CONTEXT
Cameroon faces complex and interlinked drivers of migration: insecurity, unemployment, social pressures, environmental degradation, and climate change. Theย RRR Action Documentย highlights that climate-related vulnerabilitiesโsuch as droughts, soil degradation, deforestation, floods, and reduced agricultural productivityโare increasingly shaping livelihood instability and contributing to migration decisions, particularly in the Far North, North, East and some parts of the West regions.ย
Environmental pressures act asย risk multipliers: they intensify poverty, food insecurity, and competition over resources, further pushing individualsโespecially youthโtoward irregular migration routes, including dangerous Mediterranean crossings and the Latin AmericaโUS corridor. The Migration Governance Indicators also stress the importance of integratingย mobility dimensions of crisesย and climate disruptions into national migration systems, underpinning the need for evidence-based policies linking climate change and migration drivers.ย
At the same time, returnees often reintegrate into communities that are themselves heavily climate-affected. The RRR Action Document therefore emphasisesย green reintegrationย as a cross-cutting pillar:
Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods; Supporting eco-friendly income-generating activities (renewable energy, waste management, nature-based solutions); Strengthening host community resilience (climate-resilient agriculture, watershed restoration, improved land management); Ensuring reintegration does not exacerbate environmental stress.Furthermore, Cameroon hosts various climate and environment initiatives supported by partners such as GiZ, UNDP, AfDB, MINEPDED and MINADER. There is significant opportunity toย link reintegration with green job creation, climate action, environmental rehabilitation, and national adaptation strategies.
Despite this potential, no consolidated model currently exists within the RRR Programme to operationaliseย climate-sensitive reintegration, assess environmental drivers of migration, or systematically insert returnees into green and climate-resilient livelihood opportunities.
This ToR responds to that gap.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The Reintegration Assistant โ Climate-Sensitive Reintegration will lead the development of aย policy, tools, and operational approachesย necessary to integrate climate and environmental considerations into the national reintegration system.
The assignment will:
Produce aย Policy Note on Migration, Climate & Reintegration in Cameroon, documenting how environmental and climate-related factors act as drivers of migration and influence return dynamics. Design aย Green Jobs Catalogueย tailored for returnees and communities, aligning with labour market needs, existing national programmes and partner initiatives (e.g., GiZ environment/green economy programmes). Identify opportunities to embed reintegration beneficiaries intoย climate, environment, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and green growth programmesย implemented by government, private sector, NGOs, and international partners. Propose aย Climate-Sensitive Reintegration Modelย for RRR, including tools, workflows, and recommended green pathways for reintegration. Contribute to the projectโs climate-related mainstreaming efforts, leveraging green approaches outlined in the RRR Action Documentโs green reintegration model.The assignment isย system-building, not field-implementation, and aims to equip the RRR programme with the foundational tools to mainstream climate and environmental resilience across reintegration activities.
NATURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
This is aย system-developmentย assignment requiring strong analytical, technical, and coordination skills. The selected staff member will create the foundational tools and frameworks to mainstream climate change and environmental sustainability across reintegration programming under the RRR project. The assignment requires close collaboration with government partners, private sector actors, international development agencies, and internal IOM teams.
A. Policy & Evidence: MigrationโClimate Nexus
Develop aย Policy Note on Migration & Climate Change in Cameroon, including: Analysis of climate and environmental stressors as push factors for migration; Documentation of how climate influences return decisions; Specific focus on climate-vulnerable regions (Far North, North, East, West) as described in the RRR Action Documentย Data gaps and recommendations aligned with Migration Governance Indicators priorities (evidence-based policy, crisis mobility dimension)ย Review national policy frameworks (SND30, NDCs, National Adaptation Plan, MINADER/MINEPDED policies) and integrate them into the analysis. Produce easy-to-use infographics and a short executive summary.B. Development of a Green Jobs Catalogue for Returnees
Identify climate-resilient livelihood and green economy opportunities relevant to returnees: Solar energy installation & maintenance Waste recycling & plastic recovery Agroecology & regenerative agriculture Water management and drip irrigation Green construction Reforestation & landscape restoration Bio-gas, composting, circular economy models Climate-smart livestock practices Conduct consultations with vocational training centres, private sector actors, and eco-enterprises. Produce theย Green Jobs Catalogue, including: Job profiles Required skills/training Market demand Entry costs Potential partnerships Environmental impact Gender and youth considerations.C. Integration into Partner Initiatives (GiZ, NGOs, Government, Private Sector)
Map environment, climate, agribusiness, DRR and green growth programmes in Cameroon (GiZ, UNDP, AfDB, MINADER, MINEPDED, private sector). Identify entry points for returnees into: climate resilience programmes, job creation schemes, green TVET tracks, eco-entrepreneurship incubators, rural green infrastructure projects. Propose partnership templates for referral of returnees. Coordinate with GiZโs green employment and climate programmes to explore co-funded approaches.D. Climate-Sensitive Reintegration Model Development
Design a reintegration model integrating climate and environment dimensions: Green livelihoods pathways Environmental assessments at case intake Climate vulnerability scoring Recommendations for eco-friendly IGA support Community-level climate resilience activities Align model with theย Green Reintegrationย principles in the RRR Action Document (sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, climate-resilient infrastructure, community resilience)ย Produce operational tools: checklists, referral templates, eco-IGA guidance, caseworker decision-support tools.E. Knowledge Products & Capacity Development
Deliver a short training module for reintegration staff on: climate-sensitive reintegration; green livelihood opportunities; mainstreaming environment and climate across reintegration. Develop communication briefs for awareness raising. Present findings to internal teams and external stakeholders.F. Reporting
Submit monthly progress reports. Deliver a final compendium of tools, policy note, green job catalogue, and partnership recommendations.EDUCATION
School diploma with seven years of relevant experience; or Bachelorโs degree in Environmental Studies, Climate Change, Migration Studies, Development Studies, Economics, Geography, or related fieldsย with five years of relevant professional experience. Masterโs degree is an asset.EXPERIENCE
Minimumย five years (05)ย of work experience in climate change, environment, migration programming, resilience-building, or reintegration. Experience in green job creation, environmental livelihoods, or climate adaptation projects. Experience developing policy notes, analytical papers, or operational tools. Knowledge of Cameroonโs climate vulnerabilities and green economy landscape.SKILLS
Strong analytical and policy writing skills. Knowledge of climate change adaptation and green economy approaches. Ability to develop operational tools and practical guidance. Strong stakeholder engagement (government, donors, private sector, NGOs). Ability to work under tight timelines.LANGUAGE
For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).