Strategy Consultant

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.

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 governance 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 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 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 by clearly articulating the Organisation’s mandate, comparative advantage, and contributions to the country’s development and humanitarian objectives.

• 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 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.

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:

• 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.
• Consult 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, focusing 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…