Project Associate (Reintegration) -Affiliate Contractor
Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
Location: Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Grade: UG
Deadline: October 01, 2026, 10:59 PM
Job Description
Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required.
Organizational Context and Scope
IOM Ethiopia’s vision is to place the rights and well-being of migrants at the centre of its interventions, adopting a preventive, protective, and responsive approach. Its protection interventions in Ethiopia follow a six-pillar intervention that includes direct assistance to migrants, displaced persons and affected communities, thematic guidance, capacity development, advocacy, and research. The Protection Unit (PXU) works closely with the government of Ethiopia and various stakeholders in emergency, displacement, and migration settings to reduce protection risks and address the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities. IOM is guided by rights-based approaches across our migration programming, demonstrating commitment to the safeguarding of vulnerable groups.
Within PXU, and under the Return and Reintegration sub-unit, the programme supports the implementation of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) activities in Ethiopia, facilitating the safe, dignified and voluntary return of migrants, and providing comprehensive reintegration assistance upon return. This includes the delivery of tailored economic, social and psychosocial support to returnees, as well as the promotion of sustainable livelihood opportunities and community-based reintegration approaches. The sub-unit works closely with government counterparts, service providers and partners to strengthen national capacities for reintegration, ensure protection-sensitive programming for vulnerable groups, and contribute to addressing the drivers of irregular migration and re-migration.
Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer (Return and Reintegration), and direct supervision of the National Officer (Reintegration), the successful candidate will support the reintegration team. The selected candidate will be required to provide additional support as necessary to Reintegration projects and teams, and support coordination with other PXU programmatic units in the mission.
In particular, he/she will undertake the following responsibilities and accountabilities.
Responsibilities
- Conduct beneficiary assessments and support the development and implementation of individual reintegration plans.
- Deliver and follow up on individual reintegration assistance, including livelihoods support, vocational training, business development support, and referrals to relevant services.
- Maintain beneficiary case files and ensure timely and accurate updates of MiMOSA, databases, and reintegration tracking tools.
- Conduct regular beneficiary monitoring and follow-up visits to assess progress, identify challenges, and document reintegration outcomes.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of Community-Based Reintegration (CBR) activities in target communities.
- Participate in Community-Based Planning (CBP) processes, including community consultations, assessments, and participatory planning activities.
- Support livelihoods and economic inclusion activities, including skills development, income-generating activities, cooperative initiatives, and business support interventions
- Assist in the implementation of Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) activities and support returnees’ access to financial services, microfinance institutions, and business development opportunities.
- Undertake field missions related to beneficiary support, local procurement, training delivery, and activity monitoring.
- Support community engagement, awareness-raising, and beneficiary mobilization activities to strengthen participation and ownership of reintegration initiatives.
- Collect and compile monitoring data, beneficiary feedback, success stories, and lessons learned from reintegration activities.
- Prepare routine activity reports, field mission reports, and other programme documentation, and perform other duties as assigned
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- School diploma with five years of relevant experience; or,
- Bachelor’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or related fields from an accredited academic institution with three years of relevant professional experience.
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
Experience
- Experience in working closely with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups including by providing them with counseling and referral pathways;
- Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with government counterparts, local non-governmental partners, international organizations and private sector entities;
- Experience in return and reintegration, possibly in the framework of AVRR schemes, or experience in other relevant fields such as livelihood or protection programming;
- Previous experience with UN and International Agencies, international or local NGOs preferred.
Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Demonstrated organizational and planning skills;
- Ability to work independently and under pressure;
- Ability to supervise and work effectively with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds.
- Good understanding of social protection and/ or migration issues, in particular migrants’ rights and migrants’ protection is a strong advantage.
Languages
All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM’s official languages (English, French, Spanish).
For this position, fluency in English and Amharic is required (oral and written).
Working knowledge of other Ethiopia languages, particularly Afaan Oromo and/or Tigrigna is desirable.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Required Competencies
Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five 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.
Notes
Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
How to Apply
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the: >> IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

