Knowledge Circulation in International Organizations: Problematizing migration narratives

International Organizations (IOs) are important knowledge producers, particularly in highly contested subjects such as migration. This paper evaluates how knowledge about migration circulates from the perspective of a key but rather invisible knowledge producer: consultants working in IOs. Consultants are temporary advisers who bring their knowledge and expertise to IOs and often maintain a flexible positionality, that locates them inside and outside organizations and processes. The central goal of this paper is to problematize the outcome knowledge on the subject of migration and produced by IOs, from the perspective of its knowledge workers, in this case, consultants. This paper is based on a doctoral research project that studied the role of consultants in the field of migration, and follows up the testimonies of several consultants and an extensive literature review about knowledge circulation and production.