Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
Project Context and Scope
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing the European Union-funded project Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation, Stabilization and Resilience of Borderland Areas between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The project seeks to strengthen social cohesion and security in borderland areas through improved border governance, stronger protection systems, enhanced cooperation among border agencies, and better access to services for vulnerable populations.
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling remain significant concerns along the Uganda-DRC border corridor. Border communities and vulnerable migrants face protection and public health risks, including limited access to healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection services, referral mechanisms, and specialized assistance. Victims of trafficking (VoTs) often struggle to obtain timely medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, shelter, and other essential services.
Accordingly, IOM seeks a consultant to spearhead these efforts in the project area that includes, but is not limited to, Ntoroko, Nebbi, Zombo and Arua districts as well as Arua city.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Health unit, IOM Uganda under Borderlands Project (Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation, Stabilization and Resilience of Borderland Areas between DRC and Uganda)
The overall objective of the consultancy is to strengthen access to health, MHPSS and protection-related services for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking by supporting implementation of key health-related activities under the Borderlands Project, including MHPSS referral mechanism operationalization, awareness raising, delivery of key action points at the axis of protection and access to sound healthcare services.
3. Scope of Work and Specific Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of IOM Uganda’s Head of Programmes and Policy Development, direct supervision of the Health Programme coordinator and in close coordination with relevant Health, Protection, Border Management and Government stakeholders, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
2. Assessments and Mapping
- Conduct rapid re-assessments at designated border locations and surrounding communities to determine requirements for the establishment and operationalization of MHPSS and health referral services, including the six designated Points of Entry (PoEs) and adjacent border communities.
- Re-assess available infrastructure, space requirements, staffing arrangements, infection prevention and control considerations, accessibility concerns and operational readiness, including WASH requirements and constraints that may affect establishment of MHPSS services.
- Re-assess the feasibility of deploying existing trained MHPSS volunteers and identify capacity-strengthening needs at Points of Entry and in surrounding border communities.
- Conclude the mapping of existing service providers and identify available health, MHPSS, GBV, protection, shelter, legal and other referral services within targeted border districts.
- Analyse existing formal and informal referral pathways and identify service delivery gaps, bottlenecks and opportunities for strengthening inter-agency coordination.
- Complete ongoing efforts to Support the establishment and operationalization of health and MHPSS referral systems for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.
- Review existing referral tools, protocols and guidance materials and recommend improvements where necessary.
- Develop or refine standard operating procedures, workflow arrangements and coordination mechanisms to facilitate effective referral and follow-up.
- Facilitate linkages among government institutions, health facilities, service providers, civil society organizations and community actors participating in referral processes.
- Support the establishment of a functional cross-border coordination mechanism to regularly review referral cases, address operational challenges and strengthen collaboration among health, border management and protection actors from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
- Develop comprehensive Terms of Reference for MHPSS volunteers operating within project-supported locations.
- Define volunteer roles, responsibilities, supervision structures, reporting arrangements, code of conduct, capacity-building requirements and performance expectations, including minimum qualifications, refresher training requirements and proposed volunteer allowance arrangements where applicable.
- Propose practical arrangements for deployment, mentoring, monitoring and support of volunteer networks.
- Review existing volunteer activity reporting tools and reporting arrangements and recommend improvements where required.
- Analyze the recommendations and draft action plan from the study on health implications of TiP and, in coordination with relevant government stakeholders, develop a 3–4-month rollout plan.
- Oversee/coordinate the implementation of the action plan on access to the health care system for VoTs.
6. Capacity Building and Awareness Raising
- Develop and deliver awareness-raising sessions for border officials, healthcare workers and other frontline responders on the health and mental health implications of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, as per the project proposal and logical framework, including referral procedures, available support services and protection considerations for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.
7. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
- Facilitate consultations involving government institutions, health authorities, protection actors, UN agencies, civil society organizations and community representatives.
- Present assessment findings, proposed referral arrangements, implementation approaches and volunteer frameworks for validation, including validation of proposed SOPs and operational guidance documents developed under the assignment.
- Support coordination and consensus-building processes necessary for sustainable implementation of health and MHPSS interventions.
8. Monitoring and Reporting
- Submit periodic progress updates to IOM on implementation progress, challenges encountered and recommendations.
- Submit all agreed deliverables in accordance with the approved workplan and timelines.
- Prepare and submit a final consultancy report consolidating findings, outputs delivered, lessons learned, recommendations and proposed next steps.
Instalment DeliverablesDelivery DatePaymentInstalment 11: Inception report including methodology, workplan and stakeholder engagement approach.2: Site reassessment and service mapping report, including gap analysis and recommendations.End of Month 120%Instalment 24: MHPSS volunteer package including Terms of Reference, supervision arrangements, reporting framework and volunteer management tools. 5: Volunteer monitoring framework, dashboards and reporting tools.End of Month 3 25%Instalment 36: Government-validated rollout plan for implementation of the Action Plan arising from the study on the health implications of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling. 8: Awareness-raising materials and completion report for awareness sessions conducted. End of Month 525%Instalment 43: Activity Completion Report on Supporting the establishment and operationalization of health and mental health and psychosocial support referral mechanism between Uganda and DRC, and training of frontline health care officers. 7: Report of the Implementation of the agreed Action Plan activities under Deliverable 6. 9: Final consultancy report consolidating findings, achievements, recommendations and next steps.End of Month 6 30%
Education
- Advanced university degree in Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work, Public Health, Mental Health, Humanitarian Protection, Migration Health, Community Health or a related field.
Experience
- Minimum six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian, migration, public health, protection or cross-border programming.
- Demonstrated experience designing or strengthening referral mechanisms, coordination frameworks and service delivery systems.
- Proven experience conducting assessments, mapping exercises and stakeholder consultations.
- Strong experience developing ToRs, SOPs, implementation frameworks, monitoring tools and operational guidance documents.
- Demonstrated understanding of MHPSS, trafficking in persons, vulnerable migrant protection, GBV response and inter-agency referral systems.
- Experience working with Government institutions, UN agencies, civil society organizations and local communities.
Skills
- Strong analytical, report writing, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
Travel Required
Required Competencies
Notes
IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.