Migration Management Expert (West Africa)International Organization for Migration (IOM)
An intergovernmental organization established in 1951, IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.
Location: Nigeria (Abuja)
Closing date: 30 Aug 2008
Job Description

General Functions:

The secondment of a Migration Management Expert to the Economic Commission of the
Western African States (ECOWAS) is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Trade, Customs & Free Movement Commission within the ECOWAS. The Commission is following the implementation of the Protocol of Free Movement, Establishment and Residence and monitors migration with Western Africa. It is specifically aimed at ensuring regional cooperation and the development of cross border strategies to enhance the free movement of persons, and the relations between countries with common borders, and to harmonize ECOWAS travel documents. The Migration Management Expert will also be strengthening linkages between the ECOWAS Secretariat and the activities of the IOM-ECOWAS Migration Dialogue in West Africa (MIDWA).

Under the general supervision of the Regional Representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office for West and Central Africa in Dakar and in close coordination with the Chief of Mission of the IOM Office in Nigeria, one of the primary functions of the secondee to the Migration Desk will be to serve as a resource centre for states and to provide all ECOWAS countries with access to relevant technical and legal documents; to support the establishment of best practices in migration management, including irregular migration control, the enhancement of security functions, labour and facilitated migration, counter-trafficking, as well as developing links between migration and development.

Specifically, the selected candidate will:
a) Establish and institutionalize migration expertise within the ECOWAS Secretariat;
b) Facilitate increased access by ECOWAS Member States to relevant laws and information
relating to migration management;
c) Strengthen regional technical and policy coordination, links with extra national forums on
migration management;
d) Increase opportunities for regional collaboration and joint problem solving on migration, with effective linkages and coordination supported between the activities of Migration Dialogue on West Africa (MIDWA) and ECOWAS;
e) Facilitate greater consistency and coherence among inter and intra-governmental officials
and departments in the ECOWAS and among officials from various migration departments;
f) Examine the current ECOWAS Agenda for links between migration and other issues such
as poverty reduction, health, labour or security;
g) Develop a two-year schedule of meetings and coordinated with other regional and international events and meetings;
h) Organize the participation of technical officials in MIDWA border management activities and provide support to MIDWA technical task teams;
i) Organize Ministerial Level and Technical Level MIDWA Meetings;
j) Establish networks between officials and stakeholders from other policy domains on
migration related topics;
k) Ensure the effective distribution of relevant ECOWAS and MIDWA meeting reports;
l) Work to facilitate contact between migration officials in ECOWAS Member States and third
countries, such as the Maghreb region and EU Member States to further cooperation on
common migration issues;
m) Liaise with the international community to pursue the dialogue with European States as
countries of destination on migration issues pertinent to the ECOWAS region.

Desirable Qualifications:

Education and Experience
a) University degree in Law, Political Science or Social Science, Migration Studies or another relevant Field;
b) working experience in an International Organization or working with governmental or EU institutions;
c) knowledge of Western Africa region required;
d) in-depth knowledge and practical experience in dealing with regional institutions;
e) knowledge of best international practices in migration management;
f) experience in liaising with governmental authorities as well as with national and international institutions;
g) excellent computer literacy.

Competencies
a) Excellent communication and negotiation skills, both oral and written;
b) personal commitment, efficiency and drive for results;
c) ability to take effective decisions under time pressure and problem solving skills;
d) ability to coach lead and work effectively and harmoniously in a team and with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds;
e) strong interpersonal and organizational skills; strategic and creative thinking.

Languages
- Thorough Knowledge of both English and French. Knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage.
Vacancies Contact
For further information, please refer to: http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pid/165
Please note that when applying through the IOM prism e-recruitment system the reference code is: ECOWAS 2008 01