SRD Center is seeking a highly qualified Lead Migration Governance Expert / Lead Author for an anticipated international consultancy assignment focused on migration governance, Africa–Europe cooperation, policy dialogue, and preparation of a high-level strategic knowledge product.
The assignment will examine the evolution of a major intergovernmental migration dialogue over approximately twenty years, including its institutional development, thematic contributions, achievements, lessons learned, added value, and future strategic relevance.
The Lead Expert will be responsible for directing the analytical work, conducting and synthesising desk research, contributing to senior-level stakeholder consultations, and leading the drafting, review and finalisation of a flagship strategic publication.
The assignment will address key migration-governance themes including migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, return and reintegration, legal migration and mobility, international protection, diaspora engagement and development, and wider geopolitical, demographic, economic, environmental and policy trends affecting migration cooperation.
The position is fully remote and will require close coordination with other senior experts, researchers and institutional stakeholders in Europe and Africa.
Tasks
The Lead Expert / Lead Author will:
- Lead the overall substantive and analytical work of the assignment.
- Conduct a strategic analysis of the evolution, achievements, institutional milestones and added value of an intergovernmental migration dialogue.
- Review and analyse relevant policy documents, ministerial declarations, action plans, programme documents, institutional reports, academic research and other relevant literature.
- Analyse major developments in migration governance and Africa–Europe migration cooperation.
- Provide analytical insights across key thematic areas, including:
- migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings;
- return and reintegration;
- legal migration and mobility;
- international protection;
- diaspora engagement and development.
- Analyse geopolitical, demographic, economic, environmental and policy trends influencing migration governance.
- Develop the analytical framework and structure for the strategic publication.
- Prepare questions and analytical themes for consultations with selected partner countries and senior stakeholders.
- Lead or co-lead remote interviews and consultations with national authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
- Analyse and synthesise stakeholder perspectives and integrate them with findings from the desk review.
- Prepare analytical and forward-looking sections of the publication.
- Identify relevant good and promising practices and lessons learned.
- Develop strategic and forward-looking reflections while avoiding overly prescriptive recommendations.
- Ensure consistency and coherence across thematic sections and analytical contributions.
- Coordinate closely with other senior experts, researchers and reviewers.
- Integrate comments received during technical and peer-review processes.
- Review and validate the consolidated publication, ensuring analytical depth, factual accuracy, strategic relevance and clarity.
- Support preparation of key findings and analytical messages for a short presentation, if required.
- Ensure that all outputs meet high standards of professional policy writing and technical documentation.
Qualifications
Candidates should have:
- An advanced university degree in migration studies, international relations, political science, public policy, international development or another closely related field. Equivalent extensive professional experience may also be considered.
- At least 10 years of demonstrated professional experience in migration governance, preferably at international and/or regional level.
- Strong knowledge of Africa–Europe migration relations and migration policy frameworks.
- Solid knowledge of relevant European migration policy frameworks, including contemporary EU migration and asylum policies.
- Familiarity with strategic frameworks governing Africa–Europe migration cooperation.
- Demonstrated knowledge of intergovernmental and State-driven migration dialogues, including their institutional structures, working methods, ministerial processes, declarations and action plans.
- Previous experience with regional migration dialogues such as the Rabat Process, Khartoum Process or comparable intergovernmental migration initiatives is highly desirable.
- Knowledge and professional experience relating to West Africa is a strong advantage.
- Demonstrated experience analysing migration issues across both African and European contexts.
- Strong analytical and strategic-thinking skills, including the ability to interpret migration trends and institutional developments over time.
- A strong record of authoring or co-authoring high-quality analytical, policy, strategic or flagship publications.
- Proven experience drafting, reviewing and editing complex policy-oriented knowledge products.
- Demonstrated experience working with governments, international organisations, regional institutions and other stakeholders in Europe and Africa.
- Experience designing and conducting senior-level stakeholder consultations, interviews or policy dialogues involving multiple countries.
- Strong qualitative research skills.
- Excellent writing, synthesis and policy-communication skills.
- Ability to transform large volumes of evidence into concise, coherent and strategically relevant analysis.
- Fluency in both English and French is mandatory, including excellent professional writing skills.
- Knowledge of additional languages relevant to Africa–Europe migration cooperation is an asset.
- Ability to work independently, remotely and within tight deadlines.
- Availability during the anticipated implementation period from late August through December 2026.
How to apply
Interested candidates should complete the following short online application form:
https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/rxHlmdjI
Applicants should clearly indicate the position for which they are applying and provide information on their relevant qualifications and professional experience.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps and additional information.