Consultancy On a Migration System Assessment

Project Context and Scope

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing the project “Enhance migration governance through evidence-based programming and strengthening capacities of authorities in Kosovo [1] ” funded by The Swiss Confederation/State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The overall objective of this project is to contribute to enhancing migration governance through an evidence-based and holistic approach and maximize migration potential to achieve sustainable development outcomes in Kosovo. In particular, the project will strengthen the capacities of authorities in Kosovo to enhance migration management by further developing skills, knowledge and processes of relevant institutions, expanding migrant admission capacities, providing technical and logístical support, enhancing data collection in various areas, increasing awareness of people from Kosovo to prevent irregular migration, and increasing engagement with the diaspora.

Migration remains an important component of Kosovo’s social and economic dynamics, influencing development policies and public services. In response to the need for improved migration governance, the Government Authority for Migration (GAM), in collaboration with institutional stakeholders and supported by international partners, has developed the Migration Management Information System (MMIS). The MMIS serves as a centralized digital platform designed to collect, integrate, manage, and disseminate migration-related data and statistics from multiple national institutions.

The current MMIS was developed to enable evidence-based policy formulation, foster inter-institutional coordination, improve migration data quality, and support service delivery in migration management. However, with the evolution of technology standards, changes in migration patterns, and the growing importance of data protection and interoperability, the existing system requires substantial modernization to meet future operational demands.

Specifically, the existing MMIS faces challenges related to scalability, modularity, interoperability with external systems, and compliance with updated legal and security frameworks, including General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Additionally, the need for enhanced functionalities such as real-time data exchange, advanced reporting tools, improved metadata management, and strengthened system security has been identified.

To this end, in the framework of the support provided to the Government Authority for Migration under the ‘Enhance migration governance through evidence-based programming and strengthening capacities of authorities in Kosovo’ project, IOM is supporting GAM in initiating an upgrade process for MMIS, starting with a comprehensive assessment of the current system’s technical, functional, legal, and operational dimensions. Based on the findings of this assessment, a detailed and structured Terms of Reference (ToR) will be developed to guide the future upgrade and ensure that the system will continue to effectively support Kosovo’s migration governance strategies.

The consultant to be engaged under this assignment will play a critical role in this upgrade process by providing an in-depth assessment of the existing MMIS, identifying improvement opportunities, capturing the evolving needs of stakeholders, ensuring legal compliance, and drafting a clear, actionable, and technically sound ToR for the upgrade of the Migration Management Information System.

[1] All references to Kosovo should be understood for IOM to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
- Government Authority on Migration / Ministry of Internal Affairs

RESPONSIBILITIES
Tasks to be performed under this contract

The objective of this assignment is to conduct a comprehensive technical, legal, and operational assessment of the existing MMIS and prepare a detailed and actionable Terms of Reference for the system upgrade, ensuring alignment with best practices in migration data management, interoperability, security, and user-centred design.

**Needs Assessment and Stakeholder Consultation**:

- Engage with key stakeholders including GAM, Civil Registration Agency, Kosovo Police, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Employment Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Ministry of Health, UNHCR, and IOM to collect updated technical and functional requirements.
- Document user needs and expectations for the upgraded MMIS.

**Technical Feasibility**:

- Propose conceptual options for the future system architecture, including interoperability standards (API, Web Services), hosting environments, modularity, scalability, and security frameworks.

**Legal and Regulatory Review**:

- Analyze current and upcoming national laws and regulations related to migration data management and data protection (GDPR alignme