MU10.REI.2026-05 -Consultant to Conduct a study on the migratory routes in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and capacity assessment of relevant stakeholders to manage transnational organized c

Consultant

Overview

Conduct a study on migratory routes and capacity assessment on stakeholder management in the WIO region.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Law, International Relations, Migration Studies, Human Rights, International Development, Economics, Public Policy, Management, Business Administration or other relevant fields related to migration governance, border management or international cooperation
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in academia, research institutes, think tanks, governmental, inter-governmental or non-governmental organizations working on migration governance, irregular migration, trafficking in persons, or transnational organized crime
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French and/or Creole is an advantage.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

Strategically positioned at the crossroads of multiple continents, the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) serves as a vital conduit for international trade and tourism. The region’s busy shipping lanes are critical to international trade, yet the high volume of maritime traffic also creates opportunities for criminal activity. The WIO hosts several countries with significant populations and faces diverse security challenges linked to maritime crimes, including smuggling of migrants (SOM), trafficking in persons (TIP), illicit goods trafficking, piracy attacks, and environmental degradation. Countries in the WIO often serves as points of origin, transit, and destination for men, women, and children vulnerable to exploitation, including forced labour, TIP and sex trafficking. Additionally, traffickers use countries as transshipment hubs for smuggling weapons, drugs, and other illegal goods from Asia and the Middle East into Africa and other parts of the world.

In addition to transnational organized crimes (TOCs), the WIO also experiences another security challenge, namely irregular migration driven by political, economic, social and environmental factors. With a view to evading tighter controls typically enforced at land borders, individuals often resort to dangerous sea crossings. These risky journeys are orchestrated by human traffickers and smugglers who capitalize on the despair of migrants.

In continuation of the collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the Regional Maritime Fusion Information Centre (RMIFC) and the Regional Operations Coordination Centre (RCOC), IOM is implementing the “Strengthening Maritime Safety and Security in the Western Indian Ocean” project. The main objective of the project is to contribute to a strengthened collective response of the Governments of Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles to safety and security issues of migrants at sea in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO).

It is against this background that IOM is hiring a consultant to carry out a study on migratory routes, with a focus on irregular migration, in the WIO and a capacity assessment of the challenges that border and migration management stakeholders face in managing transnational organized crimes (TOC), including responding to smuggling of migrants. As a result of the study and analysis, recommendations will be brought forward to consolidate policy and operations to counter migrant smuggling, including reinforcing the mechanism for providing assistance to vulnerable migrants while integrating maritime border communities into a comprehensive counter migrant smuggling approach based on gender-disaggregated data management and enhanced maritime security intelligence systems through the formulation of SOPs and best practices. The selected consultant will be required to operate both remotely and in person for the full duration of the assignment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

IOM is seeking applications from individual consultants and/or consortiums of individual consultants. The successful (lead) consultant should have a minimum of the following qualifications and experience:

Education

Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Law, International Relations, Migration Studies, Human Rights, International Development, Economics, Public Policy, Management, Business Administration or other relevant fields related to migration governance, border management or international cooperation

Experience & Skills

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in academia, research institutes, think tanks, governmental, inter-governmental or non-governmental organizations working on migration governance, irregular migration, trafficking in persons, or transnational organized crime;
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, research, and report writing, including the preparation of analytical or policy reports;
• Strong consultation and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with senior officials from government, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector;
• Experience facilitating consultations, workshops or working groups and actively engaging participants;
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and manage inputs from multiple stakeholders.

Languages

For this Consultancy, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French and/or Creole 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

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.

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.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

• Purpose and scope of the Assignment

The Office of IOM for Mauritius & Seychelles is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct a study on the operational and policy challenges that border management and migration management stakeholders face in responding to irregular migration and countering migrant smuggling in the WIO. The scope of the assignment also includes assessing and providing recommendations to improve assistance to vulnerable migrants and to improve holistic security responses in border communities engaged in smuggling networks.

The specific objectives of the assignment are as follows:

i. To understand operational and policy challenges border and migration management stakeholders face in understanding, detecting, and disrupting the activities of smuggling networks.

ii. To understand current practices in protection and providing assistance to vulnerable migrants and outline recommendations to improve them.

iii. To understand the role of border communities in smuggling networks, the social dynamics fueling this role, and to recommend a holistic security response in the related border communities.

iv. To better comprehend the operations of criminal networks, above all in the area of TOCs and irregular migration.

v. To understand the TIP and SOM dynamics across the route.

vi. To examine the current practices and situation with respect to data management and maritime security intelligence in the WIO (at both national and regional levels).

vii. To examine the current practices and make recommendations to improve cross border and regional cooperation

viii. Based on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and challenges identified in the study, to make pragmatic recommendations to strengthen data management and maritime security intelligence in the WIO (at both national and regional levels) through the formulation of SOPs and best practices.

The assignment will be undertaken under the overall supervision of the IOM Chief of Mission for Mauritius and Seychelles, and the direct supervision of the National Partnership & Programme Officer, in close coordination with the IOM Mauritius & Seychelles Programme Team and IOM Regional Thematic Specialists. The selected consultant will also be required to work in close coordination with the Indian Ocean Commission, the RMIFC, the RCOC and border management agencies of Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The consultant is expected to perform the following tasks / activities:

1. Conduct a desk review of the literature on maritime safety and security, transnational organized crimes, data management and maritime security intelligence, irregular migration, and migrant protection risks in the WIO - including a review of articles, documents, plans and reports produced over the past ten years or so;

2. Undertake a mapping of key stakeholders in the maritime safety and security domain in the three target countries (Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles) and other relevant countries;

3. Lead an inception meeting to present and discuss the methodology, timeframe and other elements for the conduct of the assignment;

4. Prepare an inception report, outlining the methodology to be used, breakdown of work, workplan as well as an overview of stakeholders to be engaged with during the assignment. The inception report will be reviewed and validated by IOM and IOC.

5. Identify and analyze available secondary data sources, including from IOM.

6. Assess the extent to which international law and international best practices are reflected in national regulatory frameworks, structures, data management, maritime security intelligence systems and coordination mechanisms of the target countries, with a particular focus on TOCs, irregular migration and protection of migrants.

7. Assess the gap in the level of knowledge and skills of key national institutions/departments in the Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles to provide basis for targeted capacity building.

8. Using key informant interviews and other appropriate methods and tools (to be proposed), collect data from relevant international, regional and national stakeholders, including representatives of international organizations, regional organizations, Government institutions, academia, private sector, civil society organizations, and any other relevant stakeholders.

9. Submit the draft consultancy report together with key recommendations to IOM, IOC as well as international, regional and national stakeholders, to obtain additional inputs and comments.

10. Consolidate and finalize the consultancy report. The final draft consultancy report will be presented to key stakeholders for technical review and validation during a validation workshop. Comments and inputs will be incorporated in the final version, to be approved by IOM and IOC.

11. Develop and submit draft SOPs and best practices on TOC for Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.

12. Consolidate and finalize the SOPs and best practices.

• Deliverables

Phase

Main Activities

Deliverables

Inception

• Conduct desk review of literature, policies and existing documentation on irregular migration in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region • Map key stakeholders in Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles • Develop methodology, workplan and analytical framework for the consultancy

• Inception Report including methodology, workplan, stakeholder mapping and bibliography • Presentation of key elements of the Inception Report at an Inception Meeting

Data Collection

• Conduct consultations and fieldwork with key stakeholders in the region
• Collect qualitative and policy information on responses to irregular migration

• Analyse findings from consultations and research

• Consultancy Report summarizing findings from consultations

Analysis and Drafting

• Analyse fieldwork findings and existing policy frameworks
• Develop policy and operational analysis of responses to irregular migration in the WIO

• Prepare recommendations for improved regional and national responses

• First Draft Consultancy Report on Policy and Operational Responses to Irregular Migration in the WIO, including key recommendations

Consolidation and Operational Guidance

• Incorporate comments from IOM, IOC and other relevant stakeholders

• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best practices on Trafficking in Persons / Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) for Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles

• Second Draft Consultancy Report incorporating feedback and including draft SOPs and best practices

Finalization and Validation

• Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders at a validation meeting

• Finalize report and SOPs incorporating stakeholder feedback

• Presentation of Final Draft Report at Validation Meeting

• Final Consultancy Report and SOPs on TOC for Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles

• Timeline

This assignment will be implemented within an 8-month period (May 2026 to Dec 2026), but the actual timeline is subject to change based on the date the agreement is signed between IOM and the Consultant.

• Schedule of Payment

Payments will be made in seven instalments upon satisfactory completion of deliverables, as per the agreed work plan.

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Potential interview questions

Added 19 days ago - Updated 6 days ago - Source: iom.int