20628 Protection Officer (P)

The Global Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) program aims to provide assisted voluntary return (AVR) to migrants in the United States, receiving countries, and the Western Hemisphere, ensuring that returns are safe, dignified, and based on the migrants’ free, prior, and informed consent. Additionally, the program offers independent, needs-based post-arrival assistance at the request of countries of origin or receiving countries, always with the explicit consent of the migrants.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) of CO w/ Coord Function, and in coordination with the Senior Program Advisor and the MPX Regional Thematic Specialist, Protection Officer will be in Cameroon, with responsibilities in Equatorial Guinea under the same programme and will have the following duties and responsibilities:

**Responsibilities**

1\. In close coordination with the COM, the Regional Office, MPX RTS, relevant Units at HQ, and the Global AVR Program Team as well as with Government counterparts and other relevant public/private sector partner organizations, conduct protection assessments and identify risk mitigation strategies focusing on, among others, operational settings; access to and accessibility of services; shelter conditions; legal and immigration frameworks; vulnerabilities of specific groups (with systematic integration of gender and PSEAH considerations); protection actors on the ground and available referral pathways; and safe environments for return in countries of origin (CoOs).

2\. Ensure rigorous application of the Return and Reintegration Due Diligence Process (DDP) , including identification and escalation of protection concerns and complex legal/protection concerns, while integrating gender sensitive analysis and PSEAH risk mitigation throughout case handling.

3\. In coordination with the Specialist, Head of programmes, lead and provide technical guidance and day-to-day support to national and international protection staff to ensure high-quality outcomes for migrants, while providing operational management, coaching and day-to-day guidance, and ensuring adherence to IOM protection policies and standards, operational SOPs, and IOM’s institutional commitments to gender equality and PSEAH.

4\. Support the COM by providing technical briefings and structured updates for engagement with Government counterparts, while maintaining all high level or political liaison under COM authority.

5\. Coordinate with IOM missions in countries of origin to facilitate remote counselling, protection assessments, and case specific follow-up, ensuring that all actions are protection sensitive and contribute to safe and dignified return where relevant.

6\. Liaise with consular authorities to facilitate access to documentation, including LPs, Travel Documents, passport retrieval, and identity verification, and support family tracing and reunification when feasible.

7\. Collaborate with the Emergency Coordinator, RMO, MHD, MHPSS and other relevant units and programmes to ensure migrants have access to essential multidisciplinary services, including medical, psychosocial, protection, legal and basic needs support, in line with gender-responsive and PSEAH-compliant approaches.

8\. Liaise with national actors and relevant protection actors in the country for referrals, when necessary, to appropriate services, including legal aid, health, shelter, psychosocial or protection-focused interventions.

9\. Ensure appropriate protection information management in line with IOM’s Data Protection Principles and inter agency standards, including sensitive case documentation and secure information flows with CoOs and programme stakeholders.

10\. Ensure compliance with Migrant Management Operational Systems Application (MiMOSA) reporting.

11\. Oversee protection-related aspects of accommodation facilities, including incident management, follow-up on medical or psychological emergencies, monitoring of living conditions, and ensuring safe and PSEAH-compliant environments in coordination with relevant authorities.

12\. Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms or task forces at the local level and maintain structured engagement with UN partners, NGOs, civil society actors and service providers.

13\. Represent IOM in a variety of meetings and forums, including with programme donors, partners and stakeholders, ensuring consistent technical level communication and alignment with programme objectives.

14\. Ensure coordinated preparation for return movements through operational readiness activities, including case verification, logistical arrangements, clearance with CoOs, and liaison with receiving missions for post-arrival support.

15\. Monitor the implementation of protection activities and measure progress against objectives, indicators and targets, identifying gaps and recommending corrective measures where required.

16\. Ensure relevant stakeholders at the mission, regional and HQ level are kept informed abou