TERMS OF REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION:

The AU Heads of States and Governments decided in 2018 to establish the African Migration Observatory (AMO). The AMO will ensure synergies of activities for the production of harmonized, quality and timely migration statistics; build the capacity of statisticians and specialists in migration; boost the dialogue between producers and users of migration data and coordinate the national, regional and continental efforts to contribute to improving migration governance. In order to achieve its mandate, AMO will focus on the improvement of the capacities of AU Member States to collect, process and manage harmonized, quality and timely migration data.

In this regard, AMO will conduct an assessment of existing capacity-building efforts and migration data on the continent, with the aim to a) list the partners’ initiatives to ensure coordination, consolidate stakeholders’ efforts and avoid duplication; b) identify key areas to respond to migration data and capacity building needs of AU Member States and RECs; c) develop a strategic plan for the AMO for the period 2022-2026; and d) ensure its full operationalization. To conduct this assessment, the research team will conduct interviews with producers and users of migration statistics from AU Member States, National and regional data observatories, RECs and partners, including focal points of the recently launched Africa Migration Data Network (AMDN).

Objectives of the assignment

The main objective of the consultancy is to bring the necessary support to AUC-AMO for the development of its strategic plan. This will include collecting and analyzing information related to existing migration data collection and dissemination initiatives in Africa, providing technical assistance towards the successful development of the first strategic plan for the AMO during its start-up phase. In addition, the assessment will serve as a basement to plan for technical assistance to RECs and AU Member States.

Scope and General Description of the Work:

The Consultant is expected to undertake the following activities:

• Identify, analyse and map implemented or ongoing initiatives and activities related to migration data and capacity building at the national, regional and continental level in Africa.
• Draft guides for semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders working on migration data and capacity-building in Africa.
• Conduct interviews with stakeholders of AMO (Humanitarian Affairs, Health and Social Development Department, African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC), African Institute for Remittance, selected AU Member States, National and Regional Data Observatories, RECs, IOM and other UN agencies, Eurostat, Statistics Sweden, among others).
• Undertake any necessary basic desk research to complement or contextualise findings of interviews.
• Draft a report, based on an outline agreed with AMO, describing the results of the interviews and present an interim and then final report to AMO and AUC. This will include two possible travels to Rabat, the first to present and discuss an interim report with preliminary findings, the second to present and validate the final report.
• Develop a roadmap with recommendations of measures which could be taken in the short, medium and longer-term to strengthen AMO´s capacity to deliver migration data and capacity building support to AU Member States and RECs.
• Develop the guidelines, objectives and principles of the AMO strategic plan on migration data collection, management, dissemination and propose guidance for further future capacity development of AU Member States and RECS in the relevant domains.

DELIVERABLES/MILESTONES

By the third week of September 2021

• Outline of the assessment report agreed upon with AMO and submitted
• Interview guides drafted and interviewees selected, in consultation with AMO

By early October 2021

• Assessment interviews completed

By October 2021

• Draft interim report presented to AMO in Rabat

By December 2021

• Final report completed

• Final report presented and validated in Rabat

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• The candidate(s) must have a minimum of 15 years of proven experience in topics related to migration data and/or capacity building on data;
• Experience on topics related to migration data and/or capacity building on data
• Experience conducting stakeholder interviews required
• Fluency in English and/or French required, other AU language is an advantage.
• Experience exploring and addressing practical dimensions of capacity building on data desirable

Duration of assignment:                     September–December 2021

How to Apply

Send a cover letter outlining how you would conduct this consultancy plus a detailed CV to the email address oimrecrute@iom.int before September 12, 2021 at midnight, indicating in the subject line the title: ” Consultant on Capacity Building and Migration Statistics Assessment”