Consultant - Comprehensive Approach to Climate Mobility in South Asia

Tentative Research Questions

<i>In what ways could EU-based diaspora associations* from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka be better engaged in local climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and community resilience initiatives and Policy processes?</i>

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<i>What are the relevant diaspora associations, individuals, diaspora organizations originating from&nbsp;Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka&nbsp;in EU Member States that could be engaged in local climate action and policy processes such as through knowledge and skills exchange, financial and technological investments and community-led climate resilience initiatives?</i>

<i>What are the broad areas of interventions, trusted implementation modality/preferred mode of engagement for different diaspora associations when they contribute to origin countries? Engagement would mean broadly, philanthropic contribution, investment, technical assistance, knowledge and technology transfer, relief distribution in disaster period, trade, etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;</i>

<i>What platforms and engagement strategies already exists for diaspora associations and individuals to enhance climate action in&nbsp;Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka?</i>

<i>What is the readiness of different diaspora associations to participate in co-creation, piloting, and iterative learning around climate mobility solutions, and what conditions would enable them to move from advocacy to experimentation and implementation?</i>

<i>Which diaspora-led or diaspora-supported climate initiatives show potential for replication or scaling across countries or corridors, and what enabling factors (policy, finance, trust, governance) made them viable?</i>

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4. Scope of the Assignment

The international consultant will determine, in consultation with IOM and country offices, the final selection of at least 10 EU Member States based on diaspora concentration and diversity (<a href="https://publications.iom.int/books/diaspora-mapping-toolkit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Diaspora Mapping Toolkit | IOM Publications Platform</a>, good practices, and available literature). A light-touch diaspora mapping database shall be developed to cover all European Union (EU) Member States. In addition, a comprehensive, in-depth mapping—encompassing stakeholder outreach and identification of engagement opportunities—shall be conducted for ten (10) selected EU countries, as proposed by the Consultant and subject to prior approval by IOM. <strong>The international consultant will hire, manage, and mentor national consultants in South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka),&nbsp;</strong>with each national consultant supporting stakeholder mapping, government liaison, and local validation activities in their respective capital city. The consultancy will adopt a phased approach to ensure a comprehensive and systematic assessment inclusive of:

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Hiring National Consultants

The International Consultant shall be responsible for the recruitment of National Consultants across South Asia (with the exception of Bangladesh, where IOM will directly engage a National Consultant). The International Consultant shall retain full and sole accountability for the quality, timeliness, and completeness of all final deliverables under this assignment.

The International Consultant shall oversee the end-to-end recruitment, management, supervision, and mentoring of all National Consultants engaged under this assignment in South Asia (Except Bangladesh). All costs associated with the engagement of National Consultants in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal shall be borne by the International Consultant and must be covered within the agreed overall consultancy fee.

The National Consultants shall operate remotely and shall perform tasks as directed by the Lead International Consultant, who shall retain full discretion in determining the scope, allocation, and coordination of their work in alignment with the requirements of the assignment.

Under the overall oversight and guidance of IOM, the National Consultants shall bear primary and strict responsibility for establishing and maintaining coordination with relevant government counterparts. This includes, but is not limited to, initiating and facilitating communications, arranging and scheduling meetings and calls, and undertaking any other necessary coordination or administrative tasks required to effectively support the Lead International Consultant in the execution of the assignment.

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Stakeholder Engagement

<span>Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Engage diaspora leaders to understand their interests, capacities, and existing climate‑related initiatives.</span>

Research, data collection and Analysis

The Consultant shall develop and deliver a comprehensive diaspora mapping database using a light-touch approach covering all European Union (EU) Member States, and shall submit to IOM the complete set of all data entries generated under this mapping; additionally, the Consultant shall conduct an in-depth diaspora mapping for ten (10) selected EU countries (as proposed by the Consultant and subject to prior written approval by IOM), including stakeholder identification, targeted outreach, and analysis of engagement opportunities, with all outputs delivered in accordance with agreed formats, timelines, and IOM quality standards.

The consultant is required to identify, for each South Asian country, the top ten EU Member States where their diaspora populations are most concentrated. These lists should then be compared to select countries with the highest overlap, prioritizing those locations where different diaspora groups coexist, in order to maximize opportunities for exchange, learning, and diverse engagement.

<span>Conduct a desk review of:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Map diaspora associations across selected EU Member States, including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Analyse diaspora association characteristics including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Identify and validate contact details, thematic focus and engagement potential.</span>

<span>Conduct qualitative interviews with:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Conduct an email survey and structured questionnaires to capture diaspora perspectives on climate engagement, barriers and potential areas of cooperation.</span>

<span>Prepare a comprehensive diaspora mapping database, including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Identify gaps and opportunities for improved diaspora engagement relevant to climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and community resilience initiatives and Policy processes.</span>

Reporting

<span>Develop a detailed inception report, including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Develop a draft analytical report responding to the research questions, including:&nbsp;</span>

<span>Produce the final consolidated report, incorporating revisions, annexes, datasets, methodological tools and contact directories.</span>

<span>Present key findings and recommendations to project stakeholders in a PowerPoint Presentation&nbsp;</span>

<span>Prepare a knowledge product- policy brief on diaspora engagement based on the findings of the mapping including the recommendations and&nbsp;</span><span>validation of findings with diaspora stakeholders.&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;

No.Expected Output DeliverablesDeliverable by:Payment % 01Inception Report, Methodology & WorkplanComprehensive inception report covering: scope, conceptual framing, diaspora engagement rationale, cross‑country linkages.Finalized and harmonized methodology for mapping of diaspora associations in the EU across 4 countries Presentation to IOM during inception briefing.Finalize the hiring of national consultantsWithin 5 weeksInstalment 1-25%02Diaspora Mapping Database (EU Member States)The Consultant shall deliver a light-touch diaspora mapping database covering all EU Member States, including submission of all data entries, and conduct in-depth mapping for ten (10) IOM-approved countries, including outreach and engagement analysis, in line with agreed standards and timelinesFull mapping database of diaspora associations from Bangladesh, India, Nepa and Sri Lanka across all 10 EU Member States.Validated entries (contact info, thematic interests, engagement potential etc).Within 10 weeks03Diaspora engagement - Draft Report• Narrative analytical report synthesizing trends, opportunities, comparative insights across the four countries.• Country-wise diaspora profiles and engagement barriers.• Co-creation of Recommendations for targeted outreach, engagements and capacity enhancement per country.• Presentation to IOM during inception briefing.Within 5 weeksInstalment 2- 50%04  Final Consolidated Report & PresentationFinal report combining mapping and recommendations.Executive summary, annexes (datasets, templates, contact directories).Presentation to IOM and stakeholders.Final review and submit the final reportPrepare a knowledge product- policy brief and a slide deck on diaspora engagement based on the findings of the mapping including the recommendations Within 4 weeksInstalment 3-25%

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<span><strong>Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results:</strong></span>

The consultant’s performance will be assessed against the following indicators:

<span>High‑quality inception package submitted on time and endorsed by IOM focal points.</span>

<span>Comprehensiveness and accuracy of the diaspora mapping database, with 95% validated entries.</span>

<span>Analytical depth in the mapping report, demonstrating clear segmentation of diaspora actors and engagement pathways.</span>

<span>Final consolidated report submitted on time and meeting IOM quality standards (clarity, structure, evidence‑based analysis).</span>

<span>Timely communication maintained throughout (updates and coordination calls as agreed).</span>

<span>In addition to the set deliverables, the consultant shall report to the Project manager on the progress of the project activities, as agreed. Products will be reviewed by IOM and comments are expected to be incorporated ensuring the quality of the expected products in a timely manner.</span>

All written outputs, including the inception report, mapping database and final analytical report, must adhere fully to the IOM House Style Manual to ensure consistency, clarity and institutional standards

Demonstrated experience in people management and team coordination

No.Expected Output DeliverablesDeliverable by:Payment % 01Inception Report, Methodology & WorkplanComprehensive inception report covering: scope, conceptual framing, diaspora engagement rationale, cross‑country linkages.Finalized and harmonized methodology for mapping of diaspora associations in the EU across 4 countries Presentation to IOM during inception briefing.Finalize the hiring of national consultantsWithin 5 weeksInstalment 1-25%02Diaspora Mapping Database (EU Member States)The Consultant shall deliver a light-touch diaspora mapping database covering all EU Member States, including submission of all data entries, and conduct in-depth mapping for ten (10) IOM-approved countries, including outreach and engagement analysis, in line with agreed standards and timelinesFull mapping database of diaspora associations from Bangladesh, India, Nepa and Sri Lanka across all 10 EU Member States.Validated entries (contact info, thematic interests, engagement potential etc).Within 10 weeks03Diaspora engagement - Draft Report• Narrative analytical report synthesizing trends, opportunities, comparative insights across the four countries.• Country-wise diaspora profiles and engagement barriers.• Co-creation of Recommendations for targeted outreach, engagements and capacity enhancement per country.• Presentation to IOM during inception briefing.Within 5 weeksInstalment 2- 50%04  Final Consolidated Report & PresentationFinal report combining mapping and recommendations.Executive summary, annexes (datasets, templates, contact directories).Presentation to IOM and stakeholders.Final review and submit the final reportPrepare a knowledge product- policy brief and a slide deck on diaspora engagement based on the findings of the mapping including the recommendations Within 4 weeksInstalment 3-25%

• Advanced degree in Development Studies, Climate Change, Migration Studies, Sociology, or related field.

• Minimum 7 years of experience in diaspora engagement, climate change, development studies or migration research.

• Demonstrated experience conducting mapping exercises or policy research, familiarity with EU diaspora knowledge would be an advantage

• Proven analytical and report-writing skills.

• Experience working with UN agencies or government institutions is desirable.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;• Fluency in English.