Call for Application: Reintegration Assistant - Diaspora Engagement (UG)

Job Description

BACKGROUND

The EU-funded Return, Readmission and Reintegration (RRR) programme aims to strengthen Cameroon’s national reintegration system by improving the quality, coordination, and sustainability of services offered to returning migrants. While reintegration centres play a central role within the country, an often-underused resource for return and sustainable reintegration is the Cameroonian diaspora.

Diaspora communities remain closely connected to their regions of origin, playing a significant role through financial transfers, knowledge exchange, business mentorship, and community support. According to the ex-post evaluation of the IOM/Diaspora Remittances Project, Cameroonian diaspora members collectively transfer more than USD 1.2 billion annually—resources that, when effectively leveraged, can support education, entrepreneurship, social stability, and reintegration outcomes in Cameroon 

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Evidence from the evaluation also shows that diaspora engagement is strongest when structured, when they are included early, and when mechanisms exist for continuous collaboration and communication.

At policy level, the Government of Cameroon—through MINREX and the Comité National—has committed to building a National Diaspora Engagement Strategy, recognising diaspora actors as contributors to development, investment, innovation, and community resilience 

Projet Diaspora

This aligns with the SND30, global commitments (PMM Objective 19), and AfDB recommendations promoting diaspora mobilisation for socio-economic transformation.

Within the RRR project, diaspora engagement presents a strategic opportunity to:

• Raise awareness on safe and regular migration,
• Encourage voluntary return through accurate, credible information,
• Promote diaspora contributions to reintegration pathways,
• Support returnees with mentoring, remittance-based investments, skills transfer, and community-level monitoring when projects benefit local areas.

However, there is currently no structured model within RRR to guide how diaspora actors can be engaged, mobilised, and channelled toward reintegration support. The programme therefore requires a 3-month foundational period to design, test, and model a practical approach.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of the assignment is to design, pilot, and operationalize a practical model of diaspora engagement in support of return, reintegration, awareness raising, and local development in communities of origin.

The Reintegration Assistant – Diaspora Engagement will:

1. Develop a diaspora engagement model tailored to reintegration, including mechanisms for awareness raising, voluntary return promotion, and support to reintegration initiatives;
2. Map diaspora organisations, professional associations and influential groups;
3. Establish communication and collaboration channels between diaspora actors, reintegration centres, and affected communities;
4. Pilot small-scale engagement mechanisms (awareness activities, mentoring structures, remittance-linked support options);
5. Produce an operational workplan and tools for ongoing diaspora engagement under RRR.

Responsibilities

A. Development of a Diaspora Engagement Model (Core Task)

• Design and document a Diaspora Support Model for Reintegration, answering:
  Why, how, and through which channels can diaspora effectively support reintegration?
• Integrate evidence from previous projects—e.g., lessons on remittance use, coaching, financial literacy, role of communication plans, and sustainability issues 

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• Define roles for diaspora in:
  • awareness raising on irregular migration and safe pathways,
  • voluntary return communication,
  • remote mentoring/coaching for returnees,
  • remittance-supported reintegration investments,
  • knowledge/skills transfer,
  • community-based project monitoring (where applicable).
• Produce a concept note + operational guidance note for RRR.

B. Mapping and Stakeholder Engagement

• Conduct a mapping of diaspora associations, professional groups, student unions, hometown associations, and digital diaspora networks.
• Identify diaspora actors willing to engage in:
  • job creation support,
  • business coaching,
  • psychosocial encouragement,
  • community development efforts.
• Analyse motivations, barriers, communication preferences (learning from evidence that diaspora engagement is strongest when invited early and included in project design) 

C. Diaspora Awareness Raising Strategy

• Develop messaging and simplified materials for diaspora platforms on:
  • risks of irregular migration,
  • opportunities for regular pathways,
  • RRR service package,
  • success stories of sustainable reintegration.
• Propose dissemination channels (diaspora radio, WhatsApp groups, embassy networks, social media).
• Plan at least two online awareness-raising sessions with diaspora groups.

D. Remittances & Reintegration Linkages

• Identify practical ways diaspora contributions (financial and non-financial) can support reintegration—aligned with evidence that remittances can strengthen livelihoods when combined with coaching and financial literacy 
• Propose options for:
  • small remittance-supported investments in reintegration,
  • co-funding or sponsorship models (voluntary),
  • diaspora-supported business incubation,
  • leveraging diaspora expertise for vocational skills upgrading.
• Develop draft templates for partnerships or protocols with diaspora groups.

E. Pilot Actions

• Test two small-scale activities:
  1. an online diaspora consultation or discussion forum on reintegration needs;
  2. a pilot mentorship or thematic awareness session (e.g., entrepreneurship, mental health support).
• Document the process, participation, lessons, and viability.

F. Tools, Workplan, and Handover

• Produce a 12-month diaspora engagement workplan for RRR.
• Prepare practical tools:
  • engagement scripts,
  • contact forms,
  • partnership templates,
  • messaging guidelines,
  • referral mechanisms.
• Deliver an end-of-assignment report summarizing model, tools, pilot results, and recommendations.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

• High school diploma with six years of relevant experience; or,
• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Migration Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies or related fields from an accredited institution with four years of relevant professional experience
• Master’s degree is an asset

EXPERIENCE

• At least 4 years’ experience in migration, diaspora engagement, reintegration, community engagement, or development programming.
• Experience in diaspora mapping, remittances, or transnational networks is a strong asset.
• Experience producing analytical reports, guidance tools, or communication materials.
• Experience conducting stakeholder consultations (online/physical).
• Understanding of the Cameroonian diaspora landscape is an advantage.

SKILLS

• Strong communication and facilitation abilities.
• Negotiation skills. 
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to synthesise findings and translate them into operational tools.
• Good digital communication and social media literacy.
• Sensitivity to gender, protection, and cultural diversity issues.

LANGUAGE

For this position, fluency in English, French is required (oral and written).

Required Skills

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