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

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

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

    

2. Duration of Consultancy: Three (3) months, subject to the medical clearance

3. Nature of the consultancy: Consultancy to conduct the Regional Study on Smuggling of Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa: Strengthening Data Systems and Enhancing Regional Cooperation.

       Category B Consultant

Smuggling of migrants is an increasingly complex and under‑documented dimension of mobility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The region functions simultaneously as an origin, transit, and destination hub for mixed migration flows, yet national data ecosystems remain fragmented, inconsistent, and unable to provide a consolidated regional understanding. Existing data systems rely predominantly on administrative or law‑enforcement reporting, which captures only a narrow portion of smuggling dynamics and often overlooks broader elements such as shifting routes, operational modalities, demand factors, and the influence of socioeconomic and geopolitical contexts.

National institutions across MENA use different definitions, indicators, methodologies, and reporting practices, resulting in major gaps in comparability and interoperability. Limited coordination between agencies and constrained analytical capacity further impede effective policymaking, operational planning, and cross‑border cooperation. Strengthening national data governance systems, improving harmonization, and building regional coherence are essential steps to reinforce evidence‑based responses to smuggling.

The study will also assess the extent to which information on regular migration pathways—including labour mobility schemes, family reunification procedures, student and training visas, and humanitarian/resettlement programmes—is collected and integrated into national migration data systems. Improving the capture and comparability of regular pathway data is critical, as limited access to safe and predictable channels may indirectly influence reliance on smuggling networks.

Gender will be incorporated as a cross‑cutting analytic dimension to ensure that smuggling‑related vulnerabilities and protection concerns are examined inclusively, without shifting the central focus of the study. The findings will provide concrete, actionable recommendations to strengthen data governance, institutional coordination, and regional cooperation mechanisms.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

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