SVN-National Project Officer-Climate Mobility Innovation Lab Africa (CMIL), NOB

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is hiring a National Project Officer for the Climate Mobility Innovation Lab Africa (CMIL) in Nairobi, Kenya. The role involves managing projects related to climate-induced displacement, including the Risk Index for Climate Displacement and the Climate Catalytic Fund. Responsibilities include project management, communication, and collaboration with various stakeholders to develop methodologies and support local adaptation initiatives.
Disaster-related internal displacements in Africa have risen sharply over the past 15 years – from 1.1 million in 2009 to 6.3 million in 2023, driven primarily by floods, droughts, and storms. Cumulatively, over 45 million disaster displacements have been recorded in the continent since 2009, with floods accounting for more than 75% of all disaster-related movements. In several regions across the continent climate extremes also intersect with conflict, fragility, and livelihood loss to exacerbate mobility. Displacement not only creates immediate humanitarian needs but can also hinder or reverse development gains for affected individuals, communities, and countries. This underscores the urgent need to address displacement and other forms of mobility through an integrated approach, preventing its occurrence by investing in hazard prevention, mitigation and climate change adaptation, preparing for more effective responses when displacement takes place, and addressing its protracted and long-term impacts by achieving durable solutions, recovery and sustainable development.

In response to these trends, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched an initiative, aiming to increase understanding of current and future impacts of climate change and natural hazards, especially as it relates to migration and displacement. As part of this vision, and utilising improved data and forecasts, IOM and its partners will support governments and communities to increase the resilience of populations most likely to be impacted by climate-induced displacement and putting in place measures to enhance prevention, preparedness, and reduce or address non-economic loss and damage.

Notably, IOM established its Climate Mobility Innovation Lab (CMIL) to promote evidence-based solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and human mobility globally, and more specifically in the African continent. As part of these efforts, and under the direct supervision of Head, Climate Mobility Innovation Lab for Africa, IOM is seeking a National Project Officer to help support day to day operations of CMIL Africa and implementation of the CMIL programming such as the Risk Index for Climate Displacement (RICD) as well as the rollout of the Climate Catalytic Fund (CCF) and related innovative responses to climate change and human mobility in Africa. RICD is a decision support tool that allows to identify critical displacement hotspots in countries, while the CCF is a facility that mobilises small, fast, match-funded grants that supports locally-led adaptation, risk reduction and preparedness projects.

The role will include supporting on day-to-day project management tasks related to RICD and CCF implementation, driving internal and external communication, as well as liaise with IOM country offices involved in the CMIL work. In addition the incumbent will coordinate and work with IOM partners including universities, research institutions, technical experts, local authorities, and community-based operational actors, contributing to the development of methodologies, and liaising with internal support functions including procurement, HR, finance, etc. IOM is part of the United Nations (UN) System as the leading inter-governmental organization promoting since 1951 humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, with 174 member states and a presence in over 100 countries.