Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE: 

Thailand is one of the region's most severely affected by climate change, with countries experiencing multi-faceted challenges related to environmental degradation, human mobility, health and socio-economic resilience. Thailand is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, ranked as the 9th most affected country in the period of 2000–2019 by the Global Climate Risk Index Report (CRI) 2021 (Eckstein et al., 2021). Climate change is likely to increase the incidence of flooding across the country, with the number of people affected by extreme river floods anticipated to grow to over 2 million by the 2035–2044 period (World Bank and ABD, 2021). Coastal flooding could affect a further 2.4 million people by 2070-2100, with many densely populated urban centers situated along the coastline. Thailand also frequently suffers from droughts resulting from shortage of rainfall, reduced flow in surface and subsurface rivers, and poor land management practices (World Bank, 2023). 

Human mobility patterns in Thailand have become increasingly complex as a result of climate change. Beyond the direct risks to lives and livelihoods, climate stressors contribute to a range of mobility outcomes, from voluntary and labour-related migration to forced displacement triggered by sudden-onset disasters, and in some cases, the need for planned relocation of communities exposed to slow-onset events such as sea level rise. Additionally, certain populations face situations of immobility, where vulnerabilities, poverty, or socio-political conditions limit their ability to move in response to climate pressures.

While national policy frameworks on climate change, disaster risk reduction, and human mobility are evolving, evidence on community-led responses to climate change remains fragmented. Many communities and/or locally driven initiatives already contribute to reducing displacement risk, supporting adaptive mobility, strengthening resilience in sending areas, or enhancing preparedness in receiving areas.

However, there is currently no consolidated mapping of such initiatives, no harmonized criteria to identify what constitutes a locally led or community-led initiative in the climate mobility space, and limited analysis of their governance structures, financing models, or scalability potential.

To address this gap, IOM Thailand seeks to commission a structured mapping of community and/or locally led initiatives relevant to climate mobility. This mapping can inform the implementation and roll out of the Climate Catalytic Fund that will be launched later in the year.

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the IOM Thailand’s Migration Data and Research Unit (MDRU). MDRU will ensure to provide timely comments on the consultant’s work and address any consultant’s request relevant to the consultancy (i.e., additional information, government contacts, etc.). 

IOM Thailand will assist the consultant in: 

• Sharing any existing IOM materials relevant to the subject matter. 

• Provide input and review of all deliverables. 

Responsibilities

For the purpose of this consultancy:

• Community-led initiatives refer to actions that are initiated, co-designed or substantially governed by affected communities, with meaningful participation in decision making and implementation

• Locally led initiatives refer to initiatives led by sub-national authorities, local civil social organizations, community-based organizations, or local networks, with demonstrated community engagement and ownership.

Relevant initiatives may include (non-exhaustive): sustainability or institutional embedding. These may include community-based disaster risk reduction mechanisms, locally managed early warning systems, community-driven relocation planning, livelihood diversification initiatives, migrant-inclusive adaptation planning and community savings or financing models for resilience.

The consultation will serve as a structured analytical mapping exercise to inform IOM programming, partnerships, and potential catalytic investment, including the Climate Catalytic Fund. It will also help raise awareness of the forthcoming CCF call for proposals, targeting high-potential, locally led adaptation initiatives with strong potential for scale-up, and encouraging them to apply. This is not an impact evaluation.

The consultant will be responsible to conduct the following assignments: 

1. Desk review and conceptual framing:

• Conduct a desk review of literature, policy documents, and relevant registries to identify existing community and/or locally led initiatives related to climate mobility.

• Consolidate definitions and operational criteria for identifying community and/or locally-led initiatives in the Thai context. These criteria could draw from the CCF application form, but also from other sources. 

1. Development of a structured mapping framework

• Design and maintain a standardized mapping template and classification system.

• Ensure the template captures at a minimum: project and organisation details, financial information (donors, budget, sustainability mechanisms), geographic coverage and hazard exposure, description of community participation and governance arrangements, inclusion mechanisms, evidence of results or measurable outcomes, and replicability and scale-up potential.

• Assess relevance and eligibility for potential funding under the Climate Catalytic Fund (CCF), including alignment with RICD-identified displacement risk hotspots (where available), sectoral relevance, and adaptation impact and 1:1 matching potential.

1. Stakeholder engagement and validation

• Identify and reach out to relevant stakeholders, including CSOs, technical partners, and local authorities.

• Conduct interviews to validate information and identify additional initiatives.

• Maintain a structured outreach log documenting engagement and feedback.

• Observe information-sharing protocols, ethical standards, and data protection requirements.

• Introduce the forthcoming CCF call for applications in Thailand, and encourage target stakeholders with high-potential local-level adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects to apply. 

1. Analysis and synthesis

• Analyse initiatives by typology (e.g., preparedness, displacement prevention, relocation planning).

• Identify patterns, good practices, financing approaches, governance models and gaps.

• Develop a shortlist of initiatives demonstrating strong partnership and/or scaling potential aligned with programme objectives. These initiatives may be fast-tracked (subject to further discussion) for consideration under the CCF and, where relevant, included in the CCF pipeline.

1. Reporting and knowledge products

• Produce a curated database of at least 40 relevant community and/or locally led initiatives. This can serve as the foundation for a pipeline of high-potential, locally led adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects under the CCF, for which IOM can mobilize and leverage additional resources.

• Submit an analytical report with practical recommendations.

• Prepare a slide deck for strategic engagement and dissemination.

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment 

Realistic delivery dates and details as to how the work must be delivered

The total duration for this assignment is three (3) months. The consultant will agree with a final work schedule at the beginning of the assignment with IOM, setting clear deadlines for each deliverable. All outputs shall be submitted electronically in editable formats and will be considered complete upon IOM’s written approval (with up to two rounds of revisions within and after the assignment period). 

Consultant’s Workplace  

The Consultant is expected to be working from home while all the necessary interviews with the relevant stakeholders and data collection will be conducted in-person/through online meeting platforms. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• A university degree (Master’s preferred, or Bachelor’s with additional experience) preferably in climate change, environmental studies, development studies, migration studies, public policy, or a related field. 

• At least 3 years of experience in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, human mobility, or related fields. 

Experience

• Proven experience in conducting qualitative research, mapping exercises, stakeholder consultations, and policy-oriented analytical reporting.

• Strong understanding of community led and locally led approaches in climate adaptation, resilience, or displacement  contexts.

• Proven experience in liaising with government stakeholders is highly desirable. 

Skills

• Excellent time management skills and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines. 

• Excellent report-writing and presentation skills in Thai and English. 

• Language: Fluency in English and Thai both verbal and written is mandatory.   

Languages

For this consultancy, Fluency in English and Thai is required (Oral and Written). 

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Travel required

No travel foreseen for this position.

Remuneration and Term of Payment: 

Payment shall be made based on the output delivered and satisfactory work completion as approved by IOM. 

1. The first instalment in the amount of 20% of the consultancy fee shall be paid upon the completion and submission of activities/ reports included in the payment framework that has been endorsed by IOM. 

2. The second instalment in the amount of 30% of the consultancy fee shall be paid upon the completion and submission of activities/ reports included in the payment framework that has been endorsed by IOM. 

3. The final instalment in the amount of 50% of the consultancy fee shall be paid upon the completion and submission of activities/ reports included in the payment framework that has been endorsed by IOM. 

After submission, the payment shall be made in 10 (ten) days after receiving approval from the Supervisor. 

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five 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 Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 1

• 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.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via IOM E-Recruitment System within the above said deadline referring to this advertisement. Please attach the following documents in your application. 

• a cover letter, indicating the dates of availability; 
• a curriculum vitae; 
• a duly completed IOM Personal History Form which can be downloaded from https://thailand.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1371/files/Vacancies/Form/iom-personal-history-form-270122.xls.

Notes

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. 

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, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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 e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Required Skills

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