Consultant for Migration Governance

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading agency of the United Nations system in the field of migration. Established in 1951, IOM works in collaboration with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. The organization is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all people. Its actions aim to address migration challenges, promote understanding of migration issues, foster social and economic development through migration, and ensure the dignity and well-being of migrants. Since 2015, migration has gained prominence in government and development partner programs, following its inclusion in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In response to significant flows of migrants and refugees worldwide, the New York Declaration was adopted in September 2016, calling for strengthened international cooperation on migration and forced displacement, leading to the development of two collaborative instruments: the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and the Global Compact on Refugees. Both documents are premised on the idea that migrants can positively contribute to the development of communities in their countries of origin or in their new places of residence. Within this framework, the UN Interagency Plan aims to strengthen the capacities of local partners to prepare for and respond to the needs of migrants in transit through Costa Rica, focusing on enhancing the technical, operational, and institutional capacities of public institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, and other key actors involved in the care, protection, and assistance of migrants.

Job Overview:
The consultant will support the programmatic and technical actions of IOM Costa Rica in migration governance, following up on the development and formalization of inter-institutional local plans for Corridors and Los Chiles, establishing their monitoring mechanisms, and designing two local supply plans in emergency contexts due to migration crises for the northern and southern zones of the country. The consultant will work directly with the official migration policy officer and under the general supervision of the Program Coordination. The role involves collaborating on the development of work plans and risk matrices consistent with the planning of national office activities, ensuring and supporting the execution of planned activities for each associated project, and preparing reports on the compliance with the goals of the planning matrix and action plan, including recommendations. The consultant will also follow up on the process of developing and formalizing inter-institutional local plans, assist in team meetings and meetings with counterparts for proper coordination and planning of ongoing or upcoming topics, and coordinate and prepare minutes for meetings planned at the internal level and with counterparts during the contract period. Additionally, the consultant will draft terms of reference for hiring individual consultants, companies, or organizations needed for the proper execution of project activities, collaborate in identifying national or international funding sources to ensure the sustainability of planned activities, and promote necessary actions for consolidating and sustaining relationships with the government, primarily with the DGME. The consultant will also encourage the participation of various local and regional actors in the activities of associated projects, maintain constant coordination with IOM technical staff, and perform other support functions as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the project in developing work plans and risk matrices aligned with national office activity planning.
• Ensure and support the execution of planned activities for each associated project.
• Prepare reports on compliance with the goals of the planning matrix and action plan, including recommendations.
• Follow up on the development and formalization of inter-institutional local plans for Corridors and Los Chiles, and assist in designing two local supply plans for emergency contexts due to migration crises in the northern and southern zones of the country.
• Assist in team meetings and meetings with counterparts for proper coordination and planning of ongoing or upcoming topics.
• Coordinate and prepare minutes for meetings planned at the internal level and with counterparts during the contract period.
• Draft terms of reference for hiring individual consultants, companies, or organizations needed for the proper execution of project activities.
• Collaborate in identifying national or international funding sources to ensure the sustainability of planned activities.
• Promote necessary actions for consolidating and sustaining relationships with the government, primarily with the DGME. 1
• Encourage participation from various local and regional actors in the activities of associated projects. 1
• Maintain constant coordination with IOM technical staff and different focal points for efficient execution of assigned tasks. 1
• Perform other support functions as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Political Science, Law, Development Studies, or any related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience of at least 2 years in projects related to migration governance, human rights, international migration law, and humanitarian assistance.
• Experience in formulating agreements and knowledge of governmental institutional frameworks in Costa Rica for effective insertion is an advantage.
• Ability to draft complex technical reports related to migration governance.
• Experience working with institutional counterparts, private sector, and civil society organizations related to the objectives of this consultancy.
• Competencies in results-based planning.
• Ability to interact and reach agreements with interdisciplinary teams and local and institutional authorities.
• Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a culturally and professionally diverse team.
• Proven ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to established deadlines. 1
• The consultant must be available to travel to different points in the national territory as required. 1
• Computer skills, especially in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Political Science, Law, Development Studies, or any related discipline is required for this position. This educational background is essential as it provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to understand the complexities of migration governance and the legal frameworks that govern it.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of demonstrated experience in projects related to migration governance, human rights, international migration law, and humanitarian assistance. This level of experience is crucial as it ensures that the consultant has a solid understanding of the challenges and dynamics involved in migration issues, as well as the ability to navigate the institutional landscape effectively.

Languages:
Proficiency in Spanish is mandatory, given the context of the position and the location in Costa Rica. Knowledge of English is considered a good to have, as it may facilitate communication with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultant will be required to work from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, at the IOM office in San Jose, both in-person and virtually as directed by the National Office guidelines. The salary for this position is CRC 1,200,000 (one million two hundred thousand colones) per month. The IOM will cover travel expenses and per diem for field activities required. Applications must include a CV with three references and a letter of interest (maximum 1 page). This vacancy is subject to local recruitment, and only individuals with a valid residence and work permit in the country where this position is based will be eligible for consideration. The deadline for applications is February 26, 2026, and late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Any offer made to a candidate in relation to this vacancy is subject to the confirmation of funds. The IOM maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding any conduct incompatible with the objectives and principles 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, religion, ethnic origin, or disability. The IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise) and does not request information related to bank accounts. The IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through its online recruitment system, which also allows candidates to track the status of their application.