FOR THE CONSULTANCY CONTRACT OF:ย National Consultant for Technical Support to Return Migration Frameworksย
(2 positions)
Project background:Established in 1951, IOM, the UN Migration Agency, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM established its office in Kazakhstan in 1997. Since then, the Organization has been promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefits of all, providing services and advice to the government as well as to migrants. As the Country Office with Coordinating Functions for Central Asia, the IOM mission in Kazakhstan helps to address specific sub-regional migration issues and emerging trends in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, establishing priorities for project development in the country offices in the context of sub-regional strategies, policies and consultative processes.ย ย
Since January 2024, IOM has been implementing the regional project โSafe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UKโ, funded byย ย UK International Development from the UK government, which aims to contribute to the improvement of labour migration management in order to use the human mobility impact on development in countries of origin, as well as in countries of destination. Project participating countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In Kazakhstan, recruitment of migrant workers under the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) is officially carried out by the UK-based SWS operators (private recruitment companies) and their sub-contractors (also private recruitment companies) licensed by the UK government.ย Since 2020, the number of Kazakh nationals receiving the UKโs Seasonal Worker visas has grown significantly, exceeding 5,000 people in 2024. It is imperative that the migrantsโ migration experiences are as positive as possible - from the recruitment process, to employment, to return - to mitigate the risks and maximize the benefits of this migration for the livelihoods and quality of life of migrants and their families.
The formal engagement of the Government of Kazakhstan in the implementation of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) has recently commenced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening coordination and transparency in the recruitment process. Prior to this, recruitment of seasonal workers was largely ad hoc and carried out by various private recruitment agencies. In the absence of officially endorsed and reliable information from the Government on the SWSโparticularly regarding recruitment procedures, misinformation has been widespread, increasing the risk of exploitation and abuse among prospective migrants.
IOM will support governmental engagement in the seasonal worker scheme at the national level, ensuring that potential migrants receive accurate and reliable information about legal migration pathways, thereby reducing the risk of exploitation and trafficking. This initiative also helps regulate labor migration flows, protect workers' rights, and strengthen bilateral cooperation with the host country. As part of the Capacity Building component from the previous phase of the project, pilot Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) Centres have been established to offer consultations to citizens on pre-departure preparations for working abroad. In addition, collaboration with various academic institutions is being explored to facilitate the implementation of the updated Return Migration Manual to strengthen reintegration efforts, ensure alignment with current frameworks and best practices, and integrate it into the training curriculum for civil servants.
Expected results:
ย
The updated Return Migration Manual will be aligned with IOMโs Integrated Approach to Reintegration, adapted to the national context in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and translated into the local languages (Russian or Kazakh). The revised manual will ensure effective guidance for return migration management, in line with IOMโs quality standards and operational procedures. The revised manual will be integrated into a comprehensive training program and mainstreamed into a Kazakh academic institution, ensuring consistent application and sustainable capacity-building for public officials and migration experts. SOPs, based on the updated Return Migration Manual, will be mainstreamed into the operations of PDO centres, enhancing the consistency, efficiency, and coordination of return migration management, along with recommendations for integrating returnee data into the database system implemented at the PDO centres, in accordance with IOMโs guidelines and quality standards. A demonstration training will be conducted for key government partners, with the consultant required to actively assume the trainer role. The consultant will be required to deliver the updated ย Return Migration Manualย material, which will strengthen inter-agency cooperation and enhance the effectiveness of return migration programmes, all in line with IOMโs quality standards and procedures. The project will contribute to enhanced institutional capacity for managing and supporting return migration processes, fostering sustainable reintegration outcomes for returnees, and ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with IOMโs best practices and operational guidelines.Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment:
Timelineย (Juneย - October 2025):
Stage 1: Preparation and planning
(duration 1 week)
Developed workplan and methodologyย Stageย 2: (duration 2ย month) Adopted of the Return Migration Manual focusing on Returned Kazakhstano migrants needs Developed SOPs based on the updated Return Migration ManualReview process by IOMย
Stage 4: Finalizing development and preparing for launching
(duration 3-4 weeks)
ะกollaborate with academic institutions to facilitate the implementation of the updated Return Migration Manual within these orientation programmes.ย Conduct orientation sessions and deliver manual material for the trainers with their feedback gathered. After the piloting and delivery of orientation sessions for the updated material, the consultant is required to make revisions to the content based on the feedback received from the audience.ย
Stage 5: Support and updates (duration 1 week)
Develop a final summary report that includes all key results and conclusions. Provide supporting documents that confirm the Return Migration Manual will be incorporated into the curriculum of an educational institution in Kazakhstan. Prepare and submit the final version of the updated Return Migration Manual for translation, design and ย publication on online platforms, such as Enbek and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MOM).ย
ย
ย ย Education Master of Arts in International Relations, Philology and Related Schools ย Skills Research & Analysis โ Proficient in conducting qualitative and quantitative research on migration trends, policies, and socioeconomic factors.โข Project Management โ Experienced in managing multi-stakeholder migration projects and coordinating international teams.
โข Data Visualization โ Advanced skills in creating reports and visual data presentations using tools like Excel, Tableau, and PowerBI.
โข Policy Development โ Strong understanding of migration policy frameworks and international standards, with a focus on sustainable reintegration strategies.Languages Languages Kazakh,Russian and English Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. ย Travel required Upon Request 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