CON 2026/24 - Local Consultants to support municipalities for creation of Municipal Action Plan for the Migration and Diaspora Structures at the municipal level (2 positions).

Job Description

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
 

Project Context and Scope

Albania continues to face high levels of emigration mainly due to limited employment opportunities, low wages, and regional economic disparities, particularly in northern and rural areas. Although some regions, especially coastal and southern municipalities—have seen economic growth driven by tourism, local labor markets and institutions often lack the capacity to match available jobs with the domestic workforce. As a result, internal migration remains underused, while external migration is perceived as the primary pathway to better livelihoods. In this context, strengthening local capacities to manage migration, promote internal employment, support return and reintegration, and engage the diaspora is essential to create viable in-country alternatives, reduce irregular emigration, and support more balanced and sustainable national development.

Albanian citizens are likely to continue to emigrate for employment, which will have a major impact on the country's development. Therefore, it is important to provide valid alternatives of employment in country, especially in areas of Albania which have experienced considerable tourism in recent years. In addition, the change of the narrative on migration, the facilitation of internal migration of the Albanian workforce, an increase in employment opportunities for potential internal migrants, the encouragement of diaspora investment, and the creation of sustainable reintegration opportunities for returned migrants will strengthen conditions for working, living and investing in Albania.

In August 2024, IOM Albania started the implementation of the project “Strengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albania” funded by the UK Government. The aim of this project is to contribute to enabling local governments to effectively manage migration and diaspora matters. This includes a focus on promoting employment for internal migrants, reintegrating returned migrants, and encouraging diaspora investments, while strengthening interinstitutional coordination and migration stakeholders' engagement, all the while reshaping the narrative on migration.

Within the framework of the project, IOM is supporting municipalities to operationalize Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS) and improve migration governance at the local level.

In line with the National Strategy on Migration and the existing legal framework mandating municipalities to address migration and diaspora matters, there is a need to strengthen local capacities through the development of Municipal Action Plans for Migration and Diaspora that reflect a sustainable development approach. These plans will:

Localize national migration priorities into inclusive, evidence-based municipal interventions aligned with sustainable development principles;

Enhance access to integrated, gender-responsive, and sustainable services for migrants, returnees, and diaspora communities;

Support local economic development by promoting decent employment opportunities, skills reintegration, and sustainable internal mobility pathways;

Foster sustainable governance by improving multi-level coordination, strengthening institutional capacities, and promoting meaningful stakeholder and diaspora engagement.

The development of Municipal Action Plans for Migration and Diaspora will constitute a key operational mechanism enabling municipalities to effectively implement their mandate within the national legal and policy framework. These plans will support local authorities in adopting a structured, coherent, and results-oriented approach to managing migration-related dynamics, including the delivery of services to returnees, the facilitation of internal labor mobility, and the strengthening of diaspora contributions to local socio-economic development. By translating national priorities into context-specific, locally driven interventions, the action plans will enhance evidence-based planning, reinforce institutional coordination, and improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of services at the municipal level.

Furthermore, the process of developing these action plans will promote participatory governance and strengthen collaboration among key local stakeholders, including public institutions, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and diaspora representatives. Through structured consultations and inclusive planning processes, municipalities will be better positioned to identify priority needs, mobilize local resources, and ensure ownership of implementation.

This approach will also enhance both horizontal and vertical coordination across governance levels, reinforcing linkages between local and central institutions. Ultimately, it will contribute to more coherent, inclusive, and sustainable migration governance in Albania.

These activities will be implemented through the engagement of two local consultants by IOM, who will support 12 municipalities in the development of Municipal Action Plans for Migration and Diaspora (6 municipalities for each consultant). The consultants will apply a structured, participatory, and evidence-based approach to ensure the quality and relevance of the planning process.

The objective of this assignment is to support municipalities in Albania in developing comprehensive Municipal Action Plans on Migration and Diaspora, aligned with national policy frameworks, local development priorities, and project objectives, thereby contributing to effective, coordinated, and sustainable migration governance at the local level.

Responsibilities

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment 

The engagement will serve the following purposes under the specific themes as below:

1. Assessment and Analysis

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant national and local legal frameworks, policies, and strategic documents related to migration and diaspora governance.
• Evaluate the existing capacities, service delivery systems, and institutional gaps of the Migration and Diaspora Structures (MDS) across the 12 target municipalities.

• Analyse key local migration dynamics, including internal mobility patterns, return and reintegration needs, and opportunities to enhance diaspora engagement in support of local development.

2. Development of Municipal Action Plans

• Develop a standardized methodology and template for Municipal Action Plans, in close coordination with the municipalities, to ensure consistency, quality, and applicability across all target locations. 
• Provide tailored technical support to each of the 12 municipalities in drafting their respective Municipal Action Plans, ensuring a comprehensive and structured approach that includes:

1. Situation analysis;
2. Definition of strategic objectives and priorities;
3. Identification of specific actions and activities;
4. Clarification of institutional roles and responsibilities;
5. Development of implementation timelines and measurable indicators.

• Ensure that all Municipal Action Plans are fully aligned with the National Strategy on Migration, relevant sectoral strategies, and broader sustainable development priorities.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation

• Facilitate inclusive and structured consultations at the municipal level with key stakeholders, including municipal authorities, the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES), civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and diaspora actors. 
• Ensure that stakeholder inputs are systematically consolidated and effectively integrated into the final Municipal Action Plans, strengthening their relevance, ownership, and sustainability.

4. Capacity-Building Support

• Provide targeted technical guidance to municipal staff on migration governance, planning processes, and effective implementation of Municipal Action Plans.
• Develop practical and user-friendly guidance materials to support the operationalization and sustainability of the Municipal Action Plans.
• Deliver hands-on support and capacity-building sessions to municipal staff on the application, monitoring, and implementation of the Action Plans, ensuring their effective integration into municipal planning processes.

5. Coordination and Reporting

• Work in close coordination with IOM project team and relevant national stakeholders. 
• Ensure timely submission of deliverables in both English and Albanian.

Each consultant will be engaged for a total of 120 working days to support the development of Municipal Action Plans for Migration and Diaspora in 6 (six) municipalities in Albania. The assignment will follow a results-based approach, whereby payments are linked to the satisfactory delivery and approval of specific outputs.

Deliverable 1: Inception Report

Description: Submission of an Inception Report outlining the methodology, detailed workplan, data collection tools, and implementation approach for the assignment.

Timeline: By: [TBC]

Level of Effort: 5 working days

Deliverable format: Electronic submission (MS Word)

Deliverable 2: Assessment Report

Description: Submission of a comprehensive Assessment Report covering the six target municipalities, including:

Review of institutional capacities

Mapping of existing services and identification of gaps

Analysis of migration and diaspora dynamics and baseline conditions

Timeline: By [TBC]

Level of Effort: 20 working days

Deliverable format: Electronic submission (MS Word)

Deliverable 3: Draft Municipal Action Plans

Description: Preparation and submission of draft Municipal Action Plans for Migration and Diaspora for each of the six municipalities, including:

Situation analysis

Strategic objectives and priorities

Specific actions, indicators, and timelines

Institutional roles and responsibilities

Timeline: By [TBC]

Level of Effort: 45 working days

Deliverable format: Electronic submission (MS Word)

Deliverable 4: Stakeholder Consultation and Validation

Description: Facilitation of structured consultations at municipal level with key stakeholders (municipalities, NAES, CSOs, private sector, diaspora representatives). Documentation and consolidation of stakeholder feedback

Timeline: By [TBC]

Level of Effort: 20 working days

Deliverable format: Consultation reports and attendance records

Deliverable 5: Final Municipal Action Plans and Implementation Toolkit and Final Consultancy Report

Description:  Submission of finalized Municipal Action Plans incorporating stakeholder feedback. Development of a practical implementation and operationalization toolkit to support municipalities and submission of a final report summarizing the work undertaken, key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for sustainability and future interventions.

Timeline: By [TBC]

Level of Effort: 30 working days

Deliverable format: Electronic submission (MS Word and supporting materials)

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

•    Timeliness, 
•    Responsibility, 
•    Initiative, 
•    Communication, 
•    Satisfactory completion of tasks indicated in this ToR; 
•    Quality of products delivered
 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Completed a university degree from an accredited academic institution in social science, management, public administration, law studies, migration studies, development studies and other related areas. 

Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience related to local governance, migration governance, public and private sector engagement.
• Proven experience conducting similar assignments working with government institutions, especially in inter-agency coordination or policy development.
• Experience in management, marketing, stakeholder engagement, event coordination and organization, institutional processes analysis, report writing, presentations.
• Familiarity with migration dynamics and municipal-level service delivery in Albania is highly desirable.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, intercultural skills and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively between institutions and with a wide range of stakeholders (public authorities, local authorities, migrants, private sector, etc.)
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, especially in identifying institutional needs and proposing actionable solutions.
• Proficiency in developing SOPs, coordination frameworks, and capacity-building materials.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, meetings, and coaching sessions with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong reporting and documentation skills, including the ability to produce clear and concise recommendations
• Ability to maintain accuracy & confidentiality in performing responsibilities.

Languages

For this consultancy, Fluency in Albanian and English is required (spoken and written). 

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

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