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
Migrants may experience different protection risks and vulnerabilities throughout the migration process, including violence, exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, family separation, lack of documentation or legal status, and barriers to accessing protection and assistance. These risks may affect Uzbek nationals, foreign nationals and stateless persons in the context of migration and may be compounded by age, disability, family situation and other factors of vulnerability.
Uzbekistan has established national protection, social assistance and other relevant services that may respond to some of these needs. However, existing services are delivered through different sectoral and institutional frameworks and are not necessarily designed for migrants or adapted to the specific protection needs of different groups of vulnerable migrants. In particular, existing services may require further adaptation to respond appropriately to the needs of children, including migrant children and child victims of trafficking. The existence of a service also does not necessarily mean that eligible migrants are aware of it, can access it in practice, or that it is able to adequately respond to the relevant protection need.
Against this background, IOM Uzbekistan will undertake a national mapping and analysis of existing protection services relevant to vulnerable migrants, including children, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable categories. The exercise will identify existing protection responses, practical access pathways, service and implementation gaps, barriers to access and relevant capacities that could be better utilized or adapted. The findings will inform practical and cost-effective improvements to existing protection mechanisms and services rather than the creation of parallel systems.
The Uzbekistan mapping will also contribute to the project’s regional assessment of migrant protection frameworks and services in Central Asia. While the regional assessment will provide a comparative analysis across participating countries, the national mapping will provide more detailed country-specific evidence on protection needs, services, access and implementation in Uzbekistan. Its findings will feed into the regional analysis, supporting a more nuanced understanding of common and country-specific protection gaps, capacities and priorities across Central Asia.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Migrants Assistance and Protection Unit, IOM Uzbekistan (PX0711)
Tasks to be performed under this contract
Required Qualifications and Experience
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in migrant protection, social protection, human rights, protection of vulnerable groups, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research, assessments, mappings or similar analytical assignments, including collection and analysis of qualitative information.
• Good understanding of protection frameworks and services relevant to vulnerable migrants, including children, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable categories.
• Knowledge of the institutional and service delivery context in Uzbekistan, including relevant government and non-governmental actors.
• Experience engaging with government institutions, civil society organizations, service providers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate findings into practical and feasible recommendations.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills.
Languages
For this consultancy, Fluency in Russian and Uzbek is required; working knowledge of English is required.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Travel required
No travel is required under this consultancy. The assignment will be performed on a home-based basis in Uzbekistan.
Should the consultant consider any travel within Uzbekistan necessary for the implementation of the proposed methodology, such travel shall be undertaken at the consultant’s own expense and shall not entail any additional cost to IOM.
Purpose of Assignment and Scope of the work
The Consultant shall carry out the assignment in accordance with the approved methodology and work plan and shall maintain regular coordination with IOM throughout the assignment. Any substantive adjustments to the agreed methodology or scope arising from the findings of the mapping shall be discussed and agreed with IOM in advance.
The inception package and draft analytical report may be prepared in Russian to facilitate substantive review by IOM and, where relevant, consultations with national stakeholders. The final national mapping and analytical report shall be prepared and submitted in both Russian and English. Both language versions shall reflect the same finalized findings, analysis and recommendations.
Each work assignment shall be discussed in advance and a specific contract (Purchase Order) describing the nature of the job request, timeframe and budget shall be issued. Assignments will be requested and managed by the Migrants Assistance and Protection Unit of IOM Uzbekistan.
The Consultant shall ensure the accuracy, consistency and appropriate referencing of information used in the deliverables and shall maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information obtained in the course of the assignment. Information collected and processed under the consultancy shall be used solely for the purposes of the assignment and handled in accordance with applicable IOM requirements.
The materials produced in the performance of this consultancy shall be credited to IOM Uzbekistan. All original materials and outputs produced under the assignment shall be handed over to IOM Uzbekistan and shall remain the property of IOM.
All copyrights and other intellectual property rights in materials produced in the performance of this consultancy shall be vested exclusively in IOM. Any publication, reproduction or other use of such materials by the Consultant shall require the prior written consent of the Chief of Mission of IOM Uzbekistan.
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.