Consultant to Conduct a Study on Regional Policies and Response at International Organization for Migration - IOM

Introduction to the FMM West Africa Project

• The FMM West Africa Project,1 funded jointly by the EU and ECOWAS, supports the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania in maximizing the development potential of free movement of persons and migration in West Africa.
• To achieve this goal, the project has three broad objectives: first, to strengthen the capacity of the ECOWAS Commission to act as a platform for migration policy development and intraregional dialogue on free movement and migration issues; second, to build the capacities of ECOWAS.
• Member States and Mauritania in the areas of migration data management, migration policy development, border management, labour migration and counter trafficking; and, finally, to promote the active engagement of non-state actors and local authorities in information and protection activities for the benefit of migrant and cross-border populations in West Africa.

Objectives of the Consultancy

• The proposed consultancy seeks to conduct a study answering the following question: 'Why' are free movement policies/legislation/practices unable to decrease agro-pastoral conflict  in Mali, Nigeria and Niger, and to develop recommendations for ECOWAS.
• To inform government, stakeholder and partner policy and response, thus contributing to the free movement of persons within the ECOWAS region and prevent future conflicts between herders and farmers.

Functions of the Consultant
Under the overall supervision of IOM Regional Office Dakar and in close coordination with FMM West Africa, IOM Niger, IOM Nigeria and IOM Mali, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of existing policy, legislation and practices and gaps pertaining to transhumance in Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Topics that should be explored include but are not limited to:

• Transhumance routes
• Nationality (take ID documents, or lack thereof, into consideration)
• Climate change
• Land tenure laws
• Domestication of ECOWAS Decision A/DEC.5/10/98 and Rule C/REG.3/01/03
• Availability and accessibility of information
• Decentralization tendencies
• African union policy
• Assess which actors on the ground are or could be more closely involved in developing and enforcing such policy, legislation and practices.
• Coordinate technical consultation with national stakeholders in the different countries through field missions to finalize a coherent document reflecting the current situation.
• Formulate recommendations based on the desk research on how to improve existing policies, legislations and practices and which are ineffective or, alternatively, missing to be presented to ECOWAS
• Present the research findings and recommendations to relevant national and regional stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables:

• A detailed work plan (one week after the commencement of the consultancy) of the activities to be undertaken stating specific timelines and outputs in line with the key functions;
• A detailed outline of the study to be produced to be submitted to IOM within 15 days from the commencement of the consultancy
• A desk review report on both existing and missing policy, legislation and practice in terms of transhumance in Niger, Nigeria and Mali;
• Brief field mission report
• Study
• A presentation of this study to relevant national and regional stakeholders to present findings and recommendations, preferably in Abuja.

Management and Supervision:

• The consultant will perform the above-mentioned tasks under the overall coordination of IOM’s
• Regional Office in Dakar (FMM Focal Point) in close collaboration with FMM West Africa, with regular coordination with IOM Niger, Nigeria and Mali, partnering research institutions and local NGOs and (non) governmental institutions and organizations involved in transhumance policy, legislation, coordination and practice.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced University Degree, preferably in Social Sciences, Political Sciences, International Law, International Relations or other related field;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the fields of regional integration, immigration, border management, migration management, development cooperation, transhumance, international law or related fiend;
• Experience in working for national or regional institutions, especially in areas related to migration and transhumance.
• Previous experience in working in West Africa a distinct advantage;
• Experience in the development, review, and validation processes of public policy documents;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French required.
• Consultancy firms with relevant experience in conducting research in this field may also apply.