East and Horn of Africa: Consultant, Research to Identify Hotspots of Migration and Resource-Based Conflict

Feb 20, 2022 | International Organization for Migration
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN Migration Agency. With 173 member states it is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Established in 1951 and now active in over 400 field locations worldwide, IOM works with partners, government and civil society to:

1. Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration and mobility
2. Advance understanding of migration issues
3. Encourage social and economic development through migration; and
4. Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants and mobile populations.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment. Internal and External candidates are eligible to apply to this vacancy.

IOM’s Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa supports and monitors the following countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Through a team of specialists, the Regional Office supports the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of projects and initiatives undertaken by country offices and regional programmes.

An emerging area of concern within the climate change discourse, is the nexus between migration, climate change (and environmental degradation), and conflict/violence. Whilst is has now been determined by most academics, that although climate change may not directly lead to conflict, research indicates that climate factors may exacerbate those issues that do directly drive conflict. In other words, the multiplicity of drivers that contribute to migration in the context of climate and environmental change and the dynamic interactions between them, may contribute to conflict. The below diagram by Bushby et. Al, (2014) illustrates the complex interplay of indicators related to vulnerability the security consequences of climate change (situations where large numbers of people could be at risk of death as a result of exposure to climate-related hazards, that may or may not escalate to conflict): please find table in this link.

Whilst the literature abounds with quantitative research on the influence that climate change has on civil wars such as the Syrian crisis and other violent conflicts , relatively less is know about resource-based and localised conflicts.

IOM’s Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD’s) Climate Prediction and Application centre (ICPAC) and in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s initiative under the ‘UN Comprehensive Regional Prevention Strategy for the Horn of Africa’ , have an interest in better identifying the drivers that contribute to climate security and understanding the degree to which different drivers influence the propensity for resource-based conflicts, with a focus on the IGAD region. This research is done in support of the 2019 Comprehensive Regional Prevention Strategy for the HoA which aims to enhance coordination between UN stakeholders and regional institutions such as IGAD and the AU. Specifically, the research contributes to the work of Pillar 4 of the ‘Prevention Strategy’, which seeks to improve the analysis of environmental risks, including climate-related security risks, in order to develop more conflict responsive programming and policy including for the sustainable management of natural resources.

The research will also contribute to providing a baseline of information, data and evidence for Pillar 1 of the MPTF Joint Programme (IOM, UNHCR, ILO with IGAD), particular into the expansion of the risk model to integrate conflict drivers. The MPTF Joint Programme seeks to better identify the drivers of migration to facilitate pathways for regular migration in the IGAD region and to minimize displacement caused by climate change and climate hazards. Pillar 1 of this project aims to provide national governments in the IGAD region with enhanced access to quality data and evidence on disaster displacement risk and other forms of human mobility. This research will also ensure close collaboration with other related initiatives such as the UNDP STRATA Project, which is creating a digital platform to determine where environmental and climate stresses are converging and contributing to increased risk of maladaptation, fragility, migration, and conflict; and with IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.

The definitions for ‘conflict’ vary widely in the literature and can include physical and non-physical conflict. The term conflict is also often used interchangeably with the terms; ‘violence’ and ‘violent conflict’ . For the purposes of this study, IOM sets the scope of the study to include all forms of non-physical (e.g. threats, coercion and tension) as well as physical conflict to include the use of weapons.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Division’s 2021-2030 Strategy seeks to promote a comprehensive, evidence and rights-based approach to migration in the context of environmental degradation, climate change and disasters, for the benefit of migrants and societies. It does this through three strategic objectives:

• By developing solutions for people to move.
• By developing solutions for people on the move.
• By developing solutions for people to stay.

The UN Comprehensive Regional Prevention Strategy for the Horn of Africa (HoA) has a long term goal of “Strengthening the regions’ resilience to crises and to build a prosperous, stable and peaceful region”, and a 5 year goal of “Supporting the region to improve interstate-state relations and sub-regional collaboration, and prevent new outbreaks of crises”. The strategy aims to “encourage joined-up action and coherence within the Secretariat and among agencies, funds and programmes that are active in the Horn of Africa [and] aims to galvanize consensus towards a prosperous, stable and peaceful region”. In particular, Pillar 4 of that strategy addresses sustainable natural resources management and climate adaptability/resilience and focusses on improving the analysis of environmental risks, including climate related security risks, leading to more consistent adoption of conflict-sensitive methodologies, trans-boundary water resources management, and transparent and accountable management of extractive resources.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Develop an inception report defining methodology, data sources, data tools, key stakeholders, deliverables and timeline.
2. Undertake a thorough desk review of the research and available data, programme/donor reports, policy and position papers, government documents and other evidence available to date on the migration, environment and climate change (MECC) and resources-based conflicts in the IGAD region.
3. Work with ICPALD to receive the necessary past, current and future climate data, IOM and other stakeholders for the migration data other relevant stakeholders for the necessary past, current and future conflict data.
4. Undertake interviews with relevant academic, IOM, UN, INGO, government stakeholders to help inform the study as necessary.
5. Develop the tools and methodology necessary for the research, particularly overlaying climate, migration and conflict data.
6. Produce a report, which describes the interplay of drivers that contributes to migration and conflict in the context of current and future predicted climate and environmental change in the IGAD region. The report must also contain a profile of current and predicted future ‘hot spots’ of climate/environmental change, migration and conflict using ICPAC’s climate predictions and the other variables identified as being key drivers. The report should include recommendations as to how the analysis can be regularly updated and fed into policy making and programmatic decision-making processes.

Please find table with tasks in this link.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

1. Submission of an acceptable inception report defining methodology, data collection tools, key stakeholders, deliverables and timeline.
2. Submission of a high-quality draft report deemed acceptable by IOM, ICPAC, UNEP and the OSE.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of an advanced university degree in social science with specialization on environmental science, migration studies, conflict studies, research methods, GIS with a focus on the African continent.
• At least 10 years of professional research and working experience.
• Solid, in-depth understanding of IOM’s mandate and work on migration or at least the UN system.
• Solid work experience in the IGAD region, in research on migration, conflict, environment and climate change.
• Track record of research and publications on migration, conflict, environment and climate change or preferably all three areas combined.
• Track record of effective coordination with multiple stakeholder for research.
• Ability to collate and synthesize a wide range of data from multiple sources and present it in an easily comprehensible, accurate and intelligible manner.
• Ability to analyse a wide range of data from multiple sources and present it in a comprehensibly summarized and intelligible manner.
• Ability to extract information from a wide range of data sources, analyse it and customize it in a succinct, relevant and well-defined manner, tailored to the needs of the research.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and extract relevant information from interviews in a focused and succinct manner.
• Ability to meet deadlines and contractual requirements in a timely manner.

Expertise and Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of research methodologies and processes, baseline assessment, monitoring & evaluation methodologies, GIS and fluent use of relevant programmes and software.
• Expert knowledge of migration, environment, climate change and conflict in the IGAD region.
• Expert knowledge of climate change, migration, conflict, adaptation, durable solutions and other policies, initiatives and conceptual frameworks in the IGAD region.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of research.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of general graphic design programmes (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop) as required for the report and good skills in report layout.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to write and review technical reports required.

Languages

Required: Excellent command of English (oral and written). Proficiency in French will be an advantage.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a technical and financial proposal with examples of past, relevant research on soft copies, CV and a cover letter indicating the Position Title and Vacancy Number with three professional referees (previous and current supervisors), and their contacts (both email and telephone) to International Organization for Migration (IOM), RO Human Resources Department, via e-mail: ronairobihrdrec@iom.int

CLOSING DATE: 24 February 2022

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Please click here for more details.