Job Title: Consultant to Conduct an Evaluation on "Assistance for the Voluntary Return and Reintegration of Returnees to Nigeria" (AVRR Nigeria) Project
Location: Nigeria
Organisation: International Organization for Migration – IOM Nigeria
Sector: NGO
1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. IOM: Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1951 with its Headquarters in Geneva. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM implements more than 2700 projects worldwide in the field of facilitating and regulating migration, migration and health, migration and development etc. Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration is an area of IOM expertise that has been developed through 30 years of experience. Since 1979, with the establishment of the German "Reintegration or Emigration of Asylum Seekers from Germany (REAG)" programme, IOM's AVRR activities have grown to include more than 20 AVR regular programmes and 100 projects.1 IOM's comparative advantage in AVRR projects lies in its global field presence, long-standing experience and extensive expertise in the field of migration, including return migration management. IOM's engagement in AVRR, which takes a human rights-based and gender-sensitive approach, is also underpinned by IOM's Global 12 Point Strategy. IOM considers AVRR an indispensable part of a comprehensive approach to migration management, which combines efficient border management, effective asylum processing structures and respect for human rights by facilitating the safe and dignified return of migrants and by encouraging their sustainable reintegration at home. IOM also advocates the establishment of a cooperative approach and partnership with regards to the management of return migration frameworks by engaging countries of origin, transit and destination.
2. Austria: Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration In Austria, assisted return and reintegration were first implemented in the context of refugee migration from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from Kosovo. In 2000, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and IOM which representsthe basis for cooperation with regard to assisted return measures.2 The relation between assisted return and forced removal is not explicitly regulated under Austrian law; however assisted return is generally favoured over forced removal in Austria.3 The main actors in assisted return and reintegration activities in Austria are:4
3. the donors (European Return Fund, Federal Ministry of the Interior, etc.)
4. Return Counselling Organizations (e.g. Caritas Österreich, Verein Menschenrechte, etc.)
5. IOM
6. Others. The actors may change from one year to another as national projects which are co-funded by the European Return Fund are tendered and attributed on a yearly basis. Information on assisted return is disseminated via different channels. Asylum applicants, persons whose asylum application has been rejected and irregular migrants as well as recognized refugees who would like to receive return counselling can contact one of the organisations/institutions that offer general return counselling. Return counselling is offered at any stage of the asylum procedure at regional offices or on a mobile basis.5 If a client decides to voluntarily return, the return counselling organizations files an application for cost absorption of the return costs and for the start up aid to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (AT MoI). Once the decision about the costs is made by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, IOM Vienna who is responsible for the operational part of the return is informed.6
7. IOM Country Office Vienna: Projects on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration In order to socio-economically empower voluntary returnees, minimize their vulnerability and safeguard the sustainability of their reintegration, the IOM Vienna AVRR projects complement the General Humanitarian Return Programme that IOM implements on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the AT MoI in 2000. The General Humanitarian Return Programme includes the provision of information on assisted return, support the returnees in attaining travel documents, organisation of the logistics for return from Austria as well as to the country of transit or origin, and the payment of start-up aid.7 IOM Vienna currently coordinates and/or implements country-specific reintegration projects to Afghanistan, Georgia, Moldova, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation/Chechen Republic, Iraq/Kurdistan Region8. These projects are co-financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and/or the European Return Fund. The basic components of all return and reintegration projects include return and reintegration assistance which focuses on income-generating activities, aiming at rendering the beneficiaries self-sustainable. Overall re-integration measures are non-cash benefits which aim at providing a basis for successful long-term and sustainable reintegration.92. PROJECT INFORMATION Nigeria is located in the extreme Eastern corner of West Africa. Covering an area of 923764 km2, it shares borders with Niger and Chad to the North, Cameroon to the East, Benin to the West and the Atlantic Ocean to the South. With an estimated population of 167 million people in 201110 The country and its population face a number of challenges related to economic and social inequalities and conflict (poverty, high unemployment rates, poor health care delivery services, weak social welfare services etc.) which render it extremely challenging for voluntary returnees to generate an income for living (for themselves and their families upon their return) without adequate support and guidance. – nearly 25 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa's population – Nigeria is the most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The seat of the Nigerian government and capital city is Abuja, while Lagos remains the commercial and economic centre. The country runs a federal system of Government, based on a presidential constitution with a three-tier Government structure made up of the Federal Government, 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas. Since 2009, the IOM Vienna Country Office has been implementing the project "Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration for Nigerian Nationals in Austria (AVRR Nigeria)", which is co-financed by the European Return Fund and the AT MoI. The current project phase (AVRR Nigeria IV) runs from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2013 and is implemented in close cooperation with IOM in Nigeria. Previous project phases dated as follows: AVRR Nigeria I: 1 September 2009 – 31 December 2010 (including a no-cost-extension from 1 September 2010 – 31 December 2010) AVRR Nigeria II: 1 September 2010 – 30 June 2011 AVRR Nigeria III: 1 July 2011 – 31 December 2012 (including a no-cost-extension from 1 July 2012 – 31 December 2012) All together, more than 160 beneficiaries from Nigeria have received reintegration assistance from 1 September 2009 until 31 December 2012. Although the number of asylum applications of the target group has decreased from 573 applications in 2010 to 411 in 2011, Nigerian nationals continue to rank among the top nationalities to file asylum applications in Austria, while only a minority of them is granted international protection. At the same time, in 2011 IOM Vienna assisted 110 Nigerian nationals with their voluntary return from Austria to Nigeria, placing it among the top ten return countries in the 2011 IOM Vienna AVR statistics. The aim of the current project phase (AVRR Nigeria IV) is to contribute to Austria's comprehensive management of migration through fostering the sustainable socio-economic reintegration of up to 40 asylum seekers, rejected asylum seekers, recognized refugees, persons under subsidiary protection and persons from Nigeria currently residing in Austria who do not or no longer fulfil the conditions for staying in Austria and wish to voluntarily return to Nigeria. By equipping return counselling organizations and Nigerian Diaspora institutions with up-to-date project-related information material, the awareness among Nigerian nationals in Austria on the project and the reintegration services available will be enhanced through information exchangeshall enhance the capabilities of the beneficiaries to socially and economically re-establish themselves in Nigeria and contribute to reducing the need to re-emigrate from Nigeria.Up to 40 beneficiaries – one person per household – are supported with an in-kind grant worth up to a maximum of EUR 3,500. 12 The project aims to strengthen the cooperation between all stakeholders involved and is operated in Austria and Nigeria in close collaboration with national and local authorities, civil society organizations and international organizations. Special emphasis is put on the exchange of information between all parties, especially between the "receiving end" and the "sending end" (e.g. during the International Workshop for Return Counsellors). The reintegration measure (e.g. business start-up) will be based on a thorough assessment of the needs, skills and preferences of the beneficiary, initially carried out by the return counselling organization in Austria using a detailed application questionnaire as well as subsequently by IOM offices in Vienna and foremost in Nigeria. Additional assistance will be available for vulnerable beneficiaries (trafficked persons, persons in need of medical treatment, temporary housing, child care, etc.). The following project outcomes and outputs are expected in the framework of the AVRR Nigeria IV project:Outcome 1 Raise awareness among Nigerian nationals interested in voluntarily returning from Austria on the reintegration assistance available Output 1.1 Return counselling organizations have the necessary project-related information to provide high quality counselling to Nigerian clients Output 1.2 Nigerian Diaspora communities and other relevant stakeholders in Austria have the necessary project- related information to raise awareness among Nigerian nationals in Austria on the project Outcome 2 Increase the capability of project beneficiaries to socially and economically re-establish themselves in Nigeria Output 2.1 Beneficiaries have an increased knowledge on available support and services (legal, psychosocial, medical, educational, etc.) related to their reintegration in Nigeria Output 2.2 Beneficiaries have increased ability and skills to generate an income and reintegrate in the local labour market in Nigeria Output 2.3 Additional assistance addressing specific needs (e.g. health issues, housing, child care, etc.) is available for vulnerable beneficiaries Outcome 3 Facilitate cooperation among key stakeholders in the field of AVRR in Austria and Nigeria Output 3.1 Information exchange among key stakeholders (return counsellors, national and local authorities, community representatives, etc.) in Austria and Nigeria is enhanced Output 3.2 Discussions and engagement of key stakeholders in Austria and Nigeria
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION
The overall objective of this external evaluation is to evaluate whether and to what extent the results of the current phase of the project have been achieved and to identify best practices and lessons learned. The evaluation aims to create a sound evidence base in order to adapt project delivery, inform strategicplanning and future project development. Results of previous phases can also be considered in the analysis if proved relevant or if deviating from the analysis of the performance of current phase. The evaluation will cover the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact and will measure the project performance against the progress and results set out in the results framework. In particular, the project's integrated approach linking voluntary return with reintegration measures will be closely analyzed. The specific objectives of the evaluation are as follows: Relevance:
3. To examine the relevance of the project in view of addressing the needs of the target group;
4. To assess the relevance of the overall project strategy;
5. To analyze the quality of the project design; Effectiveness:
6. To assess the results and outcomes attained in the implementation of the project vis-à-vis the targets set out in the results framework, taking also into account how the reintegration assistance was flexible vis-à-vis beneficiaries of varying age, intercourse, education and professional experience profiles;
7. To analyze the effectiveness in reaching and informing potential candidates in Austria;
8. To analyze strengths and weaknesses of the project and draw recommendations and lessons learnt for future interventions; Efficiency:
9. To assess whether the available financial and human resources have been optimally used; Impact:
10. To analyze the direct impact of the project phase on beneficiaries, in particular in terms of reintegration in the country of origin and social and economic support to them and their dependents, as well as the indirect impact such as the contribution of the returnees to the country using the skills acquired abroad or to the well-being of other persons, for instance in setting-up small and medium enterprises;
11. To assess the contribution of the project to Austria's comprehensive migration management;
12. To assess the contribution of the project to the development of local communities in Nigeria; Sustainability:
13. To assess the extent to which the project contributes to a sustainable generation of income by beneficiaries of the project;
14. Date of voluntary return: • Voluntary return less than six months ago • Voluntary return more than six months ago Sources of information will include: • Desk review and analysis of relevant policies, project documents, (monitoring) reports, statistical data and any other relevant information or IOM documentation that can be made available by IOM; • In-depth interviews with project beneficiaries of current phase in Nigeria, with the possibility of enlarging them to beneficiaries of previous phases with a focus on the impact and sustainability analysis of reintegration; • In-depth interviews with IOM staff in Nigeria, Austria and the Regional Offices in Dakar and Brussels; • In-depth interview with the donors; • In-depth interviews with partner organizations return counselling organizations and others; • Interviews with national and local authorities; • Field visits to some of project sites. Preferably all interviews should be conducted in person; the possibility to conduct focus groups or a written survey for beneficiaries not easily reachable in the country will be considered during the preparatory phase of the evaluation exercise.? Amount of reintegration assistance received ? Regular return counselling/Return counselling in detention ? Business sector ? Region ? intercourse ? Age ?To analyze the integrated approach of complementing voluntary return assistance with reintegration assistance; The key users of this evaluation will be the IOM Vienna Country Office, IOM in Nigeria, IOM Regional Offices in Brussels and Dakar, IOM Headquarters as well as the donors (Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, European Return Fund).3. METHODOLOGY OF THE EVALUATION The evaluation will take a gender-sensitive and human-rights based approach. It will be participatory in nature and will make use of semi-structured interviewing techniques. Data will be disaggregated according to
15. ROLE OF PARTIES INVOLVED
An independent and impartial expert (team) should conduct the evaluation. The evaluator will not act as representative of any party. • The evaluator must have a profound background in monitoring and evaluating return and reintegration projects (experience in evaluating EU funded projects is an asset), as well as in-depth experience in field-based research. • Knowledge of migration policies and issues is important. • Familiarity with the Nigerian development context and especially with the Nigerian Diaspora is an asset. • The evaluator must have demonstrated excellent analytical, communication and report writing skills, as well as English-language drafting skills.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications to email addressiomnigeriahr@iom.int on or before 6 March 2013. In order for the application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts applications with Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for application, addressed to The Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with a subject line Consultant to Conduct an Evaluation of AVRR Project-Nigeria. All applications should include a functional email address and mobile number(s). Please note that only applications sent by email will be accepted; kindly also note that this position is open only to Nigerian National applicants and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates are also expected to propose a daily rate for consultancy fee which should be verifiable.
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