Returned Qualified Nationals (RQN)

Terms of Reference

WOLLO UNIVERSITY, KOMBOLCHA, ETHIOPIA

Apply now as a Diaspora Expert!

Are you currently living and working abroad? Would you like to engage in a skills transfer program in your country of origin for a limited period? Then apply as a diaspora expert!

1. Introduction

Under the Better Regional Migration Management Program, IOM is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora services/departments to implement a Returned Qualified Nationals (RQN), Diaspora Engagement activity in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. The activity aims to identify and engage skilled and qualified people who have migrated and who want to help their country of origin by volunteering. The activity seeks to enable the voluntary participation of the Ethiopian, Kenyan, Ugandan and Somali Diaspora to strengthen institutions in key socio-economic sectors agreed with the governments, such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, civil engineering, financial systems, and information technology.

The programme offers support for three-month assignments with state institutions or public-benefit organisations such as government agencies, academic institutions, and health facilities. The programme welcomes individuals from different careers and sectors, such as educators, organisational developers, mechanical engineers, doctors, and other health care professionals.

We are looking for experts from the diaspora who will be willing to share their invaluable expertise and abilities for the development of your country.

If you are an Ethiopian diaspora expert or professional residing abroad, we offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of your homeland while gaining personal fulfilment. We cordially invite you to join our Short-Term Placement Program and embark on a transformative journey that leverages your expertise for national progress.

2. Objective of the Assignment

This assignment aims to identify qualified experts from the diaspora of Ethiopia and to engage them in a learning and sharing exchange with their local peers in government, academic institutions, and health facilities.

Objective one: To engage in short-term training, advising, and mentorship activities and enhance the skill of the ICT faculty members in the development and use of software, AI, and future technology.

Objective Two: To engage in the establishment of the university's ICT research labs and develop manuals and procedures for their operation, enhance the research and community outreach programs.

3. Areas of Intervention and Place of Work

• Information Communication Technology/ Cyber Security/ Energy/Artificial Intelligence/Software Engineering/Construction Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering, Wollo University, Kombolcha, Ethiopia.
  • Deliver short-term capacity-building training and seminars for the faculty
  • Assist the research lab establishment initiatives for information system, computer science, software engineering and information technology
  • Deliver experience enhancement and exchange workshops on the above-mentioned themes and areas
  • Engage in software development and share skills and technology for the university’s faculty
  • Engage in teaching, advising, and mentorship activities
  • Work on internationalization and accreditation of programs and journals
  • Conduct successive ICT seminar

4. What We Offer

• Financial assistance towards expenses during the assignment
• Paid roundtrip travel expenses
• A basic insurance package
• Local support during your assignment from our team of coordinators

5. Required Qualifications, Experience And Competences

• Information Communication Technology/ Cyber Security/ Energy/Artificial Intelligence/software engineering/ Construction Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering, Currently living abroad and have a migration history from Ethiopia
• An assistant professor, PHD, Mater degree or an academic of equivalent rank specializing in one of the aforementioned fields of study
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience in universities abroad in teaching, research and publication, project, and/or community outreach activities in the abovementioned fields. 
•  Willing to undertake a three-month short-term assignment in the priority areas mentioned above.
• Having engagement experience with the technology industry is highly encouraged
• Proficiency in English is required

6. Supervision

The expert will be attached to a local institution and his/her daily work will be supervised by the contact person/supervisor allocated to him/her within the respective institution. The work of the expert will also be closely monitored by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) during the duration of his/her assignment. 

7. Duration and Location: The Contract will have a duration of three (3) months and the diaspora can choose to work either on-site or remotely and the deployment can be any time between 1 October – 28 February 2025. If they work on-site, the location will be based on the institution where they will be placed. But this will also depend on the security situation and the availability of facilities.

Recruitment Time: It will start in July 2024, depending on the applicants' availability. Based on its active academic calendar, Wollo University, Kombolcha Campus, is ready to receive diaspora professionals from October 2024 to February 2025. 

 8. Reporting Obligation and Deliverables

• Skill development: The main duty of the eligible Diaspora expert that will be used to evaluate his/her performance will be to ensure regular and consistent sharing of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment.
• Work plan: The immediate supervisor will create a work plan with the assignee in the first week of the assignment to outline clear and time-bound activities to achieve the outputs of the assignment. The supervisor of the hosting institution and IOM will receive this work plan. This work plan can be updated during the assignment to accommodate new developments or changes.
• Monthly Updates: The Diaspora expert will send monthly reports on their progress to the supervisor at the host institution and IOM.
• Departure interview: A departure interview will be done to collect feedback and suggestions for future projects by other specialists.

9. How to Apply

To apply for this Short-Term placement opportunity, interested and eligible applicants can send copies of the following documents to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at EHoARORQN_ETH@iom.int

To be considered, applicants must provide a motivation letter, CV, and the contact information (email and phone number) of two professional references by the closing date of this vacancy. The closing date of this application is 31 January 2025.