Job: Migration and Remittances Research Coordinator

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine 
Deadline: Friday, 27 September 2013 

Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Duty Station:Kyiv, Ukraine

Classification: International Consultant

Position Title: Migration and Remittances Research Coordinator

Type of Appointment: Consultancy Contract

Organizational Unit: Labour and Facilitated Migration

Background:

The objective of the project Research and Policy Dialogue Initiative on Migration and Remittances in Ukraine is to assist the Government of Ukraine (GoU) in developing policies to effectively harness the link between migration and development. To achieve this, it is necessary to increase awareness among key stakeholders on the nature, use and impact of remittances entering Ukraine, to describe migrants and their households' overall financial behaviour, including savings and consumption, as well as to assess the overall impact of migration on the country's socio-economic development.

Subsequently, research will be conducted, with data generated primarily through a household survey in Ukraine and corresponding surveys of targeted samples of Ukrainian migrants in Russia, Italy and Canada. Focus groups, key informant interviews and review of secondary literature/data will triangulate the primary data. Particular attention will be paid to adhering to all recent international recommendations and developments in the area of migration research, while ensuring the targeted nature of the approach to the Ukrainian reality.

The survey results will be consolidated in a publication which will be disseminated broadly among the international community and the national stakeholders at a conference. In addition, a consultative process on the preliminary and final survey results will be launched in a form of an informal inter-ministerial working group (Project Steering Committee), with the purpose of developing policy recommendations and feeding into the current plans of the Government to develop an action plan on mainstreaming migration into development planning.

Scope of study:

The proposed research will attempt to capture various migration and migration-related data, including the scale of Ukrainian labour migration and remittance flows to Ukraine, the sociodemographic and economic profile of a Ukrainian migrant and the household, including, inter alia, the frequency, transfer channels, cost, use and the impact (economic/social) of remittances on migrant sending households, as well as may other related aspects. The exact survey methodology will be developed by the Migration and Remittances Research Coordinator, the local surveying team, and an IOM expert with support from the members of the Project Steering Committee, which would include, inter alia, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, State Migration Service of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ministry of Income and Tax of Ukraine, National Bank of Ukraine, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations, World Bank, UNDP, International Labour Organization. Kyiv, Ukraine International Consultant Migration and Remittances Research Coordinator Consultancy Contract Labour and Facilitated Migration

The preliminarily planned stages of the study are as follows:

1. Screening (first stage interviews) of 25,000 households in Ukraine;

2. Surveying (second stage interviews) of an estimated 3,000 migrant-sending households receiving remittances in Ukraine;

3. Surveying of 600 Ukrainian migrants abroad (300 each in Russia and Italy) and up to 500 Ukrainian migrants in Canada;

4. Targeted Focus Groups and in-depth interviews in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, and Canada;

5. Review of macroeconomic and financial data, secondary data / literature;

6. Development of policy recommendations for respective institutions on harnessing the link between migration and development Target Audience: Government of Ukraine, academia, migration practitioners, private sector, international organizations.

General Functions:

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Mission, with the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will provide comprehensive expert support in organizing the survey, will develop a final report with particular focus on policy recommendations on harnessing the link between migration and development, and will present the results of a study on migration and remittances at the final conference in Ukraine, adhering to all recent international recommendations and developments in the field of migration research, while ensuring the targeted nature of the approach to the Ukrainian context.

Specific Functions:

1. In close collaboration with the commissioned local research team and the IOM, develop the methodology for and structure of the study, questionnaires and focus group interviews for a survey in Ukraine and corresponding surveys in Russia, Italy and Canada

2. Ensure software support for data processing

3. Develop training materials and methodological instructions for the surveying team in Ukraine and surveying teams in selected destination countries (Russia, Italy and Canada)

4. Support the pilot surveying phase and testing of the methodology in selected pilot regions in Ukraine

5. Draft the report for the pilot stage and revise methodology and questionnaires accordingly

6. Provide comprehensive support for the conduct of the household survey in Ukraine and in selected countries

7. Advise the local research teams on surveying techniques and closely monitor the progress of field research

8. Conduct analysis of the obtained data, review of literature and respective legislation, and assessment of existing data on Ukrainian migration and remittance inflows from abroad, determine characteristics of savings/remittance behaviors among Ukrainian migrants, establish key findings and develop policy recommendations for the respective Government institutions on harnessing the link between migration and economic development

9. Draft the final report, conclusions and policy recommendations for how Ukraine can harness the link between migration and economic development

10. Participate in meetings of the Project Steering Committee and other project events in Ukraine

11. Perform any other tasks as may be deemed necessary

Deliverables:

1. Final report, which should include, inter alia:

- a comprehensive assessment of the scale of Ukrainian labour migration and remittance flows to Ukraine

- the socio-demographic and economic profile of a Ukrainian migrant and the household- migration history, main destination countries, main occupations abroad, gender breakdown- wage differentials - frequency, transfer channels, cost, use and the impact (economic/social) of remittances on migrant sending households- migrant savings patterns and factors which affect a migrant's decision to invest in Ukraine - the impact of remittance flows on poverty reduction, housing conditions, health, educational patterns/choices, access to medical care - the social benefits and costs of migration and remittances- the role and impact of gender on remittance patterns and decisions - the comparison of savings/remittance behaviour between migrants in Russia, Italy and Canada - the comparison of savings/remittance behaviour between labour migrants and the diaspora

2. Recommendations and suggested actions for policymakers. The final report should identify concrete recommendations and actions for the relevant Governmental institutions on how to harness migration benefits for Ukraine's overall socio-economic development.

3. Development and delivery of a Power Point Presentation at the project's closing conference. The presentation should sum up the conduct, conclusions, and recommendations of the report. The presentation will be delivered to members of the Government of Ukraine, academia, migration practitioners, the World Bank, IMF, and others in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Details of deliverables:

• The Final Report should be not less than 60,000 words (100 pages, single spaced, Calibri 12) including executive summary, explanation of methodology, conclusions and recommendations in English. The final report should include, as necessary, tables, graphs and other data presentation tools. Annexes (questionnaires, presentation, etc.) shall not count towards the word total.

• The Power Point Presentation should contain a minimum of text and maximize the use of tables and graphs. The presentation should be planned for at least 45 minutes.

Time plan:

The phases of the research and the volume of consultancy will be further specified by IOM and detailed plans will be built upon the following:

Phase I 'Methodology Development and Piloting' (October 2013 – March 2014) Development of methodology for surveying of households; development of questionnaires/sampling instruments/focus groups and in-depth interviews; development and distribution of training materials and methodology instructions; support to testing of methodology in selected pilot regions; drafting report for pilot survey and revision of survey methodology and questionnaires accordingly; drafting of interim report

Phase II 'Surveying and Data Collection'

(March 2014 – July 2014) Close monitoring and support of the surveys in Ukraine, Russia, Italy and Canada

Phase III 'Data Analysis, Report Drafting and Presentation' (May 2014 – January 2015) Drafting of the final analytical narrative report, development of conclusions and policy recommendations; revision and finalization of the report; presentation of the results of the survey, final report and policy recommendations at a conference in Kyiv

Performance indicators for evaluation of final output:

• Satisfactory completion of the specific functions;
• Quality of the elaborated analysis;
• Timely completion of deliverables;
• Compliance with IOM House style Guidelines;
• Delivery of any other tasks indicated above.

Desired qualifications:

Education: Advanced University education in Statistics, Information Systems, Databases and Data Management, Economics, Sociology, Geography. Education in a migration and development related field is an asset. Experience: Minimum five to ten years of relevant experience in migration and development related data collection, processing or data management.

Technical Competencies: Computer literate, excellent knowledge and use of relational database management systems and statistical analysis software packages. Experience in data collection, storage, security and sharing is essential.

Professionalism: Demonstrating professional competence, conscientiousness and efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; showing persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges, and remaining calm in stressful situations.

Planning and organizing: Able to work within a defined timeframe and to develop clear goals per agreed strategies; capacity of identifying priority activities and assignments, adjusting priorities as required; allocating appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;

foreseeing risks and allowing for contingencies when planning, monitoring and adjusting plans and actions as necessary; and using time efficiently.

Personal/Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills; ability to speak and write clearly and effectively; exhibit interest in having two-way communication; drive for results; ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds.

Language(s): Thorough knowledge of English is required. Performance Evaluation Contractor's performance will be evaluated against such criteria as: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. Travel Requirements During the contract period travel to Ukraine will be required. Financial arrangements Payment is output-based and will be disbursed in installments upon confirmation by IOM on delivering of the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Application Process:

Interested individuals must submit, besides a cover letter explaining how applicants respond to each of the qualification requirements and why he/she is the most suitable for the work, the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Personal information (as a detailed CV) including records on past experience in similar projects/assignments and concrete outputs obtained, and at least 3 references;

2. Technical Proposal: Provide a brief (max. 2 pages) methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work and a proposal for the structure of the final report;

3. Financial proposal (in USD), specifying a total lump sum amount including all related expenses. The application documents shall be sent to: IOM Kyiv, 8 Mykhailivska St, Kyiv 01001 iomkiev@iom.int, +38 044 568 5016 (Fax) Please, indicate the position Migration and Remittances Research Coordinator in the subject line of your message.

Closing date for applications is September 27, 2013; however interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply sooner.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for interview.

More Info and Application