Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) International Consultant – HRDDP Risk Assessment for Strengthening Humanitarian Border Management
- Organisation: International Organization for Migration
- Location: Syrian Arab Republic
- Contract: Consultant
- Deadline: 18 November 2026
Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
Years of conflict, infrastructure damage and underinvestment have weakened Syria’s border management institutions and their capacity to manage cross-border movements in a safe, humane and accountable manner. Inadequate facilities, limited equipment and gaps in operational capacity can undermine the protection of people crossing borders, including access to essential health services and the timely identification and referral of individuals with specific protection needs. These challenges underscore the importance of strengthening institutional safeguards, ensuring non-discriminatory treatment and addressing the needs of all people crossing borders, including migrants and people in vulnerable situations.
Restoring functional, accessible and accountable points of entry is therefore essential to ensuring that border management practices uphold human rights and safeguard the safety and dignity of all people crossing borders. Support should combine improvements to infrastructure and operational capacity with clear procedures, effective oversight and accountability mechanisms. The provision of accessible, quality health services, timely referral to appropriate care and strengthened public health preparedness at points of entry are integral to this approach.
In this context, IOM Syria will work with relevant Syrian authorities to strengthen rights-based border governance, humanitarian border management, and health, border and mobility management. Planned support includes strengthening the evidence base on local needs and operational conditions, developing operational tools and coordination mechanisms, rehabilitating border crossing points and associated health infrastructure, and training border management officials. These interventions aim to improve institutional capacity and service delivery while promoting border management practices that uphold human rights and address the needs of people in vulnerable situations.
Where this assistance constitutes support to non-United Nations security forces, it must comply with the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces (HRDDP), issued by the Secretary-General on 13 July 2011.
The policy requires UN entities to assess the risk of intended recipients committing grave violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law or international refugee law before providing support, and to establish appropriate mitigation, monitoring and response arrangements. The assessment informs whether support may be provided and under what conditions, including circumstances in which support must be withheld, suspended or withdrawn in accordance with the policy.
To inform this engagement, IOM Syria seeks a consultant to undertake a comprehensive HRDDP risk assessment tailored to the intended recipient institutions and units, the nature of the proposed assistance and the operational context. Drawing on credible information, relevant existing assessments and stakeholder consultations, the assessment will examine command and oversight arrangements, accountability mechanisms, and willingness and capacity to prevent and address violations.
The assessment will identify and analyse potential risks associated with the implementation of IOM’s planned assistance and evaluate the feasibility and expected effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures.
The consultancy will provide practical recommendations to inform IOM’s decisions on engagement, supported by a risk assessment matrix, clearly defined mitigation measures, and arrangements for monitoring, reporting and periodic review.
Recommendations should identify implementation responsibilities, indicators and triggers for reassessment or escalation, taking into account applicable IOM guidance and relevant UN coordination arrangements.
Decisions on the provision or continuation of support will remain with IOM, in accordance with applicable procedures.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Immigration and Border Governance, IOM Syria.
Tasks to be performed under this contract
The objective of the consultancy is to support IOM Syria’s implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) through the development of a comprehensive risk assessment and an accompanying mitigation and monitoring framework. The assessment will guide IOM’s assistance to relevant Syrian law enforcement authorities, including the General Authority for Borders and Customs (GABC), taking into account the nature of the assistance and the functions of the intended recipients.
It will inform interventions that strengthen accountable border governance and access to essential health services while safeguarding the rights, safety and dignity of all people crossing borders, including migrants and people in vulnerable situations.The consultancy will cover relevant infrastructure rehabilitation, equipment provision, capacity development, operational tools, coordination mechanisms and associated health interventions within IOM’s agreed programme scope. It will build on existing stakeholder analyses, capacity and needs assessments, human rights monitoring and available UN HRDDP assessments, including assessments developed using the General and Preliminary Risk Assessment Framework (GPRAF). The analysis will reflect the current institutional and operational context, incorporate a gender perspective and identify information gaps that may affect the assessment’s conclusions
Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Mission and the direct supervision of the Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Programme Coordinator, in coordination with relevant IOM technical units and HRDDP focal points, the consultant will:
• Define the scope and methodology of the assessment. Map the assistance under consideration, intended recipient institutions and units, and relevant command, management and oversight arrangements. Determine the applicability of the HRDDP to the proposed activities, including any indirect support to security actors, and develop an assessment methodology and workplan suited to the programme and operational context.
• Conduct a comprehensive desk review. Review relevant sources, including OHCHR reporting; Universal Periodic Review documentation; UN treaty body findings and decisions; special procedures reports; and relevant reports of the Secretary-General.
• Consider credible reporting from national and international civil society organisations, NGOs and other independent sources. Assess the reliability, relevance and timeliness of sources and corroborate information wherever possible.
• Develop a comprehensive HRDDP risk assessment. Assess potential human rights risks associated with IOM’s planned assistance, taking into account the institutional and operational context, existing safeguards, oversight arrangements and implementation capacities. Consider potential implications for affected populations, with attention to gender, age, disability and the needs of people in vulnerable situations. Draw on credible sources, assess the reliability and relevance of available information, reflect relevant institutional developments, and clearly identify information gaps and analytical limitations.
• Develop practical mitigation measures. Prepare a mitigation action plan addressing the identified risks, with clearly assigned responsibilities, implementation timelines and indicative resource requirements. Evaluate the feasibility and expected effectiveness of each measure, assess residual risks and identify any necessary conditions or changes to the proposed assistance. Recommendations must remain consistent with applicable HRDDP requirements and support informed decisions by IOM management.
• Develop a monitoring, reporting and review framework. Establish indicators, sources of verification, monitoring responsibilities and reporting arrangements to assess the implementation and effectiveness of mitigation measures and monitor relevant recipient conduct. Recommend proportionate arrangements for field verification and periodic reassessment, including triggers for escalation and management review of whether support should continue, be modified, suspended or withdrawn in accordance with the HRDDP.
• Undertake consultations and ensure coordination. Coordinate with relevant IOM programme, protection and migration health teams; HRDDP focal points; relevant UN agencies; and appropriate UN Country Team entities and coordination mechanisms. Consult relevant national authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, as appropriate. Where safe and feasible, incorporate the perspectives of affected populations. All consultations and information management must respect confidentiality, data protection and the principle of do no harm.