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
Nepal faces increasing climate-induced migration and significant health risks among both internally displaced populations and foreign labour migrants. Climate change affects livelihoods, agriculture, water security and employment opportunities, and can indirectly contribute to foreign labour migration as an adaptive livelihood strategy. At the same time, many Nepali labour migrants, particularly those working in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Malaysia, are exposed to extreme heat, harsh occupational conditions, limited rest, dehydration, unsafe working environments and other health risks.
Evidence and policy discussions in Nepal have highlighted growing health concerns among foreign labour migrants, including heat-related illness, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions, injuries, mental health and psychosocial problems, communicable diseases, and other occupational and climate-related health vulnerabilities. These conditions may have serious implications for migrants' health, safety, productivity, household welfare, and may also create long-term pressure on Nepal's health and social protection systems.
The Foreign Employment Board (FEB) conducts Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) for outbound Nepali labour migrants working in overseas. The current PDOT package includes important information on rights, responsibilities, travel preparation, occupational safety and emergency contacts. However, recent recommendations and stakeholder consultations have emphasized the need to revise the package to better incorporate health-related topics, particularly climate-health vulnerabilities, non-communicable diseases, mental health and psychosocial well-being, occupational health and safety, communicable disease prevention, and practical self-care measures in destination countries.
Under the CMHN project, MoHFS, with support from the IOM-IDF and in coordination with the FEB, and other relevant stakeholders, will support the revision of the existing pre-departure health orientation package. During a consultation with FEB, it was further recommended that the consultant conduct a basic country-specific data analysis to make concrete recommendations for revising the PDOT package.
The consultant will play a key technical role in reviewing the existing package, conducting desk review and country-specific analysis, facilitating consultations, identifying gaps, drafting the revised health orientation package, and developing practical, tailored PDOT materials for use by orientation providers and relevant government entities.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Migration Health Division (MHD), IOM Nepal, under the overall supervision of the Project Manager/Chief Migration Health Officer (CMHO) and the project team, with direct coordination with FEB’s PDOT focal point and coordination with the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and Technical Working Group/Task Force (TWG/TF).
Under the direct supervision of CMHO and in close coordination with the PIC/TF, IOM Nepal project team and relevant government counterparts including MoYLE, FEB, MoHFS, NHEICC the Consultant will:
Tasks to be performed under this contract
A. Conduct desk review and situation analysis
B. Conduct country-specific and occupation-specific analysis
C. Facilitate stakeholder consultations and technical discussions
F. Support drafting the revised pre-departure health orientation package
G. Develop technical content for PDOT materials
H. Support validation, finalization and handover
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
1Initial workplan and methodology, including task plan, consultation plan, data requirement list, and proposed outline of the working modality72Desk review and situation analysis of existing PDOT curricula, training package, manuals, IEC/audio-visual materials, delivery modality, relevant policies, evidence, good practices, and draft migrant SOP/service package14 3Country-specific and occupation-specific analysis focusing on major destination countries, migrant profile, priority occupations/sectors, health and safety risks, climate-health vulnerabilities, and practical preventive messages for PDOT revision14 4Gap analysis and technical recommendation note identifying strengths, gaps and opportunities in the existing PDOT health content and delivery modality, including priority topics, key messages, and digital integration options65First draft of the revised pre-departure health orientation package incorporating climate-health vulnerabilities including but not limited to occupational health and safety, NCDs, mental health and psychosocial well-being, health insurance, emergency contacts and help-seeking pathways.126KIIs and Technical Consultations with related GoN and other concerned stakeholders including returnee migrants107Draft technical content for PDOT materials, including IEC key messages and script/storyboard inputs for short audio-visual content78Final revised both PDOT health orientation package and related PDOT materials in existing language (Nepali) incorporating feedback from IOM, FEB, MoHFS, MoYLE, PIC/TWG, orientation providers and validation/finalization meetings, including a brief completion report and handover-ready final files10 Total80
Education
- Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in public health, health education/promotion, occupational health, health policy or related fields.
- Academic or professional training in curriculum development, training package development, health communication, occupational health and safety, migrant health, or climate and health will be an advantage
Experience
- Minimum three years of professional experience in public health, health promotion, occupational health and safety, migration health, training package/curriculum development, policy/guideline development, or related fields.
- Proven experience in developing or revising training curricula, orientation packages, manuals, facilitator guides, IEC/BCC materials, audio-visual scripts, SOPs, guidelines or technical guidance documents.
- Experience working with Government agencies, particularly MoHFS, MoYLE, FEB, or other relevant government entities.
- Prior experience in migration health, occupational health, climate-health risks, health promotion for migrants, or pre-departure orientation will be a strong advantage.
- Experience in conducting desk reviews, occupation-specific analysis, stakeholder consultations, expert meetings and synthesis of findings into practical recommendations as required.
- Experience in developing user-friendly IEC and relevant materials for diverse audiences, including low-literacy, semi-skilled or vulnerable migrant workers, will be an asset.
Skills
- Strong analytical, synthesis and technical writing skills.
- Ability to translate technical health evidence into simple, practical and action-oriented orientation messages for outbound migrant workers.
- Good understanding of Nepal’s foreign employment system, pre-departure orientation mechanism and institutional roles of MoYLE, FEB, and MoHFS.
- Knowledge of migrant health, occupational health and safety, climate-health vulnerabilities, heat stress, NCDs, communicable diseases, mental health and psychosocial well-being, and health insurance/access to care issues relevant to labour migrants.
- Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and incorporate feedback from government, technical experts, orientation providers and migrant-related stakeholders as required.
- Ability to prepare clear IEC messages, and script/storyboard inputs for audio-visual materials.
- Fluency in English and Nepali, both spoken and written.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other analytical software as required.
Languages
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
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.