Consultant for the Midterm Review of the EU4Migration Project

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM's mission is to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, saving lives and protecting people on the move. The organization operates in over 100 countries and has a workforce of more than 17,000 employees. IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. It aims to harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move, inviting candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and providing reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required.

Job Overview:
The position involves conducting an independent mid-term external evaluation of the EU4Migration project in Albania, which is a joint initiative implemented by IOM and UNHCR, funded by the European Union. The evaluation aims to assess the project's relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability at the midpoint of its implementation (end of the second year). The consultant will evaluate progress against planned outputs, outcomes, and indicators, identify key achievements, challenges, risks, and lessons learned, and provide practical recommendations for decision-making and adaptive management. The evaluation will serve both accountability and learning functions, assessing the project's contribution to strengthening migration and asylum governance in Albania and improving access to social and economic services for migrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees. The consultant will be responsible for developing an inception report, conducting interviews and consultations, and preparing a draft and final evaluation report, ensuring that all deliverables meet professional quality standards and are submitted within the agreed timeframe.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for producing several deliverables, including an inception report that outlines the evaluation approach, a preliminary findings brief, a draft mid-term evaluation report, and a final evaluation report. The consultant will conduct a desk review of relevant documents, engage with key stakeholders through interviews and focus group discussions, and analyze collected data to generate findings and recommendations. The evaluation will cover the project's performance against the OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, including relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The consultant will also assess the project's partnerships, coordination mechanisms, and institutional ownership, and will be expected to present findings to stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the final report.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in evaluation, international development, public administration, social sciences, migration studies, or a related field. They should have experience conducting at least three to five evaluations of large-scale projects comparable to the EU4Migration project, with a strong background in quantitative and qualitative data analysis. A sound understanding of migration and asylum governance, labor migration, and related topics is essential. Experience working with IOM is an advantage, as is experience in technical and analytical report writing and leading international evaluation projects. The consultant must be independent of the design, management, and implementation of the EU4Migration project and must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in evaluation, international development, public administration, social sciences, migration studies, or another field directly relevant to the assignment is required. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of migration and asylum governance and for conducting thorough evaluations of related projects.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of three to five years of experience in conducting evaluations of large-scale projects, particularly in the fields of migration and asylum governance. They should demonstrate a strong background in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, as well as experience in working in complex institutional environments. Familiarity with IOM's operational context and experience in collecting data under challenging circumstances will be beneficial.

Languages:
Excellent command of English is required for this consultancy. A working knowledge of the Albanian language is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the evaluation process.

Additional Notes:
The assignment is expected to amount to 30 working days, including preparation, data collection, analysis, and reporting. The consultant will be required to submit a technical proposal detailing their evaluation methodology, work plan, and budget. The payment plan is structured around the submission of deliverables, with 15% due upon submission of the inception report, 30% upon submission of the first draft of the reports, and 55% upon submission of the final report. The consultant must comply with IOM's ethical requirements, data protection obligations, and confidentiality provisions throughout the evaluation process.