About ICMPD:
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an
international organisation, with 21 Member States and working in more than
90 countries worldwide. Contributing to the development of better and safer
migration policies and programmes, ICMPD takes a holistic approach to migration:
structurally linking policy and research, cooperation, community outreach,
and capacity development.

With over 600 staff members, it takes a regional approach in its work towards
efficient cooperation and partnerships along key migration routes, with a
focus on Africa, Central and South Asia, Europe, Mediterranean, and the
Middle East.

Reference number:CfE/07-2026/NORAQ/MEL-Expert

Base:
Home based / Remote (with frequent travel to Iraq foreseen)

Maximum number of working days:
To be confirmed

Eligibility:
This call is open to independent contractors only.

Project description:
In Iraq, ICMPD is implementing reintegration related projects under a wide-ranging
programmatic framework – the Nordic Cooperation on Return and Reintegration
in Iraq (NORAQ). Within NORAQ, projects are designed to support governmental
and non-governmental partners in Federal Iraq and its Kurdistan Region with
enhancing their migration governance, in particular improving reintegration
support to returnees.

Specifically, the projects are aimed at:

• Increasing access to suitable information, public services and private sector
  opportunities for potential, outgoing, and returning migrants through the
  Migrant Resource Centres;
• Strengthen the capacity of national, regional and local authorities to facilitate
  sustainable reintegration of returnees, ensure safe, orderly, and well-governed
  migration and border management, including the facilitation of regular migration
  pathways;
• Enhancing individual and organisational capacity to handle border-related
  challenges in line with international human rights standards;
• Enhanced institutional coordination, digital and e-governance systems, and
  improved infrastructure and technology that support transparency,
  data-driven decision-making, prevention of irregular migration,
  and the identification and protection of the specific needs and rights
  of returnees, especially vulnerable groups.

 
Overall, the projects are also designed to contribute to achieving the
Vision on Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees in Iraq
(a guiding document developed with close involvement of governmental
stakeholders), focusing on increasing capacity and awareness,
supporting flexible reintegration services, and enhancing referral
mechanisms at various levels.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) capacities on migration topics
are often limited in Iraq’s public sector, with ministries and local authorities
often facing challenges in translating collected data into actionable insights,
including the use of indicators, baseline assessments, outcome measurement,
and learning mechanisms that inform adaptive programming.
The absence of standardised MEL frameworks also limits opportunities for
cross-ministerial coordination and evidence sharing, particularly in sectors
linked to migration, reintegration, labour market inclusion, and community
resilience. To help support governmental partners with their efforts to improve
their MEL practices, systems and capacities,ICMPD intends to conduct a capacity building programme for governmental stakeholders in Iraq.

 
Assignment objective:
In order to conduct a MEL capacity building programme for governmental stakeholders,
ICMPD’s project implementation teams intend to engage
international and national experts to design and implement the relevant activities.

 
Tasks:

The following is the indicative task-set for which expertise is needed:

• Conduct needs assessments (via focus group discussions, key informant interviews
  and other types of engagement) and technical consultations with primary
  governmental focal persons in order to create a MEL capacity building plan that
  builds on the gains of previous NORAQ projects.
•  Based on the needs assessments:
• Initiate the development of MEL relevant capacity building measures
  (operational, strategic planning and leadership tools, SOPs, guidance materials,
  and other technical assistance)

         → Conduct systematic capacity building workshops at                   government premises to support officials with 

         implementation of various tools and measures

• Potentially develop tailor-made training courses/modules, in complementarity
  to existing coursework; validate the courses/modules with the stakeholders,
  ensuring they meet their needs.

       → Deliver the developed courses/modules to relevant government officials.

• Support those government officials that have already undergone
  Train-the-Trainer (ToT) courses to further develop their
  peda-/andragogical skills.

• Other capacity building related tasks that may emerge during project implementation.

Deliverables:

To be confirmed based on needs assessments conducted, which would validate
the existing MEL capacity development roadmap.

Final deliverable deadline: 31/12/2028

 
Reporting lines:¹

Depending on assignment to a particular project implementation team
within the NORAQ programme.

 
¹ The person will be in charge of the overall supervision both in terms
of administrative and content issues and who will provide input and comments
on deliverables as needed.

Education:
Master's degree or equivalent.

Professional experience: 

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience working in the area of migration governance, reintegration of returning migrants, post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation, durable solutions for displaced persons or related topics.
• Experience in Iraq or comparable fragile and displacement-affected contexts (especially the MENA region), and familiarity with institutional counterparts at both Federal Government and Kurdistan Regional Government levels, will be considered a strong asset.
• Proven presentation and andra-/pedagogical experience and skills.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Ability and flexibility to work in a team of peers, as well as to lead them.

Specific expertise:

• Experience designing and implementing MEL frameworks in the area of reintegration of returning migrants or other migration governance areas.

• Proven track-record of working with senior officials on MEL capacity building and training.

• Knowledge of good practices on training needs assessments and training materials development.
• Familiarity with KoBo Toolbox or comparable data collection platforms.

Languages:

• Excellent language and communication skills in English is a requirement.

• Proficiency in Arabic or Sorani Kurdish is considered an asset.

 
Note for international experts:

Frequent travel to Iraq is foreseen under all potential assignments under the various projects.

Background materials

Project relevant documents: MEL capacity development roadmap,
previous needs assessment and other reports, training content,
policy documents, etc.

Travel included

☒ Yes

Payment

Fees for the assignment are paid upon satisfactory delivery of services,
in line with the payment schedule stated in the contract and upon
submission of the required documentation.

 
Application process

 
Interested experts should send their CV with a reference to this announcement
in the subject line of the email to:

expertise.iraq@icmpd.org

NOTE: Your email subject line should follow this format:

LastName_CfE/07-2026/NORAQ/MEL-Expert

Failure to follow this format could result in an automatic rejection of the
application as the email may not be detected.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates
will be contacted. Applicants should be available for either a face-to-face
or online interview.

Reference checks may be carried out for pre-selected candidates
prior to the final selection decision.

The assignment is subject to project funds availability and/or final approval
by the donor. The invitation to an interview does not establish any right
to future employment.

 
Data protection notice
ICMPD processes personal data submitted in the context of this Call for
Experts for the purpose of assessing applications, selecting experts,
and managing potential contractual engagements.

Personal data may include identification and contact details,
professional profile information, CV data, and supporting
documentation submitted by applicants.

Access to personal data is restricted to authorised ICMPD staff involved
in the evaluation and administration of the selection procedure and,
where required, to contracted service providers supporting the recruitment
or expert management process under appropriate contractual safeguards.

Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary for the
management of the selection procedure and any subsequent contractual
engagement, in line with ICMPD's Data Protection Rules and Procedure.

Applicants have the right to request access to their personal data,
as well as rectification or deletion where applicable.

Requests related to personal data processing may be addressed to:
data.protection@icmpd.org

² The Expert shall receive from ICMPD a travel itinerary and be entitled to
receive a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) for the foreseen activities abroad.
Travel and mission-related payments will be processed according to ICMPD Travel
Rules applicable at the time when the travel takes place.