CFA 007/CON/2025_International Consultant for the Development of the Djibouti Action Plan on the Khartoum Process
Qualifications of International Consultant:
- Location: Djibouti
- Vacancy No: 16422
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: IOM International Organization for Migration
- Deadline: 9/10/2025
Brief details about International Consultant:
About
Information about the organization that has offered the job:
I- Context and justification
Officially launched in 2015 at the ministerial conference held in Rome, the Khartoum Process aims to strengthen cooperation on migration and mobility between the Horn of Africa and the European Union. It brings together the main countries of origin, transit, and destination along the migratory routes between the Horn of Africa and the EU. It is also known as the EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative.
The Khartoum Process brings together 40 member countries, including countries from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, the countries of the Horn of Africa, the African Union, and international partner organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Khartoum Dialogue is a joint initiative of the European Union and the African Union, launched by a declaration adopted at a ministerial conference in Rome in November 2014 to extend and deepen existing cooperation on migration.
The Republic of Djibouti has not officially signed the Khartoum Process, but it participated in the ministerial conference that launched this initiative in November 2014 in Rome. Recently, in April 2025, Djibouti was also invited to the ministerial meeting on the Khartoum Process, which took place in Cairo, Egypt.
Djibouti is a major transit country for migrants from the Horn of Africa. According to IOM DTM [1] data [2] the number of people moving through the eastern route has increased significantly in recent years, from 222,560 in 2022 to 435,578 in 2024 [3] , and constitutes one of the most important maritime migration routes in the world.
Djibouti plays a central role in the complex, two-way migration movements known as the “Eastern Route.”
Most migrants transiting through Djibouti often attempt the sea crossing to the Gulf States. According to IOM DTM data, in 2023, a total of 72,056 migrants from Ethiopia arrived in Yemen via Djibouti, an increase of 81% compared to 2022, when 39,843 were recorded.
As part of strengthening migration governance, the Republic of Djibouti adopted its first migration strategy in 2022, followed by its five-year action plan. Djibouti’s National Migration Strategy focuses on a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach to migration management, integrating aspects of governance, protection of migrants’ rights, development, and regional cooperation. The country also established a National Coordination Office for Migration, whose central role is the implementation and monitoring of the strategy. The BCNM coordinates interministerial actions, ensures the protection of migrants, collaborates with national and international partners, and collects data for the analysis of migration trends.
As part of migration management, the Republic of Djibouti has increased its initiatives with the main countries of origin of migrants, notably Ethiopia, to prevent the risk of human trafficking and strengthen the protection of migrants, particularly children. In 2019, a bilateral meeting was held between the Ethiopian and Djiboutian governments in Djibouti to consider cooperation on the return of vulnerable migrant children from Djibouti to Ethiopia. A second bilateral meeting was planned in Addis Ababa in 2020, but it was canceled due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May 2023, with funding from the European Union through the BMM III project, GIZ and IOM, in close collaboration with all relevant national stakeholders from Ethiopia and Djibouti, supported the holding of the cross-border meeting on the protection of migrant children in order to ensure a coordinated response to the current urgent needs of these vulnerable migrant children in Djibouti, and to leverage and optimize the measures initiated at the national level to address the problems of unaccompanied minors in general and facilitate the referral of unaccompanied minors to their families;
In July 2023, again under the auspices of IOM Djibouti and GIZ, a new bilateral consultation was organized in Djibouti during which both parties expressed their willingness to collaborate to improve the child protection framework. The objective of these meetings was to agree on concrete actions and sustainable solutions to the problem of minor migrants living on the streets in Djibouti.
The Republic of Djibouti was also invited to the second conference on the Khartoum Process, which was held in Cairo, Egypt, from April 7 to 9, 2025, the objective of which was to coordinate and exchange on issues related to migration from East Africa to European countries. The Republic of Djibouti has always shown a strong commitment to playing a key role in managing migration challenges and strengthening regional and international cooperation on the migration issue.
In order to support the Djiboutian government in its commitment to regional and international cooperation and to strengthen migration governance, IOM is seeking to recruit an international consultant who will develop a Djibouti action plan and roadmap on the Khartoum Process.
II- General objective of the consultancy :
The Khartoum Process, also known as the EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative, is a regional dialogue on migration issues. It serves as a platform for policy cooperation between countries along the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Europe and facilitates collaboration and information exchange. The objective of the consultancy is to develop an action plan and roadmap for the Government of Djibouti to strengthen migration governance and Djibouti’s engagement in the Khartoum Process. The roadmap and action plan will be shared with the Khartoum Process managers (DG INTPA & ICMPD) to facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan and its integration with relevant Khartoum Process initiatives.
Responsibilities
III- Specific Objectives
Specifically, this involves:
- Participatively develop Djibouti’s action plan on the Khartoum process with a budgeted roadmap.
- Identify strategies and measures that can promote the implementation of this action plan and roadmap
- Define a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the action plan and roadmap
- Train all stakeholders on the various initiatives of this action plan.
IV- Expected results
- A Djibouti action plan on the Khartoum process is developed and validated during a workshop bringing together the stakeholders concerned.
- A budgeted national roadmap is developed and validated during a workshop bringing together the stakeholders concerned.
V- Description of expected activities
Activity 1: Develop a Djibouti action plan and a budgeted roadmap on the Khartoum process
- Map and assess institutional and civil society partners at the national level engaged in the Khartoum process.
- Organize 1 participatory workshop to gather information needed to develop the action plan and budgeted roadmap. Logistics will be handled by the IOM.
- Based on the information collected and a documentary review and regional and international guidelines, develop the action plan and roadmap and a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the said procedures.
- Organize a workshop to validate the action plan and the budgeted roadmap. Logistics will be provided by the IOM.
VI- Methodology
Participatory, multi-sectoral and gender-sensitive approach.
VII – Expected deliverables and provisional schedule
The implementation period of the mission is 45 days spread between August 15 and October 15, 2025. Payment for the consultation will be made by partial invoicing after receipt and final validation of the deliverables by the IOM according to the following schedule:
| Activities and deliverables | Expected payment deadlines % | Expected payment deadlines % |
| Deliverable 1
|
5 days |
15% |
Deliverable 2
|
20 days |
40% |
Deliverable 3
| 15 days | 30% |
Deliverable 4
| 5 days | 15% |
| Total | 60 days | 100% |
- Stakeholders and beneficiaries of the consultation
- Stakeholders in the consultation
Role and Responsibility of the Consultant: The consultant will assume overall responsibility for developing Djibouti’s action plan on the Khartoum Process, in coordination with the National Coordination Office for Migration and IOM. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring strict confidentiality within the framework of the law and ethics regarding shared files and information.
- Role and responsibilities of the BCNM and the IOM:
The BCNM and the OIM will verify the quality of the deliverables and validate them before proceeding with payment. The OIM will be responsible for printing the developed materials and the logistical aspects of organizing the workshops.
- Beneficiaries of the consultation
The direct beneficiaries will be the relevant ministerial departments and institutions at central level and civil society associations.
Qualifications
- Technical and functional qualifications required for the assessor
The international consultant sought for this study must have the following qualifications:
- Have good experience in mixed methods of social science research (qualitative and quantitative approaches) and gender-sensitive participatory approaches;
- Have a good knowledge and experience of issues relating to migration, regional and international cooperation in migration matters, human rights, etc.
- Have a good knowledge of the migratory context in the East and Horn of Africa,
- Have proven experience in writing study reports in French. A good command of English would be an asset;
- Have experience in conducting evaluations/studies
- Be open to changes and able to receive/integrate feedback;
- Have good teamwork and field skills;
- Demonstrate integrity by complying with the values and ethical standards of the United Nations and IOM;
- Demonstrate high sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age.
- Submission file
The application file must include:
- Application letter.
- The consultant’s CV clearly indicating qualifications and past experience in similar missions
- Technical proposal (max. 3 pages) taking into consideration the guidelines provided in the Terms of Reference. Variations may be proposed based on technical reasons.
- Work plan and schedule for completion of all work.
- Separate financial proposal (a detailed budget)
- Excellent command of French (written and oral)
- A good command of English would be an asset
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
- Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
- Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
- Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
- IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
- IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
- IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
- IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.