Call for Experts on Migration
In order to strengthen its pool of experts on selected issues within the area of migration, ODIHR is now inviting persons with relevant expertise to apply for inclusion in ODIHR’s expert roster.
Background:
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR’s work in democratization provides policy advice and assistance in building the capacities of democratic institutions in all three branches of government across the OSCE region and facilitating the inclusion of civil society actors in decision-making processes. By assisting participating States in strengthening democratic institutions, ODIHR works with governments to help them become more responsive, responsible to and representative of their citizens.
The Migration and Freedom of Movement Unit of the ODIHR’s Democratization Department (MFM) assists participating States in meeting their OSCE commitments on migration (including the issues of refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs) and freedom of movement. In the area of migration, assistance to participating States is provided on issues of migrant integration (including IDPs and refugees), protection of migrants’ rights and the development of national gender-sensitive labour migration policies in line with relevant OSCE commitments.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Democratization, experts may be called upon to undertake any of the following tasks:
1. Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research, analysis and assessments on selected migration issues which can include a country-specific, regional or OSCE-wide focus; research assignments can also include field missions, as appropriate;
2. Design and deliver trainings on selected migration issues in capacity building events organized by ODIHR for various target groups, such as OSCE staff, staff of the public authorities of OSCE participating States responsible for migration management issues, legal professionals, NGOs or civil society actors;
3. Prepare and deliver expert presentations on selected migration issues at roundtables or conferences organized by ODIHR or OSCE field operations which aim at discussing international standards, including OSCE commitments, and current migration challenges on a country or at the regional level;
4. Draft analytical reports, non-papers or develop methodological tools on selected migration issues which might result in ODIHR publications or inform other activities by ODIHR;
5. Review relevant draft and/or existing national legislation and/or policy planning documents of selected OSCE participating States and assess its compliance with relevant international legal standards and OSCE commitments, making recommendations for improvement and sharing good practices.
Requested areas of expertise:
A. Gender-sensitive labour migration
A comprehensive approach to the development of national labour migration policies should be human-rights based and should take into account the gender representation of migrant workers, including specific needs of both male and female migrant workers. These objectives can be achieved by mainstreaming gender aspects into national labour migration policies of OSCE participating States in line with relevant OSCE commitments, international legal standards and good national practices.
B. Integration of migrants and protection of migrants’ rights
Integration of migrants is a vast policy area, which covers such issues as the socio-economic inclusion of migrants into host societies, including proper protection of their rights, ensuring that migrants are able to actively engage into the social, economic, cultural and public life in their host countries, raising awareness and that host societies and migrants mutually benefit from such engagement.
Participating States have recognized the importance of developing effective migrant integration policies, while protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants in accordance with relevant OSCE commitments, international legal standards and good national practices.
C. Refugees and internally displaced persons
OSCE participating States undertook a commitment to respect the right to seek asylum and to ensure the international protection of refugees as set out in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as to facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and IDPs in dignity and safety.
OSCE commitments support the unilateral, bilateral and multilateral efforts to ensure protection of and assistance to refugees and displaced persons with the aim of finding durable solutions. In this regard the participating States acknowledged that the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement from a useful framework for the work of the OSCE and the endeavours of participating States in dealing with internal displacement.
Necessary Qualifications:
- Advanced university degree (preferably in Law, Social Sciences, Human Rights Studies or other relevant field);
- Knowledge of OSCE human dimension commitments in the area of migration and relevant international legal standards;
- Proven in-depth knowledge and a minimum of eight years of professional work experience in the area of migration, including human rights of migrants, either within government authorities or in non-governmental organizations;
- International work experience in one or more OSCE participating States would be an asset;
- Proven academic and/or practical research record in the area of migration;
- Experience in the design and delivery of trainings in the area of migration;
- Advanced computer literacy;
- Excellent analytical skills;
- Strong communication and presentation skills;
- Flexibility, ability to work with minimum supervision and deliver against tight deadlines;
- Excellent working knowledge of English, with strong legal drafting and report writing skills; knowledge of other OSCE languages, particularly Russian, would be an asset;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
- Gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into the given assignment(-s).
When applying, please select your area (-s) of expertise (see A-C above) and indicate the type of tasks that best fits your experience and background (research, training, delivering presentations, report drafting or legislation review).
Remuneration Package: Applicants who are included in the roster will be considered for specific future consultancy assignments, for which remuneration will be determined on the basis of the assignment in question in line with OSCE’s policy
If you wish to apply for this position, please use OSCE’s online application link found under
The selection of successful candidates will be based on the application and interview. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization and its advisory bodies. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
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