Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
Project Context and Scope
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) implements a wide range of protection programming aimed at addressing the needs of migrants and host communities in the context of irregular migration and displacement. During the last years, IOM has increasingly adopted Community-Based Protection (CBP) approaches, which address Protection issues and outcomes with a focus on inclusiveness, active participation, engagement of affected communities, and local ownership.
- The Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) is a strategic cooperation between IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Currently in its second phase, COMPASS is a multi‑year, multi‑region programme that contributes to strengthened migration governance systems and multistakeholder cooperation. It also supports services that facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration while protecting and upholding the rights of migrants. COMPASS operates across four regions—Asia and the Pacific, East, Horn, and Southern Africa, Middle East and North Africa, and West and Central Africa—characterized by mixed migration patterns and movements driven by a multitude of interconnected drivers. It contributes to strengthening migration governance and IOM’s operational capacities in 14 countries spanning these regions: Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tunisia.
The Regional Development and Protection Programme for North Africa (RDPP-NA) -currently in its 7th phase- is a specialized protection programme covering North Africa, as well as Mauritania and Niger, and with a specific focus on Counter-trafficking, Child Protection and Community-Based Protection. Through RDPP, IOM implements protection-focused, route-based interventions along the three main migration routes: the Central Mediterranean, the Western Mediterranean and the Western African Atlantic Routes.
Building on the finalization of the comprehensive IOM institutional guidance on CBP and the growing implementation of CBP programming within IOM operations, there remains a need to i) operationalize the guidance, ii) strengthen CBP programming effectiveness and consistency, and iii) inform further action. Through documentation and analysis of lessons learned, promising practices, and operational challenges, this consultancy, co-funded under RDPP and COMPASS, will fill this gap by developing a Learning Note on CBP that will be published as an Annex to IOM institutional CBP Guidance. Particular attention will be given to identifying and documenting best practices and illustrative case studies drawn from a global context, with a specific focus on countries covered under RDPP1and COMPASS2. The IOM CBP Learning Note is intended to serve as a practical resource for IOM staff, partners, governmental actors and donors, supporting the quality and consistency of CBP approaches, and informing future interventions.
The CBP Learning Note will focus on a variety of settings where migrants face a range of protection risks, including limited access to basic services, exposure to exploitation and abuse, and social tensions linked to resource constraints and marginalization. In such contexts, community-based approaches are essential to fostering trust, strengthening local coping mechanisms, and ensuring that protection interventions are contextually appropriate and sustainable. Documenting and taking stock of best practice and challenges in CBP implementation in these contexts will be key to guide future programming and strengthen accountability to communities.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
- The Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS)
- Regional Development and Protection Programme for North Africa (RDPP-NA)
Tasks to be performed under this contract
Education
University Degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Information Management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience working on migration and human rights
Experience
- Experience in protection programming in North Africa, especially in the field of migration, including expertise in general protection, GBV, Child Protection, Community-Based Protection, MHPSSDemonstrated experience in learning-oriented assignments, including the documentation, analysis and systematization of lessons learned and practices.Previous experience in developing manual, guidance and training material
- Capacity to conduct consultations and interviews with relevant stakeholdersExperience providing result-oriented conclusions and recommendations to national and international stakeholders. Professional Experience — Desirable Experience conducting similar consultancies for the International Organization for Migration or other UN agencies.
Languages
For this consultancy, the consultant(s) is expected to be fluent in English and French, capacity to draft and interact in Arabic is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Required Competencies
Notes
IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.