Consultant – Document Examination Laboratory Manual for the Immigration Environment (DELMIE) (C)
JOB DETAIL
Duty Station: Homebased
Classification: Consultant, Grade Other
Type of Appointment: Consultant, six months
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 8 April 2025
Legal Identity is relevant to a broad range of IOM programmatic areas and constitutes a cross-cutting theme that runs through the fabric of IOM’s mandate and programmes. As such, engaging in legal identity activities has the potential to strengthen IOM’s role in leading the global debate on migration, mobility, security, and development.
Established in 2021 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the “Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS)” works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners to fulfil their commitments towards migrants, affected populations, returnees, and host communities in accordance with national priorities, as well as regional and global commitments and migration governance processes.
The programme focuses on systemic changes that are critical to addressing the underlying causes of migrants’ vulnerability, gender equality, and exclusion, including in humanitarian and fragile settings; supporting rights-based policies and legislation; equitable access to essential protection services; strengthening local partnerships for migrant inclusion and social cohesion; access to legal identity; reinforcing data-driven responses; and influencing social behaviors and norms.
A new phase of COMPASS is activated from 2024 to 2027, which outlines three key priorities – specialized protection, localization, and legal identity. The programme is being implemented in 14 countries, and in the next four years, will strive to find the most effective and sustainable ways of assisting migrants and promoting their rights, dignity, and well-being, while expanding support to its partners in achieving their priority objectives in pursuing improved migration governance.
IOM’s Institutional Legal Identity Strategy (LIS) lays the foundation for supporting individuals, States, and Governments in achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 16.9 and Objective 4 of the Global Compact for Migration. Through its four strategic pillars, the LIS aims to enhance access to legal identity for all and support Member States in strengthening the technical capacity of legal identity stakeholders, including immigration entities, in document examination and fraud detection.
The objective of this assignment is to update the IOM Document Examination Laboratory Manual for Immigration Environments (DELMIE) to enhance the understanding of involved stakeholders in establishing and operationalizing document examination processes within immigration context. This Manual will address considerations such as privacy, human rights, security, and technological factors. It will serve as a practical guideline for IOM staff, decision-makers, and policymakers for IOM Member States, providing actionable strategies for implementing document examination frameworks effectively.
It is expected that the Manual will guide users on the development of an appropriate document examination facility. The manual will be a resource for border control managers, immigration officers, project managers, and document examination specialists. The content of the Manual will address the following components:
- The role of management in building a document examination facility
- Developing meaningful workplace skills, relationships and expertise
- Laboratory design and operation, including technical specifications according to latest standards
- Maintaining laboratory equipment and resources
- Document examination reports, alerts, and training
- Development of required databases, document alert templates, and resource maintenance registers
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – Detailed Examination Protocols, Safety Procedures, Evidence Handling and Chain of Custody
- Biometric Verification Integration
- AI-Assisted Document Examination Procedures & Powered Fraud Detection Sources
- Automated Reporting and Audit Logs
- Standardized AI Verification Reporting Formats, including morphing
- Cybersecurity Awareness for Forensic Examiners
- Big Data Analytics for Trend Analysis in Document Fraud for secondary and first line inspection
Upon development of the Manual, a set of slide decks with facilitator notes and visibility materials (brochure, poster with workflow) should be developed for both IOM and government stakeholders as part of the capacity development activities. Upon completion of the assignment, relevant capacity development activities might be organized for IOM and government stakeholders.
The entire scope of the Consultancy Contract will be fulfilled in 3 deliverables:
- Deliverable 1: Workplan to provide the framework on how the Consultant and IOM will approach the scope of work. The workplan should provide details on the deliverables, the methodology, the extent of desk research, and documentation on the timelines as well as the process organization
- Deliverable 2 – Draft Manual: user-centered, didactically relevant guide that outlines the key components of the manual, adhering to the agreed-upon table of contents and visibility documents (brochure/summary, workflow diagram for the Manual).
- Deliverable 3 – Final Version of the Manual: upon review of the Manual by IOM, the final version, which is edited and with prepared design layout for publication.
Category B Consultant hired to deliver a report on a three-installment payment basis:
- First deliverable and installment – A work plan and methodology for the drafting exercise, including timeline and selection of relevant resources – Deliverable by email by 10 April 2025
- Second deliverable and installment – Draft version of the Manual – Deliverable by email by 20 July 2025
- Final deliverable and installment – Final version of the Manual based on IOM’s review, didactically relevant training slide deck with speaker notes covering the Manual, suitable for a 2-day training of IOM Members and other stakeholders – Deliverable by email by 15 August 2025.
- Produced draft version of the Manual, approved by IOM
- Produced final version of the Manual, which is edited and designed by the Consultant, approved by IOM
- Developed user-centered, didactically relevant training materials (slide decks) aligned with the Manual’s content for IOM staff and other stakeholders.
- Developed visibility items (brochure/summary and a workflow diagram) for distribution among IOM beneficiaries.
- Master’s or higher degree in Security Studies, Information Technologies, Engineering, Business Management, Identity Management, Migration Studies, or a related field from a recognized institution;
- At least 5 years of working experience in identity management, immigration, facilitating cross-border identity document system deployment and operation, design of the standardization manuals in the field of identity management; and,
- Extensive experience in communication with relevant stakeholders, working in the field of identity and border management, in particular in the development of document examination procedures.
- Extensive knowledge of Border Management, Immigration, Identity Management, Legal Identity Solutions, Biometrics, and Digital Technologies.
- For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.
- The consultant might be required to travel to deliver the capacity-building activities, to be agreed further.
- 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.
- 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.
- Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
- 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 accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
- 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.
- IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
- 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.
