Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Project Context and Scope

The Kenya–Ethiopia corridor is a strategically important economic zone linking northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, characterized by cross-border trade, infrastructure development, mobility of labour, and emerging urban centres. Recent and planned investments in transport infrastructure, energy, logistics, agribusiness, and services are expected to significantly influence labour demand, skills requirements, and employment opportunities across the corridor.

At the same time, there exists persistent challenges including high youth unemployment, informality, skills mismatches, gender disparities in labour force participation, and vulnerabilities related to climate shocks, displacement, and cross-border mobility. Addressing these challenges requires sustained collaborative efforts and coordinated actions between countries and regions to improve governance frameworks and ensure that migration pathways are safe, fair and gender responsive. The Government of Kenya (GoK) is actively engaging in negotiations with countries of destination including development of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) with similar efforts being undertaken by the government of Ethiopia to increase access to decent employment for Kenyan and Ethiopian migrant workers. Both countries are significant countries of origin for labour mobility to the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Despite the efforts, critical gaps still persist, including absence of structured, inclusive, and gender-sensitive and responsive labour mobility frameworks between Kenya, Ethiopia, and GCC countries, and between Kenya and Ethiopia. This has contributed to proliferation of irregular migration, exploitation of migrant workers, and limited access to dignified work opportunities. The absence of gender-sensitive rights-based labour agreements which clearly articulate the protection of migrant workers has disproportionately affected migrant workers, particularly women and youth, whose specific vulnerabilities including exposure to abuse, lack of social protection and exploitative working conditions remain unaddressed.

It is for this reason therefore, that the State Department for Labour and Skills Development with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) intends to commission a Labour Market Assessment (LMA) to generate evidence on current and future labour demand and supply dynamics along the Kenya–Ethiopia corridor, to inform targeted interventions, policy dialogue, and development of the Kenya-Ethiopia BLMA.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing