information products on migration and sustainable development, working closely with the relevant RO and CO colleagues to ensure their inclusion and dissemination through IOM and UN knowledge management efforts.
13. In coordination with the SRPLO, participate in various platforms called for in the UN Reform, including but not limited to Peer Support Groups (PSGs), in Asia and the Pacific, the Issue Based Coalitions (IBCs) and related platforms, the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, contributing to side events. Supporting governments for the development of Voluntary National Review (VNRs). Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF), Issue-Based Coalitions (IBC), and related
mechanisms, in coordination with the ROAP Regional Thematic Specialists (RTSs).

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education
• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Economics or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience
• In depth experience of applying the 2030 agenda and the Global Compact on Migration lenses to policy and programming;
• Field experience operating development programmes with an international organization or non-governmental organization is a distinct advantage; and
• Experience in usage of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Skills
• In depth understanding of complex drivers of human mobility in regional contexts is a distinct advantage;
• Proven capability to foster strong relationships with governmental authorities, regional platforms and fora, academia, the private sector, and other regional/international institutions and NGOs to develop strategic partnerships and joint programmes;
• Proven capacity to deliver technical expertise and capacity development support to government and staff;
• Good track record of fundraising for at scale development programmes;
• Demonstrated high level knowledge on the interrelationship between human mobility and sustainable development and how it applies to policy, strategic planning, programme design and implementation;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Demonstrated excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to think strategically;
• Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously within a team of colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds; and,
• High degree of responsibility and motivation.

Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be
fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another
official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process,
which may include written and/or oral assessments.