Data Capacity Development Officer (P)

Job Description

Job Identification (Reference Number): 17829
Position Title: Data Capacity Development Officer (P)
Duty Station City: Dakar
Duty Station Country: Senegal
Grade: P-2
Contract Type: Special Short Term Graded (Up to 9 months)
Recruiting Type: Professional
Vacancy Type: Special Vacancy Notice
Initial duration: 9 months
Closing date: 18 December 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

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. 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, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Context

Within West and Central Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) seeks to enhance economic integration among its member states, which experience significant mobility as millions of citizens and migrants’ cross borders daily. This migration, driven by a youthful and growing population facing limited access to quality education and decent job opportunities, manifests in both regular and irregular forms. Irregular migration arises from various factors, including conflict, climate change, and weak asylum systems. As West Africa grapples with environmental degradation and political instability, the region's rapid urbanization further reshapes migration patterns. Mobility remains crucial for many, offering vital access to employment and remittances, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and providing essential livelihood strategies for families across the region.

Within this context, the Regional Data Hub (RDH) is dedicated to providing data and analysis expertise and guidance for implementing the IOM Strategic Plan. The RDH strengthens the regional evidence base on migration by providing technical support and capacity development to IOM offices, regional bodies, member states and other stakeholders on migration and displacement data; and supporting the uptake of knowledge and evidence to inform policies and programmes. Activities and objectives of the RDH are in line with the priorities of delivering data for action, insight and foresight.

Between 2013-2021, IOM, in collaboration International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and International Labour Organization (ILO) implemented the programme Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM I). Now in its second phase, FMMII is working to maximise the development potential of the free movement of persons and migration in West Africa by supporting the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons Protocol and the ECOWAS Common Approach to Migration.

The Data Capacity Development Officer (Regional Data Hub) will substantively support the second phase of the project 'Support to Free Movement and Migration in West Africa' (FMMII). They will focus on the operationalization and strengthening of the capacities of the ECOWAS Commission to promote harmonised methodologies for migration data collection and management in the region.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) for Operations for the West and Central Africa (WCA) region, the direct supervision of the Regional Thematic Specialist (Data and Research), and in close collaboration with the FMMII team based in Nigeria and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and the Directorate of Research & Statistics in ECOWAS, the Data Capacity Development Officer (Regional Data Hub) will support the operationalising and strengthening the data collection, management capacities and implementation of the Guidelines for the Harmonisation of Migration Data Management in the ECOWAS Region.

Several capacity-building efforts will be implemented based on the results of the regional assessment that will identify key needs and priorities for data collection for migration management. The Data Capacity Development Officer will also support the ECOWAS Commission in developing and publishing a regional migration profile based on national migration profiles, giving an overview of migration data and trends in the ECOWAS region and developing ECOWAS annual migration data reports.

Under FMM II, the Data Capacity Development Officer will support operationalising the Labour Market and Migration Information System (LMMIS) at both regional and MS levels, based on the roadmap developed under FMM, to enable common reporting on the labour market and migration data across the sub-region. To implement the LMMIS, it is important to support (regional and national) annual data collection that can adequately inform the labour market and migration indicators established under FMM. The project will support ECOWAS and its MS in establishing a minimum annual programme to collect statistical data on labour migration in all ECOWAS countries. The project will continue to build the capacities of national institutions to collect data and use harmonised data based on the standardised data indicators adopted in the first phase.

Responsibilities

1. Support the design and implementation of baseline surveys to assess existing needs and priorities in migration data collection across ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania, focusing on migration management data collection, including immigration, border management, and gender-sensitive data practices.

2. Deliver national capacity-building trainings on migration data management, aligned with the Guidelines for the Harmonisation of Migration Data Management in the ECOWAS Region, and support the operationalization of Training-of-Trainers activities.

3. Support the ECOWAS Commission in the development and publication of a Regional Migration Profile and support the drafting of national migration profiles, ensuring alignment with harmonized indicators and definitions.

4. Support data coordination and information exchange with continental platforms such as the African Union observatory, promoting interoperability and policy coherence.

5. Support ECOWAS member states in updating their national migration profiles when one exists and provide technical assistance in developing one in countries where this exercise has never been undertaken.

6. Provide technical support in the preparation of policy-relevant studies on free movement and migration, and contribute to knowledge-sharing by participating in regional thematic and ministerial meetings as per needs identified.

7. Provide technical assistance and capacity building to strengthen labour migration data systems and support the ECOWAS Commission in advancing the Directive on the Labour Market and Migration Information System (LMMIS).

8. Support the organization of regional meetings with ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania to promote the roll-out of the LMMIS, and to support dialogue around national observatory data on labour markets and migration.

9. Participate actively in the development of harmonized reporting indicators for Member States’ annual labour market and migration reports.

10. Compile and analyse national reporting on LMMIS implementation and engage stakeholders at national and regional levels on key findings and recommendations.

11. Participate in national, regional and other fora on migration and displacement statistics.

12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Migration/Development Studies, Economics, Demography, Political or Social Science, Statistics, International Relations or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Experience in reporting, information management and coordination of information flows, data management including collection, storing, processing, and analysing data to generate information products;
• Demonstrated experience in leadership in the context of partnership building and consensual decision-making;
• Previous experience with capacity building is a strong asset;
• Previous experience in country level data survey implementation is a strong asset;
• Proven experience in humanitarian and migration data report development and review; and,
• Experience with handling confidential data.

Skills

• Proven skills to analyse statistical information and data (including familiarity with data analysis software such as Python, R, SPSS, STATA, Jamovi, etc.);
• Ability to formulate IM-related technical requirements and operating procedures;
• Ability to translate planning-specifications into technical briefs for data capture and analysis, and vice versa;
• Ability to compile and holistically analyse diverse datasets;
• Demonstrated team building and information management skills;
• Demonstrated understanding of different data collection and statistical methodologies; and,
• Knowledge and understanding of relational data theory (advantage).

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. 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 2

• 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

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

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.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country and who do not have prior experience outside the duty station’s country as staff member in the Professional category cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

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.

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.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Required Skills

Job info