The University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems) [UWK] is looking for expressions of interests from qualified experts interested to contribute to research conducted under the EU funded research project “Measuring irregular migration and related policies” (MIrreM).
Specifically, we are looking for up to five experts mapping policies and estimates/statistical data on irregular migration for a) two Western Balkan Country (two of the following countries shall be covered: Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo1 or Bosnia-Herzegovina), two North African countries (two of the following countries shall be covered: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria or Morocco) and Turkey. Experts may express an interest for one or more countries mentioned above, provided they can prove country expertise, expertise on (irregular) migration and related policies and ability to analyse statistical data and estimates on the subject (see in more detail on requirements, below).
Key facts:
- Deadline for applications: 16/04/2023
- Remuneration: EUR 5,000 (gross) per country study2 paid after completion of the service.
- Implementation period: April to September 2023
- Place of delivery: home-based
- Submission of applications: via mirrem@donau-uni.ac.at. (Only complete submissions submitted within the deadline will be considered.)
Background
MIrreM is a 3-year research project funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme. MIrreM is coordinated by the Department for Migration and Globalisation at the University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems) and is implemented by a consortium of altogether 17
partner organisations in Europe and Canada, involving universities, think tanks, a European NGO and an international organisation.
MIrreM examines estimates and statistical indicators on the irregular migrant population in Europe as well as related policies, including the regularisation of migrants in irregular situations. MIrreM analyses policies defining migrant irregularity, stakeholders’ data needs and usage, and assesses existing estimates and statistical indicators on irregular migration in the countries under study and at the EU level. In addition, it will explore new methodologies to estimate irregular migration and will assess wider impacts of regularisation.
MIrreM aims to strengthen the evidence base of policymaking on irregular migration by developing guidance in the form of two handbooks: a Handbook on data on irregular migration and a Handbook on pathways out of irregularity. The project’s research covers 20 countries, including 12 EU countries and the United Kingdom, the US and Canada covered by project partners and five non-EU countries to be covered by experts recruited through this call. MIrreM builds on earlier efforts to quantify irregular migration and analyse regularisation, notably the Clandestino and REGINE projects.
More information on the project can be found under www.irregularmigration.eu.
Tasks
The deliverables prepared by the experts will contribute to three workpackages of the MIrreM project: WP3 (Politics: Understanding policy and legal contexts), WP4 (Stocks of migrants in an irregular status)
and WP5 (Irregular migration flows).
Specifically, the selected experts will be asked to complete the following tasks:
- Collect information on the policy and legal context in the country studied based on desk research and empirical information collection following guidelines provided by MIrreM. In addition, limited information on use of data (e.g. by public authorities, service organisations, media) and data needs should also be collected. Results should be documented in a country profile (background material not published), and a publishable country brief following templates provided to the expert.
- Map statistical data and estimates on irregular migration following the MIrreM guidelines for collecting and describing (a) estimates and (b) statistical indicators and documenting these in a template provided by MIrreM based both on desk research and collection of information from data producers and both non-academic and academic sources of estimates.
Deliverables:
- Country profile on understanding legal and policy contexts of about 25-35 pages (Draft by 30 June 2023, final version by 8 September 2023)
- Publishable country briefs on understanding legal and policy contexts of about 10 pages (Draft by 30 June 2023, final version by August 8, 2023).
- Mapping of statistical data and estimates of irregular migration (Draft by 30 June 2023, final version by September 15)
Qualification and experience
- Master’s Degree in relevant discipline(s), such as migration studies, development and/or area studies, economics, international relations, political science, public administration, or a related field.
- Excellent English writing skills, supported by at least two writing samples on an academic subjects. This may also include coursework or unpublished material.
- Excellent command of the language of the target country.
- At least 3 years of professional experience in migration studies or a related field after completion of a master’s degree.
- Proven track record in migration research, documented through publications. Both academic academic publications (articles in scientific journals, book chapters, monographs) and reports written as part of consultancies will be considered.
- A specialization on irregular migration and/or related policies will be an asset.
- Experience in collecting statistical indicators and estimates and ability to assess the quality of statistical indicators or estimates on irregular migration in a broad manner.
Required documents
- Motivation letter, explaining interest and expertise on the subject, clearly indicating the name(s) of the country or countries the expert is interested to cover and demonstrating country expertise.
- CV, including a list of research or consultancy projects and publications. Names of two referees should also be provided.
- 2 writing samples in English
Reporting lines
The incumbent will report to the scientific project manager of the MIrreM project at UWK and WP leaders of WP3 (Politics) and WP4 (stocks of migrants with an irregular status).
Application:
Please send your application to mirrem@donau-uni.ac.at by 16 April 2023 (midnight) indicating “applications for provision of country expertise” in the subject line. For any queries please also write an e-mail to the same address indicating “Query on country expertise” in the subject line.
1) This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
2) Note that due to the special status of the University and applicable tax laws, 20% VAT will have be deducted by
the University from the amount indicated in most cases.
