Fellow/Expert to Support Agency of Statistics in National Migration Survey

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

Kosovo has a dynamic and highly skilled diaspora that represents an important source of knowledge, expertise, financial resources and social capital. This potential can make a significant contribution to institutional development, policy reform and the alignment of Kosovo’s systems and practices with European Union standards.

The project “Leveraging the Potential of Diaspora to Advance EU Accession and Labour Mobility in the Western Balkans” is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. One of the key components of the project is the Fellowship Programme, which provides an opportunity for highly qualified members of the diaspora to contribute their professional expertise within key public institutions in Kosovo.

Through the Fellowship Programme, fellows provide targeted technical and professional support aimed at strengthening institutional capacities, facilitating knowledge transfer and supporting reforms aligned with national priorities and Kosovo’s European integration process. Within this framework, the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS) has identified a need for specialised support in the field of migration statistics, particularly in relation to the preparation and implementation of the National Migration Survey of Kosovo.

Within its mandate to produce, process and publish official statistics, KAS is conducting the National Migration Survey of Kosovo for the first time. The survey is intended to generate reliable, harmonised and internationally comparable data on migration and to strengthen the evidence base available for policymaking, statistical reporting and institutional planning. Given the methodological complexity of such an exercise and the need to ensure alignment with international and European statistical standards, additional professional and technical expertise is required to complement the capacities available within KAS.

The survey aims to establish a sustainable statistical basis for measuring and analysing the main characteristics of international migration of Kosovo’s population. This includes the demographic, social and economic characteristics of migrants and their families, migration flows, migrant profiles, reasons for migration, links with the country of origin, and the broader impact of migration on Kosovo’s demographic structure and socio-economic development.

The findings of the National Migration Survey of Kosovo are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary migration trends and of the push and pull factors influencing migration decisions. The survey will also provide an important source of data for national and international reporting and will complement existing administrative and statistical data sources.

The assignment will support KAS throughout the methodological design, preparation, implementation and quality-assurance stages of the National Migration Survey. Technical support will cover, as applicable, the survey concept and implementation plan, methodology and sample design, questionnaire, methodological guidelines and implementation manual, training and fieldwork preparation, operational planning, quality assurance and reporting. Particular attention will be given to the harmonisation of migration concepts, terminology, indicators and statistical methodologies with relevant international and European standards and practices, including Eurostat, the European Statistical System and relevant United Nations recommendations.

The technical support will be provided through complementary expertise. The Local Expert will provide overall technical leadership and coordination of the assignment, including adaptation of the methodological approach to the national context, consolidation of technical contributions and coordination of the preparation and finalisation of the survey outputs. The Diaspora Expert/Fellow will provide specialised international and comparative expertise, methodological peer review, quality assurance and knowledge-transfer support. Both experts will work in close consultation with KAS, while their specific responsibilities, deliverables and performance indicators will be defined separately in their respective Terms of Reference to ensure clear accountability and avoid duplication of functions.

Through this complementary approach, the assignment is expected not only to support the successful preparation and implementation of the National Migration Survey, but also to strengthen KAS's institutional and methodological capacities for the sustainable production, analysis and use of high-quality migration statistics in accordance with relevant international and European standards.
 

The Diaspora Expert/Fellow shall provide targeted international technical advice, methodological review and knowledge-transfer support during survey preparation and implementation. Working under the overall technical coordination of the Local Expert and in consultation with KAS, the Fellow shall contribute to staff capacity building, advise on methodological challenges arising during implementation and support technical consultations with relevant stakeholders. These contributions shall complement the Local Expert’s responsibility for coordinating implementation support and shall include:

• Reviewing draft training materials and providing recommendations based on relevant international survey practices and, where agreed with the Local Expert and KAS, contributing to selected training sessions on specialised methodological topics.
• Providing targeted methodological advice during the data collection phase, including reviewing specific methodological or implementation challenges referred by the Local Expert or KAS and recommending possible solutions based on international and comparative experience.
• Providing technical input to materials and presentations prepared for the introductory and consultative conference/roundtable, particularly regarding international standards, comparative practices and methodological considerations.
• Supporting knowledge transfer to the Local Expert and relevant KAS staff through the sharing and explanation of international methodological approaches, tools, standards and relevant comparative experiences.
• Providing specialised technical advice, as required, on matters relating to international comparability, migration statistics methodology and relevant European and international statistical practices.
• Participating in technical consultations with the Local Expert and KAS at key stages of survey preparation and implementation, as agreed under the assignment.

The Diaspora Expert/Fellow will provide an international methodological quality-assurance function during the final stages of the assignment, with particular emphasis on international comparability, methodological consistency and transfer of international good practices. This will include:

• Conducting a methodological review of relevant issues identified during survey implementation and providing written recommendations aimed at strengthening data quality, consistency and methodological robustness.
• Reviewing the application of migration terminology, definitions, indicators and methodological approaches against relevant Eurostat, European Statistical System, UN and other applicable international standards and practices and identifying any remaining gaps or inconsistencies.
• Reviewing relevant methodological components of periodic reports and the draft final consultancy report and providing targeted technical comments and recommendations.
• Providing final written methodological observations and recommendations concerning the quality, reliability and international comparability of the National Migration Survey.

• University degree in social sciences, sociology, demography, migration studies, economics, statistics or other related fields.

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

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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