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IOM Leadership Team
ANTÓNIO VITORINO
Director General
The Director General is elected by the Council for a five-year term. IOM Director General exercises constitutional authority to manage the Organization and carry out activities within its mandate by formulating coherent policies and ensuring that programme development is consistent with strategic priorities. The Director General appoints two Deputy Directors General and a Chief of Staff for the duration of their term: the Deputy Director General for Operations, the Deputy Director General for Management and Reform, and the Director General’s Executive Office managed by the Chief of Staff.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Director General
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The Director General is elected by the Council for a five-year term. IOM Director General exercises constitutional authority to manage the Organization and carry out activities within its mandate by formulating coherent policies and ensuring that programme development is consistent with strategic priorities.
Office of the Inspector General
The Office of the Inspector General contributes to the oversight and internal control of the Organization through its functions of internal audit and investigation. The Office formulates proposals for remedial action in response to problems encountered. It ensures that IOM’s objectives are pursued in compliance with the Organization’s rules, regulations and ethical standards; detects fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement; and contributes to the management and minimization of risk. Learn more
Office of the Ombudsperson
The Office of the Ombudsperson provides impartial dispute-resolution assistance to address the employment-related problems of staff members in accordance with the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics of the International Ombudsman Association. Learn more
United Nations Network on Migration Secretariat
The United Nations Network on Migration Secretariat provides support to enhance the ability of the United Nations system to deliver effective system-wide support to States and ensure greater coherence in the migration domain, specifically with regard to the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, under overall IOM coordination. The Secretariat, through its Fund Management Unit, also supports management of a start-up fund to help strengthen capacities, foster multi-partner cooperation and promote overall coherence in the system-wide support to Member States in managing migration. Learn more
- Deputy Director General for Operations
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The Deputy Director General for Operations directly supervises the IOM Development Fund Unit, the Cash-based Initiatives Unit, as well as the following organizational structures: the Department of Operations and Emergencies; the Department of Peace and Development Coordination; the Department of Programme Support and Migration Management; the Global Data Institute; and the Department of Policy and Research.
IOM Development Fund Unit
The IOM Development Fund Unit provides support to developing Member States, Member States with economies in transition and, in coordination with the regional offices, to the relevant country offices in the development and implementation of joint government–IOM capacity-building projects to address specific areas of migration management. Learn more
Cash-based Initiatives Unit
The Cash-based Initiatives Unit leads IOM’s effort to increase, coordinate and standardize the Organization’s use of cash-based initiatives. This includes designing relevant tools and reviewing internal processes in coordination with all stakeholders, while also providing technical support and capacity-building to IOM country and regional offices to make sure they are well-equipped to efficiently implement cash-based initiatives. Learn more
- Deputy Director General for Management and Reform
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The Deputy Director General for Management and Reform directly supervises the Gender and Diversity Unit; the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment Unit; the Office of Staff Security; the Office of Ethics and Conduct; the Environmental Sustainability Unit; the Headquarters Building Unit; and the Occupational Health Unit. The Deputy Director General for Management and Reform also oversees the following organizational structures: the Department of Financial and Administrative Management; the Department of Human Resources Management; the Department of Information and Communications Technology; the Department of Legal Affairs; and the Manila and Panama Administrative Centres.
Gender and Diversity Unit
The Gender and Diversity Unit provides coordination and support to ensure an inclusive institutional environment where every IOM employee’s dignity and worth are respected at all times, including preventing any structural discrimination and incorporating diversity into the Organization’s decision-making processes. This is ensured by working within the organizational structure to create a workplace culture that is inclusive at all levels, and ensuring the same principles are reflected in IOM programming.
Prevention of and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment Unit
The Prevention of and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment Unit is responsible for strengthening and coordinating IOM’s global PSEA/SH response, ensuring the delivery of PSEAH commitments across the Organization, at Headquarters, within regional and country offices, throughout IOM field operations and with partners.
Office of Staff Security
The Office of Staff Security is responsible for safety and security management throughout the Organization. The Unit identifies the Organization’s institutional responsibilities in relation to all aspects of occupational safety and security and advises the IOM leadership accordingly. It also oversees its operations centres in the Manila and Panama Administrative Centres and works with a network of field-based staff security focal points. Learn more
Office of Ethics and Conduct
The Office of Ethics and Conduct handles administrative procedures and policies in line with the IOM Standards of Conduct and provides counsel to the Administration and staff members about ethics and standards of conduct. The Office promotes ethical awareness and behaviour at IOM through training, communication, policy development and liaison. It is responsible for reviewing allegations of retaliation and making recommendations on protection measures, and also provides advice on conflicts of interest, including gifts, close relatives and involvement in outside activities. Learn more
Environmental Sustainability Unit
The Environmental Sustainability Unit manages IOM’s Environmental Sustainability Programme, which focuses on three key environmental management areas: energy, water, and waste management. The goal of the Environmental Sustainability Programme is to build on already available good practices and policies and strengthen internal governance related to environmental sustainability.
Headquarters Building Unit
The Headquarters Building Unit is responsible for the overall planning, design and execution of the IOM Headquarters building project and is accountable for the oversight and management of resources, the efficient implementation of the project, and the provision of technical knowledge and advice on areas relating to quality, costs and deadlines, from the conceptualization stage through to the completion of the project. The Unit works in close consultation and coordination with the Headquarters Building Steering Committee and the authorities of the host State.
Occupational Health Unit
The Occupational Health Unit is responsible for the implementation of a comprehensive system to ensure that the Organization has effective tools to minimize preventable staff harm, and to optimize the occupational safety and health conditions and working environments for the IOM workforce, for example using the Occupational Health and Safety Framework. The Unit deals with the prevention of work-related injuries and diseases and with the protection and promotion of the health of workers both at work and at home. The Unit designs, coordinates and implements occupational health and well-being programmes. It also sets standards and provides medical policy guidance, quality assurance and medical services to staff worldwide, including preventive actions such as medical clearances and periodic medical examinations. Moreover, the Unit responds to critical events affecting the health and well-being of staff members and their dependents, such as epidemics and environmental disasters; provides advice to IOM management on the development, implementation and maintenance of policies to reduce stress at the workplace; and works closely with other stakeholders to manage complex medical cases, long-term sick leave cases, disability cases and occupational injury and illness cases.
- Director General's Executive Office
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IOM Director General´s Executive Office manages the Organization and has overall responsibility for the formulation of policies and oversight of activities to ensure coherence with strategic priorities. The Office comprises those units and functions that report directly to the Director General and provide advisory services and/or direct support to the whole Organization.
The Executive Office, led by the Chief of Staff, assists the Director General and Deputy Directors General in the fulfilment of the Organization’s mandate and provides strategic planning and coordination for the Director General’s organization and management objectives; facilitates the development and strengthening of management capacity and ensures that both Headquarters and field structures respond adequately to organizational challenges; coordinates the Organization’s complex activities; ensures accountability, follow-up and implementation of organizational policies and procedures; and facilitates coordination between Headquarters and the field. The Office also serves as a focal point for all matters that require direct intervention, such as staffing, financial issues and reporting matters, and includes the Senior Regional Advisors.
Media and Communications Unit
The Media and Communications Unit oversees all aspects of public communication in the Organization. It is responsible for the Organization’s communications and media to improve public understanding of migration, promote awareness of IOM’s policies and programmes, and position IOM at the centre of the broader ongoing debate surrounding migration in all its aspects. Learn more
Governing Bodies Secretariat
The Governing Bodies Secretariat is the institutional focal point for relations with Member and observer States on governing body matters. As such, it is responsible for preparing and coordinating the sessions of the Council, the Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance and its Working Groups and informal consultations. It is the focal point for information concerning meetings, for the preparation and editing of governing body documents in English and for the translation of IOM’s official documents and publications in the three official languages, and others as requested. The Secretariat is also responsible for conceptualizing and organizing the IDM, the Organization’s global forum for migration policy dialogue. Learn more
Special Envoys of the Director General
The Special Envoys of the Director General are appointed on a temporary basis by the Director General to represent the Organization at the senior level on areas of critical importance to the Organization, related to either a specific geographic area or topic.
Regional Offices and Special Liaison Offices