The best field of study in my view; enjoy it and focus on what you really would like to do after. Opportunities do not come to you, you must first find them then work towards keeping them.
Janvier M. Nzigo
Bachelor in Development studies (UiA), Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation (UiT)
Name: Janvier M. Nzigo
Study programme: Bachelor in Development studies (UiA), Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation (UiT)
Graduated from UiA: 2010
Position: AVRR Project Officer
Employer: International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia
IOM is the leading intergovernmental organisation in the field of migration working to ensure an 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, including refugees and internally displaced people; in close cooperation with member states and through its (more than) 450 offices worldwide.
Through advertisement. I started as a consultant (call basis) in 2013 at the IOM mission in Norway for the Norwegian Culture Orientation (NORCO) programme, then was recruited as Outreach officer for the Voluntary Assisted Return Programme - a position I held until my affectation to Tunisia in early March 2018.
I manage and supervise the implementation of the PROTECT project while supervising managing Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration activities of the IOM mission in Tunisia.
Migrants and beneficiaries of IOM assistances. I used to be a migrant and refugee myself and it is joyful to be at the service of vulnerable people on the move. Proximity to beneficiaries and interaction and coordination with IOM colleagues in the Migrant Protection and Assistance unit as well as external partners.
I did fieldwork on pockets of poverty in Mauritius and wrote a master thesis on return migration and integration. Poverty as one of the many drivers of migration; premises for integration, repatriation and human rights. All gained through my 6 years education.
Language proficiency in Swahili, Norwegian, French and English. I am also a result and service-oriented person. Social skills and ability to relate/connect to people from different backgrounds.
I needed a Master degree first which I took in Tromsø. After my BSc in development studies which was strengthened with an internship in Mauritius; I did a few Development project work in my home country, the DRC. As a student, I was active in student organisations such as the SAIH and UN Student Association, which fostered my knowledge on international humanitarian affairs.