Project Assistant (Livelihood)

General Functions:

  The ongoing conflict in Syria has created surges of people crossing the borders into neighbouring countries. Host governments and humanitarian actors, including IOM, are providing relief assistance and protection to this extremely vulnerable population living with host families and, to a lesser extent, in camps. The large number of Syrian refugees is posing a growing challenge to reception communities’ capacity and host government’s response mechanisms.

As of September 2018, Turkey is hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees. 200,000 reside in 16 camps (over 5.5% of the total) across South East Turkey and the remaining live outside of camps (around 93%). Of those living outside of camps, the majority are spread across the border provinces of Gaziantep, Hatay, Sanliurfa, Kilis, Mardin as well as in Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Bursa and Adana.

In 2014, the Government of Turkey adapted the Temporary Protection (TP) Regulation that extends protection and assistance to all Syrians in Turkey and provides refugees with rights and duties and the framework to access health care, education, and social assistance. As a member of the UN Humanitarian Country Team in Syria and all concerned neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey), the IOM Director General has activated the L3 Emergency SOPs to enhance organizational humanitarian assistance and priorities related to IDPs, refugees and returnees, and is actively participating in the emergency response within challenging humanitarian context.

IOM's strategy for Turkey as indicated in the 3RP (Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan) is three-pronged; 1. To provide basic needs assistance through multi-purpose cash, winterization, shelter repair and provision of transportation; 2. To ease the burden on national and local structures through the establishment of multi-service community centers offering protection and social stabilization for the refugees as well as increase access to education; and 3. To support the resilience of refugees and host communities through supporting livelihoods, community stabilisation and income generating activities.

Under the overall supervision of Project Officer(Early Recovery & Livelihood) and direct supervision of the Senior Project Associate (Livelihood) and in close coordination with the National Project Officer (Livelihood) in Gaziantep, the incumbent will be responsible and accountable to support in the preparation and implementation of expanding livelihoods interventions and Programme to help create income- generating opportunities for Syrian refugees as well as members of the host community across southeast Turkey.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:           

1. Support the livelihood team in Gaziantep in the implementation of livelihoods interventions such as in-kind grants, job placements, vocational trainings and other schemes in southeast Turkey.
2. Participate in needs assessments with host and refugee communities including municipalities, community representatives and youth in coordination with the Senior Project Associate (Livelihood).
3. Conduct field visits in targeted provinces and identify vulnerable beneficiaries to be enrolled in rapid income-generation activities.
4. Assist the Senior Project Associate (Livelihood) in identifying partners and creating opportunities for joint action with local authorities, associations, chambers and well as local and international NGOs to scale up IOM’s livelihoods projects.
5. Gather information about skills, educational background vulnerability and opportunities for self-sufficiency to determine beneficiaries for the pilot activities.
6. Help identify potential beneficiaries among the refugee and host communities, assist in the drafting of grant and employment agreements, as well as payments and other administrative matters pertaining to the implementation of livelihoods interventions.
7. Contact potential beneficiaries and organize interviews.
8. Assist selected beneficiaries by facilitating orientation meetings and/or business trainings and/or counselling as necessary and provide support to them in the formulation of business plans.
9. Travel to project sites to monitor ongoing activities and meet with local authorities, other agencies and NGOs on livelihood activities.
10. Keep track of project progress as well as the progress of each individual beneficiary.
11. Perform other duties as may be requested.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• University degree in Social Science, Business Administration or a related field from an accredited academic institution, with two years of relevant professional experience; or
• Completed High school degree from an accredited academic institution, with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• Proven experience in social projects or livelihoods activities such as in- kind grants, job placements;
• Good computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel);
• Knowledge of database applications is an advantage;
• Proven good interpersonal and communication skills. Flexibility, tolerance and capacity to work in team;
• Working experience in the region is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic and/or Turkish is advantageous.

Required Competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity:

Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• 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.

Core Competencies – behavioral 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 action and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Other:

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice 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.

Only candidates residing in either the country of the duty station or from a location in a neighbouring country that is within commuting distance of the duty station will be considered. In all cases, a prerequisite for taking up the position is legal residency in the country of the duty station, or in the neighbouring country located within commuting distance, and work permit, as applicable.

This is a local position and applications from candidates for non-Turkish citizens holding a valid residence permit residing in Türkiye might be considered.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application including the most recent CV with a cover letter in English with contact details (name, position, phone and e-mail details) of three references by indicating name of the position applied with its VN number in the subject line of the e-mail to [email protected] or to IOM İlkbahar Mahallesi Konrad Adenauer Caddesi No: 63 Çankaya, Ankara Türkiye by the end of 29 November 2024.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.