Background
The Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) is a unit within the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), directed by DRC as well as a multi-agency Steering Committee. The overall objective of the RMMS is to support governments, agencies, institutions and forums in the Horn of Africa and Yemen sub-region to improve the management of protection and assistance response to people in mixed migration flows in the Horn of Africa and across the Gulf of Aden or Red Sea in Yemen. As such the RMMS is a regional hub aiming to provide: (1) Support and coordination, (2) Synthesis, analysis and research, (3) Information and data management and (4) Advocacy.
It hopes to act as an independent agency acting as a catalyst, and where appropriate, as an ‘agent provocateur’ to stimulate forward thinking and policy development in the sector dealing with mixed migration. Its overarching focus and emphasis is on human rights, protection and assistance. Since its inception in 2011, the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) has developed a strong reputation for collating, analyzing and disseminating mixed migration data.
The secretariat is a small unit co-located with the Danish Refugee Council’s regional office (Horn of Africa and Yemen) in Nairobi, Kenya which hosts and supports the RMMS. The RMMS core Steering Committee and founding agencies are UNHCR, IOM, DRC, Intersos and the Yemen Mixed Migration Task Force.
Mixed Migration context
The Horn of Africa is an important departure point for people in mixed migration flows. Each year tens of thousands of people in the form of refugees, asylum seekers, smuggled economic migrants and trafficked persons, are on the move. Many face uncertain futures and frequently highly undesirable conditions in their respective journeys. They move within the region and also leave the region in different directions but, at present, only the approximate number of irregular (maritime) migrants leaving the mainland for Yemen are monitored and recorded. The dearth of data of those going south, west and north out of the Horn, through various countries, needs to be urgently addressed. It is this data gap that the 4mi project seeks to close through an innovative approach.
Objectives of the 4mi
In a fast-changing political and policy environment where there is increased focus on mixed migration patterns, RMMS has implemented since mid-2014 a mechanism to ensure an innovative and informal data collection and more authoritative trend analysis in the region. The overall aim of 4mi is to support an improved knowledge base for policy response and protection response to mixed migration. The overall objective is to inform policy, debate and programmatic response, to increase understanding of realities on ground and protection gaps etc. and through this improve protection of those in mixed migration flows where increasing levels of abuse, neglect, hardship and death face men, women and children caught in mixed migration flows.
The specific objective is to support an improved knowledge base for protection response to mixed migration where until recently there were none. This is achieved through a network of 30-40 field monitors who use remote survey and smart phone technology to send data to the 4mi head office. This data is collated and presented through data visualization and infographics through the RMMS website and 4mi linked website. The first 18 months of this programme represented the start-up Phase One. At the start of Phase Two (2016 & 2017) a new Project Manager is being sought.
Current 4mi model:
Network of monitors within and outside the region as key source of accumulating information.
Consistent and verified information about movements resulting in trends analysis as per the interviews and surveys conducted by monitors.
Qualitative information made available through an online platform on monthly and quarterly basis concerning conditions en route, violations, number of deaths and disappearances, protection risks, economy of smuggling and trafficking, migrant intentions and aspirations etc.
Close collaboration with established refugee/migrant-focused agencies who already access relevant data.
Key Responsibilities
To oversee the operations, management and accounting of the 4mi project. The 4mi team currently consists of two IT experts, one administrator as well as the 30-40 field monitors.
To identify partners, key informants, contacts and other interlocutors critical to the success and expansion of this project.
To consolidate important lessons learnt from Phase One and provide strategic direction for Phase Two.
To manage a team of sentinel monitors in different countries using digital technology to survey mixed migration.
To establish close working relations with relevant existing mixed migration-related agencies in different countries in order to share data and maximize the data inflow of information and statistics for the 4mi project.
To manage and organize data and be adept at analysis and interpretation of data.
To work under the supervision of the RMMS Coordinator in Nairobi and as a DRC staff member.
To visit a wide range of countries in the region on a regular basis.
Reporting Arrangements
The Project Manager will report to the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat, Coordinator.
Conditions
Availability: February 2016
Duty station: Kampala, Uganda. This is not a family post as extensive travel is required.
Contract: One year contract. Other employment conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates recruited by the Horn of Africa Regional Office or the DRC national staff salary scale, as relevant. This position is rated as A12 on the DRC Expatriate salary scale available at www.drc.dk
Qualifications & Experience
A graduate with at least 5 years’ experience from the aid sector and/or journalism, communication and information technology sector.
Experience in data gathering systems, survey systems migration is a definite advantage but not a requirement.
Understanding and experience with computer programmes that deal with data processing, data visualization and infographics is an advantage but not a requirement as technical experts are already in place.
The Project Manager needs to be a well-motivated, self-starter who can work independently with excellent communication skills and a strong ability to make rapid assessments and sound judgments with little support.
Analytical and problem solving skills are also very desirable.
He/she must be able and available to travel at least 50% of the time in this role (mainly between Kampala and Nairobi).
The letter of interest will be as important as the CV itself for candidates applying for this job.
General
Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework into the work of DRC
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk
Employer want to submit job applications through their website at: Apply Online