Gender and Border Governance Consultant

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

Egypt plays a strategic geopolitical position in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a country of origin, transit, and destination for migrants, and experiences significant mixed migration flows both into and out of its territory. These flows include irregular movements across land and sea borders, often involving vulnerable populations, including women and children with specific protection and assistance needs.

Effective border management strategies recognize the significance of incorporating a gender perspective and the mainstreaming of gender equality principles across all border security functions, alongside strengthened protection for people on the move. This approach enables responses that are sensitive to the distinct needs and experiences of diverse groups, particularly the most vulnerable, such as victims of trafficking, asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants. Thereby enhancing migrant safety and improving targeted outreach based on gender and age. In contrast, failure to address gender-specific considerations can result in ineffective decision-making and negative impacts on individuals’ rights, opportunities, and broader national and international security.
Understanding the gender dimensions of migration and systematically integrating this perspective into border management practices is therefore essential for border authorities to address cross-border movements in an effective, efficient, and rights-based manner. Through the delivery of capacity-building support to its Member States, IOM contributes to strengthening the capacity of border authorities to protect migrants and adopt gender-responsive border management approaches.

In response, and in support of the Government of Egypt’s efforts to strengthen rights-based and protection-centred border management, this action seeks to enhance national capacities on mainstreaming gender in their operational work. This will be achieved through building understanding of key concepts underpinning mainstreaming gender in border governance, supporting the development of gender-sensitive migration policies and analyses, promoting the adoption of gender-responsive procedures at borders, and strengthening responses to the vulnerabilities of specific groups of migrants at points of entry.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Unit

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager and National Project Officer, the Category B Consultant will facilitate the development and implementation of the capacity building activity (course modules, session delivery), and contribute to the realization of the outlined deliverables below:

• First Deliverable – Propose a plan that will guide the design and development of training curriculum for the four-day “Joint Training on Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Border Governance” for Egyptian National Authorities, including delivery of the training Concept Note and Agenda, in coordination with relevant IOM Egypt staff. To be delivered remotely by 1 September 2026
• Second Deliverable – Share with IOM Egypt the training content, presentation materials, as well as pre- and post-training evaluation questions for the four-day “Joint Training on Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Border Governance” for Egyptian National Authorities. Delivered via email by 18 September 2026
• Third Deliverable – Deliver and Facilitate the four-day “Joint Training on Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Border Governance” for Egyptian National Authorities. Delivered in Cairo from 18 to 21 October 2026 *The Consultant’s costs of travel will be covered by IOM including: (Accommodation, Airport Transfers in Cairo and round-trip flight tickets), in addition to the Daily Substance Allowance (DSA), to cover unprovided meals and miscellaneous expenses for the duration of the training activity. The DSA payment shall be made via bank transfer upon the successful completion of the training activity in Cairo and submission of boarding passes.
• Fourth Deliverable – Prepare a de-brief report (final report) including training evaluation summary and recommendations for further iterations of the training. Delivered by email by 31 October 2026.