Consultant (Migration Policy)

Position Title: Consultant (Migration Policy)

Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Cotabato)

Classification: Consultant

Type of Appointment: Consultancy, six months

Estimated Start Date: August 2024

Closing Date: 01 August 2024

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.

Context:

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance, design and facilitate public and stakeholders’ consultations and relevant workshops and develop a position paper based on participatory and evidence-based approach to inform the discussions on key legislative agenda particularly the Bill on the Establishment of the Ministry of Migrant Workers in BARMM (BTA Bill 188), as part of the initiatives promoted in the project “NEXUS Approach to Transformative Climate Resilience, Peace and Human Mobility in BARMM.”

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: Migration, Environment and Climate Change Sub-Unit under the Peace, and Transition Recovery Unit.

Project Context and Scope:

The Philippines is the fourth top remittance recipient country in the world.1 The labor migration industry is one of the prime contributors to the Philippine economy, with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates as the top destinations of Filipino Migrant workers (28.8%). Of the 1.8 million overseas Filipino workers, 60% are women, majority of which work under the elementary occupations category.2

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is also a significant source of migrant labour for the Philippines. The region is known for its irregular and high-risk migration patterns over the years and has been vulnerable to trafficking, illegal recruitment, and human smuggling. IOM’s 2023 participatory action research has also indicated the interconnectedness between climate change, conflict, and human mobility, including how compounded risks of climate and security can compel the already vulnerable communities to irregular and high-risk migration especially in BARMM context.

The BTA Bill 188, known as the Bill on the Establishment of the Ministry of Migrant Workers in BARMM, aims to establish a dedicated office that will coordinate, implement, and oversee the regulation and administration of the full protection and promotion of the Bangsamoro overseas workers’ welfare and rights. The bill also ensures to provide linkage to the newly established Department of Migrant Workers to ensure that the Bangsamoro migrants’ concerns from the moment they decide to migrate for work abroad, to their return and reintegration, are well-supported by the government.

IOM aims to support the efforts of the policymakers in promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and in driving evidence-based approach to inform the discussions on BTA Bill 188 and sustainably plan on its implementation. It seeks to provide a position paper drawn from a public consultation workshop and a series of interviews and focused group discussions aimed at consolidating input from relevant stakeholders from the national, regional, and local government to CSOs, academe, and community members. IOM is also determined to support the integration of climate change and conflict considerations in the position paper drawing from its participatory action research findings in 2023. This will ensure that the proposed bill can address the larger implications of the region's labour migration profile and its interconnectedness to other issues.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Established expertise on the Philippine legal and policy framework on labour migration, and familiarity with international law and relevant frameworks on migration governance and protection of migrant workers’ rights.
• Strong background in migration policy development and planning with government stakeholders at national and/or sub-national (regional or local) levels.
• Strong understanding of the political and socio-economic context and the policy framework in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including governance and policy challenges, needs and opportunities at regional, provincial, and/or local government level.
• Excellent writing and organizational skills; proven capacities in community organizing, capacity-building, and stakeholder coordination.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, from grassroots level to national policymakers.
• Prior advocacy or research experience on labor migration, human trafficking, migration law and other relevant discipline is desirable.
• Relevant educational background in Law, Migration Studies, International Relations, Labour Relations, Political Science, Public Policy or Community Development; or academic background in any field combined with relevant specialized experience; with a preference for legal or paralegal background with a strong understanding of migration law and policy advocacy is preferred.
• Experience/familiarity with local policies and practices in BARMM and of intergovernmental organizations or international NGOs is preferred.

Languages

• For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required. Knowledge of another BARMM local language is desirable.

Note

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible for following IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

IOM is an intergovernmental organization, and as such is exempted of all taxes in the Philippines. Therefore, it is not obligated to retain any taxes that should be owed to the Government of the Philippines as part of the execution of this contract. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to comply with any fiscal obligations that might be applicable.

Copyright

The ownership of intellectual products developed during this project will be shared with the government entities partaking in its creation, as well as IOM’s regional office. Government agencies and the cooperating agency must be warranted visibility and recognition, through the use of their logos in every document and any other material that might be a result of these intellectual production. Applications received later or that do not specify the name of the call will not be considered.

Required Competencies

Values

• respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 1

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

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

The appointment 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, and security clearances.