Vacancy notice
Consultant on non-conflict displacement (3 months)

The Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) of the 
Norwegian Refugee Council is looking for a Consultant to undertake a study 
on non-conflict displacement. Mandated by the United Nations, the IDMC is 
the leading international body monitoring internal displacement worldwide. 
IDMC runs an online database providing comprehensive and regularly updated 
information and analysis on internal displacement in over 50 countries. In 
addition, IDMC is also engaged in advocating for the rights of the 
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provides training on the 
protection of IDPs. For more information on the Centre, visit its website 
at http://www.internal-displacement.org.

Background

Compared to an estimated 25 million people displaced worldwide by 
conflict, the number of people uprooted by natural disasters or 
development projects or natural disasters is thought to reach four or five 
times that figure. 

Natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, droughts and storms 
routinely displace hundred of thousands of people every year. Recently, 
devastating storms and earthquakes in 2004/2005 in the Americas and Asia 
have not only brought attention to the vulnerability of tens of millions 
of people living in disaster-prone areas of the South, but also 
highlighted the multiple human rights challenges displaced people face in 
the wake of the disaster. 

While people displaced by conflicts or natural disasters generally attract 
some level of attention and support from their government and/or 
international aid agencies, people forced from their homes because of 
development projects go largely unnoticed and unassisted. Most experience 
traumatic relocation, impoverishment and often have to wait years before 
receiving compensation, if any. Causes or categories of development-
induced displacement include the following: water supply (dams, 
reservoirs, irrigation); urban infrastructure; transportation (roads, 
highway, canals); energy (mining, power plants, oil exploration and 
extraction, pipelines); and population redistribution schemes. 

Job Description

The consultant will work with IDMC country analysts in Geneva to design 
and implement a project financed by IDMC. The objective of the project is 
to conduct a desk review of relevant literature on non-conflict 
displacement, map the main    actors undertaking assistance and advocacy 
work, and identify the key protection concerns facing people displaced as 
a result of natural disasters or development projects. The overall purpose 
of the desk review is to analyse how the inclusion of non-conflict 
displacement in IDMC’s monitoring and advocacy activities might affect 
IDMC with regards to its strategic position on conflict-IDPs and on the 
resources available. The final outcome of the Consultant’s work will be 
the development of scenarios detailing IDMC’s potential future involvement 
on the issue.    

Tasks

In collaboration with the focal point (or Working Group on non-conflict-
displacement), the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

-Conduct a desk review of all relevant literature on non-conflict 
displacement
-Undertake a mapping of humanitarian/inter-governmental/governmental 
actors involved in non-conflict induced displacement, their roles, future 
plans and any consortia-based work.
-Identify the principal protection gaps and specific needs of non-conflict 
induced displaced persons 
-Gain an understanding of IDMC’s current monitoring and advocacy role, and 
advise on the political opposition or support that IDMC might encounter if 
IDMC was to engage in monitoring and advocacy around non-conflict 
displacement.
-Study the potential comparative advantages of expanding the scope and 
focus of IDMC’s work to cover non-conflict induced displacement.
-Advise IDMC on future scenarios (light, medium and heavy impact) 
envisaging IDMC’s involvement in non-conflict displacement, including 
political risks, personnel demands, donor support, etc.
-In collaboration with IDMC’s webmaster, discuss and advise on the 
potential impact of the inclusion of non-conflict induced displacement on 
the IDMC web-based IDP database
-Present the findings and conclusions during a meeting to be held with 
IDMC and its donors in July 2007

The Consultant will:

-Provide to IDMC within two weeks of commencing the methodology and plans 
for the period of his consultancy;

-Work with an IDMC Working Group on a regular basis for guidance, ideas 
sharing and updates. The Working Group is to be provided with three 
intermediary briefings (one per month);


The period of this consultancy is three months, March to June 2007. 

Qualifications

-Advanced University degree in political science, sociology, international 
relations, or related field;
-Strong background in issues relating to IDPs;
-Extensive experience in the field of development-induced displacement and 
natural disaster-induced displacement
-Familiarity with the UN system, and working with ICRC, NGOs, donors, and 
Governments;
-Proven abilities in analysis and report writing;
-Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
-Excellent drafting skills in English.
-Computer literacy (word, excel, lotus notes and internet);
-Ability to work with minimum supervision, with efficiency, competence and 
integrity with people of different national backgrounds.

Conditions

Fees and other benefits to be agreed according to experience and 
qualifications. 

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be informed of the 
status of their application and invited to participate in a written 
recruitment test. Citizens of countries other than Switzerland and the old 
member states of the European Union may face difficulties in obtaining a 
work permit for this position from the Swiss authorities. For more 
information on the Swiss work permit regime, please consult the website of 
the Geneva authorities at http://www.geneve.ch/permis.

To apply

A CV and letter of motivation (no more than 1 page) should be sent to 
Jacqueline Shaninian, email: [log in to unmask]

The deadline for applications is Friday 26 January 2006.

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