JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary

Nature of the consultancy: Development of Informative Materials on Initiatives on Diaspora Engagement for Municipalities

Key Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

Task 1: Inception and Desk Review

• Conduct a review of relevant project documents, including reports and findings from the 2025 IOM workshops.
• Familiarize themselves with the specific socio-economic contexts, existing diaspora profiles, and gender dynamics within Tetovo, Gostivar, and Ohrid.

Task 2: Collaborative Consultations with Municipalities

• Organize and conduct direct consultations (e.g., meetings, focus groups, interviews) with key representatives from each of the three municipalities (Tetovo, Gostivar, Ohrid).
• Facilitate a collaborative dialogue to understand their specific needs, challenges, opportunities, and current levels of capacity regarding diaspora engagement.
• Ensure these consultations actively explore gender-specific considerations in diaspora relations (e.g., the different roles, contributions, and barriers faced by women and men in the diaspora).

Task 3: Development of Tailored Informative Materials

• Based on the consultations and desk review, develop, design, and finalize a set of informative materials. The exact format will be refined with the municipalities, but may include:
• Municipality-specific fact sheets or briefs: Summarizing key diaspora data, engagement opportunities, and recommended actions for each municipality.
• Step-by-step guides or toolkits: Practical guides on initiating and maintaining communication with diaspora communities, organizing diaspora events, and establishing dedicated municipal services.
• Communication templates: Draft social media content and newsletter templates tailored for diaspora outreach.
• Infographics: Visually engaging materials that simplify complex concepts related to diaspora contributions (beyond remittances).

Task 4: Integration of Gender and Communications Expertise

• Ensure all materials are crafted using clear, inclusive, and non-discriminatory language.
• Integrate a gender perspective throughout, highlighting how engagement strategies can be designed to be equally accessible and beneficial to all diaspora members.
• Apply principles of effective visual communication to ensure materials are engaging and easy to understand for a municipal government audience.

Task 5: Validation and Finalization

• Present the draft materials to IOM and the municipal representatives for feedback.
• Incorporate feedback and submit the final versions of all materials in editable and print-ready formats.

Deliverables & Timeline

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

1. Inception Report (within ten days of contract start): Outlining the detailed work plan, methodology for consultations, and proposed outline/structure of the informative materials.
2. Draft Set of Informative Materials: A complete draft of all agreed-upon materials for review by IOM and the municipalities.
3. Final Set of Informative Materials: High-quality, professionally designed final versions of all materials in both Macedonian and Albanian, delivered in editable and PDF formats.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Relevance and applicability: finalised materials are explicitly tailored to the specific contexts of Tetovo, Gostivar, and Ohrid, as confirmed by positive feedback from the municipal representatives
• Integration of gender perspectives: gender considerations are mainstreamed throughout all materials, with at least three concrete examples of gender-sensitive engagement approaches provided per municipality-specific product.
• Clarity and usability: materials are assessed as “easy to understand” and “actionable” by the end-users
• Quality of design and accessibility: all materials are delivered error-free, professionally formatted, and agreed-upon, editable, and print-ready formats.
• Effectiveness of stakeholder engagement: consultations are conducted with all three municipalities as planned, with active participation from key departments
• Timeliness: all deliverables are submitted by the agreed-upon deadlines
• Responsiveness to feedback: feedback from IOM and municipalities is systematically incorporated into the final versions of the materials.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Advanced university degree in Communications, Gender Studies, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in strategic communications, development of informational materials, and/or public outreach campaigns.
• Demonstrated expertise in mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion into communication products and programs.
• Excellent writing, editing, and visual communication skills.
• Familiarity with the context of diaspora engagement, migration, and local development in North Macedonia is highly desirable.

Skills

Core Expertise

• Strategic Communications
• Gender Mainstreaming and Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Exceptional Writing and Editing Skills
• Research and Synthesis
• Cultural and Contextual Competence
• Design Proficiency

Interpersonal & Strategic Skills

• Diplomacy and Tact
• Collaborative Mindset
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability
• Time Management and Organization

Languages

• Fluency in English and local languages is required.

Travel required

• Yes

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values:

• 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.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• 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.

Notes

1. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
2. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment.
3. This post is subject to local recruitment. Only those holding a valid residence or work permit for North Macedonia will be eligible for consideration.
4. 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 accidents or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
5. 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.
6. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fees). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
7. 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.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies