Context
Under the project “Enhancing the 4Ps Approach to Counter Trafficking in Mauritius”, IOM is supporting the Government of Mauritius to strengthen a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response to trafficking in persons, focusing on prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of offenders, and partnerships.
Output 1.3 of the project aims to strengthen gender-sensitive and victim-centred approaches to assistance by enhancing national systems and capacities to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and rights-based support to victims of trafficking (VOTs), including women, men, and children.
Mauritius currently operates separate shelter arrangements for male and female VOTs; however, the existing system presents several challenges. These include outdated or limited standard operating procedures (SOPs), inconsistencies in shelter management practices, gaps in specialized and referral services, varying levels of institutional capacity among service providers, and the need for more structured, coordinated, and gender- and child-sensitive approaches to victim assistance. Furthermore, existing referral pathways between government institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders require strengthening to ensure timely and appropriate access to comprehensive care.
In this context, IOM seeks to engage a consultant to undertake a comprehensive assessment of national capacities to support VOTs in Mauritius, including shelter management, service provision, and coordination mechanisms. Building on the findings, the consultant will develop actionable recommendations to enhance gender and child-sensitive, victim-centred assistance. The consultancy will also support the development of updated shelter management guidelines and SOPs, the establishment of a functional network of service providers to facilitate effective referrals to specialized support services, and the design, implementation, and evaluation of a gender-sensitive Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on shelter management and victim assistance.
Core Functions / Responsibilities
<u>Purpose of the Assignment</u>
Under the supervision of the IOM Chief of Mission, the consultant will assess national capacities to support victims of trafficking in Mauritius and deliver recommendations, updated shelter guidelines, a referral network of VOT service providers, and a gender-sensitive Training of Trainers on victim assistance.
<u>Scope of the Assignment</u>
The consultant will:
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of national capacities to support victims of trafficking (VOTs) in Mauritius, including stakeholder mapping, review of existing SOPs, shelter systems, referral mechanisms, and identification of gaps in gender- and child-sensitive, victim-centred assistance.
• Develop a detailed assessment report with clear, actionable recommendations, and a list of required shelter kits and equipment to strengthen service provision.
• Prepare and present an inception report and engage stakeholders throughout the assignment through consultations, field visits, and coordination meetings.
• Organize and facilitate a validation workshop for the assessment findings and recommendations, including preparation of concept notes, presentations, and workshop reports.
• Develop comprehensive, gender- and child-sensitive shelter management guidelines and update the mapping and directory of service providers within the national referral and reporting mechanism.
• Organize and facilitate a validation workshop for the shelter management guidelines and produce the corresponding workshop report.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a gender- and age-sensitive Training of Trainers (ToT) on shelter management and victim assistance, including development of training handbook, materials, and evaluation tools, and delivery of the training.
<u>Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment</u>
The consultant is expected to perform the following tasks/activities:
<span>Conduct a desk review, stakeholder mapping, and analysis of existing shelter systems, SOPs, referral mechanisms, and service providers supporting victims of trafficking (VOTs).</span>
<span>Prepare an inception report outlining the methodology and workplan for the assessment, development of shelter management guidelines, and the design and implementation of the Training of Trainers (ToT) and organize and facilitate an inception meeting with key stakeholders.</span>
<span>Carry out the assessment through consultations, interviews, and field visits, and develop a comprehensive assessment report with actionable recommendations.</span>
<span>Develop a list of required shelter kits and equipment, with coordination and distribution considerations.</span>
<span>Organize and facilitate a validation workshop to present and validate the findings of the assessment of capacities to support VOTs in Mauritius and its recommendations, including preparation of concept notes, presentations, and a workshop report.</span>
<span>Develop comprehensive, gender- and child-sensitive and victim-centred shelter management guidelines in line with existing counter-trafficking SOPs.</span>
<span>Organize and facilitate a validation workshop for the shelter management guidelines and produce the corresponding workshop report.</span>
<span>Update the mapping and directory of service providers within the national referral and reporting mechanism to support effective and coordinated referrals.</span>
<span>Design, develop, and deliver a gender- and age-sensitive Training of Trainers (ToT) on shelter management and victim assistance, including training curriculum, materials, and pre- and post-evaluation tools.</span>
<span>Evaluate the ToT and submit a final report consolidating findings, deliverables, and recommendations.</span><br>
<u>Timeline</u>
This assignment will be implemented within a 5-month period (July 2026 to December 2026), but the actual timeline is subject to change based on the date the agreement is signed between IOM and the Consultant.
<u>Deliverables</u>
PhaseMain ActivitiesDeliverablesInceptionConduct a desk review and mapping of existing victim assistance structures and shelter management practicesPrepare an Inception Report (including stakeholder mapping, mini literature review, methodology and timeline)Inception Report Presentation of the key elements of the Inception Report at an Inception MeetingAssessment of Victim Assistance CapacityCarry out consultations using a mixed‑methods approach, including interviews, focus group discussions and site visits with key stakeholders to assess national capacity to support victims of traffickingAnalyse data and prepare an assessment report detailing gaps, needs and recommendationsPrepare Concept Notes and Agendas for the Validation of Assessment Findings WorkshopPresent the assessment findings to stakeholders at a validation workshopAssessment Report on the capacity to support victims of traffickingConcept Note and Agenda for the workshop to validate the findings of the assessment of the capacity to support VOTs in MauritiusWorkshop ReportDevelopment of Child‑ and Gender‑Sensitive Shelter Management GuidelinesDevelop comprehensive, child‑ and gender‑sensitive and victim‑centred shelter management guidelines based on the assessment and in line with existing counter‑trafficking SOPsPrepare Concept Note and Agenda for the validation workshopPresent the draft shelter management guidelines to key stakeholders for review and validationRevise the guidelines based on stakeholder feedbackDraft Shelter Management GuidelinesConcept Note and Agenda for the workshop to validate the shelter management guidelinesFinal Shelter Management GuidelinesShelter Management Guidelines Validation Workshop ReportStrengthening VOT Shelter Management and Referral MechanismsEstablish and coordinate a network of service providers for referral of victims of trafficking (VOT) to specialized support services, ensuring gender‑ and age‑sensitive approaches Design, implement and evaluate a gender‑sensitive Training of Trainers (ToT) on shelter management, including referral to victim care services, with consideration for gender and age Organize and deliver an in-person Training of Trainers for relevant stakeholders on the functioning, standards and processes of VOT shelters Support the provision of essential kits and equipment to shelters hosting TIP victimsMapping and directory of service providers for VOT referral documentTraining of Trainers concept note and agenda, ToT report, including pre and post training evaluation results Gender and age sensitive ToT Handbook and training materials on shelter managementLit of kits for shelters to be equipped with, including a brief distribution and coordination note
<u>Schedule of Payment</u>
Payments will be made in three installments upon satisfactory completion of deliverables, as per the agreed work plan.
Required Qualifications and Experience
IOM is seeking applications from individual consultants and/or consortiums of individual consultants. The successful (lead) consultant should have a minimum of the following qualifications and experience:
Education
<span>Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Law, Human Rights, International Development, Economics or related fields.</span><br>
Experience & Skills
<span>Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in counter-trafficking, victim assistance, capacity assessments, and/or capacity-building initiatives.</span>
<span>Proven experience in conducting assessments, developing policy or guidance documents, and formulating actionable recommendations.</span>
<span>Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programmes, including Training of Trainers (ToT), and evaluating training outcomes.</span>
<span>Strong facilitation, consultation, and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with government, civil society, and private sector actors.</span>
<span>Experience in developing or strengthening referral mechanisms or service provider networks is an asset.</span>
<span>Familiarity with the trafficking in persons (TIP) context in Mauritius or similar contexts is an asset.</span>
Values
<span><u>Inclusion and respect for diversity</u>: encourages the inclusion of all team members and stakeholders while demonstrating the ability to work constructively with people with different backgrounds and orientations. </span>
<span><u>Integrity and transparency</u>: maintains impartiality and takes prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior. </span>
<span><u>Professionalism</u>: demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter and willingness to improve knowledge and skills.</span>
Core Competencies
<span><u>Teamwork</u>: establishes strong relationships with colleagues and partners; relates well to people at all levels. </span>
<span><u>Delivering results</u>: produces quality results and provides quality services to clients.</span>
<span><u>Managing and sharing knowledge</u>: shares knowledge and learning willingly and proactively seeks to learn from the experiences of others. </span>
<span><u>Accountability</u>: operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. </span>
<span><u>Communication</u>: encourages others to share their views, using active listening to demonstrate openness and to build understanding of different perspectives. </span>
Other
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.