About The Role

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

The Migration, Data and Research Unit (Displacement Tracking Matrix, DTM) of IOM Mauritania holds an unusually rich data ecosystem: mobility tracking including multi-sectoral location assessments, flow monitoring points, migrant presence and profile surveys, a climate vulnerability assessment, the transhumance tracking tool, protection screening, the assisted voluntary return and reintegration programme, incident monitoring, and thematic studies, including an ongoing survey on the working conditions of migrant workers in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Rosso and Zouérate. Data on maritime departures along the Atlantic route are held by IOM missions in Senegal and the Gambia. No consolidated analysis has yet connected these sources around a single reading: that of migration routes.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

Migration, Data and Research Unit (Displacement Tracking Matrix), IOM Mauritania.

Tasks to be performed under this contract

The consultancy runs from 1 October to 15 December 2026. It is home-based and paid by deliverable; the consultant organises their own working time, subject to the delivery dates below. The consolidated database is prepared and handed over by the IOM DTM team, and final map production is carried out by IOM from the consultant's specifications. The consultant's work covers analysis and editorial production.

1. Inception and assessment of sources (1 to 14 October 2026)

Review the documentation of each source and assess the consolidated database handed over by the DTM team: geographic and temporal coverage, available granularity, consistency between sources, breaks in series and known limitations. Harmonise the geographic and administrative references across sources, including those originating from other countries. Set out the analytical framework and the analysis plan.

Deliverable 1, by 14 October: inception report, comprising the source inventory, the coverage assessment, the methodological note and the analysis plan.

2. Construction and analysis (15 October to 18 November 2026)

Build the route graph: corridors, entry and exit points, transit, gathering and waiting nodes, maritime departure points, ranked by function and volume. Build the origin-destination matrix of segments, documenting seasonality and recent changes. Produce the analytical layers and specify each map required for the Snapshot: variables, symbology, extent, scale and level of aggregation. These specifications are provided to IOM by 4 November at the latest, so that map production can begin.

Measure immobilisation at each node by comparing intended and actual length of stay. Identify tipping points, meaning the nodes where stated travel intentions change significantly. Build a risk profile by segment, drawing on protection screening data, documented incidents and survey declarations, so that the resulting reading is route-based rather than administrative. Analyse the exposure of routes and localities to climate hazards, and the interaction between pastoral and migratory mobility. Reconstruct the chronology of route reconfigurations. Extend the analysis beyond Mauritania's borders using flow monitoring and maritime departure data from Senegal, the Gambia, Mali and other countries in the DTM network, in order to reconstruct upstream segments and estimate travel times between countries.

Every analytical product, table and figure is disaggregated by sex, age including unaccompanied minors, nationality and disability status wherever numbers allow without risk of re-identification. From early November, and in parallel with the analysis, build the layout template and visual system for the Snapshot.

Deliverable 2, by 18 November: analytical package, comprising the route graph, the origin-destination matrix, the analytical layers and the interim analytical report presenting the route mapping, the immobilisation index and the risk profile by segment.

3. Editorial production (19 November to 2 December 2026)

Integrate the maps produced by IOM and lay out the Snapshot to professional standard, in Adobe InDesign or Microsoft PowerPoint, in line with IOM's visual identity and DTM standards.

Deliverable 3, by 2 December: Migration Route Snapshot Mauritania, a 20-page publication in French, delivered as a high-resolution print PDF, a lightweight PDF for online distribution, and the complete source package including the native layout file, fonts, links, vector illustrations and editable maps.

4. Closure (3 to 15 December 2026)

Write the analytical report. Present the findings at a restitution session and integrate the comments received. Hand over the reproduction kit enabling IOM to produce subsequent editions in house.

Deliverable 4, by 15 December: analytical report of 30 to 40 pages excluding annexes, together with the reproduction kit and restitution pack, comprising a documented layout template, a library of styles and cartographic symbols, commented analysis scripts, a step-by-step procedure, an indicator dictionary and a ready-to-use presentation for the national workshop.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

All four deliverables are submitted by their due dates and formally accepted by the Migration, Data and Research Unit of IOM Mauritania.
The analysis is genuinely route-based: results are presented by segment and by node rather than by administrative unit, and the risk profile in particular follows route geography.
Findings are systematically disaggregated by sex, age including unaccompanied minors, nationality and disability status wherever numbers allow; where disaggregation is not possible, the reason is stated.
The Snapshot is of publication quality: 20 pages in French, professionally laid out, consistent with IOM's visual identity and DTM standards, and ready for dissemination without further rework.
The reproduction kit enables the DTM unit to produce the following edition in house, without the consultant: the commented scripts run on the consolidated database and return the published figures, and the layout template is documented. The durability of the product is assessed on the same footing as its analytical and graphic quality.
The analytical report states the coverage limits of each source and presents no multi-year trend drawn from a single-round source.
Data protection is observed throughout: no individual or nominative data appear in any deliverable, and no result is presented at a level of disaggregation allowing re-identification, in particular for protection incidents and maritime departure points.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master's degree in statistics, demography, geography, data science, migration studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution, with five years of relevant professional experience; or University degree in the above fields from an accredited academic institution, with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

At least five years of experience in the analysis of migration or displacement data, ideally with IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix or an equivalent system.
Demonstrated experience in multi-source quantitative and spatial analysis, including the design of data collection instruments, data quality assessment, and the production of analytical layers and map specifications.
Demonstrated experience in producing publication-quality editorial products and in handling sensitive data in compliance with data protection frameworks. Knowledge of migration dynamics in West and North Africa, of the Route-Based Approach and of the Mauritanian context is a strong advantage.

Skills

Advanced command of multi-source quantitative analysis (Python or R, SQL)
Strong data visualisation and data storytelling skills.
Ability to produce a professionally designed editorial product in Adobe InDesign or Microsoft PowerPoint, in line with a visual identity. The candidate encloses at least one published document whose layout they produced; failing this competence, they include a graphic designer in their offer, with profile and cost explicitly presented.

Languages

For this consultancy, For this consultancy, excellent written French is required.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

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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