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.
1. Background
The United Kingdom's Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) enables foreign nationals to undertake seasonal employment in the UK's agricultural sector for a period of up to six months within any 12-month period. Since 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the Government of Kazakhstan in strengthening the awareness and preparedness of prospective seasonal workers. To effectively cascade this specialised knowledge to the grassroots level, the project requires the targeted engagement of an external subject-matter expert possessing deep, practical proficiency in the local labour mobility landscape, current recruitment fraud typologies, and UK SWS regulations to develop comprehensive SWS information materials.
2. Objective of the Consultancy
Based on previously developed PDO modules, develop a concise, practical, and comprehensive factsheet on the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) that equips national public service providers and prospective migrant workers with accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible information on key aspects of participation in the SWS, including recruitment pathways, visa procedures, official operators, tax refunds, and workers’ rights and responsibilities.
3. Scope of Work
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission in Kazakhstan and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the consultant shall provide textual content development and training delivery.
- Include a dedicated, step-by-step section on the UK Visa application process, detailing the official timeline, required documentation, fee structures, and red flags to identify and avoid visa fraud or unverified intermediaries.
- Include a dedicated, practical section on UK Tax Refund procedures, outlining the legal process for claiming overpaid income tax through HMRC, explaining P45/P60 forms, and providing clear warnings against predatory tax-refund scam agencies.
- Based on the developed materials, serve as the co-lead trainer and deliver an in-person 1.5-day refresher training for 1414 operators, tentatively scheduled for October-November 2026 in Astana.
4. Deliverables
DeliverableKey OutputsDaysDeliverable 11. Inception note (methodology, workplan, drafting schedule).2. SWS Factsheet outline submitted for IOM review.3. Pre-final SWS Factsheet submitted for IOM and donor review.4. Final SWS Factsheet submitted for IOM and donor sign-off. 17 daysDeliverable 2Delivered a 1.5-day refresher training workshop for 1414 operators (workshop report submitted, including pre- and post-training assessment results)3 daysTotal 20 days
5. Performance Indicators
- Timely submission and high quality of agreed deliverables.
- Technical accuracy, clarity, and practical usability of the UK Visa and Tax Refund instructions.
- Successful delivery of the training workshop, evidenced by positive participant feedback and improved knowledge scores.
- Strict compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and UK English drafting standards.
Education and Experience
- Master's degree from an accredited academic institution in Law, Public Administration, Economics, Migration Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field, with five years of relevant professional experience; or
- Bachelor's degree in the above fields from an accredited academic institution, with seven years of relevant professional experience.
Required Experience
- Demonstrated experience in legal consulting, migration management, or public service capacity building.
- Demonstrated experience in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), referral mechanisms, guidance materials, or operational instructions for government institutions and frontline service providers. Experience working with E-gov and/or the 1414 Contact Centre is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated knowledge of safe migration principles, including the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme visa requirements and UK tax refund procedures.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering targeted training programmes and capacity-building activities for adult professionals.
- Proven ability to develop practical guidance materials and training content for government officials and public service operators.
7. Languages
8. Competencies
- Strong analytical and drafting skills; the ability to translate complex legal/tax information into accessible language;
- Excellent presentation and training delivery skills; ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines.
- Strong knowledge of labour migration, ethical recruitment, and migrant worker protection.
- Sound understanding of the UK SWS and related regulatory frameworks.
- Excellent training, facilitation, and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to apply participatory and adult-learning methodologies.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
- Ability to explain complex information in a clear, practical, and accessible manner.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and reporting skills.
- Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within established deadlines.
9. Intellectual Property and Data Protection
All materials, training modules, scenarios, scripts, participant materials, facilitator manuals, reports and other products developed under this consultancy shall become the exclusive property of IOM.
The consultant shall not reproduce, distribute or use any products developed under this assignment without prior written authorization from IOM.
The consultant shall comply with IOM data protection principles and applicable data protection requirements, ensuring confidentiality and appropriate handling of any information obtained during implementation of this assignment.
The consultant must possess the legal right to reside and perform remunerated work in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Active civil servants or government officials may only be contracted if they can demonstrably prove that the consultancy tasks do not overlap with or relate to their official state duties, ensuring a strict absence of any conflict of interest.
Technical Proposal
The technical proposal should include:
- Cover letter outlining the understanding of the assignment and the consultant’s suitability for the role;
- Brief description of the proposed approach to the development of information materials on the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS);
- Summary of relevant experience in developing information, awareness-raising, communication, or educational materials;
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant qualifications and experience.
Financial Proposal
The financial proposal shall provide:
A lump-sum consultancy fee in KZT;
- Confirmation that all consultancy-related expenses are included in the proposed fee.
Technical Evaluation Criteria Maximum PointsBachelor’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Migration Studies, or a related field10Professional experience in developing guidelines, referral instructions, or SOPs for frontline public service providers (e.g., 1414)15Demonstrated knowledge of safe migration principles, specifically UK SWS visa regulations and tax refund procedures25Experience designing and delivering targeted training programmes/workshops for adult professionals15Fluency in required languages and quality of previous written samples5Total Technical Score70
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.