IOM - National PSEA and Safeguarding Officer - Erbil

Context:
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by aid workers is a grave violation of human rights and IOM is committed to combat any kind of SEA by its staff, related personnel and partners.
IOM’s zero tolerance policy also extends to IOM third party contracted staff, suppliers, service providers and implementing partners. With over 16,000 staff and over 6,000 related personnel, operating in 450 Offices, and 165 countries throughout the world, the impact of sexual exploitation and abuse on victims and within IOM’s operating environments, and the reputational risk it poses for the Organization needs to be addressed and remains a key priority.
The prevention of and response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) continues to gain momentum not only within the United Nations (UN) and Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) common systems but also amongst governments, institutional partners, media and the general public. Increased action is no longer a choice but a necessity, and the rights of the victim must be at the forefront.
Over the past decade, IOM has increasingly been seen as a strong player supporting the prevention and response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment within the UN, IASC, and amongst the humanitarian community. While significant progress has been made to prevent and respond to SEA within the Organization such as through the development of innovative PSEA trainings, the development of a misconduct platform to report SEA, and extensive interagency collaboration on PSEA, more needs to be done within country and at the programmatic level and the role of the PSEA and Safeguarding Officer will support these efforts.
In 2021, IOM developed its strategic approach toward the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment focusing on five priority areas: 1) Leadership and Organizational Culture; 2) Institutional Accountability and Transparency; 3) Capacity-Development, Training, and Communication; 4) Quality and Accessible Victim Assistance; 5) Partnership and Coordination.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Protection Division, and under the direct supervision of Protection Coordinator (Mainstreaming) and technical support from the PSEAH Unit and other experts, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting and facilitating the technical oversight and day-to-day management of IOM’s prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) activities and safeguarding activities in country. As the technical expert on PSEA and a wide range of topics of safeguarding in-country, the PSEA and Safeguarding Officer will need to support implementation of PSEA and safeguarding activities within IOM and as an active member of the interagency PSEA Network. While the incumbent will support the PSEA agenda within country and will contribute technical inputs to PSEA within programming, the accountability for PSEA remains with the Chief of Mission.
 

Core Functions / Responsibilities:
PSEA COORDINATION:
• Provide inputs for the development of an operational PSEA Work Plan, in line with IOM’s PSEA Strategy, the IASC’s PSEA Minimum Operating Standards (MOS), and the UNCT country level framework and work plan, through strategic workshops with IOM Heads of Units and other senior management at the country and programmatic levels, as assigned;
• Assist the Protection Coordinator (Mainstreaming) in ensuring the resulting work plan is detailed and operational with clear actions, roles and responsibilities to deliver on the actions, timeframes, technical and resource requirements, and internal reporting requirements;
• Provide technical inputs for the inclusion of PSEA within IOM Country Office Strategy, programming, risk mitigation and management, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and budgeting; Contribute to the development of PSEA programming and liaison with relevant donors, as assigned.
• Actively participate to the in-country interagency PSEA Network (support in the development of the collective PSEA workplan, risk management plan, PSEA Strategies, Standard Operating Procedures for an inter-agency Community-Based Complaint Mechanism, etc), as well as actively participate within IOM internal and other interagency PSEA communication and coordination initiatives.
• In close coordination with the relevant colleagues, ensure that IOM’s PSEA prevention, mitigation and response mechanisms are in line with IOM’s global PSEA Strategy;
• Provide specific assistance to IOM teams, programmes and units to ensure the mitigation of SEA risks are developed, embedded and strengthened within all IOM programming and within HR practices; and,
• At all possible opportunities (during relevant trainings, in staff and programme meetings, through newsletters, in email messages, etc) continually share key messages on PSEA, including mandatory reporting requirements within the Country Office and programming, in close coordination with relevant colleagues.