SVN/2026/30/Project Assistant (Assisted Returns)-G4-DOUALA

Job Description

From June 2017 to December 2022, IOM implemented the “EU–IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration”, funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. This regional programme, covering multiple countries along the Central Mediterranean migration route, aimed to protect migrants, save lives, and support their voluntary return and reintegration. During this period, IOM Cameroon significantly strengthened its operational capacity and achieved substantial results in reintegration programming.
Since August 2022, the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR SSA) has succeeded in the Joint Initiative and related projects. It continues to contribute to the protection of vulnerable and stranded migrants along the Central and Western Mediterranean routes, including through assisted voluntary return, while promoting sustainable reintegration in countries of origin, including Cameroon.

Building on these efforts, the European Union–funded project “Migration Governance Enhancement: Comprehensive Support to National Policy Development and Return, Readmission and Reintegration (RRR)”, launched in March 2025, represents a strategic shift towards a more comprehensive and institutionalized migration governance framework in Cameroon. The project aims to strengthen national capacities in managing return, readmission, and reintegration processes, while also supporting the development of the country’s first national migration policy. It adopts an integrated approach combining institutional strengthening, socio-economic and community-based reintegration, and enhanced data, policy, and coordination mechanisms.
 

Within this framework, and in view of the complementary implementation of the MPRR SSA programme and the RRR project, IOM Cameroon seeks to strengthen its AVRR unit through the recruitment of a Reintegration Assistant (ACOR – Accueil, Coordination et Orientation des Retours). The incumbent will ensure the provision of airport assistance to returning migrants, including pre-embarkation activities, as well as support the effective coordination of reception and reintegration support in line with programmatic objectives and organizational priorities.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Reintegration Associate and general supervision of the National Reintegration Officer in Cameroon, the project Assistant (Assisted Returns) will carry out the following tasks:

1. In coordination with sending missions and relevant partners, conduct pre-departure family tracing and assessment activities, and provide all information necessary to support migrants’ informed decision and sending missions’ assessment of the return feasibility.
2. When requested, participate in remote pre-departure counselling sessions to inform migrants of the assistance available in Cameroon and the reception and reintegration processes.
3. Support the coordination with sending missions, relevant IOM units and relevant partners, prepare and provide reception and post arrival assistance activities to returning migrants.
4. Assist to organise individual or group counselling sessions with migrants in transit and returnees to inform them of the assistance available.
5. Conduct vulnerability screening and assessment and verify eligibility for assistance under available funding in coordination with PXD unit at RO Dakar and other relevant units in line with IOM internal guidelines.
6. In coordination with sending missions support the provision of reintegration assistance to returnees, including the confirmation of eligibility and level of assistance, validation of reintegration plans, and validation of payment of service fees.
7. Support individual counselling sessions with eligible returnees to assess their needs and capacities and develop an integrated reintegration plan considering the migrants’ economic, social, and psychosocial needs.
8. Based on the outcome of the vulnerability assessment, refer migrants to specialized services and facilitate access to protection services as needed, conducting regular case follow-up and monitoring.
9. Support the provision of assistance with relevant support units, following programmatic, administrative, and financial guidance and procedures.
10. Systematically update case information and supporting documents in IOM’s Migrant Management Operational System Application (MiMOSA).
11. Support the liaisons with relevant government and non-government partners for the implementation of activities.

   12. Perform any other functions that may be considered necessary.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, International Studies, Law, Political or Social sciences, Development Studies, Education, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant experience; or,

• High Scholl degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience. 

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in social work, case management, protection work or assistance to populations in situations of vulnerability is required.

• Experience working on livelihood project implementation, business support or similar fields is a strong advantage.

• Priorworkexperiencewithinternationalhumanitarianorganizations,non-governmentor governmentinstitutions/organization in amulti-cultural setting is an advantage.

SKILLS

• Good understanding of social protection and/ or migration issues, in particular migrants’ rights and migrants’ protection is a strong advantage. 

Language
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. 

REQUIRED

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

Required Skills

Job info