Consultant for Regional Study on Informal Employment of Migrants in the Middle East & North Africa

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1. Duty Station of the Consultancy: Remote and working with IOM Regional Office for MENA- Cairo, Egypt. 

    

2. Duration of Consultancy:  Four (4) months, subject to the medical clearance.

3. Nature of the consultancy: Consultancy to conduct the Regional Study on Informal Employment of Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa: Data, Practices, and Policy Options.

Category B Consultancy

1. Project Context and Scope:   

   Informal employment constitutes one of the most significant yet least understood dimensions of migrant labour markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Despite its prevalence in sectors such as construction, agriculture, domestic work, hospitality, and small‑scale commerce, informal migrant employment remains poorly captured in national data systems. Most countries do not systematically collect migrant‑disaggregated information on informality, creating major evidence gaps and limiting the ability of national institutions to develop targeted, effective labour market and protection policies.

   Given this limited data availability, the study will rely on broader informal economy datasets and apply estimation approaches developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Economic Research Forum (ERF) to infer the potential scale and characteristics of migrant participation in informal employment. Protection risks—including exploitation, wage theft, unsafe conditions, and trafficking in persons—are often insufficiently captured in existing labour reporting systems, despite being closely linked to informality. Gender dynamics will be integrated as a cross‑cutting lens to reflect differentiated vulnerabilities and experiences without shifting the study’s primary focus.

   The research will also examine how skills, education levels, and recognition of prior learning (RPL) shape access to formal and informal labour markets, particularly for migrants, women, and youth. Existing literature from other regions, including IOM’s work in LAC, will help integrate a light economic perspective to highlight how informal labour contributes to national economies and how this evidence can support policy discussions on formalization and, where relevant, regularization pathways

   The study will generate a multi‑country comparative analysis of data systems, policy frameworks, institutional coordination mechanisms, and protection challenges. It will produce actionable recommendations to strengthen labour market governance, enhance data collection and reporting systems, and reinforce cross‑governmental collaboration to support more coherent and protection‑sensitive migration and labour policies.

    

2. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:  

   Regional Data Hub (RDH), IOM Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
    

This is a type B consultancy hired on a 3-installments payment basis:

1. First deliverable - Inception Report: The inception report will outline the detailed methodology & analytical framework, workplan & timeline, mapping of existing national data systems & policies, and final list of stakeholders & proposed case study countries. 

2. Second deliverable – Regional Analytical Report: Draft Regional Analytical Report including desk review findings, estimation results (ILO/ERF) methodologies, mapping of informal economy data systems & gaps, summary of stakeholder consultations, case study sections, and preliminary policy & protection analysis.

      3. Third & Final deliverable  - Final Regional Analytical Report & Policy Brief: Including full revised report 60-70 page, integrated         analysis of informality, protection, gender, skills & RPL, comparative policy analysis, actionable recommendations for national           authorities, policy brief for senior decision makers. Finally, inputs for Q4 dissemination materials.

The consultant will be required to participate in the regional dissemination event in Q4, lies between September & December 2026, to present the findings, and provide technical support during the validation / dissemination workshop.

Education, Experience and/or skills required

• Master’s degree or higher in Economics, Migration Studies, Labour Studies, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field

• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in labour market research, informal economy analysis, or migration studies 

• Proven experience working with labour force surveys, informal economy measurement, or estimation techniques 

• Strong knowledge of protection issues linked to informality, including trafficking risks 

• Experience conducting multi‑country research, preferably in MENA 

• Expertise in analysing skills systems, education, and RPL frameworks is an asset 

• Excellent drafting, analytical, and synthesis skills 

• Experience interacting with government institutions, UN agencies, and research bodies

• The consultant is expected to be fluent in English; the capacity to interact in Arabic is an advantage.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

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.

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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.

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