18470 Protection Officer (Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP)) (P)

**Organizational Context and Scope**

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator (SPC) and the direct supervision of Programme Manager (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants), the Protection Officer (Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP)) will assist in developing, implementing, and reporting on interventions to address the needs of survivors of GBV and migrant children in the country office, Libya.

The Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) remains one of the most dangerous migration routes worldwide. A significant number of migrants continue to travel from their countries of origin to Northern Africa enroute to Europe, in search of better economic opportunities. International Organization for Migration (IOM) data shows that from 2017 to date, 30% of migrants in transit and destination countries in the CMR route experience exploitative practices during their migratory journey and are in need of protection services. Those identified in Libya receive need-based support from IOM protection teams.

IOM continues to address these challenges and support affected populations, with the support from the European Commission (EU), the governments of the Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom, to implement comprehensive protection programmes aimed at promoting the safety, dignity, and rights of migrants along this dangerous migration route.

Since 2023, the instability at the borders with neighboring countries has impacted migration to and from Libya and further exacerbated risks and vulnerabilities inside Libya. As of August 2023, 125,802 individuals are identified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and 705,426 are identified as returnees (previously displaced persons returned to their locations of origin). As of July 2025, IOM Libya's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme identified over 867,000 migrants in Libya. Around eight in ten (78%) were men, 11 per cent were women, and 11 per cent were unaccompanied children.

The main nationalities were Niger, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria, which remained similar for each round of data collection.

The protection crisis in Libya disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups, and severe human rights violations continue to be perpetrated with impunity. IOM protection work in Libya is multi-fold and aims to improve service delivery to populations in vulnerable situations including but not limited to survivors of gender-based violence, unaccompanied and separated children and victims of trafficking; implement community based protection programming to raise awareness and foster resilience; strengthen institutional mechanisms through capacity building and advocacy on topics such as counter trafficking and smuggling of migrants, child protection, access to education, and human rights; and advocate for the decriminalization of irregular migration and establishment of alternatives to detention, especially for migrants in the most vulnerable situations including but not limited to children, women and migrants with health needs.

**Responsibilities**

1\. In coordination with the Programme Manager (Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants), provide technical, administrative, and logistical support to the implementation of the mission’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP) programming and contribute to the expansion of existing GBV and CP initiatives in line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines, IOM Libya’s strategy, and national priorities.

2\. Liaise with United Nations (UN) agencies and other relevant actors in addressing GBV and CP concerns and contribute inputs into inter-agency reports and strategic documents.

3\. Support the development and revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other capacity development material, focused on GBV and child protection, including referral pathways, and support their implementation once feasible.

4\. Provide guidance to GBV and CP support staff and coordinate day-to-day GBV and CP activities, including participation in Best Interest Assessment (BIA) and Best Interest Determination (BID) processes, to help ensure activities are carried out in line with IOM Protection principles, internal guidance notes, and IASC minimum standard guidelines.

5\. Guide GBV and CP support staff in ensuring children at risk and survivors of gender-based violence are timely identified in coordination with referral actors and provided counselling and other appropriate survivor-centred case management response services.

6\. Coordinate with the team leads and inter-agency networks on GVB and CP protection activities and support training development and delivery on GBV and CP topics. This will be done in collaboration with all other relevant units.

7\. Contribute to GBV and CP-related inputs for division-level and mission-level strategic documents and participate in GBV and CP coordination platforms, as requested.

8\. Support internal service mappin