Terms of Reference for the selection of a consultant:

“Addressing the Needs of Stranded and Vulnerable Migrants in Targeted Sending, Transit and Receiving Countries”

Guidelines for the preliminary identification and referral mechanisms for migrants in vulnerable situations

Introduction

Morocco is a destination and transit country for migrants wishing to reach Europe and was the first North African country to sign a mobility partnership with the European Union in June 2013. The Ministry of Interior estimates that in 2013 between 25,000 and 40,000 irregular migrants (stranded and vulnerable) found themselves in Morocco with a majority coming from Western and Central Sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Nigeria. The Moroccan government undertook reforms with regards to its migration policy, notably through the development and revision of migration-related legislations (asylum, trafficking in human beings and immigration). In the same context, it also undertook a regularization process to allow certain irregular migrants in Morocco to regularize their status. However, some migrants are still in an irregular situation and lack the resources to return to their country of origin. These persons found themselves stranded and often in a situation of vulnerability facing harsh living conditions and a lack of resources to survive.

The IOM office in Morocco is currently working with the government and its partners to implement a migration management approach inclusive of protection issues. Since 2013, the government of Morocco contributes directly to IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR) for vulnerable and stranded migrants.

In this context, the European Union is currently funding a multi-country project, including Morocco, entitled “Addressing the Needs of Stranded and Vulnerable Migrants in Targeted Sending, Transit and Receiving countries.” One of the project’s objectives is to reinforce the capacities of governmental and non-governmental partners in Morocco and in the main sending countries in order to improve migration management,particularly return and reintegration processes. The project also aims to improve the protection of migrants’ rights.

Following a rapid needs assessment with regards to the training needs of governmental institutions (in Morocco and key sending countries) as well as civil society, it was recommended to address the theme of international migration law (IML) in particular with regards to return and reintegration as well as to lookat protection mechanisms for migrants. In this regard, IOM Morocco is seeking a consultant to produce preliminary guidelines on this topic.

Objectives of the consultancy

In the context of the Puebla Process, a Regional Conference on Migration in Central and North America,[1] member states drafted and adopted in 2015 ‘Regional Guidelines for the Preliminary Identification and Referral Mechanisms for Migrant Populations in Vulnerable Situations’.[2]This tool aims to better manage mixed-migration flows in the region while improving protection mechanisms for migrants’ rights. Some protection challenges faced in the region include: increase in unaccompanied migrant children (UMCs) flows; organized crime against migrants; and mixed migration flows which hinder the possibility to identify migrants’ vulnerabilities. Hence the guidelines are crucial in addressing those challenges.

Migration flows from West and Central Africa to Morocco present similar protection challenges. Indeed, in recent years, UMCs flows to the country have increased, trafficking and smuggling networks are ever-present throughout the migration routes, and the mixed-migration flows also hinder the possibility to identify migrants’ vulnerabilities. This is why IOM seeks to prepare guidelines,to replicate and adapt the ones created in the context by the Puebla Process by: 1) Conducting an in-depth literature and legal review in Morocco and the main countries of origin, namely Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Nigeria, to serve as the basis for the guidelines;and 2) participate in a training workshop for key governmental and non-governmental actors from Morocco, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Nigeria in October 2016 in Rabat in order to present and validate the guidelines.

1.Guidelines

  1. Based on the Puebla Process Guidelines, conduct a regional literature and legal review of existing protection mechanisms in Morocco and the main countries of origin
  2. Map-out existing good practices, in particular cooperation mechanisms (i.e. Rabat process) and South-South collaboration, in the field of identification and referral of migrants in a vulnerable situation in Morocco and the main countries of origin.
  3. Conduct in-depth interviews with key migration management actors in Morocco and in the main countries of origin
  4. On the basis of the above research and the existing Puebla Process Guidelines, prepare guidelines for the identification and referral of vulnerable migrants in Morocco and the main countries of origin.

i)Training workshop

  1. Participate in the training workshop to be organized in October 2016in Rabat and present the preliminary guidelines
  2. Adapt the guidelines based on the inputs received during the training workshop
  3. Prepare a short summary of the training workshop and its main outcome

Deliverables

Final guidelines in Frenchconsisting of max 30 pages (excluding annexes) will be handed to IOM Morocco on 30 November 2016.

A training workshop on return management and reintegration models will be organized by IOM Morocco in October 2016 (TBC).

A brief summary of the training workshop of 8 pages (excluding annexes) will be submitted to IOM Morocco a week following the training workshop.

Timeline

The consultancy will take place from 1 September to 30 November 2016. Draft guidelines will be handed to IOM on 15 October 2016. Following the comments received by IOM and training participants, the consultant will submit the final version on 30 November 2016.

The consultant will also be responsible for presenting preliminary guidelines during the training workshop.

Qualifications and required competencies

  • Have a postgraduate degree in international Have a good understanding of migration issues, in particular migrants’ rights, and some knowledge of the migratory context in Morocco and/or West Africa. Knowledge of IOM’s AVRR programme is an advantage.
  • 5 to 10 years professional experience on migration issues.
  • Experience with a governmental and/or non-governmental organizations is an advantage.
  • Good knowledge of French and English (written and spoken). Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.
  • Analytical skills as well as communication skills with a wide array of actors

Interested candidates should send their CV as well as a methodological note to the following address indicating in the subject of the email “Guidelines for the preliminary identification and referral mechanisms for migrants in vulnerable situations’ by 17 August 2016 at midnight.

Previous applicants do not need to re-apply. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

For further information, please contact:

The International Organization for Migration - IOM Rabat, Morocco

11, rue Aït Ourir, « Pinède », Souissi, Rabat - Maroc • Tel: +212 (0)5 37 65 28 81 • Fax: +212 (0)5 37 75 85 40

• Email: • morocco.iom.int

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