LHD Research Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 35 years old, unless specified otherwise below. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of LHD of IOM-Bahrain or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the LHD Research Specialist will be responsible for three key work streams, including the following:

Coordination and Analysis of Migrant Vulnerabilities, Welfare, Health and Protection Policies

Under JLMP, research will be coordinated and carried out in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman to inform the design of migrant welfare systems for the consideration of AU Governments, assess migrant vulnerability and further understand health and protection policies and services available to migrant workers. Migrants from the following countries will be primarily included: Kenya and Ethiopia, South Africa, Mauritius, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

The LHD Research Specialist is responsible for the following:

Desk Review of Project Materials and Research Objectives:

• Review relevant project documents, methodology and inception reports to understand the research objectives;
• Receive orientation briefings from the JLMP Lead Consultant on the Migrant Welfare Fund project and the MHD and MPA focal points in IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa;

Methodology:

• Submit an action plan on how this research will be completed, including methodology, ethical considerations, timelines and data collection requirements;

Primary Data Collection:

• Review and edit a set of existing questionnaires designed for Gulf stakeholders, in consultation with the JLMP Lead Consultant on the Migrant Welfare Fund project and the MHD and MPA focal points in IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa;
• Integrate a set of questions related to health, to be received by the MHD focal point;
• Develop a set of survey questions relevant for all Gulf states to incorporate into the questionnaires to specifically understand the protection needs of migrants, challenges, and services available and accessible to them in close coordination with the MPA focal point in IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa;
• Undergo an enumerator training session by the IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa specifically on data collection relating to health and protection;
• In coordination with the JLMP Lead Consultant on the Migrant Welfare Fund project and the Head of LHD of IOM-Bahrain, identify appropriate stakeholders to be consulted and obtain contact details;
• Draft introductory material for reaching out to approved stakeholders;
• Lead the process of data collection in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE;
• Support data collectors in IOM-Kuwait and IOM-Qatar in ensuring standardization of data collection;

Secondary Data Collection:

• Carry out a desk review of secondary sources of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE relating to relevant national policies, legislation, strategies, labour agreements and existing analysis that supports an understanding of migrant welfare systems, access to protection and health.
• Provide guidance to data collectors in IOM-Kuwait and IOM-Qatar throughout the process;

Consolidation of Data:

• Consolidate data collected from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with data collected from Kuwait and Qatar;
• Share all raw data relating to migrant welfare systems with the JLMP Lead Consultant on the Migrant Welfare Fund project;
• Share all raw data relating to health policies with the MHD focal point and all rawa data relating to protection of migrants with the MPA focal point in IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa;

Development of a Report on Migrant Vulnerabilities, Welfare, Health and Protection in the Gulf States

• Produce an outline for a report that aims to summarize key findings, analysis, institutional challenges and best practices in the Gulf states to include the:

  • Country-specific migrant vulnerability/protection assessments: analysis across the legal, economic and socio-cultural dimensions with a focus on pre-existing vulnerabilities and vulnerabilities linked to COVID-19;
  • Health:
  • Protection: overview of national policies, strategies, services and resources related to welfare and protection of migrant while working in that particular country of destination;
  • Areas of collaboration: identification of areas of collaboration between different stakeholders to support addressing challenges highlighted;
• Coordinate with focal points from IOM-Kuwait and IOM-Qatar on the respective country analysis in order to use in this report;
• Draft the chapters for Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and incorporate analysis of Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, adding relevant information and ensuring quality;
• Submit the first draft of the report for review, fully adhering to IOM House Style guidelines;
• Finalize the report, incorporating feedback from IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa and IOM missions in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
• Prepare any material required for Governments to review or validate relevant sections of the report;
• Coordinate with IOM’s Publication Unit and IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa throughout the process to ensure compliance with institutional policies and guidelines.

Production of a Policy Brief on Absconding Policies in the Gulf

• Carry out an initial desk review of relevant analysis relating to absconding policies in the Gulf:
• In coordination with a nominated focal point from the International Labour Organization (ILO), submit an action plan, including methodology, data collection requirements, outline of a policy brief and timelines;
• Design data collection tools to gather information from different approved stakeholder groups in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman;
• Complete data collection in coordination with IOM-Kuwait and IOM-Qatar as well as ILO;
• Submit the first draft of the policy brief, to include key findings and a multi-dimensional analysis of relevant regulations, procedures and impacts of absconding policies on migrant workers, their families and other stakeholders, along with policy recommendations;
• Finalize the policy brief, incorporating thematic and technical feedback from IOM and ILO,

• Coordinate with IOM’s Publication Unit throughout the process to ensure compliance with institutional guidelines.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

• Master’s degree in a relevant area, e.g. migration studies, social studies or area related to research;

Required experience:

180 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 15 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level with experience in data collection and research relating to migration studies or other relevant programmes
• Experience in the Gulf is a significant asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Excellent written and research skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including migrant workers, Government officials, employers and civil society organizations; familiarity with tools and approaches of data collection and effective communication;

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in IOM’s work, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Arabic(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Development programme management

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Vision, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, therefore only nationals of Bahrain and legal residents in Bahrain with the status of refugee or with the status of being stateless are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: 11-01-2021