Project Context and Scope ย Background
Kenya is experiencing a significant shift in its labour migration landscape which has largely been driven by high unemployment and underemployment rates, especially among youth. The 2019 Population and Census results showed that Kenya's population is majorly youthful with 75% of the 47.6 million being people under the age of 35 years.
The country continues to experience migration of its citizens to other countries in search of better employment opportunities due to the high unemployment and underemployment rates in the country approximated to be 4.9% in 2022, with that of the youth at 8%. This indicates that youth unemployment is almost twice compared to the rest of the population. The government of Kenya has come up with a strategic focus towards labour mobility and migration for its citizens. This approach aims to alleviate local unemployment pressures, boost remittances, and enhance skills development. To achieve this, the government, though the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has set an ambitious target to send 1 million workers abroad annually, with a focus on skilled and professional cadres. In 2024, over 100,000 Kenyans were placed in international job markets with popular destination countries being the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Germany, Seychelles, UAE, Qatar, Oman among others.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has spearheaded the development and implementation of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMA) as part of efforts to maximize the benefits of labour migration, and ensuring the protection of the rights of Kenyan migrants' workers throughout their migration journey. The Government of Kenya has already signed six (6) BLMA with Germany, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Austria to increase access to decent employment opportunities for Kenyans.
Despite these on-going efforts, Kenya does not yet have comprehensive, and conveniently accessible labour migration information system that would facilitate access to reliable information and services on safe, orderly and regular labour migration. To address this challenge, the State Department for Labour and Skills Development has operationalized the multi-agency One-Stop Shop Centre for Labour Migration services to enhance coordination, and provide labour migration services in a centralized place, The One-Stop-Shop constitutes officers from various Government agencies namely; State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Ministry of Health, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Directorate of Immigration Services, National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), National Employment Authority (NEA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Nursing Council of Kenya and the Directorate of Labour Market Research and Analysis. The officers offer one-stop (non-referral) pre-departure services to facilitate migration of Kenyan migrant Workers. The OSSC has been equipped with desktops with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In addition, The State Department has established two labour migration Desks, one at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in January 2024 and the second one at the Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa in January,2025. The purpose of the Desk is to ensure compliance with Labour Migration Procedures by migrant workers before exiting the country and upon return. This is expected to curb irregular migration, unethical recruitment and human trafficking. Over 30,000 outbound migrant workers have been processed at the Labour Migration Airport Desks. The Labour Desks at the airport provide reliable information on the actual number of Kenyan migrant workers who have exited the country at any given time; however, the data is keyed in manually into the excel files.
To improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery in labour migration processes, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MoLSP) aims to strengthen the governance of labour migration through improved systems for information sharing, data collection, management, monitoring, and service delivery. To achieve this, there is need to develop a comprehensive, secure, and user-friendly online application for the end-to-end management of labour migration, that will streamline the registration, documentation, deployment, and protection of Kenyan migrant workers. In this regard, the MoLSP through the support of IOM Kenya has embarked on a system development process that will culminate with the testing, training and launching of an online application, to improve the general labour management and governance landscape in Kenya.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programs and Policy Development of IOM Kenya, the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager for Labour Mobility Social Inclusion and Migrant Protection Assistance and in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the incumbent will be responsible for working closely with the government of Kenya counterparts from the Ministry to undertake system development, training and support.
The Client for this project is the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and IOM Kenya who will offer oversight, coordination, and approvals. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection may form an advisory committee composed of key stakeholders who will offer guidance throughout the project and provide its validation.
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Tasks to be performed under this contract. ย
- Objectives of the Assignment
- To design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain an online application system for managing labour migration in Kenya.
- To provide a centralized digital platform to be used by migrants, private recruitment agencies, employers, and government agencies.
- To ensure real-time access to migration data and enhance transparency and accountability.
- To build the capacity of key government officers from relevant ministries, departments and agencies through in-person training.
2. Scope of Work
The selected consultant will be responsible for the following outputs:
A. Requirements Gathering & System Design
- In consultation with MoLSP conduct stakeholder consultations with key government and non-governmental actors in the labour migration sector.
- Lead in mapping of existing systems, applications, processes and recommend digital workflows to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
- Design system architecture including database, Application Programming Interface (API), and user interfaces.
B. Development of core system modules
- Migrant workers registration and profiling.
- Licensed recruitment agencies management.
- Overseas employment contracts verification.
- Pre-departure orientation requirements and clearances.
- Monitoring and case management.
- Data analytics and reporting dashboard.
- User management and role-based access.
C. Systems Integration
- Integrate the application with national ID systems, immigration, Embassy systems etc.
- Enable mobile access and short message service (SMS)/email notifications.
- Ensure proper integration with existing Konza Technopolis data center infrastructure and security protocols.
D. Data Security
- Ensure compliance with data protection laws and security standards of the Government of Kenya.
- Implement multi-factor authentication and data encryption.
E. Training and documentation
- Develop and provide user manuals and training to government officials and other key stakeholders within the labour migration cycle.
- Offer post-deployment support in system implementation and maintenance.
F. Main deliverables
- Submit inception report, functional architectural design and technical documents and workplan for the whole duration of the assignment.
- Functional Online Labour Migration System (Web & Mobile Responsive)
- API Integration with external systems within relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
- User and technical documentation, User Acceptance Testing (UAT) report.
- Training sessions for key users, administrators and materials.
- Final project report and maintenance plan
- Hardware components to be installed and hosted at Konza Technopolis, including:ย
- ย Production servers (application and database)
- ย Backup/disaster recovery infrastructure
- ย Network equipment for system connectivity
- ย Security appliances (firewalls, intrusion detection systems)
- ย Required workstations for system administrators
- ย Biometric devices for identity verification where applicable
ย ย ย 8. ย All required software licenses for the system operation, including:
- Database management system licenses
- Operating system licenses
- Security software licenses
- Any third-party integration licensesย ย ย ย 9. Infrastructure deployment and configuration at the Konza Technopolis data centre. ย Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
Assignment TimelinesThe duration of the assignment is expected to be 4 months, to start from 15th of August 2025.ย The assignment duration broken down as follows:
- Inception & requirements gathering: 3 weeks
- Development & Testing: 8 weeks
- Deployment & training: 3 weeks
- Final adjustments and handover: 2 weeks
Team composition and Consultants' qualifications
The Client for this project is the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and IOM Kenya who will offer oversight, coordination, and approvals. The role of the Consultant is system development, training, and support. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection may form an advisory committee composed of key stakeholders who will offer guidance throughout the project and validation.
The consultant must have demonstrated experience in:
- Bilateral project implementation in international development contexts
- Government Analytics and Digital Governance
- Digital solutions for Inclusive Development & Sustainability
- E-government systems implementation in Kenya or similar contexts
- Data centre infrastructure deployment at Konza Technopolis or similar facilities
The lead consultant should possess or propose a team with expertise in:-
- Web application and database development
- Cybersecurity and data protection compliance
- UX/UI design
Payment Terms:-
Payments will be made upon completion of each of the agreed milestones which will include submission of inception report, system development and testing, system deployment and training and submission of final project report. The provider must submit a detailed financial proposal along with the technical proposal.
Hardware and Licenses Payment Terms: All hardware components and software licenses will be paid at 100% upon delivery and verification by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Other milestone payments will be structured as follows:
30% upon approval of inception report 30% upon completion of system development and testing 30% upon system deployment and training 10% upon submission and approval of final project reportEvaluation Criteria
Relevant experience and qualifications, including experience in bilateral projects Demonstrated experience in Government Analytics and Digital Governance for Inclusive & Sustainability Prior experience with projects involving Konza Technopolis infrastructure Understanding of the assignment and Kenya's labour migration ecosystem Technical approach and methodology for both software development and hardware deployment Proposed infrastructure design and alignment with data protection requirements Cost-effectiveness of the proposal Implementation schedule and sustainability approachInterested applicants should submit:
Technical and Financial proposal. Work plan and Gantt chart. Individual and Team CVs. Portfolio of similar past projects Education Bachelorโs degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field. Professional certifications in relevant areas such as Project Management (PMP/PRINCE2), Cyber Security (CISSP, CISM), UX/UI Design, or Cloud Infrastructure are an added advantage. Knowledge of the Kenya Data Protection Act and compliance standards for data security and privacy Experience Minimum of 5 yearsโ proven experience in software development and project management, with a focus on ICT projects for government, public sector, or development agencies. Demonstrated experience in technical and financial proposal preparation for international organizations or development agencies. Prior involvement in analytics, digital governance, and large-scale system implementation, preferably within the public or labour sector. Experience working with or integrating solutions into Government of Kenya systems (e.g., e-government platforms, data system integrations). Hands-on experience in Konza Technopolis Data Center infrastructure projects or similar environments is an asset. Proven track record in technical approach and methodology for both software development and hardware deployment. Experience in UX/UI design for web and mobile applications. Practical knowledge of cyber security and ensuring data protection compliance as per local policies. Expertise in server environment setup, including production and backup servers, network infrastructure, and firewall configurations. Experience with integration of bulk SMS, email notification systems, and identity management solutions (e.g., linkage with Immigration Department, Identification Card/ID systems) Skills Advanced proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, Asana, Trello) and digital collaboration tools (SharePoint, Teams, Google Workspace). In-depth knowledge of analytics and digital governance tools for reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. Proficiency in web application and database development, including languages and frameworks such as PHP, Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, and relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server). Ability to develop secure, scalable, and responsive web and mobile applications, including cross-platform solutions. Strong understanding of UI/UX design principles and experience with design tools. Demonstrated expertise in application program interface (API) development and integration with third-party and government systems. Experience in integrating identification systems and data exchange with government departments (e.g., Immigration, Labour, National ID systems). Knowledge of server and network equipment setup, including configuration of production and backup servers, network equipment, and firewall implementation for secure environments. Familiarity with cyber security protocols, penetration testing, and compliance with the Kenya Data Protection Policy. Ability to integrate bulk SMS and email notifications into software workflows. Experience in deploying and maintaining applications on cloud and on-premises data centres, with consideration for disaster recovery and business continuity Languages Fluency in English and Kiswahili.IOMโs official languages are English, French and Spanish.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. ยInterested applicants should submit:
Technical and Financial proposal. Work plan and Gantt chart. Individual and Team CVs. Portfolio of similar past projects. ย Travel required None Required Competencies ย IOMโs competency framework can be found atย this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. ย 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. 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 Competenciesย โ 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 Organizationโs 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 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, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. 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. 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 online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website:ย IOM Careers and Job Vacancies