consultant Data Capacity Development (Regional Data Hub)

Project Context and Scope  

Within West and Central Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) seeks to enhance economic integration among its member states, which experience significant mobility as millions of citizens and migrants’ cross borders daily. This migration, driven by a youthful and growing population facing limited access to quality education and decent job opportunities, manifests in both regular and irregular forms. Irregular migration arises from various factors, including conflict, climate change, and weak asylum systems. As West Africa grapples with environmental degradation and political instability, the region's rapid urbanization further reshapes migration patterns. Mobility remains crucial for many, offering vital access to employment and remittances, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and providing essential livelihood strategies for families across the region.

Within this context, the Regional Data Hub (RDH) is dedicated to providing data and analysis expertise and guidance for implementing the IOM Strategic Plan. The RDH strengthens the regional evidence base on migration by providing technical support and capacity development to IOM offices, regional bodies, member states and other stakeholders on migration and displacement data; and supporting the uptake of knowledge and evidence to inform policies and programmes. Activities and objectives of the RDH are in line with the priorities of delivering data for action, insight and foresight.

Between 2013-2021, IOM, in collaboration International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and International Labour Organization (ILO) implemented the programme Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM I). Now in its second phase, FMMII is working to maximise the development potential of the free movement of persons and migration in West Africa by supporting the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons Protocol and the ECOWAS Common Approach to Migration.

The Data Capacity Development Officer (Regional Data Hub) will substantively support the second phase of the project 'Support to Free Movement and Migration in West Africa' (FMMII). They will focus on the operationalization and strengthening of the capacities of the ECOWAS Commission to promote harmonised methodologies for migration data collection and management in the region.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) for Operations for the West and Central Africa (WCA) region, the direct supervision of the Regional Thematic Specialist (Data and Research), and in close collaboration with the FMMII team based in Nigeria and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and the Directorate of Research & Statistics in ECOWAS, the Data Capacity Development Officer (Regional Data Hub) will be responsible for operationalising and strengthening the data collection, management capacities and implementation of the Guidelines for the Harmonisation of Migration Data Management in the ECOWAS Region.

Several capacity-building efforts will be implemented based on the results of the regional assessment that will identify key needs and priorities for data collection for migration management. The consultant will also support the ECOWAS Commission in developing and publishing a regional migration profile based on national migration profiles, giving an overview of migration data and trends in the ECOWAS region and developing ECOWAS annual migration data reports. 

Under FMM II, the consultant will support operationalising the Labour Market and Migration Information System (LMMIS) at both regional and MS levels, based on the roadmap developed under FMM, to enable common reporting on the labour market and migration data across the sub-region. To implement the LMMIS, it is important to support (regional and national) annual data collection that can adequately inform the labour market and migration indicators established under FMM. The project will support ECOWAS and its MS in establishing a minimum annual programme to collect statistical data on labour migration in all ECOWAS countries. The project will continue to build the capacities of national institutions to collect data and use harmonised data based on the standardised data indicators adopted in the first phase.
  Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

Regional Data Hub, Regional Office for west and Central Africa Tasks to be performed under this contract  

1. Undertake baseline surveys to assess existing needs and priorities in migration data collection across ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania, focusing on migration management data collection, including immigration, border management, and gender-sensitive data practices.
2. Deliver national capacity-building trainings on migration data management, aligned with the Guidelines for the Harmonisation of Migration Data Management in the ECOWAS Region, and support the operationalization of Training-of-Trainers activities.
3. Support the ECOWAS Commission in the development and publication of a Regional Migration Profile and support the drafting of national migration profiles, ensuring alignment with harmonized indicators and definitions.
4. Support data coordination and information exchange with continental platforms such as the African Union observatory, promoting interoperability and policy coherence.
5. Support ECOWAS member states in updating their national migration profiles when one exists and in developing one in countries where this exercise has never been undertaken
6. Lead policy-relevant studies on free movement and migration, and facilitate knowledge-sharing through regional thematic and ministerial meetings as per needs identified and discuss them in the MIDWA thematic group meetings and ministerial meetings.
7. Provide technical assistance and capacity building to strengthen labour migration data systems and support the ECOWAS Commission in advancing the Directive on the Labour Market and Migration Information System (LMMIS).
8. Organize a regional meeting with ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania to promote the roll-out of the LMMIS, and to support dialogue around national observatory data on labour markets and migration.
9. Develop harmonized reporting indicators for Member States’ annual labour market and migration reports.
10. Compile and analyse national reporting on LMMIS implementation and engage stakeholders at national and regional levels on key findings and recommendations.
11. Represent IOM in national, regional and other fora on migration and displacement statistics.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.   Performance indicators for the evaluation of results  
    1. Conducting baseline survey
    2. Conducting 5 regional trainings on migration
    3. Publication of Regional Migration Profile
    4. Liaise with African Migration Observatory
    5. Update or create 5 national migration profiles
    6. Lead 3 policy-relevant studies on free movement and migration
    7. Provide 5 technical assistance/capacity building on LMMIS
    8. Organise regional meeting on rollout of LMMIS
    9. Develop harmonized indicators for labour reports
    10. Compile and analyse LMMIS implementation and recommendations   Education

        Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Political Science, Migration Studies, Development Studies, Demography or another relevant discipline, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience; or,

        University degree in the above-mentioned fields with four years of relevant professional experience.   Languages

        • Fluent in French and English is required. IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish. Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.   Travel required   Potentially, yes Mainly to ECOWAS member states or to Mauritania, but also to represent IOM in international for a on these topics.   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 three values:
        • Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
    11. Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
13. Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.