International Expert/Trainer

Nature of the Engagement: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan is looking to engage International Expert/Trainer to (1) develop a training curriculum tailored to the context and needs identified within the frame of the Capacity Building Needs Assessment, e.g.; (2) based on the developed curriculum organize and implement training courses on identification, referral and providing assistance and support to survivors of trafficking for National Referral Mechanism actors. This consultancy service is planned to take within the USAID-funded project: “Tajikistan Safe Migration and Combatting Trafficking in Persons”.

1. Background:

Tajikistan is a country that experiences significant outward labor migration. Migrant workers travelling abroad are exposed to risks associated with international labor migration, including trafficking in persons (TIP). The country’s economy also heavily relies on the remittances sent back by migrant workers abroad. In some cases, individuals in remittance-dependent households can become vulnerable to entering situations of exploitation and abuse when the primary wage earners are unable to send money home. In recent years, the pandemic-related travel restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 led to such a reduction in remittances. Over the last two decades, the Government of Tajikistan has taken steps to address TIP through the establishment of a TIP legislative framework and by putting in place prevention-oriented mechanisms to reduce the exploitation of Tajik migrants abroad, such as pre-departure orientation centers that provide timely information to migrant workers to reduce their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse while abroad. However, additional support is needed to further strengthen efforts in the country to reduce the vulnerability to exploitation and abuse of people in Tajikistan, particularly those who choose to migrate abroad for employment.

Currently, the IOM, is implementing the Project entitled: “Tajikistan Safe Migration and Countering Trafficking in Persons (SM&CTIP)”. The Project is focusing on awareness raising, improving the pre-departure orientation, and counseling to ensure informed migration, protection of vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking as well as improving the cooperation among all stakeholders that are the part of National Referral systems (NRM).

The project: “Tajikistan Safe Migration and Combating Trafficking in Persons (Tajikistan SM&CTIP)” contributes to wider efforts in Central Asia, focusing on Tajikistan, and aimed at reducing vulnerability to TIP among vulnerable individuals, communities, and populations through the promotion of safe migration and increased access to trauma-informed, age-appropriate, gender- and culturally sensitive services. It envisions a whole-of government and whole-of society approach to Combatting Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), working to strengthen systems and address gaps in a participatory manner, working to ensure the local ownership of its achievements and results. To achieve this objective, the project focuses on three primary intended outcomes in the areas of preventing trafficking in persons, protecting victims of trafficking, and strengthening partnerships to better combat trafficking in persons.

The project will also use a systems-strengthening approach to improve and expand the capacity of national actors within the victim protection system to systematically protect identified victims of trafficking (Outcome 2). The national referral system will be improved to clearly describe the roles and responsibilities, procedures, and standards for the identification, referral, protection, and assistance of victims of trafficking (Output 2.1), improve the ability of government and non-government protection actors and service providers to identify, refer, protect and assist of victims of trafficking (Output 2.2), and support referral partners to have adequate human, financial, and technical resources that will enable them to provide high-quality protection and assistance services to victims of trafficking and other relevant groups (Output 2.3).

To facilitate that the protection actors and service providers in government and non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement have appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes for the identification, referral protection and assistance of survivors of traffickers (SOTs).

2. Objectives and Purposes of the Engagement

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan is looking to engage an International Expert/Trainer to develop a training curriculum tailored to the context and needs identified. The training curriculum will be developed with an identified TIP survivor representative to support the incorporation of survivor-centered perspectives and needs. In the development of the curriculum, the Expert will adapt the existing institutional training materials for case managers (e.g., government social workers, CSO staff), service providers (e.g., medical professionals, lawyers), and law enforcement (e.g., labor officers, police, immigration officers), resulting in a multi-sectoral training that brings together all relevant NRM actors. The training will highlight the different roles and responsibilities of each actor, how their different roles work together to ensure sustainable protection and recover for TIP survivors, as well as how those efforts feed into other CTIP areas of responsibility, such as prevention, investigation, and prosecution. The training will use innovative approaches that focus on experiential learning – for example, through simulations. This blended methodology is also intended to encourage cross-communication among the different NRM actors, which will facilitate coordination, cooperation, and referral.

3. Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The end products expected to be delivered by the Consultant will be as follows:

1. Training curriculum, presentations and handouts for the three-day training courses and other instruments developed consultatively and finalized in coordination with IOM Tajikistan.
2. One interim and one final narrative report including analyses and recommendations for further actions based on the results of the pre-and-post evaluation forms/other feedback.
3. Other relevant papers produced consultatively and finalized with IOM Tajikistan.

4. Activities and Tasks to be Performed under this Engagement.

The International Trainer would be required to undertake and achieve the following tasks:

• Develop training curriculum and methodology: develop a series of practice-oriented trainings for governmental and non-governmental organizations and other non-traditional TIP actors, law enforcement officials, including adapting existing institutional training materials for case managers, service providers, and law enforcement in coordination with IOM Tajikistan. The blended methodology will also encourage cross-communication among the different NRM actors, which will facilitate coordination, cooperation, and referral.
• Provide support in forming the training team: experts and practitioners specializing in different aspects of provision of support and protection to survivors of trafficking will be involved as co-trainers for ToT event.
• Lead in preparing for and facilitating one 3-day Training of Trainers Workshops: one 3-day in-person Training of Trainers with a 25+ participants of protection actors, composed of two days of theoretical and one day of experimental learning – for example, through simulation.
• Lead in providing guidance and post-training support to trainees: post-training support to trainees as they develop their tailored training curriculum on combating trafficking in persons and providing support to survivors of trafficking for government and non-governmental organizations. Follow-up support can be done through a combination of in-person and remote work.
• Lead in developing interim narrative report: one narrative report produced after the training event including analyses and recommendations for further actions based on the results of the pre-and-post evaluation form.
• Lead in developing a final narrative report: final narrative report after the completion of the training events and post-training guidance and support.

5. Expected Results

In line with the above, the International Trainer will produce and provide:

1. Desk review document of the Capacity Building Needs Assessment Report describing the recommendations from the International Experts in terms of protection actor’s expectations regarding the capacity building enhancement, IOM’s existing institutional training materials for case managers (e.g. government social workers, CSO staff), service providers (e.g. medical professionals, lawyers), and law enforcement (e.g. labour officers, police, immigration officers) resulting in a multi-sectoral training that bring together all relevant NRM actors.
2. Document (approximately 10 to 20 pages) describing key informants consulted, key inputs, and key issues identified to be addressed in the Curriculum.
3. Agendas and facilitation/handout materials for the three-day workshop. Updated table of contents for the Curriculum, considering findings of the literature review and inputs from key informants, with a brief description of the contents for each section.
4. Draft version of the Curriculum.
5. Final version of the Curriculum addressing final inputs from the Capacity Building Needs Assessment Report and the project team and edited in line with IOM’s Style Guide and Spelling List following bilateral feedback.
6. Record of timely responses to queries from IOM’s translations and publications unit as they prepare the document for layout, translation, and publication.

6. Performance Indicators

1. The quality targeted and detailed of the work performed as established in above as well as compliance with agreed delivery dates;
2. Satisfactory completion of tasks as indicated in these Terms of Reference;
3. High quality delivery of the training touching upon the issues, as presented in the Capacity Building Needs Assessment Report;
4. Timely delivery of deliverables as indicated in the below Timeframe and agreed upon in the implementation Work Plan;
5. Compliance with IOM Data Protection Principles and other provided guidance materials, such as the IOM House Style Guidelines.

7. Duty Station

a) The consultant will undertake a mix of in-country and home-based mode of working based on the agreed work-plan and methodology.

b) The consultant is expected to use own computer and other equipment required for the task.

8. Qualification and Requirements

Qualifications desirable

Project team will decide on the selection of the most successful consultant, subject to the available budget, on the following criteria:

• Have a postgraduate degree in social work, international relations, social sciences, development studies or a related field.
• At least 5 years professional experience on protection, direct assistance, case management, and/or social work, ideally with some of this experience being within a migration context.
• Have a good understanding of migration issues, in particular migrants’ and victims of trafficking rights and migrants’ protection mechanisms.
• Experience with a governmental and/or non-governmental organization is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of English (written and spoken). Knowledge of Russian is an advantage.
• Analytical skills as well as communication skills with a wide array of actors.
• Have extensive experience in conducting capacity building activities, especially for government and non-governmental organizations and law enforcement on combating trafficking in persons.
• Have a thorough understanding of issues pertaining to trafficking in persons, particularly in the Central Asian context.
• Be willing to undertake in-country travel related to the assignment.

Skills:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Personal commitment, effectiveness, and commitment to results.
• Ability to write clear and concise texts in English or Russian languages.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while meeting strict deadlines.
• Timeliness and budget.

Competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible;
• Integrity and transparency maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct;
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent, and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results;
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes;
• Managing and sharing knowledge continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate;
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work;
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring, and motivational way.

Planning and Organization

• Good planning and organizational skills and managing working relationships with different stakeholders.
• Ability to focus on priorities and meet strict deadlines.

Teamwork

• Work effectively within a team environment, lead and influence projects and coach individuals in accomplishing defined objectives/goals of the project;
• Possess good interpersonal skills.

9. Timeframe

The anticipated duration for this exercise is 20 working days.

10. Management and Supervision

Management and supervision

The International Trainer will report to the Project Manager and will work in coordination with the Project Activity Coordinator. As work progress, the Consultant will share expected delivery results with the IOM Tajikistan for review. IOM Tajikistan will ensure to provide timely comments to the consultant’s work and address any Consultant’s request (i.e. additional information, participants contacts, etc.). Potential guidance will also be provided from corresponding units in IOM’s Regional Office in Vienna, IOM HQ, and other IOM missions, where relevant.

How to apply

By February 20th, 2024, the interested applicants must submit:

1. An Expression of Interest (1 page max), clearly specifying the qualifications, suitability and availability date.

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae. Applicants should clearly indicate information on previous assessment work and/or experience in similar assignments, including historical consultancy fee and minimum three referees (preferably former direct supervisors).

3. Technical and financial proposal.

4. Samples of previous training reports.

   Applications shall be submitted by e-mail to applications.tj@iom.int, indicating “ToT Trainer”.