CON 2026-19 - Local Migration Consultant – Diaspora Mapping and Engagement

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

IOM is seeking a Local Migration Consultant to generate the evidence base on the Albanian diaspora in the United Kingdom for the design of the proposed Diaspora Investment Mechanism (DIM). The assignment will focus on mapping diaspora profiles, motivations, perceptions, and barriers relevant to engagement, while also helping ensure that diaspora perspectives are reflected in the mechanism’s outreach, participation, and governance arrangements.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide migration and diaspora engagement expertise in three core areas: (i) mapping and segmentation of the UK-based Albanian diaspora, including investors, professionals, mentors, and philanthropists; (ii) qualitative analysis of trust, motivation, perceptions, and behavioural barriers affecting diaspora engagement and investment through the DIM; and (iii) contribution to the design of diaspora outreach, participation, advisory, governance, and performance arrangements within the DIM framework.

- Conduct mapping of the Albanian diaspora in the United Kingdom and segment diaspora profiles, including investors, professionals, mentors, and philanthropists, to inform DIM outreach and design.
- Analyse trust, motivations, perceptions, and behavioural barriers to diaspora investment and engagement through qualitative research, including surveys and focus group discussions.
- Contribute to the design of diaspora participation, advisory, governance, and KPI arrangements within the Diaspora Investment Mechanism.

The Local Migration Consultant will first contribute as part of a broader consultancy team led by the Lead Consultant towards the drafting of a comprehensive feasibility and diaspora study (30 working days). In this capacity, the consultant will be expected to coordinate closely with the Lead Consultant and other team members to ensure alignment on the design, implementation approach, analytical process, and final deliverables of the assignment. This will require regular communication and agreement on roles, methodologies, sequencing of tasks, and the consolidation of inputs into coherent final products. Following the completion of which, the Local Migration Consultant will, for an additional 25 working days, support the Project Coordinator in developing the DIM based upon the DIM Roadmap established during the study phase.

This consultancy will take place within the IOM Albania project, “Diaspora Investment Mechanism” funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Through a strategic partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce in Albania (BCCA), the initiative will develop a Diaspora Investment Mechanism (DIM) that draws on lessons learned from similar models in Albania, the wider region and beyond. The DIM is designed to address the needs, interests, and challenges of both remittance senders and receivers, thereby supporting the diaspora's economic contribution to Albania's sustainable development. The project will foster economic opportunities in Albania, particularly for communities in the northern regions, by supporting local development initiatives that will help address structural factors currently contributing to emigration.

Albania's diaspora, comprising over 1.2 million citizens-more than 44 per cent of the population, of whom 68,814 living in the United Kingdom, represents a vital economic asset and a key driver of sustainable development. In 2024, annual remittance inflows reached approximately EUR €1.045 billion (4.4% of GDP), making them a significant external financial source, though still below foreign direct investment (FDI) of EUR €1.58 billion. According to the World Bank in 2024, USD $205,314.88 were sent in personal remittances from the United Kingdom to Albania. Persistent barriers such as regulatory ambiguities, limited institutional support, insufficient incentives, and inadequate rural infrastructure hinder full diaspora engagement. Diaspora engagement is further constrained by structural, financial, and geographic factors. Bureaucratic complexity, lack of sector-specific incentives, and administrative burdens limit collaboration and investment, while restricted access to reliable market information impedes informed decision-making.

Additionally, 39 per cent of remittances are sent through informal channels, reducing transparency and the potential for formal economic development. Investment is heavily concentrated in Tirana, leaving rural areas underdeveloped and lacking essential infrastructure. In addition to this, Northern Albania has experienced sustained out-migration, including irregular movements to the United Kingdom. Many villages in the north face fragile local economies, heavily reliant on remittances, with some communities vulnerable to criminal networks. To address these issues, this project seeks to strengthen engagement between the UK-based Albanian diaspora and communities in Northern Albania, fostering sustainable development, creating legal alternatives to emigration, and opening pathways for investment, knowledge exchange, and collaboration that benefit both the diaspora and local populations.

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Consultant during the feasibility and diaspora study phase, and subsequently under the supervision of the Project Coordinator for the establishment of the DIM, the Local Migration Consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks in support of the Scope of the Assignment:

- Conduct mapping of the Albanian diaspora in the United Kingdom, segmenting diaspora profiles including investors, professionals, mentors, and philanthropists.
- Through qualitative analysis, including surveys and focus group discussions, analyse trust, motivation, perceptions, and behavioural barriers to diaspora investment and engagement through the DIM.
- Map and document a minimum of 40 UK-based Albanian diaspora profiles, disaggregated by gender, to inform DIM outreach and design.
- Support stakeholder consultations at the municipal and local level, including through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, and contribute to the preparation of discussion guides, probing, and accurate documentation of findings.
- Contribute to diaspora engagement mechanisms within DIM governance structures.
- Support the design of diaspora participation and advisory mechanisms within the DIM governance framework.
- Contribute to the development of key performance indicators related to diaspora engagement and participation within the DIM performance framework.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

The consultancy engagement will contribute to the successful implementation of the project Diaspora Investment Mechanism, TK0113.

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

• First deliverable – Diaspora Mapping and Profile Analysis – An output presenting the mapping and segmentation of the UK-based Albanian diaspora, including investors, professionals, mentors, and philanthropists, informed by a minimum of 40 gender-disaggregated diaspora profiles. (Deliverable by email potentially by 15 August 2026.)
• Second deliverable – Qualitative Analysis of Diaspora Perspectives and Barriers – An output analysing trust, motivations, perceptions, and behavioural barriers relevant to diaspora engagement and investment through the Diaspora Investment Mechanism, based on surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. (Deliverable by email potentially by 28 August 2026.)
• Final deliverable – Diaspora Participation, Governance, and KPI Input – A final output contributing to the design of diaspora outreach, participation, advisory, and governance arrangements within the DIM, including proposed key performance indicators related to diaspora engagement and participation. (Deliverable by email potentially by 12 September 2026.)