Consultant- National Referral Mechanism 72 views1 applications

Call for Application

     I.        Organizational Context and Scope

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM Ethiopia’s Migration Management Unit (MMU) works closely with the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to improve migration management and governance including countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants (SoM) and promoting regular labour migration channels as well as the migration-development nexus.

Ethiopia is faced with a wide range of migration related challenges. With the second largest population in Africa and rapid demographic growth combined with significant socioeconomic insecurities, irregular migration, trafficking in persons (TiP) and smuggling of migrants (SoM) are rife on three major migration routes: the Eastern route which transits through Djibouti or Somaliland and Punt land onward to Yemen and mainly to Saudi Arabia; the Northern route on which migrants transit though Sudan, Libya or Egypt and make the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean to reach Europe; and the Southern route whereby migrants make the trip to South Africa, often ending up detained in various countries along the route. Trafficking in persons (TIP), especially of women and children is a national, regional/continental, and global problem. The United States Department of State’s annual TIP Report (2018) indicates that Ethiopia is a source and, to a lesser extent, destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Ethiopia is a source country for TIP for numerous forms of exploitation, both internally and internationally with significant numbers of children being sexually exploited in Ethiopia.

Cognizant of this problem and the duty of the Government to respect and protect the rights and benefits of persons, the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia prohibits and criminalize TIP. In addition, existing legal frameworks have established a system that provides for crime prevention, holding perpetrators accountable, and protecting victims. The existing framework also encourages activities that reach out to sections of the society that are vulnerable to TIP, taking into consideration the age, sex and special needs of victims, and facilitates international cooperation. Accordingly, the House of Peoples’ Representatives of Ethiopia passed Proclamations for the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants No. 909/2015 and 1178/2020, the later replacing the former. Ethiopia is also a signatory of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and has acceded to its protocols, including the Protocol to Prevent Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol) in 2012.

Proclamation 1178/2020 provides a comprehensive legal framework for the fight against TIP, Smuggling of Migrants, and crime on overseas employment with the aim of preventing crime, protecting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators. The proclamation establishes a National Council to Coordinate the Prevention and Control of The Crimes of Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Persons and Unlawful Sending of Persons Abroad for Work. It also transforms the former Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Taskforce into a National Partnership Coalition (NPC) for the Prevention and Control of The Crimes of Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Persons and Unlawful Sending of Persons Abroad for Work.

TIP results in significant physical, social and psychological harm to victims. Migrants also experience violence, exploitation, or abuse within a migration context and with limited capability to avoid, resist, cope or recover. Therefore, it is important to properly identify and screen victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants and provide them the necessary holistic assistance through whole-of-government and whole-of-society coordinated efforts. Therefore, the National Council is mandated to issue directives for the creation of a national referral mechanism for the rescue, rehabilitation, provision of support, reintegration of victims and other related matters.  To that effect, the Secretariat Office of the former National Taskforce, in coordination with the Taskforce’s Protection Working Group and key national and regional stakeholders, through the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission Special Liaison Office in Ethiopia developed this National Referral Mechanism by coordinating inputs from all relevant federal and regional actors. Referral mechanism for Victims of trafficking and migrants vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse can be defined as a process of cooperation between multiple stakeholders to provide protection and assistance services to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants. The process includes the various components or steps for providing protection and assistance.

IOM Ethiopia is implementing projects entitled “Improving the Protection of Vulnerable Migrants in Ethiopia through Tailored Direct Assistance and Referral” and ‘’Improving the protection of Victims of Internal and transnational Trafficking in Ethiopia” funded by the Government of Norway and the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) respectively.  The projects aim to enhance the protection and empowerment of migrants in vulnerable situations, especially Victims of Trafficking. Both projects are geared towards institutionalization and operationalization of the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking and other vulnerable migrants in Ethiopia.

The consultancy aims to support the operationalization of Ethiopia’s National Referral Mechanism for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking through the development of foundational documents. Specifically, the consultant is expected to update the Standard Operating Procedures and lead development of the NRM Minimum Services Standards.

The successful candidate will be responsible for The consultancy aims to support the operationalization of Ethiopia’s National Referral Mechanism for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking through the development of foundational documents including the Standard Operating Procedures, Memoranda of Understanding and Minimum Services Standards document and update of annexes. The documents shall take due consideration of the case of child Victims of Trafficking and other vulnerable migrants, particularly as defined by IOM in its Determinants of Migrant Vulnerability Model.

      II.  Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Preparing a detailed work plan to undertake bi-lateral and multi-stakeholder consultations, literature review, rapid assessment, preparation of draft documents, validation events, and submission of final deliverables.
2. In collaboration with IOM Ethiopia, conducting a series of multi-stakeholder consultations with governmental and non-governmental service providers to establish steering committee and inform the process the NRM revision and development of MoUs and minimum service standards with due consideration of the COVID-19 during the organization of the consultations.
3. Undertaking assessments of the general migration context of Ethiopia incorporating regulatory and institutional frameworks, protection and assistance concerns, mapping of services and existing referral process and existing service standards at national level and regions in collaboration with the steering committee.
4. Thoroughly reviewing and updating the existing National Referral Mechanism of Ethiopia: Joining Efforts to Protect the Victims of Trafficking in Ethiopia Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on recent changes in the legal and regulatory framework, including proclamation 1178/2020 and structural changes. The SOPs will be accompanied by up-to-date visual flowchart, a service provider’s directory and a set of case management forms.
5. Compile inputs for national NRM memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize the process of cooperation among all involved stakeholders. The MoU is expected to provide information on the various parts of the referral mechanism, its members, and the services they offer.
6. Draft Addis Ababa level Memorandum of Understanding incorporating all relevant national and city level service providers to operationalize the referral mechanism in Addis Ababa.
7. Develop a comprehensive minimum services standards document that will be annexed to the SOPs of the country’s National Referral Mechanism.
8. Organizing a validation workshop in coordination with IOM Ethiopia, for the review and validation of the set of draft documents updated/developed during the assignment, namely, the updated NRM SOPs, the visual flowchart, the service provider’s directory, the set of case management forms and the minimum services standards document. The workshop will gather all relevant service providers and stakeholders with mandates related to victim assistance service provision/counter-trafficking/migrant protection and assistance.
9. Preparing a NRM operationalization/implementation plan and Monitoring and Reporting guidelines
10. Mainstreaming gender responsiveness, child protection, and victims-centred, trauma-informed and non-stigmatizing considerations into the updated SOPs and the minimum services standards document.

     III.   Deliverables and Detailed Timelines:

        IV.  Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, or a related Social Science field of study

Experience

• Five years of relevant professional experience.
• At least seven years of relevant professional experience, preferably both in Ethiopia and international, in the area of migrant protection and assistance.
• Experience in developing and/or reviewing national guiding/policy documents in the area of migrant protection, counter-trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and social work.
• Experience in undertaking a similar assignment of a comparable scale is highly desired.
• Experience in using multi-stakeholder participatory evaluations or research.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in contributing to efforts geared towards protecting and assisting victims of trafficking through development and operationalization of institutional frameworks and designing programs.
• Experience working with International Organizations, UN agencies, and NGOs in the development and humanitarian sectors.

Skills

• Strong analytical and writing skill
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation
• Effective strategic and creative thinking.
• Participatory evaluations and research skills

Languages

• Fluency in English is required (oral and written).
• Knowledge of Local languages is desirable.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR APPLICATION

a)      Financial proposal:

• The proposal will include a lump sum cost for the assignment
• All-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a budget with a detailed breakdown of costs related to all aspects of the consultancy (including travel costs) for the implementation of activities.

      V. Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency maintain high ethical standards and act consistently with organizational principles/rules and conduct standards.
• Professionalism: demonstrates the ability to work in a composed, competent, and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioral 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 action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioral indicators

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision; assists others in realizing and developing their potential.
• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

Duration:

The assignment is expected to be finalized within five months.

Other:

Kindly note that your appointment is subject to conditions, including medical clearance and obtainment of visa.

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible for following IOM writing guidelines and the latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.