Project Context and Scope
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is the leading intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants in the frameworks of the IOM Strategic Plan 2024-2028โs three strategic objectives: Saving lives and protecting people on the move; Driving solutions to displacement; and Facilitating pathways for regular migration.
Since 1994, the IOM Country Office in Albania has supported the government and partners in managing migration challenges such as irregular migration, human trafficking, and displacement. The office promotes safe and orderly migration, and its work aligns with Albaniaโs migration governance frameworks and EU integration efforts. Since 2016, IOM Albania has prioritized strengthening diaspora relations as a key element of the countryโs socio-economic development strategy. Within its programming, IOM Albania started the implementation of the project โStrengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albaniaโ in August 2024 funded by the UK Government. The aim of this project is to contribute to enabling local governments to effectively manage migration and diaspora matters. This includes a focus on promoting employment for internal migrants, reintegrating returned migrants, and encouraging diaspora investments, while strengthening inter-institutional coordination and migration stakeholders' engagement, all the while reshaping the narrative on migration.
The project will support central and local institutions in Albania to develop and strengthen capacities, whilst piloting the legal, administrative, and operational procedures for internal migration. In addition, it will build capacity among institutions on return and reintegration, and diaspora engagement aiming to increase employment opportunities for the Albanian workforce. This will be done in tandem with supporting the inter-institutional cooperation of local and central government agencies, both vertical and horizontal coordination. In addition, the project aims to change the narrative on migration targeting the public at large with a special focus on youth and their self-improvement/empowerment.ย
This consultancy will contribute to strengtheningย Interinstitutional coordination among Migration and Diaspora Structures at local level, standardization of MSD functioning, improved policy coherence and community engagement coordination in close cooperation with Minister of State for Local Government and National Association of Municipalities of Albania.
IOM, with support from the local consultant, will support NAMA and other partners to coordinate and systematize local government efforts on migration and diaspora, including their representation in the Consultative Council between local and central government, and the establishment of a Technical Secretariat on Migration.
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Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing to the successful implementation of the project:ย โStrengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albaniaโ AL10P0530 / CD.0113ย Tasks to be performed under this contract
Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office and direct supervision of the IOM Project Coordinator and in close coordination with the Project Implementation Unit, the local consultant will be responsible for supporting the NAMA to strengthen, standardize, and coordinate the functioning of Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS) across municipalities, and to establish and coordinate the Technical Secretariat on Migration.ย
The engagement will serve the following purposes under the specific themes as below:
Institutional Strengthening and Coordination Support the NAMA in standardizing the functioning of Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS) at the local level. Facilitate coordination between municipalities, the Minister in charge for Local Governance, and central government institutions on migration and diaspora matters. Ensure effective representation of migration and diaspora issues in the Consultative Council between local and central government. Support the organization of yearly mayorsโ meeting where migration and diaspora issues are discussed Support the coordination with the Local Government Academy for advancement of capacity building initiatives of local government on migration and diaspora aspects.ย Capacity Building Support the organization of regional workshops and training sessions for municipal staff engaged in MDS. Provide on-the-job technical support to selected municipalities to strengthen the quality and consistency of MDS services. Support peer-to-peer learning among municipalities to exchange good practices and experiences. Support and coordinate the work of the experts seconded by IOM at pilot municipalities.ย Technical Secretariat on Migration Support NAMA in establishing and coordinating the Technical Secretariat on Migration within the NAMA, serving as a hub for information-sharing, policy coordination, and technical support. Support with the organization and coordination of the TSM meetings, developing the agenda, maintaining meeting records, and knowledge products to ensure institutional memory and sustainability of the secretariat. Provide regular reports and policy briefs highlighting key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations related to local-level migration management. Workshops, Consultations, and Advocacy Facilitate dialogue platforms bringing together municipalities, diaspora representatives, central government institutions, and civil society to discuss migration-related priorities. Support the organization of national and regional events to strengthen the visibility of local governmentsโ role in migration and diaspora management. Contribute to policy advocacy by preparing inputs and recommendations for inclusion in local and national policy documents.More specifically:
The local consultant will be based at theย National Association of Municipalities of Albania, will be responsible to:
Act as liaison between IOM and NAMA to ensure smooth coordination and effective delivery of project activities.ย Act as liaison between IOM, NAMA and the experts seconded by IOM at the pilot municipalities.ย Conduct periodical consultation sessions with NAMA leadership to discuss emerging needs, refine strategies, identify legal changes needed, and provide targeted support on institutional frameworks for strengthening of the functioning of the Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS). Produce periodical reports detailing insights, strategies, and actionable recommendations for NAMA and municipalities focusing on inter-institutional strengthening and standardization of functioning of the Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS) at the local level. Facilitate regular coordination meetings between NAMA, municipalities, and other relevant actors to address migration and diaspora issues. Organize capacity-building workshops and on-the-job coaching for NAMA staff and municipal MDS on migration and diaspora issues.ย Support the planning and organization of the Technical Secretariat on Migration and Annual Mayorโs meetings in close cooperation with NAMA and IOM.ย Support the planning and coordination with the Local Government Academy for advancement of capacity building initiatives of local government on migration and diaspora aspects. Perform other related tasks as required for the advancement of migration and diaspora issues at local government.ยTo ensure consistent progress and accountability, the following monitoring and reporting mechanisms will be applied:
Timesheet Tracking The consultant shall maintain a dailyย sign-in and sign-out timesheet, which must beย signed by the consultantย andย verified by the designated focal point at NAMA. Timesheets shall be submittedย monthlyย as part of the consultantโs documentation package. Coordination Meeting Documentation The consultant shall document and submitย minutes of coordination meetingsย facilitated between NAMA, municipalities, and other stakeholders. Minutes shall be submittedย monthlyย as part of the consultantโs documentation package Monthly Progress Reports The consultant shall submit aย monthly narrative reportย detailing: Activities undertaken; Achievements and challenges; Coordination efforts with NAMA and municipalities and Recommendations and next steps Each report must beย signed by the consultantย andย endorsed by the NAMA supervisor and submittedย by the last working day of the reporting month. ย Performance Review Aย mid-term and final performance reviewย will be conducted jointly by IOM and NAMA to assess progress against objectives and deliverables, and to identify areas for improvement.The engagement of the local consultant will take place for up to 2 (two) working days per week / up to 8 (eight) working days in total per reporting month, based at theย National Association of Municipalities of Albania (NAMA).ย ย Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Timeliness,ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Responsibility,
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Initiative,ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Communication,ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Satisfactory completion of tasks indicated in this ToR;ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Quality of products delivered.
Education Completed university degree from an accredited academic institution in social science, management, public administration, law studies, migration studies, development studies and other related areas.ย Experience At least 3 years of relevant professional experience related to local governance, migration governance, public and private sector engagement. Proven experience conducting similar assignmentsย working with government institutions, especially in inter-agency coordination or policy development.ย Experience in management, marketing, stakeholder engagement, event coordination and organization, institutional processes analysis, report writing, presentations.ย Familiarity with migration dynamics and municipal-level service delivery in Albania is highly desirable. Skills Strong interpersonal, intercultural skills and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively between institutions and with a wide range of stakeholders (public authorities, local authorities, migrants, private sector, etc.)ย Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, especially in identifying institutional needs and proposing actionable solutions. Proficiency in developing SOPs, coordination frameworks, and capacity-building materials. Ability to facilitate workshops, meetings, and coaching sessions with diverse stakeholders. Strong reporting and documentation skills, including the ability to produce clear and concise recommendations Ability to maintain accuracy & confidentiality in performing responsibilities. Languages Fluency in Albanian and English is required (spoken and written). ย Travel requiredYES, only in case requested by IOM
Required Competencies ย IOMโs competency framework can be found atย this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. ย Valuesย - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three 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 Competenciesย โ 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 Organizationโs 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 Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications following the guidelines on IOM Albania website: https://albania.iom.int/job-vacancies. 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, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. 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. 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 online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. No late applications will be accepted.ย Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website:ย IOM Careers and Job Vacancies