Home-based/Egypt: Lead Regional Child Protection Assessment RDPP Consultant

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and 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 and Scope:

Within the context of the project Regional Development and Protection Programme for North Africa Phase VI: Strengthening Protection in North Africa Through Regional Coordination and Knowledge funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior and the European Union Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) within the context of the RDPP sixth funding cycle, IOM is committed to enhancing the evidence base and knowledge to inform policy makers, practitioners and key child protection actors on the vulnerability of children on the move in North Africa (NA) and along key corridors.

Mixed migration is a key feature in NA often leading migrants to be in vulnerable situations including violence, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. The Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) is the main migratory route used by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from West Africa and NA to reach Europe. Though in past years most migrants have departed from Libya, which is a destination for migrants as well as a transit country, there is also a growing number of departures from Tunisia, Egypt, and Algeria. Tunisia, in particular, has seen an increase in departures, with Tunisian nationals comprising more than 60% of Central Mediterranean crossings in 2020 according to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix.

Arrivals in Italy and the rest of the EU via the Central Mediterranean route have increased by 85 percent in 2023 (quarter 3 compared to the same period in 2022)1, with an estimated 2,186 people reported dead or missing2. In Italy, there has been a significant increase in arrivals by sea and by land, with the main countries of origin reported as being Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Pakistan Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic (as of Sep 2023), highlighting the diverse range of people from different nationalities making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. Notably, arrivals from Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire have seen substantial increases in 2023, with a 820 percent and 554 percent rise, respectively, in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.3 These trends underline the need for comprehensive responses to address the complex challenges of migration and displacement across the regions.

There are serious protection risks reported by migrants and persons in need of international protection along the routes, including in locations perceived as risks points along the Central Mediterranean route,4 not just in the context of sea crossings to Europe but throughout the migration journey. Children are amongst the most vulnerable migrants along the Mediterranean routes. The nationalities of children moving along the Mediterranean Sea routes to Europe mirror that of adults moving along this route. The demographic consists of children from West and Central Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. The multiple, irregular cross border movements put migrant children at acute risk of trafficking and other forms of abuse. Through its work on direct assistance and child protection, IOM observes the risks child migrants experience when outside their country of origin or place of habitual residence especially along the Mediterranean Routes.

The Regional Office MENA is commissioning the following assessment to update the evidence available on vulnerability and experience of children and youth (14-24 years old) on the move in North Africa and along key corridors with the goal to support evidence based regional dialogue, policy and response to child protection challenges including child trafficking where appropriate.
Following the IOM-UNICEF joint report Harrowing Journey (2017), IOM will collaborate with child protection experts and stakeholders to produce an updated assessment of the situation of children on the move along Mediterranean routes. The report will aim at producing a qualitative analysis of the situation of children on the move post-COVID-19 pandemic as well as their intentions and migration drivers. This will provide new/updated evidence and advocacy tools to support policy and response planning in North Africa and along the route.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is Contributing:

RO MENA Regional Coordination Unit, Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP) Strengthening protection in North Africa through Regional coordination and knowledge.

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

The RO MENA office is looking for a consultant to conduct the said assessment through desk review, qualitative and quantitative data collection involving a) comprehensive desk review, b) review of IOM and partner assistance quantitative data and c) key informant interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, including child protection actors, national governments, regional entities, civil society, and children as relevant.

The Consultant will be responsible for refining the scope and outline of the report, leading the analysis of data and producing a full publishable assessment report on the vulnerability and experience of children and youth (15-24 years old) on the move in North Africa and along key corridors.

The report will include:

• A desk review summarizing existing quantitative and qualitative data, policy frameworks and interventions about children on the move in North Africa and along key corridors.
• Summary of key findings from Focus group discussions, Key Informant Interviews and consultations collected from key stakeholders and partners.
• A robust qualitative and quantitative analysis of data collected, and consultations conducted.
• A recommendation section identifying priority policy and programming recommendations with the target audience being government bodies, regional entities, donors, UN agencies and civil society in the region.
• An executive summary document with the key findings and recommendations targeted towards policy makers.

Deliverables: 

1. **First deliverable –**inception report including methodology of assessment, revision of the desk review, data collection tools and analysis framework to be developed for the data collection Deliverable by email by 15 March 2024 (15% of total payment) to be paid within 15 days of receipt and approval of deliverable.
2. Second deliverable –Conduct key informant interviews, focus group discussions, finalize quantitative and qualitative data collection exercise Deliverable by email by 15 May 2024 (15% of total payment) to be paid within 15 days of receipt and approval of deliverable.
3. Third Deliverable –submit the first draft of the research based on desk review, data analysis, key findings by email by 15 July 2024 (30% of total payment) to be paid within 15 days of receipt and approval of deliverable.
4. Final deliverable –submit final assessment report accompanied by an executive summary and findings dissemination ppt–- Deliverable by email by 30 September 2024 (40% of total payment) to be paid within 15 days of receipt and approval of deliverable.

Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results: 

• Number of consultations, KIIs and FGDs with key child protection actors
• Technical relevance and scope of the data analysis
• Relevance of key findings and recommendations of the assessment
• Quality of report drafting, and number of reviews required
• Demonstrated coordination capacity
• Successful event design, planning, and delivery.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Mandatory:

• University Degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Information Management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience working on migration and human rights.
• Quantitative and Qualitative research experience in the field of protection, including field experience related to displacement and migration research.
• Extensive experience in information management, survey and questionnaire design, reporting, coordination, and analysis of data from large and complex information systems
• Strong data collection tools development capacity and capacity in conducting Focus Group Discussions
• Experience providing result-oriented conclusions and recommendations to national and international stakeholders.
• Fluency in English (oral and written).

Desired:

• Experience in child protection, including specific regional context and principles
• Proven experience in North Africa, Middle East, and/or Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience conducting similar assessments for the International Organization for Migration or other UN agencies.

Languages:

• The consultant(s) is expected to be fluent in English,
• Capacity to draft and interact in French and Arabic is an added value.

Travel Required: 

• The consultant is expected to undertake field visits to MENA missions within the duration of this consultancy to conduct field visits, FGDs, KIIs with child protection actors, CSOs, government services, regional entities, and IOM staff. IOM will bear the costs of all travel on duty in line with IN/6 Travel Policy.

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.

How to Apply: 

Interested candidates are expected to submit their applications via Oracle on or before 09 January 2024.

Kindly note that for efficiency reasons, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Posting period: From 26 December 2023 till 09 January 2024