Position Title : Climate Mobility Research Consultant
Duty Station : IOM Philippines Country Office (Manila)
Classification: Consultant
Type of Appointment: Consultancy
Estimated Start Date: ASAP
Closing Date : 06 July 2026
Project Context and Scope
The Philippines is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing recurrent typhoons, floods, droughts, and other environmental hazards that increasingly threaten lives, livelihoods, and development gains. While rapid-onset disasters generate highly visible and well-documented displacement, the impacts of slow-onset climate processes, including sea-level rise, drought, coastal erosion, shifting rainfall patterns, extreme heat, and gradual ecosystem degradation, remain comparatively under-researched and insufficiently integrated into national and local policy and planning frameworks. These progressive environmental changes gradually erode livelihoods, food security, and human well-being over time, often driving incremental and less visible forms of migration and displacement that are difficult to capture through conventional disaster monitoring systems. In many cases, migration occurs before conditions reach a crisis threshold, functioning as a proactive household adaptation strategy rather than a direct response to a single catastrophic event.
IOM Philippines seeks to engage a National Consultant to undertake a scoping and evidence mapping study examining the relationship between slow-onset climate stressors and human mobility, while identifying emerging mobility patterns, evidence gaps, and implications for adaptation planning and climate mobility governance.
The study will be guided by a concise analytical framework examining how slow-onset climate stressors interact with exposure, socio-economic vulnerability, livelihood systems, and adaptation capacities to shape different human mobility outcomes over time, including migration, displacement, immobility, and planned relocation. The assessment should pay particular attention to causal pathways differentiated impacts across population groups (e.g. women and children, Indigenous Peoples, climate-sensitive livelihood groups, informal settlers, etc.) and locations, and the temporal dynamics through which progressive environmental change influences mobility decision-making.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
The Consultant will work with the Climate Mobility Unit on the implementation of the INTPA Regional Project, “Building Knowledge and Capacity on the Migration and Climate Change Nexus in South-East Asia,” and will report to IOM Climate Action Officer. All deliverables will be subject to review and approval by IOM Philippines.
Responsibilities
Tasks to be performed under this contract
- Inception Report (Within 2 weeks from contract signing) – Brief inception report outlining the proposed methodology, analytical framework, stakeholder mapping, consultation approach, workplan, timeline, proposed case study sites, site selection criteria, sampling approach and validation process for the scoping and evidence mapping exercise.
- Desk Review and Evidence Mapping Repository (Within 8–10 weeks from contract signing) – Consolidated and organized repository of relevant literature, policy documents, datasets, institutional initiatives, adaptation strategies, and existing evidence related to slow-onset climate stressors and human mobility in the Philippines. The repository should include the mapping of evidence by thematic focus, geography, mobility type, affected population group, adaptation response, and populations potentially exposed to slow-onset climate risks to identify trends and patterns.
- Stakeholder Consultation Documentation and Organized Data (Within 12–16 weeks from contract signing) – Organized documentation and synthesized findings generated through stakeholder and/or community consultations, including interview summaries, consultation notes, validation feedback, observed mobility pathways, adaptation responses, timing and triggers of mobility decision-making, and identified challenges related to evidence generation, monitoring systems, and policy implementation.
- Evidence Brief/Case Study (Within 18–22 weeks from contract signing) – Concise analytical brief or case study summarizing key findings from the evidence mapping and consultation process, including key slow-onset climate mobility pathways, emerging mobility trends, adaptation responses, evidence and policy gaps, stakeholder and community insights, and recommendations for strengthening climate mobility governance, adaptation planning, and future evidence generation, with clear relevance to priority actions under the Philippine National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
- Knowledge Sharing and Validation Presentation (Within 20–24 weeks from contract signing) – Preparation and presentation of key findings and recommendations during a knowledge-sharing event/s (up to 3 events), organized by IOM Philippines
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
- Applicants are requested to submit 1–2 samples of previous research or analytical work relevant to climate change, human mobility, resilience, migration, DRR, or related fields
- Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal indicating the total cost of the consultancy.
- Applicants are requested to submit a proposed workplan outlining the methodology, key activities, timeline, and approach for completing the assignment. The workplan should demonstrate a clear and feasible process for conducting the desk review, stakeholder consultations, evidence mapping, analysis, and preparation of the final case study document and repository of evidence within the agreed timeframe.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- University degree in climate change, geography, environmental studies, migration studies, development studies, public policy, social sciences, or related fields.
Experience / Skills
- At least 5–7 years of relevant experience in climate change, migration, environmental governance, adaptation planning, or related research;
- Demonstrated experience conducting mixed-methods research and policy analysis;
- Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and qualitative field research;
- Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
Travel
- The Consultant may need to travel to selected locations to conduct key information interviews and focus group discussions. The locations are still to be determined.
Languages
For this consultancy, English and Tagalog.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
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
- 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.
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.
How to apply
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system.
APPLY HERE: CON 2026 028 | Climate Mobility Research Consultant – IOM Careers
Interested applicants should attach the following in their applications: resume and cover letter.