Independent External Consultant

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. 

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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

As a country of origin, transit and destination, Nigeria faces complex border-management challenges linked to high mobility and evolving migration dynamics, including risks related to irregular migration, trafficking in persons, smuggling and other forms of transnational organized crime. To address these challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), adopted the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) as the country’s Border Management Information System (BMIS). Following disruption to synchronization between Points of Entry (PoEs) and the central server at Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters, the project was designed to restore and strengthen data integration, synchronization and management, while improving forensic document examination capacity.

The project, “Strengthening the Capacity of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Border Security and Management,” runs from October 2024 to September 2026, with a total budget of USD 600,000, and is generously funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The intervention is implemented by IOM Nigeria in partnership with NIS and other key national stakeholders. Direct beneficiaries include NIS and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, while indirect beneficiaries are migrants and travellers crossing Nigeria’s international borders. The project covers NIS Headquarters and three international airports: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; and Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Rivers State.

The project objective is to enhance NIS institutional capacity through support for improved MIDAS data integration and synchronisation as well as enhance knowledge on forensic document examinations for border officials at three (3) targeted PoEs to facilitate migration while combating transnational organized crimes. The project has two outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Enhanced institutional capacity of NIS through improved MIDAS data management, equipment and border infrastructure support.

• Output 1.1: Improved MIDAS data integration and synchronization through strengthening border infrastructure at three selected air borders in Nigeria, namely Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos international airports. 

• Output 1.2: Enhanced knowledge and understanding of migration data by NIS officials at these three international airports to guide operational and policy decision-making processes.

• Outcome 2: Enhanced capacities of NIS officials in forensic document examination processes at targeted PoEs and NIS Headquarters.

• Output 2.1 NIS officials have the technical tools and operational capacity to conduct forensic document examination at 3 target Points of Entry (PoE).

Key activities include needs assessments; procurement, deployment and installation of hardware, power, networking, software, firewalls and VPN-related infrastructure; MIDAS Performance Monitoring Assessments; migration data-management training; a study visit and training-of-trainers process; development of a forensic document examination curriculum; peer-to-peer step-down training; review of standard operating procedures; and provision of forensic document examination devices. Evaluation scope

3.1 Temporal scope

The evaluation will cover the full 24-month implementation period and all project components from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026.

3.2 Geographic scope

NIS Headquarters, Abuja 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos

Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Rivers State.

3.3 Substantive scope

The evaluation will cover the project’s full results chain and all major intervention components, including MIDAS data integration and synchronization, migration data-management capacity-building, and forensic document examination support. It will also examine project design and implementation, partnership and coordination arrangements, monitoring and risk management, and prospects for institutional and operational sustainability.

Strengthening the Capacity of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Border Security and Management/ WBL : IB0455-NG10-E141016

All deliverables will be prepared in English, follow applicable IOM templates, the IOM House Style Manual, and the IOM Brand Guidelines, and be submitted in editable electronic format. Acceptance is subject to IOM quality review.

• Advanced university degree in monitoring and evaluation, information systems, computer science, migration studies, statistics, international relations, public administration or a related field. A first-level degree combined with substantial additional relevant experience may be 

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in project evaluation, institutional assessment, performance evaluation or monitoring and evaluation for government, international organizations or donor-funded programmes.

• Demonstrated experience using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, evaluation matrices, indicator verification, triangulation and evidence-based reporting.

• Knowledge of border management information systems, MIDAS, migration data management, border security operations, forensic document examination or related information systems is a strong asset.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating the operational functionality, utilization, maintenance and sustainability of ICT-supported systems, infrastructure or equipment.

• Experience integrating gender equality, human rights, inclusion, ethics and data protection in evaluations.

• Ability to work independently with diverse stakeholders and willingness to travel within Nigeria.

• Absence of any actual or perceived conflict of interest in relation to project design or implementation;

• Excellent analytical, facilitation, presentation and English report-writing skills.

• Knowledge of Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or another relevant local language considered an asset.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating the operational functionality, utilization, maintenance and sustainability of ICT-supported systems, infrastructure or equipment.
• Experience integrating gender equality, human rights, inclusion, ethics and data protection in evaluations.
• Ability to work independently with diverse stakeholders and willingness to travel within Nigeria.
• Absence of any actual or perceived conflict of interest in relation to project design or implementation;
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, presentation and English report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or another relevant local language considered an asset.

English

Knowledge of Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or another relevant local language considered an asset.

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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