Legal Research Consultant– Immigration Pathways to Canada

About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people worldwide. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Europe (Berlin). Our legal and advocacy teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading law firms and multinational corporations and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people in finding safe passage and transform the landscape of refugee rights. IRAP has over 100 full-time staff members. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.

Location, Time Zone, Work Schedule

This is a part time role, hours per week to be determined based on the applicant’s proposal. The chosen candidate will be required to work at least 2 hours a day in tandem with IRAP’s SVP, Global Legal Programs, whose working hours are 9am to 6pm Amman, Jordan.

Opportunity

IRAP is exploring family reunification and other immigration pathway options to Canada for refugees and displaced people in Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries across the Middle East, in particular Turkey, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. IRAP is seeking a consultant to lead an assessment and mapping of existing pathways.

Objectives and Output

The objective of this project is to develop a detailed assessment of:

• What immigration options to Canada exist for refugees and displaced people in the countries listed above, with a focus on family reunification but also including other humanitarian pathways that refugees and displaced people might be eligible for (excluding refugee resettlement and labor pathways);
• The requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for these immigration options;
• The requirements petitioners (where appropriate, e.g.family members in Canada for family reunification pathways) must meet to qualify for these immigration options;
• The requirements and qualifications legal practitioners and humanitarian organizations must meet to assist petitioners and beneficiaries with such applications;
• The landscape of organizations providing such assistance;
• An overview of Canadian asylum criteria and procedures.

The consultant will produce the following deliverables:

● Mapping of family reunification and other relevant humanitarian immigration pathways to Canada;

● Lists of eligibility criteria for each of the identified immigration pathways for:

○ Beneficiaries (the applicant seeking to immigrate to Canada)

○ Petitioners- when appropriate (the relative in Canada seeking to bring a family member to Canada);

● Analysis of eligibility requirements for providing legal, administrative, and technical assistance with family reunification applications;

● Detailed outline of the processes and procedures connected with submission of the application, interview, adjudication, appeal, etc.

● Analysis of organizations providing such assistance, including their location, staffing, key populations of concern, and areas of expertise.

● An overview of Canadian asylum criteria and procedures.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will work on a part-time basis for a period of 3-4 weeks. The tentative timeline for the consultancy is as follows:

Phase 1: Inception (1 week)

Meet with IRAP’s SVP for Global Legal Programs, Senior Country Directors (Jordan and Lebanon), Director of Legal Services (Lebanon), and Global Screenings & Casework Director and develop a detailed work plan and timeline.

Phase 2: Research (1-2 week)

Conduct research and mapping, including desk research as well as holding meetings and collecting data from relevant organizations.

Phase 3: Outputs (1-2 weeks)

Develop the outputs listed above, working as appropriate with the SVP Global Legal Programs, Senior Country Directors, Director of Legal Services (Lebanon) and GSC Director.

Methodology

The methodology is to be developed by the consultant and will include:

• Desk review of existing programming
• Key information interviews or consultations with relevant stakeholders

Timeline

• The consultant will produce all products, including the final report, by April 30th, 2025.

Desired Skills/Experience/Qualifications:

• Proven expertise in Canadian immigration law, especially family reunification.
• Excellent ability to write concisely and in simple and clear English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent research skills.
• Sensitivity to client/beneficiary empowerment and cultural humility.

Compensation/Payment Schedule

The consultant is expected to submit a financial offer to account for all the work needed to complete the consultancy. IRAP will assess financial offers based on the level of experience and qualifications, and the prevailing rates for similar consultancies.

Payment will be contingent on approval by the SVP, Global Legal Programs and will be made as indicated in the following table. No advance payment is to be made. Payments will be made against each deliverable and only upon IRAP’s acceptance of the work performed. Payment will be made upon the receipt of a financial claim/invoice and acceptance of work within xx weeks via bank transfer.

Deliverable

Duration

Payment Percentage

Phase 1:

Meet with IRAP’s SVP for Global Legal Programs, Senior Country Directors (Jordan and Lebanon), Director of Legal Services (Lebanon), and Global Screenings & Casework Director and develop a detailed work plan and timeline.

1 week

10%

Phase 2:

Conduct research and mapping, including desk research as well as holding meetings and collecting data from relevant organizations.

1-2 weeks

30%

Phase 3:

Develop the outputs listed above, working as appropriate with the SVP Global Legal Programs, Senior Country Directors, Director of Legal Services (Lebanon) and GSC Director.

1-2 weeks

60%

IRAP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Consultancy Management

The consultant will work under the supervision of the SVP, Global Legal Programs. Acceptance of deliverables will be assessed based on quality, timeliness, and relevance.