MHPSS Response Officer (Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR)) (P), Kigali

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn 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 IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories:
   Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) is one of the core areas of IOM expertise, and a field in which the organization has over 40 years of experience. IOM USA works with the US Department of State to provide eligible beneficiaries, both in the United States and in third countries, with access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or of legal status in a safe and dignified manner. In addition to travel arrangements, IOM’s assistance may include counselling of voluntary returnees, acquisition of travel documents, provision of medical or other escorts, departure, transit and arrival assistance.

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)- funded Global Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Program aims to provide migrants with irregular status in the United States and in third countries (as in the case of Eswatini) access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or legal status in a safe and dignified manner.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Programme, the direct supervision of the Protection Coordinator, the technical supervision of the Head of the Global Mental Health and Psychosocial Support- Crisis Intervention (MHPSS-CI) Unit in HQ, and the Senior Migration Health Advisor, the MHPSS Response Officer (Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR)) will have the following duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

1. Provide context-specific life-saving psychological first aid, basic psychological support interventions, and case management for migrants and returnees. Refer to the licensed medical officer any situation that requires emergency medical procedures, life-saving care, or similar medical interventions.
2. Conduct individual protection screening, anamnesis, and protocol-based MHPSS assessment of migrants upon arrival, in line with standard institutional tools, identifying vulnerabilities and protection risks, documenting needs, and preparing individualized case plans.
3. Provide case management services: follow up on cases, monitor progress, support service mapping, coordinate referrals to specialized services including legal, health, psychosocial, family tracing, GBV, as needed, and ensure continuity of assistance.
4. Assist in the implementation of safe and dignified reception services, ensuring privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent; support with documentation and coordination with relevant authorities (e.g., consular, migration, local government).
5. Conduct individual, and, when relevant, group counselling sessions to support migrant and returnees.
6. Facilitate referrals to licensed medical professionals for any situation that requires emergency medical procedures, psychiatric assessment, lifesaving care, fitness to fly assessment, or other required medical interventions.
7. Coordinate with Migration Health Division (MHD) Health Assessment Programme (HAP) psychiatrists, travel health, and other clinical experts as required.
8. Participate in suicide-prevention and suicide watch activities by monitoring at-risk individuals, documenting observations, and coordinating referral to qualified medical professionals.
9. Maintain accurate data collection and case notes in IOM’s case management systems (such as Migrant Management Operational Systems Application (MiMOSA) or other approved tools), ensuring data protection and confidentiality standards are met. Coordinate with the Protection Coordinator and other operational staff (health, psychosocial, logistics) to ensure service provision is timely and that operational constraints or gaps are identified and escalated.
10. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatry, Psychological Counselling, Forensic/Criminal Psychology, 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.
• Participation in IOM courses on MHPSS and population mobility is a distinctive advantage.

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

Experience

• Experience working with migrants, civil society, and governments;
• Experience managing programming across multiple countries;
• Proven experience working with vulnerable persons and communicating with individuals who have complex needs;
• Experience working in programs that include a movement operations component is an advantage; and,
• Experience with IOM or other UN agencies, particularly working on assisted voluntary return and reintegration programs, is preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated writing, editing and presentation skills;
• Excellent computer skills: excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet software, statistical analysis packages;
• Knowledge of UN cooperation frameworks and bilateral donor programming requirements;
• Ability to gather, consolidate, and attribute information from multiple sources;
• High degree of judgment and initiative, ability to work with a high degree of independence within assigned areas;
• Demonstrated interpersonal and teamwork skills; and,
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of diverse cultural and national backgrounds.

Languages

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

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and 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. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. 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.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation, and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE 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.

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, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud.