Regional Counter Trafficking Consultant

Position Title : Regional Counter Trafficking Consultant

Duty Station: IOM Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa in Cairo, Egypt (RO), (Home-Based)

Type of Appointment: Consultancy Contract for 11 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: 01 March 2024

Closing Date: 31 January 2024

Reference number: EOI/RO/2024/01

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and 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.

Context and Scope:

Within the context of the project Regional Development and Protection Programme for North Africa Phase VI: Strengthening Protection in North Africa Through Regional Coordination and Knowledge funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior and the European Union Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) within the context of the RDPP sixth funding cycle, IOM is committed to ensuring that victims of trafficking are identified and supported including through cross boarder referral and assistance between counter trafficking actors.

Mixed and irregular migration is a key feature of migration dynamics to North Africa (NA) often leading to vulnerable situations including violence, abuse, exploitation and human trafficking. The Central Mediterranean Route (CMR) is the main migratory route used by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from West Africa and NA to reach Europe. Whilst in the past years most migrants have departed from Libya, which is a destination for migrants as well as a transit country, there is also a growing number of departures from Tunisia, Egypt, and Algeria. Tunisia, in particular, has seen an increase in departures, with Tunisian nationals comprising more than 60% of Central Mediterranean crossings in 2020 according to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.

IOM field work evidences that migrants remain highly vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation along migration routes in Africa., for example, a total of 33,000 migrants were registered and identified as requiring protection support in 2022. This figure remained consistent with the previous year, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by vulnerable migrants in the region. The distribution of registered migrants across host countries shows that Libya has the highest proportion at 36%, followed by Morocco at 35%, and Egypt at 15%, and 14% for the remaining MENA countries combined. Out of the total, 4,087 individuals were identified as victims of trafficking, prompting immediate action to address their exploitation and provide them with the necessary protection assistance.

IOM is a major international actor on counter-trafficking for over 25 years. IOM counter-trafficking programming has achieved results and allowed the organization to collect evidence of successful practices. The organization worked to model this experience into a global articulation of coherent objectives and more systematic evidence of what works to achieve them. Strengthening the ability of local service providers to deliver the care trafficking persons need for their safety, health and well being and to prevent re-victimization as well as promoting multi-stakeholder coordination to help identify and protect trafficked persons has been identified as two of the eight intervention models that IOM prioritizes in view of delivering impactful counter-trafficking responses that protect victims of trafficking and persons at risk of trafficking.

On this basis, the IOM Regional Office MENA is funding a regional learning note to map out and update the latest tools, best practices and lessons learnt particularly in the area of victim of trafficking (VoT) assistance with a particular emphasis on cross-border referrals and continuum of care. With this learning note IOM foresee to un-pack these priorities and needs in the North African context and provide concrete recommendations and tools on how to support progresses toward VoT identification and assistance along key routes.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing*:* RO MENA Regional Coordination Unit, Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP) Strengthening protection in North Africa through Regional coordination and knowledge

Tangible and Measurable Outputs of the Work Assignment:

The RO MENA office is looking for a consultant to draft the mentioned learning note, the document will be rooted in the regional context focusing on trafficking trends, documenting challenges, lessons learnt and promising practices on VoT assistance services and mechanisms in North Africa and along key routes with the ultimate goal to support regional dialogue, policy and response to Trafficking challenges and how to best enhance identification and assistance to VoTs.

The learning note will be based on experiences of project countries but can also draw on practices of relevant countries outside the project scope, particularly countries with migration contexts that are relevant to the experience of countries in North Africa and along key routes.

The Consultant will be responsible for consulting, drafting, and presenting the learning note:

The deliverables will include:

• One inception report and full methodological note (English)
• Stock tacking and mapping of challenges, best practices including service provision, case management and cross border referrals in the region (English)
• Drafting a regional contextualized learning note summarizing the above-mentioned components, including recent and foreseen trafficking trends, policy and programming recommendations in the region (English)

Conceptualization, preparation, moderating and follow up on one Inception workshop to tailor the deliverableand one Cross regional Counter Trafficking Forum present and validate the deliverable.

1. First deliverable – Inception report including methodology of the learning note factoring in consultations with relevant entities.
2. Second deliverable– First draft learning note: analysis of needs, stocktaking of good practices, finalizing the first draft learning note.
3. Third Deliverable –Advanced draft learning note and event concept note submit the second draft of the learning note upon review and consolidation of stakeholders’ inputs by 30 October 2024.
4. Final deliverable –Final validated learning note and event report facilitation of events and presentation of the learning note in the regional forum.

Education, Experience and/or skills required:

• University Degree in International Relations, Conflict Resolution, Social Sciences, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with focus on human rights, counter trafficking
• 10-15 years’ experience in the field of counter trafficking which a substantial amount should be on protection of victims in the North Africa Region
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written English)
• Proven experience conceptualizing and producing similar deliverables
• Proven experience in coordination with government stakeholders and civil society
• Exposure to North Africa, Middle East, and/or Sub-Saharan Africa; North Africa migration and refugee dynamics or Mediterranean routes is desirable;
• Past experience conducting similar studies for the International Organization for Migration or other UN agencies is an advantage.

Languages:

The consultant is expected to be fluent in English, the Capacity to draft and interact in French and Arabic is an added value.

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• 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.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated

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 actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Other:

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible for following IOM writing guidelines and the latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this Call for CV is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.