Mission and objectives

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951, and its mission is to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits both migrants and society in general. As the United Nations Migration Agency, IOM works with its partners to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration, advance understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration, and uphold the wellbeing and human rights of migrants. The IOM constitution gives explicit recognition to the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the principle of freedom of movement of persons. IOM has 174 Member States, eight countries holding Observer Status, and offices in more than 100 countries.

Uganda became a member state of IOM in 1984, and the IOM Uganda office was opened in 1988. Its decades of operation in the country have been characterized by rapid growth of staff and scope of work – in light of aiding humane and orderly migration, sphere of influence, partnership networks and impact on various migration and mobility dimensions in the country. IOM Uganda emphasizes its extensive experience in empowering governments and communities to prevent, detect and respond to health threats along the mobility continuum, while advocating for migrant-inclusive approaches that minimize stigma and discrimination.

Context

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non- governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment.

The Migration Health Division in IOM Uganda is currently scaling up its contribution towards Ebola response under the “Strengthening Capacities to Effectively Manage Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at Vulnerable Points of Entry and Border Communities in Uganda with a strong focus on the points of entry and border districts with DRC with the following scope:

Expansion into Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and community surveillance

• Community based disease surveillance (CBDS): scale CBDS training across 18 high risk districts to reach targeted proportions of VHTs/CHEWs, equipping them for active case finding, event based detection and timely reporting.
• RCCE programming: deliver targeted risk communication campaigns (community dialogues, market and transit outreach, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) distribution, radio messaging) tailored to local languages and contexts to increase awareness, reduce stigma and promote care seeking.
• Community facility linkages: strengthen referral pathways by coordinating VHT referrals with district rapid response teams and ambulance/fuel support, ensuring suspected cases detected in communities are rapidly triaged and transported.
• Protection and accountability: mainstream Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and community feedback/complaint mechanisms into RCCE and CBDS activities to maintain safe, dignified and ethical engagement.
• Capacity building and sustainability: train trainers and provide reference materials and on the job mentorship so CBDS and RCCE capacities are absorbed into district health systems.

Task description

The Community Contact Tracers - EVD will be based in the areas of Kisoro, Kasese, Nebbi ,Arua and Bundibugyo (Ntoroko and Busunga) and will be responsible with the following:

• Conduct targeted risk communication activities (household visits, community dialogues, market and transit point outreach, radio messaging support) to raise awareness on EVD signs, prevention, safe care seeking and anti stigma messaging.
• Disseminate standardized IEC materials and ensure messages are adapted to local language and context.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

No experience required

Nationality

There are no nationality requirements for remote assignments. Successful candidates will need to provide proof of citizenship, residency and/or right to work in their remote work location. In the case of refugees, candidates need to provide proof of their protected status in the country. Proof of address will also be required.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

1 year

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

Technical/vocational diploma in Social sciences, medicine, health sciences, community or public health or a related field from an accredited academic institution

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience

• At least one year of professional work experience at the national level in emergency response and coordination, including delivery of humanitarian health assistance in complex environments, including planning, implementation and analysis of technical health interventions or other relevant programmes; experience with UN is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;

Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Knowledge of the respective local languages is desirable for each location as follows: Rufumbira (Kisoro), Rukonjo (Kasese), Alur (Nebbi), Lugbara (Arua), and Lubwisi (Bundibugyo).
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in Humanitarian setting, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Crisis and emergency response, Community development, Social work

Driving license

-

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

The duty stations are located in predominantly rural districts of Uganda, including Kisoro, Kasese, Nebbi, Arua, and Bundibugyo. Living conditions vary across locations but are generally modest, with access to basic services such as housing, healthcare, banking, telecommunications, and local markets. Volunteers should be prepared to live and work in multicultural environments and demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to field conditions.

Knowledge of the respective local languages is desirable for each location as follows: Rufumbira (Kisoro), Rukonzo (Kasese), Alur (Nebbi), Lugbara (Arua), and Lubwisi (Bundibugyo).

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

• Conduct targeted risk communication activities (household visits, community dialogues, market and transit point outreach, radio messaging support) to raise awareness on EVD signs, prevention, safe care seeking and anti stigma messaging.
• Disseminate standardized IEC materials and ensure messages are adapted to local language and context.

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Knowledge of the respective local languages is desirable for each location as follows: Rufumbira (Kisoro), Rukonjo (Kasese), Alur (Nebbi), Lugbara (Arua), and Lubwisi (Bundibugyo).
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in Humanitarian setting, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

• Technical/vocational diploma in Social sciences, medicine, health sciences, community or public health or a related field from an accredited academic institution