Senior Research & Policy Specialist – Absorptive Capacity (Consultancy)

About the role

The International Organization for Migration is seeking a senior specialist to lead the development of a flagship analytical report on Afghanistan's capacity to absorb large‑scale returns. The role combines research design, data interpretation and policy recommendation within a short‑term consultancy.

Key responsibilities

• Design and lead a conceptual and methodological framework for assessing absorptive capacity.
• Conduct literature, policy and secondary‑source reviews to situate findings within humanitarian and migration governance debates.
• Define report structure, analytical logic and coordinate with a paired analytical specialist and GIS team.
• Interpret quantitative, socioeconomic and spatial data on population pressure, services, livelihoods, vulnerability and displacement.
• Draft the full report, including methodology, findings, executive summary, conclusions and actionable recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with IOM standards on data protection, confidentiality, ethical analysis and information security.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in migration studies, development economics, public policy or a related field.
• Proven experience in leading research and policy analysis on migration, displacement or humanitarian issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multi‑disciplinary team and produce policy‑relevant outputs.
• Familiarity with IOM standards and humanitarian data governance.

Required skills

• GIS
• Quantitative analysis
• Spatial analysis
• Advanced analytics
• AI‑assisted methods
• Data protection
• Information security