Job Identification (Reference Number): 16493
Position Title: Protection Officer (Child Protection)
Duty Station City: Geneva
Duty Station Country: Switzerland
Grade: P-3
Contract Type: Fixed-term (1 year with possibility of extension)
Recruiting Type: Professional
Vacancy Type: Vacancy Notice
Initial duration: 1 year with possibility of extension
Closing date: 17 September 2025

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates: 

                 1.        Internal candidates

                 2.        Candidates from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Context

The Protection and AAP Division within the Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery (DHRR) is committed to achieving the Organization's primary objectives: (i) saving lives and protecting people in humanitarian crises and (ii) addressing displacement through solutions. IOM consistently adheres to the highest standards of protection mainstreaming and accountability to affected populations across its operations and programmes. 

In line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) definition and Principals' statement on the Centrality of Protection in Humanitarian Action, IOM is committed to placing protection at the core of its action. The Humanitarian Protection Unit will support this commitment by providing strategic guidance, technical support, capacity building, and coordination on protection issues, both internally and externally. It is responsible for all protection interventions in crises contexts generated by situations of violence, conflict, or disaster, climate change or environmental degradation, that aim to address protection risks by preventing or responding to actual or potential violations of rights defined by relevant international instruments including human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief, Protection and AAP and direct supervision of the Senior Humanitarian Protection Officer, the Protection Officer (Child Protection) will substantively support HPX's protection capacity.

1. Provide thematic guidance and support on Protection to different internal and global initiatives, events, projects, commitments, and the elaboration, review or contribution to policies, tools, strategies, papers, roadmaps, etc.-  in line with IOM policies and frameworks as well as global Protection standards and principles (Global Protection Cluster and Areas of Responsibility, IASC Protection Policy, etc.), - as prioritized and in complementariness to the other expertise-set on the team.
2. Support IOM field missions – remotely and in-country through surge support- to strengthen protection analysis, strategy and reporting, and/or to ensure the integrity and quality of specialized protection with a focus on child protection, protection mainstreaming, and integration of protection programming, in line with global and IOM Protection principles and standards.  Such support is prioritized within the Protection team and coordinated with relevant units and regional and country operations. It can consist of supporting missions in the implementation of specific activities, such as for example protection analysis, case management, protection mainstreaming, housing, land and property, etc. and can consist of conducting assessments, developing SOPs or frameworks, facilitating trainings or workshops, coaching staff, elaborating necessary tools or plan of action on protection etc. - in line with internal IOM approaches, policies and standards as well as global guidelines and minimum standards (e.g. Global Protection Cluster and  Areas of Responsibility (AoRs), IASC Protection Policy, etc.).
3. Support consistent participation in relevant global protection foras such as Global Protection Cluster (GPC), AoRs, Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA), etc, their technical task teams and/or working groups. Participate in prioritized inter-agency protection related fora, workshops, seminars, and other meetings ensuring consistent and coordinated contributions in line with IOM priorities and positioning.
4. Review, provide recommendations and   preliminary approval of IOM projects, reports, strategies and appeals with protection components. Where required, elaborate concept notes or proposals and support fundraising efforts for protection, based on analysis (needs, gaps, added value), and prioritization.
5. Elaborate, complement, update, review and conduct/co-facilitate capacity building initiatives on protection or protection mainstreaming, in coordination with relevant units, divisions and regional and country offices, and in line with global and IOM standards and principles.
6. Prepare communication, visibility materials and reports covering protection activities; prepare talking points, briefings, statistical/narrative reports, and background notes including specific information requested by IOM, Governments, and other entities. Support results-based protection reporting.
7. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.