National Assessment of Protection and Reintegration Needs, Services and Gaps for Survivors of Trafficking in Persons in Uzbekistan

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.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

The project “Strengthening Survivor-Centred Protection and Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in Uzbekistan”, funded by Sida and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in cooperation with national partners, aims to strengthen the national response to trafficking in persons, with particular emphasis on the identification, protection and sustainable reintegration of trafficking survivors.

Under Outcome 2: Enhanced survivor-centred protection and sustainable reintegration support for survivors of trafficking, the project seeks to strengthen the quality, accessibility and sustainability of protection and reintegration services for trafficking survivors, as well as the capacities of governmental and non-governmental service providers.

To establish an evidence base for further strengthening the protection and reintegration system, IOM will conduct a comprehensive national assessment combining three interrelated components: an assessment of the needs of trafficking survivors; mapping of existing protection and reintegration services; and analysis of service gaps, barriers to access and limitations in existing referral pathways.

The assessment will compare identified and reasonably assumed needs of trafficking survivors with the existing response in Uzbekistan and determine the extent to which available services are accessible and capable of meeting the corresponding needs, while identifying significant gaps and limitations in the existing system.

The findings will be used by IOM and national partners, in particular the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Decent Work, as an analytical basis for identifying priority areas for further improvement of protection and reintegration services. Given the available resources and project timeframe, only some of the identified needs and gaps may be addressed through subsequent project interventions; the assessment should therefore also provide a broader evidence base for longer-term planning and further development of the national protection and reintegration system.

1.    Review the applicable national and international protection and reintegration frameworks and available evidence related to trafficking in persons in Uzbekistan, including relevant national legislation, policies, institutional mandates and referral arrangements, as well as applicable international standards, principles and guidance on the protection and reintegration of trafficking survivors, together with existing assessments, administrative data, studies and other available sources. 
2.    Assess the protection and reintegration needs of trafficking survivors, taking into account different forms and circumstances of exploitation and relevant individual characteristics and vulnerabilities, including the specific needs of women, men and children. The assessment should consider both identified needs and reasonably assumed needs where available evidence indicates that a protection need may exist despite limited reported demand or service use.
3.    Map existing protection and reintegration services potentially relevant to the identified needs of trafficking survivors, including services provided by government institutions, non-governmental organizations and other relevant service providers. The mapping should cover, as relevant, the type and purpose of the service, responsible provider, target groups and eligibility, geographic coverage, institutional arrangements and referral pathways.
4.    Assess practical accessibility and adequacy of the mapped services, including whether eligible trafficking survivors can effectively reach and use the service and whether the existing response is reasonably capable of addressing the corresponding protection or reintegration need. Relevant access barriers may include, inter alia, eligibility restrictions, geographic limitations, information gaps, administrative or documentation requirements, referral practices, cost, language, gender- or age-related barriers and other practical constraints.
5.    Identify significant gaps and limitations in service provision and referral pathways, including situations where a relevant service does not exist, is inaccessible to some groups of survivors, does not adequately respond to the identified need, or where weaknesses in information, coordination or referral prevent effective access to an otherwise available service.
6.    Analyse and structure the identified needs and gaps according to their significance and implications for protection and sustainable reintegration, providing an evidence-based basis for subsequent prioritization by IOM and national partners.
7.    Develop practical recommendations for further strengthening the protection and reintegration system, clearly distinguishing between gaps that may require improvement or adaptation of existing services, strengthened access or referral arrangements, and areas where additional or specialized responses may need to be considered. Recommendations should provide an analytical basis for subsequent decision-making and should not prescribe the specific interventions to be implemented under the project.

Methodological Guidance

The Consultant shall propose a detailed methodology for IOM review and approval prior to commencing the substantive assessment. The methodology should be proportionate to the scope of the assignment and combine qualitative and quantitative information, where available and relevant, using appropriate methods which may include surveys, interviews, consultations and other suitable data collection approaches.

The assessment should be guided by the following principles:

• Needs-based approach. Protection and reintegration services should be assessed in relation to the identified or reasonably assumed needs of trafficking survivors, rather than mapped as a stand-alone inventory of available services.
•  Survivor-centred and rights-based approach. The assessment should take into account the rights, safety, dignity, individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of trafficking survivors and avoid approaches that may expose survivors to harm, re-traumatization, stigma or unnecessary disclosure of sensitive information.
•  Gender- and age-sensitive analysis. Differences in protection and reintegration needs, access to services and barriers faced by women, men and children should be considered throughout the assessment. Particular attention should be given to whether existing services are appropriately adapted to the specific needs of children and other groups requiring specialized responses.
•  Triangulation of information. Findings should, where feasible, be based on multiple sources, including desk review, available administrative and programme data, consultations with relevant government institutions, non-governmental organizations and other service providers, and appropriately designed consultations with trafficking survivors or other sources reflecting survivor experience.
•  Practical accessibility. The existence of a service should not in itself be treated as evidence that the corresponding need is being met. The assessment should consider how access works in practice, including eligibility, awareness and availability of information, referral mechanisms, geographic accessibility and other relevant barriers.
•  International standards and good practice. The assessment should use applicable international standards, principles and relevant guidance on the protection and reintegration of trafficking survivors as a reference point for assessing existing services, practices and identified gaps, while taking into account the national legal, institutional and operational context of Uzbekistan.
•  Proportionate and sufficient analysis. For each issue examined, the depth of analysis and amount of data collected should be proportionate to the significance of the identified or potential protection and reintegration need and sufficient to support a reasoned conclusion on the existence, accessibility and ability of the existing response to address that need. More detailed analysis should be undertaken only where available information is insufficient or indicates a significant gap or barrier.
•  Cautious interpretation of reported demand. Absence or low levels of recorded demand or service utilization should not, in themselves, be treated as evidence of the absence or limited significance of a corresponding need, without considering possible barriers related to identification, awareness, accessibility and referral.
•  Value for money and use of existing systems. The analysis should distinguish between gaps that may require new or specialized responses and those that could potentially be addressed through better use, adaptation, accessibility or coordination of existing services and structures.

The indicative range of protection and reintegration services to be considered may include, but is not limited to: safe accommodation and shelter; immediate material assistance; health and mental health and psychosocial support; legal assistance; documentation and civil registration support; family tracing and reunification, where appropriate; return assistance; case management and referral; social support; education and skills development; employment, livelihood and economic reintegration support; and other services relevant to the protection and sustainable reintegration needs identified through the assessment.

The Consultant should determine the appropriate depth of analysis for individual service areas based on their relevance to identified or potential needs. Detailed information on service capacity, staffing, caseload, resources or other operational characteristics should be collected where it is necessary to assess whether the service can reasonably meet the corresponding need, rather than as a mandatory requirement for every mapped service.

Stakeholder Engagement and Sources of Information

The assessment should draw on relevant available information and consultations with key stakeholder categories, as appropriate to the methodology and subject to IOM approval, including:

•   Government institutions and public service providers with mandates relevant to identification, protection, assistance and reintegration of trafficking survivors at national and sub-national levels;
•   Non-governmental and civil society organizations, including organizations providing specialized or general services accessible to trafficking survivors;
•   International organizations and development partners, where they provide relevant services, technical support, data or evidence on existing protection and reintegration responses;
•   Other relevant service providers and professional actors, including providers of legal, health, psychosocial, social, educational, employment and livelihood-related assistance, where relevant to identified needs;
•   Trafficking survivors and/or sources reflecting survivor experience, using appropriate, ethical and safe methods that minimize risks of re-traumatization, stigma, harm or unnecessary disclosure of sensitive personal information;
•   Existing documentary and data sources, including relevant legislation and policies, administrative and programme data, previous assessments and research, service documentation, referral arrangements and other available evidence.

The selection of stakeholders and sources should be sufficiently broad to enable triangulation of findings and identification of differences between formal institutional arrangements and actual practice. The Consultant should not assume that relevant protection or reintegration services are limited to institutions or organizations formally designated as trafficking-specific service providers.
The primary intended users of the assessment are IOM, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Decent Work. Findings may also support other relevant government institutions, non-governmental organizations and service providers in strengthening protection and reintegration responses for trafficking survivors.

Language requirements: Deliverables 1 and 2 shall be prepared and submitted in Russian. Deliverable 3 shall be submitted in final versions in Russian and English. The English version shall accurately reflect the content of the finalized and approved Russian-language report.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree in migration, social sciences, law, human rights, social protection, public policy, international development, or a related field.

• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in research, assessment, programme analysis or policy work related to trafficking in persons, migrant protection, social protection, human rights or related areas.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting needs assessments, service mapping, gap analysis or similar research involving vulnerable populations.

• Good knowledge of trafficking in persons, survivor protection and reintegration, including survivor-centred, rights-based, gender-responsive and child-sensitive approaches.

• Experience in applying qualitative and quantitative research methods, including desk review, stakeholder consultations, interviews and analysis of administrative or programme data.

• Experience engaging with government institutions, civil society organizations and service providers; experience working directly with vulnerable populations, including trafficking survivors, is a strong asset.

• Good understanding of the institutional and social protection context of Uzbekistan and relevant national protection and referral systems.

• Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and present complex findings in a clear and practical manner.

• Fluency in Russian and Uzbek is required for research, consultations and stakeholder engagement.

• Strong command of English is required for preparation of the final English-language report. 

Bidders are required to submit a separate financial proposal, including a detailed price schedule, as part of their application. 

Languages

For this consultancy, Fluency in Russian and Uzbek, Strong command of English are required.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Travel required

The consultancy is home-based in Uzbekistan, and no travel is required by IOM under this assignment.
Should the Consultant consider travel within Uzbekistan necessary for the effective completion of the assignment, such travel shall be undertaken at the Consultant’s own expense. Any related costs shall be borne by the Consultant and, where applicable, reflected in the financial proposal. IOM will not provide separate reimbursement for travel, accommodation, daily subsistence allowance or other travel-related expenses.

Purpose of Assignment and Scope of the work

All work assignments under this contract shall take place on a home-based basis in Uzbekistan, and it will be assumed that the service provider holds the responsibility to ensure all necessary permissions to work in the country.

The materials produced under this assignment will be credited to IOM Uzbekistan. The Consultant will ensure that all deliverables are prepared and submitted in accordance with the language requirements specified under Section 7 and provided in editable digital format. All original materials, data and supporting documentation produced or collected under the assignment will be handed over to IOM Uzbekistan and will remain the property of IOM Uzbekistan.

Each work assignment shall be discussed in advance and an individual 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 the IOM Country Office in Uzbekistan.
All copyrights to materials produced in the performance of this contract shall be vested exclusively in IOM Uzbekistan. Any use of such materials by the service provider shall be subject to the prior written consent of the IOM Uzbekistan Chief of Mission.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

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.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies