Digital Innovation Support Associate
Grade: UG
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
Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.
Organizational Context and Scope
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission in Tajikistan and the direct supervision of the Programme Support Officer, and in close coordination with Project Managers and relevant units within the Mission, the Digital Innovation Support Associate will support the identification, development and advancement of innovative solutions responding to migration-related challenges and opportunities across the IOM Tajikistan Country Office portfolio.
The incumbent will contribute to the development of innovative, practical and user-oriented ideas that connect emerging technologies and digital approaches with migration priorities, including safe migration, migrant protection, prevention of online recruitment fraud, border management, migration governance, programme delivery and knowledge management. The incumbent will help assess needs and opportunities, shape solution concepts, define user and functional requirements, facilitate stakeholder consultations, support feasibility assessments, and communicate proposed solutions to programme teams, management, technical experts, partners and service providers.
The position requires a solid understanding of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and data-informed solutions, together with the ability to translate migration and operational needs into clear concepts and practical requirements. The position is not a software development or ICT support role. The incumbent will not be required to undertake software coding, system development, database administration, or technical maintenance. Where technical development is required, it will be undertaken by qualified technical experts, consultants, or service providers. The incumbent’s role will focus on innovation, migration relevance, requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, coordination, communication, and user adoption.
The incumbent will also promote innovation responsible data and AI practices across the Mission by conducting research, identifying relevant practices and technologies, developing concepts and knowledge products, supporting pilots, and communicating the value, requirements, risks and opportunities associated with proposed digital solutions. The incumbent will work closely with project teams, technical experts, consultants, service providers, government counterparts, partners and other stakeholders to ensure that proposed initiatives are relevant to migration priorities, technically informed, responsible, sustainable and aligned with IOM standards.
Support the conceptualization and implementation of migration-focused digital innovation initiatives, including the AI-enabled chatbots and online fraud detection tools under relevant Mission projects, by identifying user needs, developing use cases and user journeys, structuring content, and documenting functional and operational requirements.
Assist with the implementation of the AI Sandbox for Border Intelligence Analysis and Risk Profiling in Tajikistan by supporting feasibility assessments, coordinating stakeholder inputs, organizing relevant documentation, and facilitating collaboration with the international expert and relevant internal and external stakeholders.
Proactively identify migration-related challenges, service gaps, and operational opportunities that could benefit from innovative, digital, or data-informed approaches, and develop preliminary ideas and solution concepts for consideration by programme teams and Mission management.
Provide migration-focused inputs to project development and programme design involving digital innovation or artificial intelligence, including problem definition, stakeholder analysis, use cases, expected results, risks, resource considerations, and implementation options.
Conduct research and environmental scanning on emerging innovation practices and technology trends relevant to safe migration, migrant protection, migration governance, border management, humanitarian programming, and development cooperation, and summarize their potential relevance for the Mission.
Coordinate consultations and engagement with stakeholders, including programme teams, government counterparts, partners, migrants and other intended users, consultants, experts, and service providers, to gather needs, validate ideas, and support the development and adoption of appropriate solutions.
Organize and support workshops, ideation sessions, user consultations, feedback activities, demonstrations, and awareness or training sessions related to migration-focused innovation initiatives.
Prepare clear and user-friendly materials related to innovation initiatives, including concept notes, presentations, briefing materials, progress updates, visual products, and knowledge products for technical and non-technical audiences.
Support programme improvement, knowledge sharing, and organizational learning by reviewing workflows, documenting lessons learned and good practices, and identifying opportunities for more efficient, innovative, and user-oriented programme delivery.
Support the integration of responsible data and AI governance considerations into digital innovation initiatives, including data protection, privacy, data quality, data minimization, transparency, inclusion, human oversight, risk identification, and appropriate stakeholder consultation, in accordance with applicable IOM policies and relevant national and regional frameworks.
Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- School diploma with six years of work experience; or
- Bachelor’s degree in Digital Innovation, Information Management, Migration Studies, International Relations, Development Studies or a related field, with four years of work experience.
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
Experience
Experience supporting innovation, digital transformation, service improvement, or technology-enabled initiatives, preferably in migration, humanitarian, development, protection, governance, or a related field.
Experience identifying user or programme needs and contributing to the development of practical, user-oriented concepts, use cases, or solutions.
Experience conducting research, analysing information, and preparing clear briefing materials, concept notes, presentations, or knowledge products for decision-making.
Experience engaging and coordinating with diverse stakeholders, such as programme teams, government counterparts, partners, consultants, technical experts, or service providers.
Experience supporting project implementation in an international organization, United Nations agency, non-governmental organization, government institution, or development partner is an advantage.
Experience considering data protection, responsible data use, ethical AI, or related governance requirements within programme or innovation initiatives is an advantage.
Experience supporting programmes related to migration, migrant protection, safe migration, border management, humanitarian assistance, or migration governance is a distinct advantage.
Skills
Good understanding of digital innovation concepts and their potential application to migration, protection, border management, humanitarian, and development programming.
Ability to identify programme and user needs and translate them into clear, practical, and user-oriented concepts, use cases, and requirements.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess needs, opportunities, risks, and the practical relevance of proposed solutions.
Strong research skills and ability to summarize complex information clearly for programme teams, management, and other stakeholders.
Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear concept notes, briefing materials, presentations, and knowledge products.
Strong stakeholder engagement and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across programme and operational teams and with government counterparts, partners, consultants, technical experts, and service providers.
Ability to facilitate consultations, workshops, ideation sessions, and user-feedback activities involving technical and non-technical participants.
Good organizational skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple inputs, document decisions and follow-up actions, and support timely implementation.
Awareness of responsible data handling, user confidentiality, inclusion, accessibility, digital risks, and the ethical use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to use standard digital collaboration and communication tools.
Languages
All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).
For this position, fluency in English, Tajik and Russian is required (oral and written).
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
- 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
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.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
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, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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