Border Management Strategy for BGA

Introduction

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Project Context and Scope

Libya occupies a strategic geographic position linking North Africa, the Sahel, and the Mediterranean region. In the context of ongoing political and institutional fragmentation since 2011, the country continues to face significant challenges in ensuring effective border governance and management across its extensive land and maritime borders. Libya shares approximately 4,300 kilometres of land borders with Niger, Chad, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. Large sections of these borders extend across remote and sparsely populated desert areas characterised by limited state presence, inadequate infrastructure, and constrained operational capacities. These conditions contribute to a high degree of border porosity and present substantial challenges to the effective monitoring and control of cross-border movements.
The security and governance dynamics in Libya’s border areas are closely linked to broader regional trends, particularly in the Sahel, where persistent instability, the presence of non-state armed groups, political transitions, and socio-economic vulnerabilities continue to drive insecurity and population movements. These dynamics are further exacerbated by environmental stressors and limited livelihood opportunities, contributing to increased mobility and displacement across borders. Within this context, Libya is affected by complex and interrelated cross-border challenges, including:
• Mixed migration flows involving migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees transiting through Libya, often in vulnerable situations.
• The activities of transnational organised crime networks engaged in the smuggling and trafficking of persons, weapons, fuel, and illicit substances.
• The movement of armed groups and foreign fighters across porous border areas.
• The potential exploitation of ungoverned or weakly governed spaces by terrorist and violent extremist actors.
These challenges have implications not only for Libya’s national security and stability but also for regional peace and security, including in neighbouring Sahelian and North African countries. Border communities, particularly in remote areas, are disproportionately affected by these dynamics, facing limited access to services, economic marginalisation, and heightened protection risks.
The Government of Libya has taken steps to address these challenges, including the development of strategic frameworks such as the “Security Plan to Reduce Smuggling and Control the Borders” and the “Four Lines of Defense” concept. While these initiatives provide an important foundation, there remains a need to further consolidate, harmonise, and operationalise existing approaches within a comprehensive and coherent national strategy. In this regard, there is a recognized need to strengthen border governance through an integrated and coordinated approach. The European Union’s Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept offers a relevant reference framework, promoting a multi-agency, multi-level, and whole-of-government approach to border
management. This approach emphasises effective coordination among relevant national authorities, including border guards, customs, migration services, and law enforcement agencies, as well as enhanced cooperation with neighbouring countries and regional partners.
In line with international standards and guidance developed by relevant organisations, including the United Nations, the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the World Bank, effective border management requires a balanced and comprehensive approach that integrates security considerations with the facilitation of legitimate trade and mobility, the protection of human rights, and the promotion of sustainable development in border areas. Against this backdrop, the development of a comprehensive Border Management Strategy for Libya is considered a priority. Such a strategy should build on existing national frameworks while addressing identified gaps in legal and regulatory systems, institutional coordination, operational capacities, infrastructure, and cross-border cooperation mechanisms. It should further be accompanied by a realistic and phased implementation plan, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international standards.
The consultant shall also define clear governance arrangements, roles, and coordination mechanisms among the Border Guards Agency, Ministry of Interior entities (e.g. GACIM), Ministry of Defence/Border Guards, and customs authorities. The strategy should address overlapping mandates and establish practical frameworks for information sharing, joint planning, and coordinated operations - particularly for SARD - by clarifying command structures, SOPs, and handover procedures.
The development and implementation of such a strategy is expected to contribute to strengthened state institutions, enhanced border security and governance, improved regional cooperation, and the promotion of safe, orderly, and regular cross-border movements.

Scope of Work
The consultant(s) will undertake the following tasks:
Review and Assessment
• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing national strategies and frameworks, including:
o “The Security Plan to Reduce Smuggling and Control the Borders”.
o The “Four Lines of Defense” framework.
• Analyse the current legal, regulatory, and institutional framework governing border management, migration, and cross-border cooperation.
• Assess operational capacities, infrastructure, coordination mechanisms, and existing gaps.
Strategy Development
• Develop a comprehensive Border Management Strategy guided by:
o The EU Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept.
o Relevant guidance from the EU, World Customs Organization (WCO), and World Bank.
• Ensure the strategy:
o Builds on and operationalises existing national frameworks.
o Defines clear institutional roles and coordination mechanisms.
o Aligns with international standards and good practices.
o Clarified command structures, roles, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
o Effective mechanisms for information sharing, joint planning, coordinated operations, and handover procedures
Plan of Action (1 – 3 Years)
• Develop a phased and costed implementation plan covering a period of 1 – 3 years, including:
o Prioritised actions and sequencing.
o Clear timelines, responsibilities, and performance indicators.
• Identify and propose:
o Legal and regulatory reforms required to harmonise border governance frameworks.
o Institutional strengthening measures to improve coordination and accountability.

Methodology and Approach
The assignment should adopt a participatory and consultative approach, including:
• Engagement with relevant Libyan authorities at national and local levels.
• Consultation with regional and international stakeholders.
• Field assessments where feasible.
• Alignment with international standards and best practices.

Required Expertise
The assignment requires expertise in:
• Border management and security sector governance.
• Migration management and cross-border cooperation.
• Legal and institutional reform.
• Capacity development and strategic planning.
• Experience in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, preferably in Libya or the Sahel region.
• Arabic – fluent on expert level

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

IOM Department of Migration Management, Immigration and Border Governance.
Project: Human Rights-Based Border Management and Search and Rescue in Libya (“Sharaka”)
Project Code: IB.0548

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

• First Deliverable (30 days after the start of the contract): • A work plan to be submitted one week after the beginning of the contract. • Mid-term update on the Data Collection exercise and direct consultations meetings with Governmental authorities at the central level, with the support of the Immigration and Border Governance National Officer. To be submitted four weeks after the beginning of the contract. First instalment due 30 days after the beginning of the contract.
• Second Deliverable (60 days after the start of the contract): • Draft Border Management Strategy • Phased Implementation Plan (1 - 3 years) with costing and indicators Second instalment due 60 days after the beginning of the contract.