Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

Specific Objectives:

Specifically, the study will seek to:

• Analyze the geographical and regional distribution of returning migrants and characterize their socio-demographic profiles (age, sex, education level, qualifications), comparing them with the structure of the total population and territorial skills needs.
• Identify the determinants of returns by examining individual, economic, family, and institutional factors, as well as the influence of host country migration policies, crises (health, economic, geopolitical), and emerging opportunities in Morocco.
• Evaluate professional trajectories before and after return, measure the adequacy of migrants' skills to the needs of the national labor market, and identify sectors where they contribute to alleviating recruitment tensions (health, construction, ICT, modernized agriculture, technical trades).
• Analyze the investment behaviors of returning migrants by studying preferred sectors, invested amounts, obstacles encountered, and potential impact on job creation, innovation, and local development.
• Measure the territorial effects of migration returns, particularly on employment, entrepreneurship, economic attractiveness, and social integration, and identify regions with high potential for mobilizing returning migrants.

Main Question

How does the return migration of Moroccans, as revealed by data from RGPH-2024 and the National Survey on International Migration (ENMI), contribute to the transformation of the labor market, investment, and territorial development, and what strategies can optimize its economic and social impact?

Sub-questions

• What is the geographical distribution of returning migrants and what are their socio-demographic profiles (age, sex, education level, qualifications)?
• What individual, economic, family, and institutional factors determine the choice to return, and what role do crises and host country migration policies play?
• How do professional trajectories evolve before and after return, and to what extent do migrants' skills meet the needs of the national labor market?
• In which sectors do returning migrants contribute to reducing recruitment tensions, and what barriers limit their professional integration?
• What investment behaviors do returning migrants adopt, what obstacles do they encounter, and what is the potential impact on job creation and innovation?
• What territorial effects do migration returns have on employment, entrepreneurship, and the economic attractiveness of settlement areas?
• What strategic recommendations can be formulated to strengthen the economic integration of returning migrants and mobilize their potential in national priorities?

Methodology

Approach

The study will adopt an analytical and prospective approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to provide an in-depth understanding of return migration dynamics in Morocco. It will primarily rely on data from RGPH-2024, the 2014 census, and ENMI_PHONE_NUMBER to cross-reference socio-demographic, economic, and territorial information. The analysis will be conducted at multiple levels: national, regional, and local, to capture territorial disparities and economic opportunities related to migration returns. The approach will integrate a comparative (2014 vs. 2024) and prospective dimension to anticipate future trends. It will combine statistical analysis of existing data with a critical evaluation of institutional mechanisms and public policies.

Areas of Intervention

The study will focus on five priority axes:

• Geographical distribution and socio-demographic profiles of returning migrants.
• Determinants of returns, including individual, economic, and institutional factors.
• Professional trajectories before and after return, and their impact on the labor market.
• Investment behaviors and their contribution to job creation and innovation.
• Territorial effects of migration returns on employment, entrepreneurship, and economic attractiveness.

Methods and Actions

The methodology will be based on:

• Statistical analysis of RGPH and ENMI data to measure volumes, profiles, and trends in migration returns.
• Mapping of flows and settlement areas to visualize territorial dynamics and identify regions with high potential.
• Sectoral analysis to assess the adequacy of migrants' skills to labor market needs and sectors in tension.
• Study of institutional mechanisms (support programs, investment policies) to identify obstacles and opportunities.
• Prospective projection of flows and economic impacts based on observed trends.

Unit / Organizational Department to which the consultant contributes:

Migration, Development, and Governance Unit

Data on Climate Change and Migration Program (NC0161)

Education, Experience, and/or Required Skills

Academic Training:

Master's or Doctoral degree in demography, economics, statistics, sociology, social sciences, international development, or any other relevant field.

Required Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in conducting studies and research on international migration, return migration, mobility, or diaspora.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing labor markets, entrepreneurship, and investment policies.
• Experience working with national statistical institutions, international organizations (IOM, ILO, UNDP, World Bank), or government agencies (an asset).
• In-depth knowledge of the Moroccan context in terms of migration, diaspora, and territorial development (highly desirable).
• Experience in evaluating public policies and formulating strategic recommendations.

Skills:

• Mastery of advanced statistical analysis methods (descriptive, inferential, econometric analyses, modeling).
• Demonstrated experience in exploiting and analyzing census data (RGPH) and migration surveys (ENMI or similar).
• Mastery of statistical analysis and data visualization tools (SPSS, R, Stata, Python, or similar).
• Proven skills in mapping and geographic information systems.
• Excellent report writing, economic study, and policy brief synthesis skills.
• Excellent command of French (written and oral), as well as Arabic.
• Ability to present and communicate complex results to varied audiences (decision-makers, technicians, researchers, field actors).

Desired Candidate Profile

• At least 7 years of experience in conducting studies and research on international migration, return migration, mobility, or diaspora.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing labor markets, entrepreneurship, and investment policies.
• Experience working with national statistical institutions, international organizations (IOM, ILO, UNDP, World Bank), or government agencies (an asset).
• In-depth knowledge of the Moroccan context in terms of migration, diaspora, and territorial development (highly desirable).
• Experience in evaluating public policies and formulating strategic recommendations.
• Mastery of advanced statistical analysis methods (descriptive, inferential, econometric analyses, modeling).
• Demonstrated experience in exploiting and analyzing census data (RGPH) and migration surveys (ENMI or similar).
• Mastery of statistical analysis and data visualization tools (SPSS, R, Stata, Python, or similar).
• Proven skills in mapping and geographic information systems.
• Excellent report writing, economic study, and policy brief synthesis skills.
• Excellent command of French (written and oral), as well as Arabic.
• Ability to present and communicate complex results to varied audiences (decision-makers, technicians, researchers, field actors).
• Ability to formulate clear, operational, and evidence-based strategic recommendations.