Research Consultant (Cash-Based Interventions (CBI) and Migrants) At International Organization for Migration

Research on Building more Effective Ways to Support Migrants and Displaced Persons through Cash-Based Interventions

Duty Station of the Consultancy: Home-based

Duration of Consultancy: 4-5 months

Nature of the consultancy: Category B Consultancy

The consultant’s primary responsibility is to conduct research and draft a publication on building more effective ways for supporting migrants and internally displaced persons through cash and voucher assistance. This publication should include key findings and recommendations on how to ensure assistance is more efficient, effective, flexible and adapted to the particular situation and needs of migrants and internal displaced populations, both while on the move or when looking for more sustainable solutions. The relation to the use of innovative technologies as well as social and financial inclusion is also expected to be researched. Migrants and internal displaced persons often have specific vulnerabilities and needs that require flexible payment systems that can be accessed safely along migration or return routes and in situations of displacement or transit.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director General for Operations and the direct supervision of the Senior CBI Officer and in close coordination with other relevant division at IOM HQ. The selected candidate will be home-based but may be requested to undertake duty travel if required by the supervisor.

Project Context and Scope:

Through key informant interviews, focus group discussions in selected countries and research, the consultant will draft a research publication to provide key recommendations to IOM and partners on how to ensure that cash-based interventions (CBI) are flexible, portable, appropriate and respond to the specific needs of migrants and displaced populations in different phases of displacement. The research should also touch upon how CBI can be more effective and adaptive to the particular situation and needs for more sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons.

The consultant will need to (i) Identify focus countries in different contexts, (ii) Interview and coordinate with key informants from IOM and relevant partners, (iii) Liaise and coordinate interviews and/or focus group discussions with IOM Missions in focus countries, and (iv) Draft and consolidate a research publication with key findings and recommendations to IOM.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Prepare and submit a detailed workplan – Based on the details outlined in this TOR and additional information to be provided by the IOM CBI Unit, the consultant will provide a detailed workplan that will be discussed and finalized with the Senior CBI Officer and the CBI Unit.
2. Conduct desk review – The consultant will carry out a well-structured review of literature and available resources on supporting migrants and displaced persons with CBI.
3. Identify focus countries in different contexts – The consultant, in coordination with the CBI Unit, will identify 3-4 key focus countries in different contexts where interviews and/or focus groups discussions will be conducted with migrants and displaced populations in coordination with the IOM Country Offices.
4. Interview and coordinate with key informants in IOM and relevant partners – The consultant will carry out interviews with key IOM staff members and relevant partners in coordination with the Senior CBI Officer.
5. Liaise and coordinate interviews and/or focus group discussions in focus countries – The consultant will liaise and coordinate interviews and/or focus group discussions with migrants and displaced populations in selected focus countries to be organized by the IOM Country Offices in coordination with the CBI Unit in HQ.
6. Consolidate information and draft of the research publication – The consultant will consolidate information obtained from the desk review, key informant interviews and focus group discussions in order to draft the research publication in coordination with the CBI Unit and relevant colleagues.
7. Organize a webinar presenting the key findings – In coordination with the CBI Unit, the consultant will present the key findings and recommendations in an internal webinar.

Category B Consultant: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The Category B Consultant is hired to deliver a publication on a four-instalment payment basis:

1. First deliverable – Detailed workplan is expected within one (1) week after the start of the contract;
2. Second deliverable – Desk review, key informant interviews and interviews and/or focus group discussions are expected to be completed within the first two months after the start of the contract. Report on progress – First instalment payment;
3. Third deliverable – First draft of the research publication is expected within one (1) month prior to the end of the contract – Second instalment payment;
4. Fourth deliverable – Final draft of the research publication is expected within one (1) week prior to the end of the contract;
5. Final deliverable – The webinar is expected in the final week of the contract (unless agreed otherwise with the supervisor) – Third instalment payment

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Political Science or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five (5) years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with seven (7) years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven working experience in the field with international experience in conducting research on CBI;
• Excellent knowledge of CBI across humanitarian, development and peace operations, including migration contexts;
• Working experience in drafting similar research publications;
• Excellent research skills including the capacity to collect and analyze large quantities of information and identify critical trends and findings;
• Excellent writing skills that are succinct and accessible;
• The ability to communicate technical subject matter (in oral and written forms) to people with varying technical knowledge/skills and from different educational and cultural backgrounds; and
• Working experience with international organizations and knowledge of the United Nations.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge in French and/or Spanish is an advantage.

Competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioral indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.