International Consultant - Supporting the Design of Blended Finance Mechanism through Analytical Assessments on Climate Related Human Mobility in Georgia

Job Description

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

 

Project Context and Scope

Climate change impacts are visible across Europe and Central Asia in rising temperatures, precipitation variability, heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and glacial melt that are affecting the lives and livelihoods of people, including food and water security. According to the Sixth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the temperature rise will cause substantive agricultural production losses for most European areas, while decreasing water availability would make adaptation using irrigation methods a serious challenge . Moreover, increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards (e.g., wildfires, flooding, landslides, etc.) will adversely impact all sectors of society. These climate change impacts exacerbate pre-existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, especially for those already facing societal inequalities.

At the global level, human mobility in the context of climate change is now firmly anchored in several key policy frameworks such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration. The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change invited the Parties to continue supporting efforts, including finance, technology, and capacity building of Parties, local actors, and communities to address human mobility-related challenges and opportunities in the context of climate change, at all levels, including community, national, regional and international levels . 

Climate finance refers to local, national, or transnational financing – drawn from public, private, and alternative sources of financing that seeks to support measures related to mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage.  Public finance falls short of the overall financing needs for climate action. Leveraging private investment using public finance to fill this funding gap is one of the solutions. Blended finance -broadly defined as the combination of public concessional finance with private or public resources is often portrayed as a key financing mechanism to deliver the resources needed for climate action.

Georgia is increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, including floods, droughts, landslides, and land degradation, which are already affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, and economic resilience. These impacts disproportionately affect rural populations and vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), eco-migrants, returnees, women, and youth, reinforcing socioeconomic vulnerabilities and contributing to migration pressures.[1]

At the same time, Georgia has made progress in advancing its climate policy and green transition agenda. Key frameworks, including the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)[2] and the 2030 Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, provide a foundation for climate-resilient development.

In this context, a critical gap remains in identifying scalable and investment-ready mechanisms that can bridge climate adaptation needs and human mobility dynamics. There is limited evidence on how blended finance approaches can be tailored to Georgia’s market conditions, institutional landscape, and target populations. Addressing this gap is essential to enable the design of a viable, context-specific blended finance mechanism.

The consultancy aims to generate actionable evidence and strategic recommendations to inform the design of a context-specific blended finance mechanism that mobilizes investments for climate-resilient livelihoods in the context of human mobility in Georgia.

Responsibilities

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The International Consultant will lead the analytical and strategic components of the assignment through undertaking the following tasks:

• Inception and Work Planning: Update the work plan in coordination with the IOM Project Manager. A draft work plan has already been prepared. This draft work plan will be shared with the International Consultant, who will update this work plan as required. The work plan would ensure the timely delivery of planned activities, foster synergy where applicable and identify opportunities for peer learning. 

• Online coordination meetings of the project team: Participate in online coordination meetings of the project team as requested.

• Research on the blended finance landscape in Georgia: The International Consultant will undertake research to identify opportunities, challenges, and potential partnerships in Georgia for developing a concept of an innovative or blended finance mechanism to mobilize private capital for climate-resilient and inclusive livelihood opportunities. The research will include a brief review of the national regulatory framework (e.g., laws, regulations, strategies, and plans) to identify barriers and opportunities that can shape the engagement of the target groups; (ii) an assessment of the investment interests, financial capacity, and risk appetite of Georgian migrants, diaspora, and their families; (iii) examination of successful migrant-focused investment models in Georgia; (iv) exploration of possible partnerships with financial institutions, venture capital firms, and investment funds that can provide technical expertise and financial backing/investments: and (v) analysis of potential financial instruments. The scope and content of this research will be finalized jointly by the International Consultant and the IOM Project Team. This research will result in a background report.  Furthermore, the research will examine existing and emerging climate finance mechanisms in Georgia (e.g. green financing instruments, concessional lending schemes, and climate adaptation financing), including their potential applicability to migrant and diaspora-linked investments and the lessons learned. The International Consultant will take the lead in preparing this report. To support this research by an International Consultant, IOM will also hire a national consultant. The national consultant will gather relevant national documents, follow up with national stakeholders (when required), analyze the relevant regulatory mechanisms in the country, assess investment interests and contribute to the background report under the supervision of the International Consultant. This research will inform the design of the proposed blended finance mechanism

• Stakeholder consultations: The International Consultant will support the organization and participate in consultations with the stakeholders, including key informant interview, the private sector, Business associations, financial institutions, development partners, and representatives of the migrants, diaspora, and their families, to seek their feedback about the concept of an innovative or blended finance mechanism related to climate action in Georgia. The IOM Project Team will be responsible for organizing the logistics for these consultations (e.g., invitations, venue, catering, audio-visual equipment, etc.). The International Consultant will develop the concept note, agenda, and material (e.g., slide decks, briefing notes, etc.) for these consultations. A national consultant will facilitate these consultations and develop Consultation Reports to document the findings from each of the consultations. 

• Compile and submit a final consultancy report, including key findings, analytical outputs, and recommendations developed during the consultancy period.

The assignment will start on 01 June 2026 and will have to be completed (and approved by IOM) by 31 October 2026. 

• Deliverable 1: Updated work plan: Finalized work plan, including methodology, timeline, and key deliverables, submitted by 10 June 2026.

• Deliverable 2: Draft Background Analytical Report:  First draft of the background report on the blended finance landscape in Georgia (maximum 40 pages, including figures, references, and footnotes, in compliance with IOM House Style Guidelines), submitted by 30 July 2026. 

• Deliverable 3: Final Background Analytical Report: Final version of the background report on the blended finance landscape in Georgia (maximum 40 pages, including figures, references, and footnotes, in compliance with IOM House Style Guidelines), submitted by 10 September 2026. 

• Deliverable 4: Development of concept notes, agendas, and consultation materials (including presentations and briefing notes), and technical facilitation of stakeholder consultations, including a validation workshop to review and refine the findings of the background report. This includes participation in meetings and stakeholder consultations in Georgia (with up to 10 working days of in-country mission). Deliverable to be completed by 20 October 2026.

• Deliverable 5: Final consultancy report, including key findings, analytical outputs, and recommendations developed during the consultancy period by 31 October 2026.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• A postgraduate degree (e.g., PhD, MPhil, MA, etc.) in finance, economics, environmental policy, sustainable development, or another subject relevant to this assignment.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in the areas of innovative finance, blended finance, climate finance, or development finance.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing regulatory mechanisms related to development finance with a special focus on climate finance.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and/or operationalizing innovative/blended finance mechanisms which leverage private sector and public resources (e.g., public-private partnerships, green bonds, guarantees, and results-based financing).
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing blended finance-related capacity development for partners.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging migrants and/or their families and/or migration-focused organizations in innovative/blended finance initiatives is a requirement. 
• Proven leadership in managing complex assignments with the UN organizations, international organizations, governments, or financial institutions.
• Experience in designing and/or implementing relevant projects in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Western Balkans is desirable.

Languages

For this consultancy, Excellent command of written and spoken English is required

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

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 five values:

• 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.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• 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.

Notes

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. 

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, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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 e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Required Skills

Job info