Consultancy to support the Update of the National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) and Development of Its Action Plan
Remote | Abuja
- Organization: IOM - International Organization for Migration
- Location: Remote | Abuja
- Grade: Senior Executive level - Assistant Director - General level - Internationally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Border and Customs
- Closing Date:
Job Description
Effective border governance is essential to Nigeria’s national security, economic stability, and overall migration governance. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive and structured approach to border governance, the Government of Nigeria, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and key stakeholders, developed the National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) (2019-2023). With the expiration of the NBMS strategy, it has become imperative to assess its implementation, identify gaps, and update it to address emerging migration trends and security threats, consolidate lessons learned and adopt best practices.
In response to this need, IOM, in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is spearheading efforts to review the NBMS and develop an implementation plan to guide its effective implementation. The aim is to advance border governance and enhance institutional migration data management and analysis and capacities of border management and other relevant institutions to respond to priority needs in border governance, especially in view of the evolving security dynamics. This includes reviewing lessons learned from the implementation of the previous strategy document, aligning the updated strategy with current national, regional, and international priorities.
As part of this process, the NIS has taken proactive steps by engaging a working group headed by the Directorate of Border Management to oversee the review and update of the strategy. The working group has commenced a preliminary review of the National Border Management Strategy, by assessing its effectiveness and identifying key areas for improvement.
Governance, Diaspora and Partnerships (GDP) Unit — in technical coordination with the Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Unit. This consultancy directly contributes to the implementation of the EU‑funded Programme “Support to Migration Governance in Nigeria.
Responsibilities
The consultant will revise and update the Nigeria National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) (2019–2023) to ensure full alignment with the revised National Migration Policy (NMP), the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, and other relevant regional and global migration and border governance frameworks. The revision will be undertaken in line with Nigeria’s national migration governance structure — specifically working in coordination with the Stakeholders’ Forum on Border Management (SFBM) — to ensure institutional ownership, policy coherence, and sustainability.
The consultant will further develop a detailed action plan that is fully harmonised with national coordination mechanisms, reinforcing whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches and embedding clear implementation responsibilities, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Analyze the implementation of the NBMS (2019–2023), document progress, challenges, and lessons learned to inform strategic revisions.
• Conduct a comprehensive gap and needs assessment by analysing relevant policy and frameworks, technical and operational structures and capacities to inform the review of the strategy.
• Assess how existing data collection and analysis mechanisms can inform strategic decision-making. Ensure that the strategy incorporates frameworks for data-driven border management, emphasizing improved data sharing, coordination among relevant agencies, and alignment with international best practices
• In coordination with IOM Nigeria, design and facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops with relevant government agencies, including security forces, immigration and local authorities, border communities, and international partners to gather insights on current context, prevailing challenges impacting on border governance and management. Recommend good practices to strengthen coordination mechanism towards improved integrated Border Management while achieving national goals.
• Analyse emerging cross-border security threats and migration patterns, assessing risks and technological advancements (biometrics, AI surveillance, digital border control) to enhance Nigeria’s border security and management efficiency. Use the findings to guide the revision of the Border Management Strategy.
• Following the consultations and analysis, work with NIS and relevant stakeholders to develop a revised strategic framework that reflects national priorities in addressing gaps and needs, regional integration efforts (ECOWAS), ensure alignment with international frameworks and global best practices. ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
• Work with NIS to design an implementation plan that aligns with the updated strategy and reflects stakeholders’ input, define estimated timelines and phases, roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions, and expected outcomes, supported with a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and clear performance indicators.
• Facilitate the validation process to ensure endorsement by the Government of Nigeria and facilitate the development of a structured, actionable, and inclusive implementation plan.
DURATION
| DELIVERABLES
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20 Working Days
| NBMS Implementation & Gap Analysis Report – A comprehensive report based on stakeholder consultations detailing the implementation of the NBMS (2019–2023), highlighting progress made, challenges encountered, and lessons learned. Report should incorporate a gap and needs assessment, relevant policy frameworks analysis, state of technical and operational structures, and capacity gaps to guide the review of the updated strategy.
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20 Working Days | Border Security Threats & Technology Assessment Report – a report featuring emerging cross-border security threats, migration patterns, and technological advancements (biometrics, AI surveillance, digital border control). This report will provide strategic recommendations to enhance Nigeria’s border security including data sharing and inform the revision of the Border Management Strategy. Stakeholder Consultation Report – Summary of insights from multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops, including key challenges, operational and technical gaps, and best practices for improving border governance and management.
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45 Working Days
| Revised NIS National Border Management Strategy– A strategic document developed in collaboration with NIS and the Stekeholders Forum on Border Management, aligning with national priorities, regional integration efforts (ECOWAS), international frameworks, and global best practices. Action Plan – A detailed implementation plan outlining stakeholder roles and responsibilities, estimated timelines, budget estimates, and key milestones for executing the revised strategy.
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20 Working Days | Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework – A structured framework with clear performance indicators to track progress, measure impact, and ensure accountability in implementing the revised Border Management Strategy.
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15 Working Days | Revised NBMS- Final NBMS validated by the Government of Nigeria.
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• Quality of work: Ability to accurately coordinate with relevant stakeholders.
• Timeliness: Ability to meet the consultancy timeline and deliver on time.
• Clarity: Ability to communicate integrated border management and free movement contents clearly and concisely.
• Understanding: Ability to understand and interpret the complexities of the integrated border management and free movement-related programme.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with other stakeholders.
• Adaptability: Ability to adjust to changes in scope or objectives.
• Knowledge: Understanding of migration data collection and management. Responsiveness: Ability to provide timely responses to inquiries.
Nature of consultancy
The consultancy will be hybrid, combining onsite engagement with remote analytical work.
- Onsite: The consultant will be required to conduct in-person stakeholder consultations, workshops, and field assessments in Nigeria, working closely with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other key stakeholders.
- Remote: Desk research, policy analysis, report writing, and coordination with international partners can be conducted remotely.
Qualifications
- Master’s Degree from an accredited academic institution with fifteen (15) years of progressive working experience in the field of Border Governance, Migration Studies, Public Administration, Law, International Relations, Development Studies, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Extensive work experience in border governance and border management.
- Extensive work experience in migration data collection and management.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in regional integration and data management
- Demonstrated experience and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations.
- Extensive knowledge and ability to draft and produce high-quality written reports.
- Excellent social and intercultural skills.
- Excellent understanding of gender-related needs, perspectives, concerns, and participation.
- English
- The consultant may be required to travel on a needs basis upon the approval of the Head, Governance Diaspora and Partnerships Units. All costs associated with such travels will be covered by IOM in line with IOM's financial rules and regulations.
- 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.
- 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 Organization’s 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.
- 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.
Required Skills
Job info
Contract Type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)Initial Contract Duration: 90 working days
Vacancy Type: Consultancy
Recruiting Type: Consultant
Grade: UG
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.