CON 2026-17 - International Legal Consultant – Regulatory and Compliance Fr at IOM

Tiranë, Central Albania, Albania -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

27 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

29 Jun, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Legal Analysis, Regulatory Compliance, AML/CFT, KYC Requirements, Financial Regulation, Cross-border Financial Transactions, Policy Gap Analysis, Institutional Governance, Technical Writing, Stakeholder Coordination, Research, Reporting, Presentation Skills, Microsoft Office, Gender Awareness, Cultural Sensitivity

Industry

International Affairs

Description

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 [https://www.iom.int/iom-workplace-culture] Project Context and Scope IOM is seeking a Legal Consultant (International) to oversee the regulatory considerations related to the establishment of a Diaspora Investment Mechanism (DIM) and to provide strategic legal and compliance guidance to the Local Legal Consultants, who will take forward DIM design in relation to financial and corporate frameworks as well as governance. The assignment will contribute to the foundational analytical phase of the project by identifying the legal, regulatory, financial, and policy parameters that must inform the design of a legally sound, operationally feasible, and compliant DIM for the Albania–UK corridor. The purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert legal and regulatory analysis to support DIM establishment, with a particular focus on: (i) legal, financial, and policy gaps affecting UK–Albania remittance flows; (ii) comparative international diaspora engagement models from a regulatory and compliance perspective; and (iii) AML/KYC, payment services regulation, and cross-border financial compliance frameworks relevant to diaspora investment systems. Based on this analysis, the Consultant will provide guidance and structured inputs that enable the Local Legal Consultants to develop the financial, corporate, governance, and compliance dimensions of the DIM. - Oversee the regulatory considerations associated with establishing the DIM and provide legal and compliance guidance to the Local Legal Consultants responsible for taking forward DIM design in relation to financial and corporate frameworks and governance arrangements. - Conduct a legal, financial, and policy gap analysis on UK–Albania remittance flows, including a review of existing migration- and mobility-related policy and regulatory frameworks and identification of opportunities for revision or development of new policy measures grounded in migration-related evidence and analysis. - Contribute to the comparative analysis of international diaspora engagement models from a regulatory and compliance perspective, with a view to identifying relevant considerations for the design of the DIM. - Assess AML/KYC requirements, payment services regulation, and cross-border financial compliance frameworks relevant to diaspora investment systems, and provide the analytical basis for the development of a compliance pack to be taken forward by the Local Legal Consultant as part of DIM establishment. This consultancy will take place within the IOM Albania project, “Diaspora Investment Mechanism” funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Through a strategic partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce in Albania (BCCA), the initiative will develop a Diaspora Investment Mechanism (DIM) that draws on lessons learned from similar models in Albania, the wider region and beyond. The DIM is designed to address the needs, interests, and challenges of both remittance senders and receivers, thereby supporting the diaspora's economic contribution to Albania's sustainable development. The project will foster economic opportunities in Albania, particularly for communities in the northern regions, by supporting local development initiatives that will help address structural factors currently contributing to emigration. Albania's diaspora, comprising over 1.2 million citizens-more than 44 per cent of the population, of whom 68,814 living in the United Kingdom, represents a vital economic asset and a key driver of sustainable development. In 2024, annual remittance inflows reached approximately EUR €1.045 billion (4.4% of GDP), making them a significant external financial source, though still below foreign direct investment (FDI) of EUR €1.58 billion. According to the World Bank in 2024, USD $205,314.88 were sent in personal remittances from the United Kingdom to Albania. Persistent barriers such as regulatory ambiguities, limited institutional support, insufficient incentives, and inadequate rural infrastructure hinder full diaspora engagement. Diaspora engagement is further constrained by structural, financial, and geographic factors. Bureaucratic complexity, lack of sector-specific incentives, and administrative burdens limit collaboration and investment, while restricted access to reliable market information impedes informed decision-making. Additionally, 39 per cent of remittances are sent through informal channels, reducing transparency and the potential for formal economic development. Investment is heavily concentrated in Tirana, leaving rural areas underdeveloped and lacking essential infrastructure. In addition to this, Northern Albania has experienced sustained out-migration, including irregular movements to the United Kingdom. Many villages in the north face fragile local economies, heavily reliant on remittances, with some communities vulnerable to criminal networks. To address these issues, this project seeks to strengthen engagement between the UK-based Albanian diaspora and communities in Northern Albania, fostering sustainable development, creating legal alternatives to emigration, and opening pathways for investment, knowledge exchange, and collaboration that benefit both the diaspora and local populations. Throughout the assignment, the consultant is expected to maintain regular communication with IOM Albania and the project’s implementing partner, including brief updates on progress, emerging findings, and any issues requiring attention to support coordination and alignment. The Consultant will contribute as part of a broader consultancy team led by the Lead Consultant towards the drafting of a comprehensive feasibility and diaspora study and support two local legal consultants. In this capacity, the consultant will be expected to coordinate closely with the Lead Consultant and other team members to ensure alignment on the design, implementation approach, analytical process, and final deliverables of the assignment. This will require regular communication and agreement on roles, methodologies, sequencing of tasks, and the consolidation of inputs into coherent final products. Under the direct supervision of the Lead Consultant and overall supervision of the IOM Albania programme management, the Legal Consultant (International) is expected to carry out the following tasks in support of the Scope of the Assignment: - Provide technical oversight on the regulatory dimensions of DIM establishment and advise the Local Legal Consultants on legal, financial, corporate, and governance considerations relevant to the proposed mechanism. - Review existing migration- and mobility-related policy and regulatory frameworks relevant to UK–Albania remittance flows and identify legal, financial, and policy gaps, as well as opportunities for revision or development of new policy measures informed by migration-related evidence and analysis. - Contribute legal and compliance analysis to the comparative review of international diaspora engagement models, identifying regulatory approaches, institutional arrangements, and safeguards that may inform DIM design. - Assess AML/KYC obligations, payment services regulation, and cross-border financial compliance requirements applicable to diaspora investment systems in the Albania–UK corridor. - Develop practical legal and compliance guidance, including recommended compliance components, risk considerations, and regulatory checkpoints, to support the Local Legal Consultant in preparing the compliance pack for DIM establishment. - Coordinate with IOM Albania and relevant consultants to validate findings, incorporate feedback, and ensure that all legal and regulatory inputs are translated into actionable recommendations for DIM design and operationalisation. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing The consultancy engagement will contribute to the successful implementation of the project Diaspora Investment Mechanism, TK0113

Responsibilities

Oversee regulatory considerations for the establishment of a Diaspora Investment Mechanism (DIM) between the UK and Albania. Provide strategic legal guidance on AML/KYC, payment services, and cross-border financial compliance to local consultants.