Under the direct supervision of the National Project Officer (Sef Ples Blong Yumi Phase 2) and the overall supervision of the Head of Disaster Resilience and Climate Change Unit, with support and oversight from the Resilience, Climate Change and Durable Solutions Coordinator in the IOM Vanuatu Country Office, the Project Support Officer will provide key support to the Sef Ples Blong Yumi Phase 2 project, contributing to its effective coordination and implementation. The Project Support Officer will work in close collaboration with the National Project Officer, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), relevant government ministries, provincial governments and stakeholders, clusters, Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) partners, and community stakeholders to strengthen disaster preparedness and evacuation procedures in Vanuatu.

• Project Support & Implementation:
  • Support the National Project Officer in the implementation of the Sef Ples Blong Yumi Phase 2 project, ensuring timely and effective execution of activities as per the work plan and grant agreements. This includes assisting with financial, logistical, administrative, and technical aspects, in compliance with IOM and donor requirements.
  • Assist in monitoring project implementation, documenting progress, and evaluating results. Support the identification and addressing of any deviations or bottlenecks.
  • Support the preparation and dissemination of project reports in accordance with IOM procedures and donor requirements.
• Technical Support & Capacity Building:
  • Provide support to project staff, consultants, and contractors as guided by the National Project Officer.
  • Assist in reviewing and amending approaches to displacement data collection, analysis, and usage in disasters, working with relevant national authorities and IOM’s regional data team to improve Vanuatu’s national displacement data framework and information management system. This includes supporting the development of appropriate indicators, tools, referral processes, and an online data storage and analysis system.
  • Support the training of relevant government and non-government offices on the use of the information management system.
  • Assist in the update, translation, design, and dissemination of the national Evacuation Centre Management Training Toolbox.
  • Support the planning and delivery of capacity-building activities for project staff, partners, government officials, and community members on evacuation management and disaster preparedness.
• Cluster Coordination & Support:
  • Provide support to the NDMO in the Displacement and Evacuation Centre Management (DECM) Cluster, including assisting with the facilitation of regular cluster meetings.
  • Support the DECM Cluster members and partner clusters in developing DECM Cluster Standard Operating Procedures, including strategies for extended displacement contexts, and support the development and delivery of training on the SOPs for national and provincial stakeholders.
  • Assist NDMO in the decentralization of the DECM Cluster, establishing provincial working groups and training provincial stakeholders in cluster coordination and displacement data information management processes.
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Support stakeholder engagement at the national and regional levels with NDMO, government entities, implementing partners, UN agencies, civil society, customary authorities, donors, and other stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and synergy.
  • Contribute to project communications and visibility, including assisting in developing awareness-raising materials, press releases, website updates, social media posts, and other relevant information-sharing products, ensuring donor visibility is regularly prioritized.
• Emergency Response & Other Duties:
  • During emergency response operations, support IOM Vanuatu’s disaster response efforts.
  • Participate in the preparation of project proposals, concept notes, and other planning documents as required under the Disaster Resilience and Climate Change Unit.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  • Undertake duty travel as required for project implementation, monitoring, and coordination.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Or Diploma with at least two years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• Experience in project support, preferably in the context of disaster risk reduction or humanitarian response.
• Experience working in humanitarian response operations is an advantage.
• Experience in data collection and data management.
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, national/international institutions, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations is an advantage.
• Experience in community engagement and capacity building is an advantage.

Skills:

• Good knowledge of disaster preparedness, evacuation management, and displacement issues.
• Understanding of humanitarian affairs and dynamics, and disaster governance structures and procedures in Vanuatu is an advantage.
• Understanding of disaster data and information management processes.
• Good coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Proficiency in GIS software is an advantage.
• Good writing skills.