CON 2026 050| Migration Data and Evidence-Building Consultant
International Organization for Migration · Zamboanga
Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
For centuries, Filipinos have moved across the porous maritime borders of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) to Sabah, engaging in an ecosystem of trade, kinship visitation and employment in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. This mobility is often driven by survival and necessity. There were significant influxes of Filipinos in the early 1970s, when refugees escaped the civil war in Mindanao, and in the 1980s, when labour migration was promoted as a temporary measure to ease economic hardship. As many migrants were born and raised in Sabah, they have established extensive family networks and regard the region as their primary home, despite their lack of formal residency status. In 2024, the Philippine Government estimated that 550,000 out of 770,000 Filipinos in Sabah were undocumented. The irregular and circular patterns of this movement have left a massive population in a state of legal limbo.
The lack or expired documentation has led to a systematic escalation in the detention and deportation of Filipinos back to the Zamboanga City Port. For those caught up in this process, there are reports that individuals are kept in overcrowded detention centers prior to departure without access to legal counsel. These conditions carry heightened risks for women, who are disproportionately vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation across the various phases of irregular migration and during detention. The abrupt separation from livelihoods and families in Sabah leaves many returnees in acute vulnerability, compounding the protection challenges they face upon return. The intensity of these returns is evidenced by the arrival of over 5,700 individuals in eight batches between March and October 2025, placing immense pressure on local reception and reintegration services.
To foster safer migration pathways and establish responsive reintegration frameworks, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing the project titled, “Promoting Sustainable, Gender-Inclusive Solutions for Migrants with Vulnerabilities in the Southern Philippines.” The initiative is strategically designed to strengthen gender-sensitive, safe migration programs and governance mechanisms. It achieves this by enhancing evidence-based inter-agency coordination, streamlining data management systems, and delivering effective, gender-inclusive protection and reintegration services for vulnerable migrants. Moving forward, the project will collaborate closely with national and regional government units, alongside relevant line agencies, to institutionalize a well-coordinated response. This partnership aims to develop sustainable frameworks for targeted, evidence-based programming that safeguards the rights, dignity, and long-term well-being of returning migrants.
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