Introduction
In September 2020, IOM established its mission in Qatar. This mission is the third in the GCC region, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between the GCC and the Organisation. The GCC region has both shared and distinct labour mobility dynamics, hosting one of the highest proportions of expatriate workers globally. Labour mobility plays a central role in national development across the region.IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
In September 2020, IOM established its mission in Qatar. This mission is the third in the GCC region, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between the GCC and the Organisation. The GCC region has both shared and distinct labour mobility dynamics, hosting one of the highest proportions of expatriate workers globally. Labour mobility plays a central role in national development across the region.
The State of Qatar is a key destination for international labour mobility, with expatriate workers comprising approximately 94% of the national labour force. Qatar has emerged as a regional and global actor in labour mobility governance, development cooperation, and humanitarian assistance. IOM Qatar works closely with government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, and expatriate communities to promote safe, orderly, and regular labour mobility, protect workers’ rights and welfare, and contribute to sustainable development.
This includes supporting the Government’s anti-trafficking efforts, building national capacities on labour mobility governance and international standards, raising awareness on mobility and human development issues, and fostering dialogue between regions of origin and destination to improve the governance of labour mobility and protect expatriate workers’ rights.
In 2021, following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, what was initially envisioned as a small country office expanded significantly to accommodate the operation to evacuate Afghan nationals through Doha. Since then, IOM Qatar has continued to grow its portfolio, including in areas such as humanitarian response, technical assistance, and regional cooperation.
The development of the IOM Qatar Country Strategy 2026–2030 is a key opportunity to consolidate the mission’s strategic direction, align with IOM’s Strategic Plan 2024–2028, the MENA Regional Strategy (2025–2029), and ensure coherence with Qatar’s national development priorities, particularly those outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy.
The strategy will also serve as a tool to enhance IOM’s visibility and stakeholder engagement in Qatar by clearly articulating the Organisation’s mandate, comparative advantage, and contributions to the country’s development and humanitarian objectives.
Key Strategic Alignment Requirements:
Integration of the three global strategic priorities of Saving lives and protecting people on the move, Driving solutions to displacement and Facilitating pathways for regular migration aligning also with the IOM Strategic Results Framework.
Alignment with GCC and regional strategic priorities, migration trends, labour mobility, and protection priorities as well as with international standards and frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
Alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing The consultant will work under the Office of the Chief of Mission with direct reporting to the Migration Management Officer, and in close coordination with the IOM Regional office in Cairo, namely the Regional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. Tasks to be performed under this contract
Scope of Work:
The Consultant will be responsible for the following:
Conduct a desk review of relevant IOM global and regional strategies, Qatar’s national development frameworks (e.g. Qatar National Vision 2030, National Development Strategy), and other relevant documentation.Develop a detailed work plan and methodology for the consultancy, including a stakeholder engagement plan.Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society, private sector actors, and other relevant partners.Prepare a comprehensive context and stakeholder mapping report, with a focus on labour mobility, workforce development, and human development in Qatar.Draft the IOM Qatar Country Strategy 2026–2030, ensuring alignment with IOM’s Strategic Plan 2024–2028, the MENA Regional Strategy (2025–2029), relevant regional frameworks, and Qatar’s national priorities.Facilitate a stakeholder validation workshop to present and gather feedback on the draft strategy.Finalise the strategy document, incorporating feedback from IOM and stakeholders.Develop a comprehensive Results Framework, drawing from IOM’s Global Strategic Results Framework and aligning with the priorities identified for the IOM Qatar strategy.Develop a concise, public-facing “IOM Qatar Portfolio & Engagement Brief” to communicate IOM’s mandate, humanitarian work, and technical expertise to Qatari institutions and the public.Deliverables
The Consultant will deliver the following measurable outputs within 12 weeks:
Deliverable 1 (Week 2): Inception Report
Methodology, work plan, analytical framework, and consultation schedule.Literature review summary of global and regional strategies and Qatar National Vision 2030
Deliverable 2 (Week 4): Qatar Context and Stakeholder Mapping Report
Analysis of national context (labour mobility, policy frameworks, protection environments, data gaps).Stakeholder matrix of Government, UN, civil society, private sector and other relevant bodies, groups and institutions
Deliverable 3 (Week 7): Draft Country Strategy, including:
Strategy Introduction and rationale
Strategic priorities and outcomes aligned to global/regional strategies
Annex results framework aligned to the identified strategic prioritiesRisks and assumptions analysisStakeholder Consultation
Deliverable 4 (Week 9): Presentation and Stakeholder Validation
Presentation of draft strategy to IOM Qatar and key stakeholders.
Stakeholder validation workshop and submission of a summary report capturing stakeholder feedback.
Deliverable 5 (Week 11): Updated Country Strategy Document
Incorporating stakeholders’ feedback, ready for endorsement by IOM Qatar leadership and Regional Office.
updated document, annexes, and executive summary.
Deliverable 6 (week 12): IOM Qatar Portfolio & Engagement Brief
A concise, public-facing document and presentation highlighting IOM’s mandate, humanitarian contributions, and alignment with Qatar’s national development and humanitarian priorities.
Submission of all final strategy document and a debrief session with IOM Qatar by week 12.
Category B Consultant will be paid on a 5-instalment payment basis:
First deliverable – Inception report. To be delivered by email by the end of the 2nd week of consultancy.
Second deliverable – Qatar Context and Stakeholder Mapping Report to be delivered by email by the end of the 4th week of consultancy.
Third deliverable- Draft country strategy to be delivered by email by the end of the 7th week of the consultancy.
Fourth deliverable- presentation and stakeholder validation online meeting due by the end of the 9th week of the consultancy.
Final deliverable- Final country strategy to be delivered by email by the end of the 12th week of the consultancy. Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
Timely submission of deliverables in line with the agreed timeline.
Quality and relevance of the strategy document and engagement brief.
Evidence of effective stakeholder engagement and incorporation of feedback.
Alignment of outputs with IOM’s global and Regional Strategic plans and Qatar’s national development frameworks.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
An advanced degree in a related field (e.g., Public Policy, Social Sciences, Communications, Migration Studies) with at least five years of experience in a relevant field.