Route Based Assessment and Analysis Consultant

Position details

• Vacancy type: Consultancy
• Recruiting type: Consultant
• Contract type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
• Initial contract duration: 10 months
• Office or unit: Regional Office
• Location: Panama City, Panama
• Application deadline: 2026-11-14T04:55:00+00:00

Context

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

IOM is implementing the AECID-funded project, covering Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and regional-level coordination. The project seeks to contribute to improved safety, protection and sustainable reintegration for migrants returning south along the Central American-Andean corridor. Under Outcome 1, the project aims to ensure that migrants returning south in transit have improved access to protection services and reliable information along key points of the route. Output 1.1 focuses on improving understanding of protection needs and risks to inform programming along the route.

As part of this output, IOM will implement protection-centred assessments at key sites along the route to generate up-to-date evidence on route characteristics, migrant experiences, protection needs and risks. The assessment will pay specific attention to indications of trafficking in persons, gender-based violence, and other protection concerns affecting migrants in transit and return movements. The assessments will be harmonized across the four countries of implementation with support from IOM’s Regional Data Hub. They will inform: protection risk mapping; the composition of mobile protection team services; information shared with governments and stakeholders; and the design of humanitarian assistance packages. The consultant will support the full assessment cycle, including methodology development, field organization, coordination of data collection in the four countries, data quality assurance, analysis, validation and preparation of a route-based analysis report targeting decision-makers in policy, protection and humanitarian response.  

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and secondary technical supervision of the Regional Thematic Specialist (Data and Analysis), the consultant will:

A. Assessment Design and Preparation

• Develop assessment methodology and tools.

• Develop country data collection plans.

• Train and support field teams.

B. Field Coordination and Data Collection

• Coordinate and supervise data collection across the four countries.

• Conduct selected KIIs/FGDs and support mission-level implementation.

• Ensure adherence to quality and protection standards.

C. Data Analysis and Validation

• Consolidate and analyze data.

• Produce country and regional findings.

• Facilitate validation with missions and technical teams.

D. Reporting

• Produce draft and final route-based analysis report.

• Prepare dissemination materials and presentations.

 Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master's degree from an accredited academic institution in:

- Migration Studies;

- International Development;

- Social Sciences;

- International Relations;

- Human Rights;

- Statistics;

- Demography;

- Public Policy;

- or related field.

Experience

Required:

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing mixed-methods assessments.
• Proven experience conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Experience working on protection-related topics including GBV, trafficking in persons, child protection and mixed migration. 
• Experience producing high-quality analytical reports for humanitarian or policy audiences.
• Experience working with UN agencies, international organizations or NGOs.

 Desirable:

• Previous experience with IOM DTM methodologies.
• Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Familiarity with route-based approaches to migration programming.

Skills

• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders across countries and time zones.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills. 

Languages

For this consultancy, English and Spanish proficiency 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.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies