General
Description of assignment title: Enumerator
Assignment country: Vanuatu
Duty stations: Port-Vila (6)
Work location: Remote
Expected start date: 11/16/2026
Duration: 1 months
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Host entity: IOM VUT
Modality: Onsite
Type: National
Volunteer category: Community UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule: Part-time
Number of Assignments: 6
Details
Mission and objectives
Established in 1951 as the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration, International Organization for Migration (IOM) works closely with governments, international organizations and non-governmental partners to ensure humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. With 173 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM works in four broad areas of migration management: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration and forced migration.
Context
This assignment supports IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) rapid assessment in Fiji. The assessment is part of the project “Strengthening El Niño Preparedness through Mobility and Vulnerability Assessments in Fiji and Vanuatu”. It will generate timely, protection-sensitive evidence on climate-related vulnerabilities, needs, coping strategies and actual or potential population movements to inform government, IOM and partner preparedness and anticipatory action ahead of the cyclone season.
The assessment is designed to complement existing government and partner monitoring rather than duplicate sectoral assessments. It will explore how water scarcity, food and livelihood pressures, disrupted services and other stresses may affect household decisions to stay, move or prepare for evacuation. Data will be collected in selected priority communities, coordinated with relevant authorities and analyzed to identify operational priorities and actionable recommendations.
In Fiji, the assessment will build on monitoring and response information from the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO), Divisional Emergency Operations Centres and relevant sectoral authorities. Priority locations may include communities experiencing significant water shortages, emergency water carting, drought-related livelihood stress, pressure on schools and health facilities, and access constraints in maritime, rural and remote areas.
Data collection will examine whether water scarcity and livelihood pressures are changing household coping strategies, access to services, temporary movement, livelihood-related mobility, evacuation preparedness, or intentions and ability to remain or move. Community entry and field deployment will be coordinated with national and divisional authorities and relevant provincial, district, municipal, community and customary leadership structures.
Task description
Participate fully in the enumerator briefing and practical training on the assessment purpose, questionnaire, sampling approach, interview techniques, safeguarding, data protection and use of the designated mobile data-collection platform, such as KoboToolbox.
Review the questionnaire and field instructions, practice interviews, complete any required test or pilot exercise, and seek clarification before deployment.
Coordinate daily with the field supervisor and team members on assigned communities, respondent targets, travel arrangements, safety considerations and the data-collection schedule.
Before conducting any interview in a specific area, make sure you coordinate and inform local authorities, customary leaders, and seek their consent. In addition, seek the consent of any household / respondent at the start of each interview. Inform them of the purpose of the interview.
Conduct respectful face-to-face interviews with selected households, community representatives and/or key informants using the approved questionnaire and assigned sampling instructions.
Accurately record responses on the authorized digital device or form, without changing, interpreting or fabricating respondents’ answers.
Apply protection-sensitive, gender-responsive and disability-inclusive approaches, ensuring privacy, confidentiality, cultural sensitivity and non-discrimination throughout data collection.
Avoid collecting unnecessary personal data, keep devices and completed forms secure, and immediately report any loss, unauthorized access, safeguarding concern or other data-protection incident to the supervisor.
Ensure data quality by reviewing each questionnaire before submission, correct errors where possible, conduct follow-up checks when requested, and upload completed records as instructed and within the agreed daily deadline.
Provide concise daily updates on locations covered, interviews completed, access constraints, refusals, emerging concerns and any technical or logistical issues, without sharing identifiable respondent information.
Ensure that the number of interviews is completed as per the required sample.
Any disclosure or observation indicating immediate risk must be handled only through the approved referral and escalation pathway.
Perform other closely related data-collection duties assigned by the supervisor within the scope and duration of the assignment.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 - 80
Required experience
No experience required
Nationality
There are no nationality requirements for remote assignments. Successful candidates will need to provide proof of citizenship, residency and/or right to work in their remote work location. In the case of refugees, candidates need to provide proof of their protected status in the country. Proof of address will also be required.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
1 month
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Required education level
Secondary education
Competencies and values
- Professionalism
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Accountability
- Planning and Organizing
Skills and experience
- Ability to communicate respectfully and clearly with diverse communities and respondents.
- Ability to follow detailed instructions, sampling procedures and confidentiality requirements.
- Basic digital literacy and ability to use smartphones or tablets for mobile data collection.
- Attention to detail, honesty, neutrality, reliability and commitment to high-quality data.
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in a team and in remote field settings.
- Fluency in the relevant national and local language(s) for the assigned location; working English sufficient for training, tools and supervisor communication
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, advocacy, public information
Driving license
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and west of Fiji that comprises about 80 islands. Of these, there are thirteen major islands and nine home active volcanoes. British and French settled the islands in the 19 century, they agreed in 1906 to administer the islands jointly, called the British-French Condominium, which lasted until independence in 1980. The population of Vanuatu was estimated at 245,800 (UN, 2019). Capital city: Port Vila. The majority of people (98.7%) are of Vanuatu ethnicity. Vanuatu is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Besides the Ni-Vanuatu people, there are small communities of French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Pacific Island people. Languages: There are over 130 different vernacular languages in use in Vanuatu but Bislama, which has similarities to the pidgin spoken in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, is the lingua franca of the archipelago. Bislama, English and French are the official languages, with the latter two as the principal languages of education. Vanuatu is a Republic with a democratically elected government. The country covers an area of about 860,000 sq km, although only 12,336 sq km of that island, much of which is covered by natural rainforest vegetation. The capital, Port Vila, on Efate islands is situated some 2250 km northeast of Sydney. The other significant urban centre, Luganville, is on the country’s largest island of Espiritu Santo. Cyclone season in Vanuatu is from November to April however tropical storms and cyclones may occur in other months. Vanuatu is located on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ an area where earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions can occur. Hospitals are located in Shefa and Luganville, as well as in other provinces. There is also a UN Doctor who can provide first aid assistance and guidance. There are no dangerous animals or insects in Vanuatu, and no vaccinations are required although anti-malarial precautions are recommended for visits to outer islands. The unit currency is Vatu.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
Scam warning
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• Maintain professional conduct and comply with IOM and UNV policies, including a do-no-farm approach, the Standards of Conduct, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, child safeguarding, security instructions and applicable health and safety measures.
Maintain professional conduct and comply with IOM and UNV policies, including a do-no-farm approach, the Standards of Conduct, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, child safeguarding, security instructions and applicable health and safety measures.
