TERMS OF REFERENCE
GEOGRAPHER (OR SPECIALIST IN OTHER RELEVANT FIELD)
1. Nature of the consultancy: Research services on migration and environment to officials of the
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and to IOM Mission in Kyrgyzstan.
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Context: The IOM Mission in Kyrgyzstan in launching a research project aiming to further the
understanding of the complex relationships between migration dynamics, the environment and climate
change in Kyrgyzstan. The main goal of this interdisciplinary research is to contribute to the reduction
of vulnerability of Kyrgyzstan’s population to the risks and dangers associated to environmental
migration. It contains three components: 1) Geophysical; 2) Socio-demographic and 3) Policy
analysis. Its objectives are as follows:
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Identify the present and future destination areas of environmental migration, the number of
environmental migrants they are expected to receive and assess their receiving capacity
Identify the present and future areas of origin of environmental migration and propose disaster risk
reduction (DRR) measures to prevent forced movements
Establish the socio-economic and demographic profiles of environmental migrants and understand
how migration is used as an adaptation strategy (and how this differs for different groups)
Evaluate the capacity of local, regional and national government bodies in dealing with environmental
migration, including its preparedness and efforts made in terms of DRR
Make available the research findings to inform policy making and generate policy-oriented
recommendations for the management of environmental and climate related migration in origin and
destination areas, including concrete measures for preparedness and DRR
Promote future research and expertise – including capacity building measures – on the theme of
environment, climate change and migration
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Objective of consultancy: contribute to the successful implementation of the IOM led research project
“Assessing the Current and Future Dynamics of Environmental Migration for Enhanced Policy
Making in Kyrgyzstan”, by fulfilling the tasks related to the Geophysical Component.
Target:
- Completion of the Geophysical Component (GC) of the above mentioned research;
- Presentations of research findings in several events (details below).
2. IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing:
“Assessing the Current and Future Dynamics of Environmental Migration for Enhanced Policy
Making in Kyrgyzstan”
Headquarters:
17 route des Morillons • C.P. 71 • CH-1211 Geneva 19 • Switzerland
Tel: +41.22.717 91 11 • Fax: +41.22.798 61 50 • E-mail: hq@iom.int • Internet: http://www.iom.int
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3. Tasks to be performed under this contract:
The Geographer, in close collaboration with a recruited environmental specialist and under the
supervision of the Principal Investigator and of IOM Project Manager, will be responsible for
fulfilling the tasks related to the Geophysical Component of the research, which contains two subcomponents: 1) Areas of origin of environmental migration and 2) Areas of destination of
environmental migration. These sub-components involve the following objectives and tasks:
1) Areas of origin of environmental migration
Objective: Establish the mapping of vulnerable populations expected to suffer increased pressure to
migrate due to the impacts of environmental factors and climate change in the studied regions (Chuy
and Osh). This involves the following tasks:
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Select indicators to assess the vulnerability of populations to environmental out-migration. The
focus will be on changes in these indicators and how these changes are expected to affect the
decision to migrate at the individual and household levels.
Identify, gather and compile existing relevant data for the selected indicators;
Establish an adapted methodology for collecting data related to the indicators (which should take
into consideration the limited financial resources of the project);
Based on the selected indicators, develop an index/model to identify the areas most vulnerable to
out-migration;
Identify the characteristics of the identified vulnerable areas;
Based on that model and on available data about climate change (and possibly other relevant
environmental factors) establish scenario-based predictions (5, 10 and 20 years) about the number
of expected out-migrants for identified vulnerable areas (since many socio-economic factors
intervene in such an analysis, this task will be done in cooperation with researchers responsible for
the socio-demographic component);
Identify potential DRR measures to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental and climate
factors on forced migration.
2) Areas of destinations of environmental migration
Objective: Identify the expected areas of destination of environmental migration in the two studied
regions and propose measures to increase their “receiving capacity”, as well as potential resettlement
strategies. This involves the following tasks:
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Gather and compile existing relevant data for the identification of destination areas of environmental
migration;
Identify the expected areas of destination for environmental migration. (Since many socio-economic
factors intervene in such an analysis, this task will be done in cooperation with researchers responsible
for the socio-demographic component);
Identify the expected number of incoming migrants for each identified areas, in a scenario-based
approach (5, 10 and 20 years);
Select indicators for evaluating the “receiving capacity” of destination areas, both urban and rural
Based on the selected indicators, develop an index/model to evaluate this “receiving capacity” and
assess it for identified areas of destination;
Propose measures to increase the “receiving capacity” of identified areas of destination;
Identify potential resettlement strategies.
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Additional tasks:
- Undertake duty trips (tentatively three or four) to gather data and conduct the research protocol;
- Attend to coordination meetings when necessary;
- Participate to the following events:
o Research validation meeting (November 2015)
o Round-table and public lecture on research findings (May 2016)
o Press-conference on research findings (July 2016)
4. Tangible and measurable output of the work assignment.
- Research methodology for the GC – draft research methodology
- Active participation in the validation process of the research methodology – validated research
methodology
- Fulfilling the tasks related to the four sub-components (details above) – draft research text
- Revision and correction of the research text of the GC – final research text
- Participation in the presentations of the final findings of the research to end-users (see “additional
tasks” above) – presentations in above mentioned events
5.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Realistic delivery dates and details as to how the work must be delivered:
Preliminary/exploratory research ideas and methodology of the GC formulated – 18 September 2015
First draft of methodology developed – 23 October 2015
Methodology tested and validated – 14 November 2015
First draft of the GC –13 May 2016
Participation in public presentations of the research findings related to the GC – 25 May 2016
Final GC research text (revised and corrected with inputs of stakeholders gathered during presentations)
f)
– 17 June 2016
g) Participation to the press-conference to present the research findings related to the GC – 20 July 2016
6. Performance indicators for evaluation of results (value of services rendered in relation to their cost).
- Drafted research methodology for the GC;
- Validated, finalized research methodology;
- Draft text of the GC;
- Final text of the GC;
- Properly prepared presentations of findings related to the GC.
7. Technical and behavioural requirements:
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Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation, and promotes the
prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA);
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Effectively interfaces with government officials of appropriate level on matters related to substantive
migration issues and the work of IOM;
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Effectively applies knowledge of migration issues within organizational context;
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Correctly frames migration issues within their regional, global, and political context;
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8. Education and experience:
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Advanced University Degree in Geography and/or other relevant field;
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At least 5 years of experience on conducting research;
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Excellent analytical skills;
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Understanding of migration and environment nexus and related challenges;
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Experience in working at or with international organizations is an asset.
9. Languages:
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Russian – Professional proficiency
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English – Good knowledge an asset
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Other languages – an advantage