Position Title: Consultant – Legal Identity (Manual for Consular Services)
Job Code: CON 2024 16
Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland
Classification: Consultant, Grade Other
Type of Appointment: Consultant, seven months
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 29 May 2024
Project Context and Scope
Legal Identity is relevant to a broad range of IOM programmatic areas and constitutes a cross-cutting theme that runs through IOM’s mandate and programmes. As such, engaging in legal identity activities has the potential to strengthen IOM’s role in leading the global debate on migration, mobility, security, and development.
Established in 2021 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the “Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS)” works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners to fulfill their commitments towards migrants, affected populations, returnees, and host communities in accordance with national priorities, as well as regional and global commitments and migration governance processes.
The programme focuses on systemic changes that are critical to addressing the underlying causes of migrants’ vulnerability, gender equality, and exclusion, including in humanitarian and fragile settings; supporting rights-based policies and legislation; equitable access to essential protection services; strengthening local partnerships for migrant inclusion and social cohesion; access to legal identity; reinforcing data-driven responses; and influencing social behaviors and norms.
A new phase of COMPASS is activated from 2024 to 2027, which outlines three key priorities – specialized protection, localization, and legal identity. The programme is being implemented in 14 countries, and in the next four years, will strive to find the most effective and sustainable ways of assisting migrants and promoting their rights, dignity, and well-being, while expanding support to its partners in achieving their priority objectives in pursuing improved migration governance.
IOM’s Legal Identity Strategy (LIS) serves as the groundwork for IOM’s efforts to assist individuals, States, and governments in meeting SDG Target 16.9 and Objective 4 of the Global Compact on Migration. A core aspect of the Strategy involves aiding consular services in issuing civil registration, ID, and travel documents while improving their support for nationals abroad lacking documentary evidence of legal identity. Recognizing the significant role consular services play in enhancing migration management and creating regular pathways by offering timely verification, identification, and documentation assistance to individuals, IOM intends to develop and provide guidance to the consular services and relevant training materials to streamline the security document examination and improve the detection of travel document fraud.
Consular services include, among others, assistance to citizens and own nationals, returnees, and prospective visitors and migrants. Notably, consular services play a crucial role in ensuring the issuance and verification of identity and travel documents, as well as family or civil registration certificates (birth, death, marriage, divorce, etc.) that are key supporting documents for admission, stay, return, and regularization processes. Improved expertise in security document examination at consulates is essential for preventing the misuse of fraudulent or fake documents, detecting identity fraud, and protecting their systems from abuse. These efforts ultimately contribute to enhanced migration management as robust document examination and fraud detection mechanisms are vital for verifying the identity, qualifications and claims of individuals, including undocumented migrants and those lodging visa and immigration applications, as well as for offering support and services in the realm of document registration and issuance.
The Manual and relevant training materials will be developed by drawing from existing training resources and guiding documents previously developed by IOM. This process will also involve consultations with IOM Missions in COMPASS countries to ensure that the Manual and training materials effectively address the evolving needs of consular services. These needs encompass a range of knowledge and soft skills, including identity management, issuance of travel documents, civil registration and civil records updates, document examination, and detection of identity fraud and fraudulent travel documents. In addition, the Manual will offer a comprehensive overview of international standards concerning travel document issuance. It will delve into ICAO’s Concepts such as Evidence of Identity (EOI) and Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP), alongside elucidating the general principles for consular assistance, including the legal framework for consular assistance and consular protection. Concurrently, the training materials will be derived from the Manual, providing thorough instructions for trainers and the user-friendly slide decks for the training sessions.
The purpose of this assignment is to contribute to the improved capacity of consular services in identity management and to enhance operational response in alignment with GCM Objectives 4 (Legal Identity and Documentation), 5 (Regular Pathways), 14 (Consular Protection), and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as target 10.7 (Responsible and well-managed migration policies), and target 16.9 (By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration).
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:
Legal Identity Unit (IBG), IOM COMPASS Global Programme funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the Legal Identity Unit, the consultant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
Tasks to be performed under this contract
- Discuss the objectives of the assignment with the Legal Identity Unit (LIU), other relevant units, and IOM Missions.
- Conduct a comprehensive desk review of the existing training materials and guiding documents, provided by IOM, and current practices of the consular services on civil registration, identification, verification of identity, security document examination, and issuance of travel documents.
- Conduct stakeholder consultations with the relevant IOM Missions, representatives of the consular services, and others to gather inputs and insights.
- Develop the structure of the Manual describing the context and challenges related to the work of the consular services in identification and verification of identity, document examination, and fraud detection.
- Develop the first draft of the Manual, detailing the processes, roles, and responsibilities of the consular services in the identity management process at large, and providing specific guidance on consular assistance in civil registration, identity management, document issuance, and security document examination in line with the international standards (Vienna Convention on Consular Relation, Consular Assistance and Human Rights Law, ICAO and IOM guidelines).
- Develop a specific section in the Manual focusing on the general principles for the provision of consular assistance and protection in line with Human Rights Law and other legal frameworks.
- Develop a specific section in the Manual focusing on setting up a secure link (API) for seamless data transfer from Consulates to the Central Server (civil registration, identity documents, and passport databases).
- Develop a specific section in the Manual focusing on consular protection and assistance in special situations (assistance in the event of an emergency or crisis).
- Ensure that the Manual incorporates the practices and procedures for consulates representing another country’s government in a third country to provide consular services on its behalf.
- Ensure that the Manual and training materials are tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by consular services in COMPASS countries.
- Incorporate feedback from IOM and other stakeholders throughout the development process.
- Submit the final version of the Manual for review and prepare the document for the layout(proofreading of the document with detailed instructions for the designer).
- Based on the final and approved version of the Manual, develop training package, including a facilitator/trainer’s guide for conducting sessions and slide decks for the participants.
- Present the final documents to the relevant IOM Missions as requested by the LIU.
Category B Consultant hired to deliver a report on a three-installment payment basis:
1. First deliverable and installment:
Deliverable 1: Work plan to outline the framework and approach in developing the documents and the structure of the Manual describing the context and challenges faced by the consular services following consultations with IOM Missions and the LIU. – Deliverable by email by 10 July 2024
2. Second deliverable and installment:
Deliverable 2: Developed first draft of the Manual as per the agreed structure and scope of the topics to be covered by the Manual, and shared with the IOM for review. – Deliverable by 20 September 2024
3. Final deliverable and installment:
Deliverable 3: Final Version of the Manual incorporating feedback and revisions, finalized training materials (trainer’s guide and slide deck), and presentation of the work- Deliverable by email by 7 December 2024.
Performance indicators for evaluation of results
The performance of the consultant will be evaluated based on the following indicators:
- Developed work plan and the structure of the Manual.
- Developed and approved Manual and relevant training materials (trainer’s guide and slide deck)
- Presentation of the final documents to IOM.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education, experience and/or skills required
• Master’s degree in Security Studies, Identity Management, Migration Studies, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Experience
- Minimum of five years of experience in identity management, including operational facilitation of identity document systems and designing standardization manuals.
- Proven track record in developing standardization documents (guides, instructions, and manuals) and capacity-building tools related to immigration, legal identity, or consular services.
- Strong legal expertise in immigration law, human rights, and international conventions is highly preferred.
- Previous work experience in immigration and identity management fields, with a comprehensive grasp of irregular migration, refugee/displacement issues, and their socio-political dynamics.
- In-depth knowledge of the migration dynamics in COMPASS countries is preferable.
- Extensive experience in liaising with relevant stakeholders in identity management, including consular services.
Skills
- Extensive knowledge of Identity Management, Legal Identity Solutions, and a deep understanding of consular services’ functions and operations.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Capacity to work independently and deliver high-quality, actionable recommendations.=
Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Notes
The Consultant will be homebased with a possibility of traveling to workshop venues.
The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.
The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.
Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).
Required Competencies:
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.
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.
Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.
Other:
- The appointment 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, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.
- Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications HERE, by 29 May 2024 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment
Posting period:
From 09.05.2024 to 29.05.2024
No Fees:
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.
