Research Consultant on Identification, Referral and Matching Working Group At International Catholic Migration Commission

BACKGROUND

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) serves and protects uprooted people, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality (www.icmc.net). ICMC operates the ICMC-UNHCR deployment scheme (link), via a roster of experts that interview refugees and assess their needs and capacities to identify the best third-country solution; preparing the resettlement registration forms for third countries and assist refugees to access other pathways for admission to third countries, such as humanitarian visas and family reunification.

Established in March 2012 and led by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Europe based in Brussels, the SHARE Network provides a Europe-wide platform for mutual exchange and learning amongst regional and local actors to foster welcome.

ICMC Europe/SHARE Network is a partner of the project EU-PASSWORLD: Widening Complementary Pathways linked to Community Sponsorship in Europe, led by Caritas Italiana, implemented from January 2022 until December 2024 and funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

The project promotes Complementary Pathways (CPs) for people in need of protection and their further integration by bringing together a unique multi-stakeholder consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Governments, Universities and UNHCR offices leading the work on Community Sponsorship (CS) and CPs to design, pilot and implement innovative policies, practices and tools that foster the linkage between the two. The project will develop activities in Italy, Belgium, and Ireland, that have committed to design policies for Labour and Education CP for people in need of international protection and implement programs that, whilst different forms, will be centred on linking legal pathways to community engagement (community sponsorships). Through the involvement of relevant Networks (UNHCR, Refugee Hub and SHARE) the project will analyse, exchange, and compare national programs with other EU and non-EU countries (Canada, Australia, and the UK) developing similar pathways. Exchanges will allow the project to leverage results and will help foster EU’s role globally as a key source of innovation in the complementary pathways space

SCOPE OF THE WORK

Within the EU-PASSWORLD Project, ICMC Europe will lead the consortium in establishing a working group on research and best practice exchange on Identification, Referral and Matching in the context of complementary pathways.

This Working Group will involve research and best practice mapping and exchange between relevant stakeholders, including UNHCR, NGOS and other international and operational organizations, universities and employers.

Research will analyse different systems and partnerships being used: Refugee Self Applications (open systems), Referral via field technical staff (Talent Beyond Boundaries) or deployment, referral via operational (NGO) partners. Identification will follow UNHCR principles, standards and procedural safeguards to assess protection needs and vulnerabilities, based on long standing experience in first countries of asylum.

To discuss and analyze ongoing practices, one technical working sessions of the working group will be organized in Kenya (or another refugee-hosting country) where several member states and organizations operate a range of programs on complementary pathways and higher education and labor mobility, utilizing varied methods and tools for identification and referral.

As an outcome of the research and Working Group, the action will define a comparative framework and identify best practices and outcomes and publish a report on Identification, Referral and Matching Best Practices. The report will be modelled on previous European Resettlement Network + other legal pathways (ERN+) scoping papers as “Student Scholarships for Refugees: Expanding complementary pathways of admission to Europe”, December 2017; “Humanitarian Admission Programmes in Europe – Expanding complementary pathways of admission for persons in need of international protection”, March 2018; “Private Sponsorship in Europe – Expanding complementary pathways for refugee resettlement”, September 2017.

ICMC Europe is recruiting a Consultant to carry out this research and mapping, lead and coordinate an Identification, Referral and Matching Working Group, and write the comparative report based on research and working groups findings.

The post will be carried out remotely, preferably Europe based and, as COVID restrictions allow, will involve a limited amount of travel to Brussels and Kenya (or another refugee-hosting country). The successful applicant will have an in-depth understanding of and field experience in resettlement and complementary pathways, refugee protection and in identification and referral processes, have excellent networking and organizational skills, and established experience in (comparative) research and report writing.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY AREAS OF ACTIVITY

• Draft Terms of Reference (TORs) for Working Group on Identification, Referral and Matching
• Confirm composition and profiles of Working Group Members (with ICMC Europe)
• Research and analyse different systems and partnerships being used
• Set the agenda, topics and timelines for 4 Working Groups meetings (3 online meetings and 1 in-person meeting in Brussels) with 10 members each. These Working Groups will be organized in close coordination with the external consultant contracted to provide content for the working groups (to be contracted by Caritas Italiana). These meetings will take place during roughly the following timeline:
  • Working Group Meeting 1: April-May 2022
  • Working Group Meeting 2: December 2022-February 2023
  • Working Group Meeting 3: April-June 2023
  • Working Group Meeting 4: April 2024
• Participate in the Working Group scheduled to take place in Kenya (or another refugee-hosting country), tentatively scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2023, in close coordination with the external organization hired to carry out the Working Group visit
• Draft a report on Identification, Referral and Matching Best Practices, based on the working group findings and research, including recommendations
• Provide updates on research activities to project consortium and other stakeholders, as needed

DELIVERABLES

Description & Timeline of Deliverables

1. Terms of Reference (TORs) for Working Group on Identification, referral and matching (Electronic, 3 pages); Due May 2022
2. Organize 4 Meetings and draft Working Group Meetings reports, including: minutes, agenda and attendance lists (see section above for when meetings should take place); Due June 2024
3. Write a publication on Identification, Referral and Matching Best Practices[2] in English in electronic format (approx. 40 pages). The format of the report will be designed by an external consultant; Due June 2024

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY COMPETENCIES

The successful applicant will:

§ Demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills in English. Good command of other languages an added benefit (specifically German, French, Italian or Spanish)

§ Proven professional (field) experience in the context of community and referral support systems (Identification, Referral and Matching)

§ Knowledge of refugee protection mechanisms, such as Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and resettlement and related field experience

§ Possess relevant work experience in mapping, research and report writing.

§ Possess strong computer skills in Microsoft programs and experience in various online platforms (Zoom, Teams, WebEx, etc.)

§ Be a good team player, well-organised, able to work in a small office environment and capable of working independently on assigned tasks.

§ Demonstrate proven interest in the work of ICMC /SHARE Network and enthusiasm for working within a European and Global NGO environment.

CONDITIONS

§ Subcontract Agreement taking place between mid-March 2022 – June 2024 with a maximum budget of 25,000€ (VAT inclusive)

§ Work will require limited travel, comprised of 1 trip to Brussels, Belgium and 1 trip to Kenya (or another refugee-hosting country), to be included in overall budget of the consultant

§ The researcher should be available for preparations for the first Working Group Meeting, April 2022

§ Flexibility in timing of work will be required, busier periods are foreseen during the time of Working Group Meetings

§ Joint applications between two researchers are eligible, keeping in mind the overall budget and deliverables