Project Context and Scope ย
Zimbabweโs diaspora plays a significant role in national development, contributing to remittances, skills transfer, trade linkages, and investments. In 2024, remittance inflows accounted for approximately 10% of the GDP, equivalent to USD 2 billionโโ. Recognizing this, the Government of Zimbabwe has prioritized diaspora engagement as a strategic component of its development agenda. The currently drafted Zimbabwe Diaspora Policy 2025-2030 outlines frameworks for leveraging diaspora contributions toward achieving Vision 2030 and fostering a resilient, upper-middle-income economyโ.
The 2022 Zimbabwe Diaspora Profiling and Mapping Survey conducted focused on Zimbabweans in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, providing valuable insights into their demographic composition, skills, and contributions to national development. Findings revealed that Zimbabweโs diaspora plays a critical role in sustaining the economy through remittances. โThe survey also highlighted significant diaspora engagement through informal remittance channels, philanthropic activities, and professional knowledge-sharing initiatives. However, a majority of respondents expressed limited awareness of government-led diaspora engagement frameworks, such as the Diaspora Directorate, and emphasized challenges such as trust deficits, inadequate policy mechanisms, and limited investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. Moreover, gender disparities were evident, with remittance patterns showing differing motivations and capacities between male and female diaspora membersโ
Key recommendations from the study included enhancing the visibility of government diaspora platforms, creating a transparent and structured diaspora engagement framework, and introducing pro-diaspora investment policies to foster trust and participationโ. However, a critical gap in the report was its limited scope, focusing primarily on three countries without fully capturing the global Zimbabwean diaspora. Additionally, the absence of comprehensive gender-disaggregated data restricted a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by women and men in the diaspora. This gap underscores the need for a more inclusive and systematic mapping exercise to capture the broader geographic and demographic scope of Zimbabweโs diaspora. Such a comprehensive approach will not only address gender patterns in remittances and investment but also inform evidence-based policies to bridge existing gaps and maximize diaspora contributions to national developmentโ
โTo address these gaps, the Government of Zimbabwe, with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under theย Streamlining Diaspora Engagement to Catalyze Private Investments and Entrepreneurship for Enhanced Resilience (SDE4R)ย project, seeks to conduct a new diaspora mapping initiativeโโ.
The primary objective is to harness the potential of Zimbabweans abroad by systematically capturing data on their skills, investment interests, and remittance behaviors, while focusing on gender patterns in their contributions. This data will inform policies to enhance diaspora engagement and reduce gender disparities in developmentโโ.
ย Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
The consultant will be supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade through the Diaspora Directorate
Tasks to be performed under this contract
Inception Phase
Develop an Inception Report detailing the work plan, methodology, and stakeholder engagement strategy. Present the report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, IOM Zimbabwe, and the National Task Force for Diaspora engagement. Revise based on feedback.Mapping Exercise
Gather qualitative and quantitative data through surveys, interviews, and social media campaigns targeting key diaspora communities globally. Engage with Zimbabwean embassies, diaspora associations, and other stakeholders in selected target countries. Focus on gender-disaggregated data, including remittance behaviors and investment patterns.Draft Reporting
Submit a draftย Diaspora Mapping Report, including preliminary findings, situational analysis, and recommendations for policy interventions. Present the draft to the TWG and other stakeholders for validation.Final Report
Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and submit a finalย Diaspora Mapping Reportย along with a summarized policy brief. Performance indicators for the evaluation of results Uses appropriate methodologies and sources to enhance accuracy. Effectively interacts with diaspora communities, policymakers, and relevant organizations.ย Meets deadlines, milestones, and deliverables within the agreed timeframe.ย Adjusts efficiently based on feedback and evolving project needs. Ensures that recommendations are practical, sustainable, and aligned with project goals. Education Advanced degree in migration studies, public policy, international relations, or a related field. Experience Minimum 10 years of experience in migration research and policy development, with at least 5 years in diaspora engagement. Demonstrated experience in gender-sensitive research and statistical analysis. Skills Proven ability to design and implement large-scale mapping exercises. Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English. Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English Languages Full working proficiency in English IOMโs official languages are English, French and Spanish. Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. ย Travel requiredTravel requirements will be determined based on project needs
Required Competencies ย IOMโs competency framework can be found atย this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. ย Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values: 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. Core Competenciesย โ behavioural indicators 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 Organizationโs 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. Notes 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. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website:ย IOM Careers and Job Vacancies