Project Assistant – Migration and Health

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the principal UN Agency in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.

Since 1985, IOM has been collaborating closely with the Government of Zimbabwe to implement a wide range of programmes and projects covering various programmatic areas, such as migration and development, refugee resettlement, assisted voluntary return and reintegration, humanitarian emergency and transition recovery, migrant health assessments. IOM has a main office in Harare and a sub-office in Beitbridge. The Country Office (CO) implements relevant projects in partnership with the Government and undertakes liaison and advocacy activities with various multilateral institutions at the regional levels to enhance research, policy development and dialogue on migration-related matters.

IOM Zimbabwe CO is currently engaged on various interventions including humanitarian and emergency response; community stabilization and socio-economic inclusion of most vulnerable population; integrated border and migration management; and movements and assistance to migrants. The mission has extensive experience and expertise in the implementation of community stabilization, migration and returns and recovery interventions through multi-sector projects targeting IDPs, returnees and host communities focusing on mobile vulnerable populations. This includes capacitating government to manage and respond to the Zimbabwe migration crisis, improving through trainings, various capacity development though policy formulation and implementation and direct support to the affected and vulnerable population.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. The Migration Health Division delivers and promotes comprehensive, preventive, and curative health programmes which are beneficial, accessible, and equitable for migrants and mobile populations. IOM, in close collaboration with partners, contributes towards the physical, mental, and social well-being of migrants, enabling them and host communities to achieve social and economic development.

One such migration and health project is the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) - HIV Knows No Borders Project (KNB Project) implemented in six countries in the Southern Africa region (Kingdom of Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The project is implemented by a consortium of IOM (as the lead agency) and Save the Children International. In Zimbabwe, the project is being implemented in Beitbridge.

In addition, IOM Zimbabwe strengthens health security systems through community event-based surveillance in points of entry to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. This project is taking place in the main points of entry in the country and high migrant-sending regions.

The UN Volunteer will have an opportunity to learn a variety of skills related to project implementation, build knowledge on migration and health and be involved in field visits all across Zimbabwe.

Under the overall supervision of the IOM Chief of Mission and the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator for the Migration and Health Unit, the UN Volunteer will support the implementation of programme/project-related activities. In particular, he/she will:

• Assist in the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders project activities and the Community event-based surveillance pro-ject
• Compile, summarize, analyse, and present information/data on specific project topics, highlighting noteworthy issues for the consideration of appropriate parties.
• Participate in field visits to assess needs, help with monitoring of activities from the pro-jects.
• Support the administrative coordination of project implementation, involving extensive liaison with diverse organizational units and external parties to initiate requests, obtain necessary clearances, follow up on administrative actions, etc.
• Work with programme development and other units to identify further opportunities for programme related to health and migration
• Participate in meetings and conferences; to help maintain effective liaison and coordi-nation with local authorities, partners, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, donors and other stakeholders relevant to the project.
• Draft correspondence on project issues; prepare and update reports, briefing notes and other forms of documentation with the guidance and support of the programme man-ager.
• Perform such other such duties as may be required.