International Consultant – Development of the Iraq National Migration Profile
Position description
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.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
Iraq is a country of origin, transit, destination, displacement, and return. Its migration landscape is shaped by internal displacement, return and reintegration, labour migration, emigration, immigration, diaspora engagement, student mobility, remittances, and increasing interest in safe, orderly and regular migration pathways. These diverse migration dynamics require reliable and comprehensive migration data to support effective policymaking, institutional coordination, and programme development.
The Government of Iraq has identified strengthening migration data collection, analysis, coordination, and utilization as a national priority. Although migration-related information is collected by a wide range of government institutions, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), United Nations agencies, international organizations, research institutions, and other stakeholders, the data remain fragmented across multiple systems, using different definitions, methodologies, indicators, and reporting practices. This limits the systematic use of migration data for evidence-based policy development and migration governance.
A Migration Profile (MP) is a government-owned analytical and policy tool, developed through a participatory process involving a broad range of national and international stakeholders. It supports policy coherence, evidence-based policymaking, and the mainstreaming of migration into national development planning and sectoral policies. A Migration Profile consists of both a comprehensive report analysing migration trends, impacts, governance arrangements, and migration-related data, and a collaborative process that strengthens national capacity, enhances inter-institutional coordination, and promotes the systematic use of migration evidence in policymaking.
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief OF Mission (DCOM) and the direct supervision pf the Head, Mobility Pathways and Inclusion (MPI) the International Consultant will provide technical support for the development of the Iraq National Migration Profile. The consultant will support the compilation and analysis of available migration-related data and information and the preparation of a comprehensive, government-owned reference document. The Profile will consolidate quantitative and qualitative information on migration trends, governance arrangements, institutional responsibilities, migration-related policies, and migration-development linkages. It will also identify migration data gaps and provide practical recommendations to strengthen migration governance, institutional coordination, and evidence-based policymaking
The consultancy will cover Iraq and will be carried out under IOM’s supervision and guidance. IOM will facilitate and coordinate engagement with relevant Government of Iraq institutions, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) entities, United Nations agencies, international organizations, academia, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders, as required for the assignment. The consultant will provide technical inputs to these processes as requested by IOM and will not independently represent IOM in engagements with external stakeholders.
The Migration Profile will build upon existing national initiatives, including the National Migration Management Strategy, the National Plan to Promote Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (2025–2030), the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the Migration Data Action Plan, and ongoing efforts to strengthen migration data governance in Iraq. The Migration Profile will contribute to strengthening the systematic use and periodic updating of migration evidence to support future migration policy and programme development.
This opportunity is open to international consultants only. The position is based in Baghdad, Iraq, with frequent travel.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Mobility Pathways and Inclusion Unit
Responsibilities
Objectives of the migration profile project
The overall objective of the project is to support the Government of Iraq in developing a comprehensive, evidence-based National Migration Profile that serves as a government-owned analytical and policy tool to strengthen migration governance.
Specifically, the project aims to:
• Consolidate available migration-related data, evidence, and analysis into a single national reference document.
• Improve evidence-based migration policymaking and planning.
• Strengthen institutional coordination and migration data governance.
• Identify migration data gaps and priority areas for improvement.
• Build national capacity to regularly update and utilize the Migration Profile for policy development, planning, monitoring, and reporting.
Objectives of the consultancy
- To support the development of the MP report as the lead researcher and writer; this includes consolidating data from the project’s technical working group, drafting the report, and incorporating feedback from the TWG, IOM and other expert reviewers; Map migration stakeholders, institutional arrangements, and migration data systems.
- Compile, analyses, and validate quantitative and qualitative migration data from official and verified sources.
- Identify migration governance, institutional, and data gaps and formulate practical recommendations.
- To design capacity development tools connected with the project.
- Deliver capacity development activities connected with the project Strengthen national capacity to maintain and periodically update the Migration Profile.
Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment
The expected deliverables of this consultancy are:
Deliverable
Date
Payment
Inception workshop and report.
Within one month of contract commencement
3500
Mapping of institutions, databases, indicators, administrative systems,
End of Month 2
3500
Data collection and compilation, including engagement with relevant government institutions and consolidation of available administrative and statistical data
End of Month 3
4000
Training materials, delivery of agreed training sessions, participant records, evaluations, photographs, and training report
End of Month 4
4000
Preliminary data analysis and preparation of statistical tables, indicators and thematic findings for the Migration Profile
End of Month 5
4250
Full first draft of MP, including narrative analysis, tables, figures, data sources, institutional mapping, findings, and initial recommendations
End of Month 6
4500
Technical consultation and review process, including consolidation of comments and preparation of a revised draft
End of Month 7
5000
Presentation and facilitation of the national validation workshop, incorporation of stakeholder feedback, and validation report
End of Month 8
5000
Final Profile, executive summary, PPT presentation, indicator framework, updating methodology, and final recommendations
End of Month 9
11250
TOTAL
45000
Specific duties of the consultancy
Research
- Mapping existing data on migration in Iraq and identifying gaps.
- In consultation with the IOM office, develop a research plan and methodology.
- Mapping relevant migration stakeholders and data producers in the country.
- Compiling available data and information on migration in Iraq, including data shared by TWG members, as well as data requested from non-governmental migration actors and experts in the country or internationally; and data available publicly. This includes data on migration trends and impacts and information on policy and legislation.
- Assess migration trends, migrant stocks and flows, labor migration, return and reintegration, displacement, diaspora engagement, remittances, migrant protection, migration governance, migration and development linkages, and other relevant migration themes.
- Identify migration data gaps, inconsistencies, coordination challenges, and opportunities for strengthening migration data systems.
- Conducting interviews with TWG members and other non-governmental migration actors and experts in the country, as coordinated and facilitated by IOM.
Report drafting
- Prepare the inception report.
- Analyze data and draft report covering migration trends, impacts and governance in Iraq and Draft the National Migration Profile in line with IOM Migration Profile methodology and publication standards.
- Incorporate feedback from TWG, IOM and other reviewers.
- Conduct detailed content editing and revisions as needed, including those necessary for the review, endorsement and approval processes by the IOM Research Unit and the Publications Unit.
- Draft actionable recommendations on migration data system in Iraq and development of evidence-based migration policy or mainstreaming migration into other policy sectors.
- Finalize the Migration Profile, executive summary, presentation materials, and methodology for future updates.
Capacity development
- Design capacity development tools for [enhancing migration data capabilities and systems; and/or utilizing data towards policy development]
- Carry out capacity development activities.
- Contribute to the development of a toolkit to support updating of the MP in future.
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
- Timeliness: Delivery of deliverables outlined in these terms of reference within the agreed timeframe.
- Quality of content:
- The MP report incorporates relevant data and information from key national and international stakeholders, aligns with IOM’s guidance on MPs, as well as research and data standards and methodologies.
- Capacity development tools are targeted to the needs of stakeholders (based on a needs assessment), and are considered useful by participants in post-training feedback.
- Collaboration and coordination with IOM project team: Participates in regular meetings with the IOM team as scheduled, as well as ad hoc engagement and coordination depending on the needs of the project.
- Stakeholder engagement: Evidence of consultation with TWG members and other project stakeholders.
- Feedback incorporation: Responsiveness to feedback from IOM the TWG and other partners during the review process.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications and Experience
University degree (master’s or equivalent) in Migration Studies, Statistics, Social sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, or a related field.
Experience:
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in migration research or data/statistics, and policy.
• Proven experience carrying out large-scale policy-oriented research / data compilation, ideally in collaboration with government and/or international organizations.
Skills
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Strong knowledge of migration data systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong knowledge of Iraq’s migration dynamics is an asset.
Languages
For this consultancy,
• Excellent proficiency in English, including writing.
• Knowledge of Arabic an asset.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Note: As part of your application, please submit a financial proposal outlining your approach and fees to complete the assignment.
Travel required :
Travel to Iraq required, for stakeholder consultations, meetings, and capacity-building activities, as required by the assignment.
Accommodation and DSA will be covered Separately.
Required Competencies
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- 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.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
Core Competencies – behavioural 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 actions and delegated work.
- Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
Application instructions
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