Egypt: Research Consultancy on New developments on the Central and Western Mediterranean Routes

Call for CV / Expression of Interest

Position Title : Research Consultancy on New Developments on the Central and Western Mediterranean Routes

Duty Station: IOM Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa in Cairo, Egypt (Home based)

Type of Appointment: Consultant Contract, two months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Core Functions / Responsibilities: \

1. SUMMARY **

The North Africa Mixed Migration Hub (MHub)[^1] seeks a research consultant to complete a study exploring and analyzing emerging and continuing trends on the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) and the Western Mediterranean Route (WMR) for the first half of 2018. The study will focus on evolving profiles, intentions, experiences and vulnerabilities of those on the move and attempting the journey to Italy and Spain, respectively.

[^1] The MHub is a knowledge hub within the IOM RO MENA. In its role as knowledge hub, the MHub collates data on flows and trends in mixed migratory movements in North Africa. It provides support to governments and other agencies on research on refugees and migrants, conducts in-house research and analysis. It also acts as secretariat to the North Africa Mixed Migration Task Force (NAMMTF) consisting of IOM, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNODC, DRC, RMMS and Save the Children.

2. BACKROUND AND RATIONALE

The plight of migrants and refugees from or transiting through North Africa to undertake increasingly protracted and fragmented journeys that in many cases end with perilous sea crossings to Europe has captured the international community’s attention since the onset of the ‘migrant/refugee crisis’ in 2015. Coverage and responses to the dramatic upsurge in mixed flows towards Europe have varied tremendously but what has remained constant is an acknowledgement of the magnitude of this unfolding phenomenon and the increasingly precarious situations those on the move find themselves in.

Those making the journey into Europe have done and continue to do so through three routes, the Eastern Mediterranean route (EMR) primarily from Turkey to Greece, the Central Mediterranean route (CMR), primarily from Libya to Italy, and the Western Mediterranean route (WMR) from Morocco to Spain, using in this instance both sea crossings as well as land crossings into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Irregular migration in the Mediterranean is very dynamic with numbers, demographics of those on the move constantly changing in response to regional policy and transnational political forces on flows. Changes in the patterns of movement along those three routes have demonstrated the essential need for time-sensitive, data driven insights.

The Central Mediterranean Route

A total of 181,436 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers made the journey to Italy in 2016 while a total of 119,369 made the journey in 2017. The numbers in 2018 have shown significant reductions to the numbers recorded in 2017 with only 17,827 successfully making the journey by mid July 2018. The introduction of various policies and operations in the Mediterranean have contributed, amongst other factors, to the decrease of arrivals to Italy. Such developments, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and Libya and Italy’s Code of Conduct for NGO rescue operations, saw a 34.2% decrease in arrivals to Italy in 2017 as compared to the previous year. Current number of arrivals this year point to a continued decrease of arrivals as compared to the previous year. As compared to the total arrivals by mid-July of 2017, there is an 80% decrease in arrivals this year.

Despite the decrease the CMR has witnessed, there is an increase of arrivals from a number of countries of origin pointing to the changing and evolving patterns of movements within these mixed migration flows. 2018 is seeing an increase in arrival of Eritreans. While 47 Eritreans arrived to Italy via the CMR in the first two months of 2017, 1,312 have arrived since January this year. There has also been a marked increase in the number of Tunisian and Pakistani arrivals as compared to the first two months of 2017. As compared to 82 in 2017, 1,060 Tunisians have arrived to Italy this year. Alternatively, there has been a significant decrease in the number of Nigerian arrivals, who constituted the largest population of arrivals in 2017. As compared to March last year, there has been a 78% decrease this year.

Another alarming development along the CMR is the increase in the death rate. While comparisons between the first three months of 2017 and 2018 may show that deaths dropped from 739 in 2017 to 359 this year, the rate of death along the CMR has actually increased. By March 2017, for every 1000 people who attempted the journey to Italy, 31 person had died; while at the same time this year, for every 1000 people who attempted the journey, 55 person had lost their lives in the Central Mediterranean.

The Western Mediterranean Route

While the number of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers using this route has been increasing slightly since 2014, there was a sharp jump of 54% between 2015 and 2016 and a tremendous surge of 171% between 2016 and 2017. This trend looks set to continue with arrivals in the first six months of this year 137% higher than figures for the same period this year. It should also be noted that sea arrival figures have been peaking in the second half of every year for the last four years so similar surges can be expected for this year. Increased movement along the route has been accompanied by an increase in the number of deaths, with the number of recorded deaths at sea jumping from 77 in 2016 to 212 in 2017, an almost threefold increase. Furthermore, nearly half as many migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have died at sea in the first two months of 2018 as in the entire year in 2017. The number of deaths recorded in the first six months of this year is 300% higher than the number of deaths recorded for the same period in 2017. These developments represent a drastic departure from recent patterns where the WMR has remained the least active of the three Mediterranean routes.

3. RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Aim: To explore trends on the CMR and the WMR for the first half of 2018 focusing on evolving profiles, intentions, experiences and vulnerabilities of those on the move and attempting the journey to Italy and Spain, respectively.

Objectives:

• To provide an overview of recent developments, trends and changes in mixed migration flows through the CMR and WMR.
• To identify and describe broad profiles of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers using the CMR and WMR.
• To identify the vulnerabilities and protection concerns of those moving through the two routes.

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What are the demographic characteristics of those interviewed/surveyed? If possible and different from wider migrant, refugee and asylum seeker population, what are the demographic characteristics of those most recently arrived in Italy? 

• How do migrants, refugees and asylum seekers describe and explain their motivations? How do these descriptions then fit in with or depart from ‘categories’ already in place in policy language?

• What were the routes taken by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers? 

• If and how motivations and intentions of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have changed along their journeys? What are their future plans? 

• What are the route-specific protection issues that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are facing?

• What sources of information do migrants, refugees and asylum seekers use in the decision-making process? What is the latest information being circulated between and amongst migrants, refugees and asylum seekers?

Required Qualifications and Experience

• University degree (Bachelor or Master) with demonstrated expertise or at least 5-10 years’ experience working on migration 
• Comprehensive knowledge of refugee, asylum seeker and migration issues 
• Proven experience in conducting mixed-method research from a human rights perspective 
• In-depth understanding of the North African and Mediterranean regions, especially in relation to migration 
• Ability to conduct research in an ethical and sensitive manner 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written reports in English 
• Proficiency in Arabic and/or French highly desirable

Required Competencies

• Professionalism - displays mastery of subject matter, excellent writing and editorial skills. 
• Performance Management – delivers timely, manages stress, and responds quickly to urgent requests. 
• Accountability – takes responsibility for action and manages constructive criticisms. 
• Technological Awareness - displays awareness of relevant technological solutions.

Other:

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this Call for CV is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.

A prerequisite for taking up the position is legal residency in the country of the duty station, and work permit, as applicable.

Application procedure:

Interested candidates are invited to submit to HRDCairo@iom.int a technical proposal which includes the following:

• CV

• Research proposal including proposed methodological approach (up to 3,000 words)

• Preliminary work plan with timeline, including total number of days required to complete deliverables

• Financial proposal including daily rate in USD and payment schedule

Please clearly indicate in the subject line of your email the position title and reference number "Research Consultancy on New developments on the Central and Western Mediterranean Routes, CFCV/RO/2018/04". Applications with no such indication in the subject line will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.