National Consultant to Assessment of IOM Livelihood/Community-Based Reintegration Interventions in East Hararghe, Ethiopia

Introduction

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency on migration. It works closely with governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, providing services, technical assistance, and policy advice to both migrants and States.

In Ethiopia, IOM supports the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to reduce protection risks and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable populations. Its programming is guided by a rights-based approach that prioritizes safety, dignity, and accountability, while ensuring meaningful participation of affected individuals and communities. IOM is also committed to upholding child safeguarding principles and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse across all its interventions.

Within this framework, the Protection Unit plays a central role in ensuring that the rights, safety, and dignity of migrants and displaced populations are upheld through a “do no harm” approach. It delivers both mainstreamed and specialized protection services, including child protection, prevention and response to gender-based violence, mental health and psychosocial support, counter-trafficking assistance, and support to vulnerable migrants through return and reintegration programmes. In addition, the unit strengthens national systems by building the capacity of government and partners, supporting policy development, enhancing referral mechanisms, and engaging communities to reduce protection risks and promote safer migration.

East Hararghe is one of Ethiopia’s major migration-prone areas along the Eastern migration route, characterized by recurrent irregular migration, return migration, youth unemployment, limited livelihood opportunities, climate-related shocks, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. To address these challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with government institutions, implementing partners, and local communities, has implemented a range of livelihood, community-based reintegration (CBR), and individual reintegration interventions aimed at improving economic self-reliance, strengthening community resilience, and promoting sustainable reintegration of returnees. These interventions have included the establishment and support of cooperatives, provision of livelihood assets and entrepreneurship and skills training, community infrastructure support, business development initiatives, and individual economic reintegration assistance across several woredas of East Hararghe.

Over the years, these interventions have contributed to improved access to livelihood opportunities in target areas and enhanced community involvement in reintegration processes. However, recent monitoring findings, field observations, and stakeholder consultations indicate that several cooperatives and livelihood initiatives are facing challenges related to profitability, operational functionality, governance, member participation, access to finance, market linkages, and long-term sustainability after the completion of IOM interventions. In addition, infrastructure limitations such as inadequate access to electricity, water, transportation, and communication services continue to constrain the growth and competitiveness of some livelihood initiatives. Furthermore, under the upcoming interventions, IOM is keen to ensure local socio-economic contexts, livelihood systems, migration dynamics, and market opportunities, as well as the degree of coordination and integration among relevant IOM units and external stakeholders including the local government are taken into consideration during intervention design and implementation.

Against this backdrop, the proposed assessment seeks to generate evidence on the livelihood and socio-economic context of East Hararghe, including existing livelihood zones, business opportunities, priority sectors, migration and re-migration dynamics, and community knowledge, attitudes, and practices that may influence reintegration outcomes. The assessment will examine the root causes of prior underperformance, assess the viability and sustainability of existing livelihood and cooperative models, identify feasible and scalable CBR business approaches for returnees and host communities, document lessons learned and good practices, and provide practical recommendations to strengthen future programming, sustainability strategies, and investment decisions aimed at achieving durable reintegration outcomes in East Hararghe.
The consultant will be responsible to assess the socio-economic and livelihood context of East Hararghe and evaluate the performance, viability, sustainability, and effectiveness of community-based and individual reintegration interventions and identify factors that promote or hinder sustainable reintegrationto inform future livelihood programming and investment decisions. Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator (Protection), the consultant will work in close coordination with the MEAL Team and other technical focal points, as required. The consultant will be responsible for carrying out the assignment in line with IOM standards, guidelines, and timelines, and will provide regular updates on progress throughout the consultancy period. All deliverables produced under this consultancy shall be submitted to IOM Ethiopia for review, feedback, and approval.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education
Advanced university degree (master’s degree preferred) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, Economics, Public Administration, Migration Studies, Humanitarian Studies, or other related fields.

Experience
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience for candidates with a Master's degree, or 10 years for candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting protection assessments, research studies, evaluations, and baseline assessments.
• Proven experience in livelihood, reintegration, and protection programming.
• Previous work experience in East Hararghe is highly desirable.
• Experience collaborating with implementing partners, government counterparts, and protection, reintegration, and humanitarian actors.
• Prior experience working with UN agencies, particularly IOM, is an advantage.

Skills
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Quantitative and qualitative research expertise.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Travel required

The primary duty station for the assignment will be Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with possible travel to with field travel to assessment sites in East Hararghe, Oromia Region, subject to the agreed methodology, institutional authorization and operational requirements. All travel arrangements must be coordinated with IOM in advance.

Document required

Technical and Financial Proposal to be submitted along with the application

Languages: Fluency in English, Afaan Oromoo, and Amharic is required to effectively conduct interviews, facilitate discussions, and engage with diverse stakeholders throughout the assessment process.

Ethical Considerations
The consultant will adhere to humanitarian and safeguarding principles throughout the assessment process, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the protection of personal data. Data collection will be conducted in a gender-sensitive, inclusive, and respectful manner, in full compliance with applicable data protection and ethical standards.

Required Competencies

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

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.

Notes

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.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

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.

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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