- Evaluation context : The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) has been instrumental in helping the Government of Niger to achieve its commitments set forth by the National Action Plan for the Fight Against Human Trafficking (2014-2018). The support provided has enabled the state to advance towards its strategic objectives on Counter Trafficking (CT): improving the legal and institutional system; strengthening mechanisms for the prevention of trafficking; promoting assistance and care for Victims of Trafficking (VoTs); intensifying prosecution; and strengthening cooperation and partnership. IOM has provided structural support to the establishment of state-run facilities where victims can receive the assistance they need; facilitated the capacity-building of law enforcement, governmental, and civil society actors to ensure the enhancement of their migration management capacities; assisted the formulation of national frameworks to promote a coordinated and strategic response to the issue of human trafficking; and strengthened the tools available to national actors for their response. On the other hand, IOM plays a key role in the protection of VoTs and prevention of human trafficking both inside its transit centres, where it provides comprehensive assistance to VoTs and outside, where it engages with the communities to inform populations on the dangers of irregular migration and to ensure that VoTs are aware of the services which are available to them. Bearing in mind the above-mentioned advancement, there has been significant turnover, rotation as well as newcomers among public authorities, social workers, law enforcement and court appointees. As a result, a significant number of key stakeholders involved in CT have not received the appropriate level of training and knowledge to effectively identify, refer, and assist VoTs or potential VoTs. Furthermore, additional support mechanisms and tools need to be elaborated or updated to reflect the current situation. For instance, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) developed and validated in 2020 features strong provisions to support access to care for VoTs but requires larger operationalization to ensure that all actors involved in the fight against human trafficking are appropriately sensitized on this tool and knowledgeable on its implementation.
In addition, more specialized guidance and capacity is needed in regard to particularly vulnerable individuals with specific needs such as VoTs survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), individuals with disabilities or with specific Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) needs. In concert with the new Action Plan 2022-2026, IOM aims to maintain its support to the National Agency for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Illegal Trafficking of Migrants (ANLTP/TIM) by promoting coordination and referral mechanisms, enhancing capacities, and assisting the existing shelter in Zinder in its service provision to VoTs. At the same time, IOM seeks to increase capacities to provide specialized care to beneficiaries with increased vulnerability identified among VoTs and children on the move.
In Niger, Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), children on the move as well as child trafficking is very common for both Nigerien and non-Nigerien children, for instance in the form of forced begging and other forms of trafficking. A high number of children are assisted across all IOM transit centres, and the average length of stay in a transit centre is 3 months. Efforts need to be made to provide at-risk children with educational and vocational opportunities in order to protect them from re-trafficking, falling behind, or falling victims to other unsafe situations โ e.g., recruitment into criminal or armed groups.
Through the scope of strengthening the capacity of the Government of Niger on migration governance in line with its global commitments, in particular the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kampala convention, the National Migration Policy andย Nigerโs relevant national development plans or planning and development frameworks[YK1]ย [PG2]ย ย IOM aims to provide key support to the Government of Niger to manage efficiently migration and mobility in Niger, along key migration corridors.
Since 2019, the IOM has actively participated in the โRegional Program for Protection and Development in North Africa (RDPP-NA)โย [YK3]ย [PG4]ย funded by the European Union and the Italian Ministry of the Interior.
RDPP NA is a regional initiative implemented by multiple partnersโincluding COOPI, Save the Children, and UNHCRโin other countries such as Mauritania, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
This participation has helped consolidate the migration and asylum system and strengthen the capacities of state actors to provide adequate reception, protection and sustainable solutions for vulnerable migrants.ย All actions were carried out in coordination with key stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Protection of Children, in particular the National Agency for the Fight against Human Trafficking and Illegal Trafficking of Migrants (ANLTP/TIM), as well as Niger's Ministry of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, through the National Mental Health Program (PNSM).ย
Previous phases of the RDPP projects have highlighted the role and contribution of certain state institutions in migration management, particularly in the fight against migrant smuggling and the protection of children and victims of trafficking. These institutions need to be strengthened to give them the resources they need to play their part in migration management, and this project appears to be a response to the need to strengthen existing capacities and structures by providing them with infrastructure to facilitate project implementation.
As part of the third phase of the RDPP-NA Program, IOM has been implementing the project โImproved Protection and Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants in Nigerโย from June 2023 with activities expected to be concluded in May 2025.ย The project contributed to provide key support to the Government of Niger to manage migration in an integrated and rights-based manner and enhance the protection of migrants in vulnerable situation. Specifically, the proposed intervention aimed to enhance and improve migration management in Niger, contribute to increasing the capacity and knowledge of national authorities to provide tailored and needs based support to VoTs and facilitate the protection and provision of appropriate care to unaccompanied and separated children (UASCs) and children on the move, and strengthen the humanitarian assistance to Nigeriens officially expelled from Algeria.
As outlined in the proposal, and with the project concluding on 31 May 2025, IOM plans to commission a final external evaluation to provide a comprehensive and independent assessment of the project's achievements and challenges contributing to the organization's ongoing learning and development.
- Evaluation purpose and objective
This evaluation aims to assess the extent to which the RDPP project has achieved its intended short-, medium- and long-term objectives, as well as highlight best practices, lessons learned and recommendations to inform future programming in the areas of migration governance and protection assistance.
The evaluation will assess the projectโs level of achievement against its overall objective: โTo strengthen government capacities to manage migration in an integrated and rights-based manner and enhance the protection of migrants in vulnerable situation.โ
Specifically, the consultancy shall:
- Assess the relevance and validity of theย projectโs strategies and activities in relation to its intended objectives.ย
ย
Intended users:
The evaluation will primarily inform IOMโs internal audience, including IOM Niger teams and relevant thematic regional and global units, to support institutional learning and inform future project design. Additionally, it will also serve external stakeholders โ particularly the donor and the national counterparts in Niger โ by providing a comprehensive analysis of the project's effectiveness and efficiency.
ย
Evaluation scopeThe final evaluation will cover the following thematic areas:ย Protection, case and migration management.ย
The evaluation will cover the entire duration of the project, from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2025 (24 months) and will examine all its outcomes.ย
The geographical scope of the evaluation will include key operational areas where the project was implemented, namely Niamey, Agadez, and Zinder. Additional locations may be considered based on the final methodology and consultation with IOM Niger.ย
The evaluation will also assess the integration of the following cross-cutting themes across all thematic areas :ย
Rights-based approach (RBA) Disability inclusionย Gender mainstreamingย
Evaluation criteriaยThe evaluation will apply the full set of OECD/DACย criteria -ย Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact and Sustainability - with tailored emphasis on the criteria most relevant to each thematic area, includingย Protection and Return, Reintegration and Migration Governance.
Evaluation questionsThe following questions should be addressed based on evaluation criteria and thematic area:
Relevance (Alignment with needs, priorities, and context) To what extent were the projectโs objectives aligned with the priorities and commitments of the Government of Niger (GoN), including the National Action Plan for the Fight Against Human Trafficking (2014-2018) and the National Migration Policy? How well did the project address the specific needs of Victims of Trafficking (VoTs), Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), and Nigeriens returning from Algeria? Were the project activities and outputs designed appropriately to respond to the challenges identified in the context analysis? Coherence (Coordination and complementarity with other actors) How well did the project complement and align with national policies, such as the National Action Plan for the Fight Against Human Trafficking (2022-2026) and the National Migration Policy? To what extent did the project coordinate with other actors (e.g., ANLTP/TIM, NGOs, law enforcement, and social workers) to ensure a harmonized response to human trafficking and migration challenges? To what extent did the project coordinate with or contribute to other RDPP country-level interventions and implementing partners (e.g. UNHCR, COOPI, Save the Children) within the regional RDPP framework?ย How effectively were the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and other frameworks integrated within the broader migration governance and child protection systems in Niger? Efficiency (Use of resources and cost-effectiveness) Were the financial and human resources used in the most cost-effective way deliver results? To what extent did the projectโs implementation adhere to the planned timeline and budget? If there were delays or cost overruns, what were the reasons and how were they addressed?ย
Effectiveness (Achievement of objectives and expected results) Impact (Long-term changes and outcomes) To what extent did the project achieve its intended outputs and outcomes, such as strengthening the NRM and improving assistance to VoTs? How effective were the training programs and capacity-building efforts in enhancing the knowledge and skills of key stakeholders (law enforcement, social workers, service providers, etc.)? How well did the project improve service delivery and access to specialized care for VoTs, children on the move, and returning migrants? What challenges were encountered in implementation, and how were they mitigated? To what extent did the project contribute to strengthening the GoNโs capacity to manage migration and provide dignified reception and assistance to deported Nigeriens? What tangible improvements have been observed in the identification, referral, and protection of VoTs and children on the move as a result of the project? Has the project influenced national policies, frameworks, or legislation related to counter-trafficking and migration governance? What are the indirect or unintended positive and negative consequences of the project?ย
Sustainability (Likelihood of continued benefits and institutionalization) To what extent are the legal and institutional frameworks (NRM, SOPs, training materials) established under the project likely to be sustained beyond the projectโs duration? Are national institutions and local actors adequately equipped and committed to continue implementing the interventions independently? How likely is it that the knowledge and skills gained through capacity-building activities will continue to be applied and transferred over time? What steps could be taken to ensure the long-term impact of the projectโs interventions?Cross-cutting issues: Gender and Human Rights
To what extent were gender mainstreaming issues considered in design and implementation?ย To what extent were differences, needs, roles and priorities of women, men and specific vulnerable groups considered during planning and implementation? Were any barriers to equal gender participation identified in design or implementation, and was anything done to address these barriers? To what extent were the rights and dignity of beneficiaries upheld by the project and its partners throughout the implementation?As part of the evaluation inception phase, the selected Evaluation Team may propose additional or refined evaluation questions to ensure full alignment with the evaluation purpose, objectives and scope.
Evaluation methodologyThe evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. The selected Evaluation Team will further refine the methodology during the inception phase, in close consultation with IOM Niger and relevant stakeholders.
The data collection methods will include, but not be limited to:
A documentation / desk review that will analyze project reference documents (proposal, budget, narrative reports, logical framework, M&E reports, etc.) and strategy and policy documents, evaluations and lessons learned from previous projects.ยย
The collection of qualitative information / data will be built around focus group discussions (FGD) where relevant, individual interviews and life stories, using appropriate participatory tools. Key informant interviews (KII)ย will also be conducted with relevant key informants such as (among other) IOM staff and partners from the Government of Niger: Ministries of Interior, Justice, Health, Population and Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Promotion of Women and the Protection of Children, Employment, and Labour; National Agency of Counter Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling (ANLTP-TIM); and regional authorities in the region of Zinder, both in person and remotely.ยย
For quantitative data, the evaluation will build upon the field data collected during routine monitoring done by the MRRM Programme teams. Where feasible, a short survey may be administered to a representative sample of project beneficiaries, using a structured questionnaire to capture additional quantitative insights. To collect qualitative and quantitative data, the evaluation team may undertake on-field missions possibly in Zinder and in other implementation areas that may beย relevant for the evaluation - Site selection will be based on relevance, access, and security considerations.ยThe Evaluation teamย is expected to submit a detailed methodology as part of the evaluation inception report that will be reviewed and approved by IOM Niger Evaluation Management Team (including the Donor).
The evaluation should ensure that data on vulnerable migrants is collected and analyzed in a disaggregated manner (by age, sex, nationality, and vulnerability category).
Ethics, norms, and standards for evaluationยThis evaluation must follow IOMโs data protection principles, United Nations Evaluation Groupโs (UNEG[1]) Norms and Standards for evaluations and relevant ethical guidelines.ย
In particular, the evaluation must uphold ethical principles of informed consent, confidentiality, voluntary participation, and the โdo no harmโ approachโespecially when engaging with vulnerable populations such as Victims of Trafficking (VoTs), Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), and returning migrants
To do so, these principles will be referenced in the selected evaluation firmโs contract with IOM.
Evaluation deliverablesยThe evaluation team (Individual consultant or a firm) will be responsible for completing the following tasks and submitting the followingย deliverablesย at different stages of the evaluation process:
An inception report โ this report should include an evaluation matrix, a clear understanding of the TORs, proposed methodology, and relevant data collection tools. It should be submitted to the evaluation manager / evaluation management team, for review and feedback, following the desk review and prior the on-field data collection. In particular,ย the Inception Report should include, but not be limited to:ย The instruments and tools to be used to collect relevant information and data, including the identification of the different key informants to be interviewed. A technical proposal including a detailed methodology with sample size, data collection techniques and tools and general work plan. Methods for data analysis and interpretation (e.g., data analysis methods used, data collection instruments, level of precision, sampling methods) The measures that will be put in place to ensure that the research process complies with ethical standards such as data protection and gender policies of IOM; A participatory lens to ensure the participation of all stakeholders including the project beneficiaries, IOMย staff, Ministries, implementing partners, etc. A gender mainstreaming review on how gender and diversity aspects were considered throughout the project. The evaluative work will tackle gender equality issues, focusing for instance on ensuring equal access to services and opportunities for all persons including men, women, boys, and girls of all ages, inclusive of those who might identify as minorities.ย
A preliminary findings presentation -ย A PowerPoint presentation delivered to the Evaluation Management Team summarizing key initial findings following the field data collection phase. A draft evaluation report (based on a template that will be shared by the Evaluation Manager) - including an executive summary and outlining the methodology pursued, indicators, data sources and findings of the evaluation, good practices, learnt, missed opportunities, strengths and failures, gaps and challenges on the design, management, and implementation of the project.ย A final evaluation report โ incorporating comments and feedback from IOM Evaluation Management Team and the donor.ย A 2-page Evaluation Brief - to summarize key findings, conclusions, and recommendations for the primary users of the evaluation, based on the IOM template and guidance.ย A draft Management Follow-up Response (MRF) - The evaluator will prepare a first draft of the Management Follow-up Response, including the main recommendations of the evaluation, proposed responsible parties for implementation, and indicative deadlines for each action. This draft will serve as a basis for discussion and finalization by IOM.All the deliverables must be submitted in Englishย be proofread, clearly formatted, and of high editorial quality. Some deliverables may be requested in French, particularly where communication with local stakeholders (e.g., government partners) is necessary. The Evaluation Team is therefore expected to have a good command of French.
All documents must be submitted by the evaluation team inย Microsoft Office-compatible formats to the evaluation manager / evaluation management team for review / approval.ย Annexes may include visual elements (e.g., photos or images) from field visits illustrating project activities.
ย
[1]ย https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/evaluation/UNEG-Norms-Standards-for-Evaluation-2016.pdfย
ย ย https://evaluation.iom.int/sites/evaluation/files/documents/2020 Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation.pdf
ย https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/evaluation/UNEG-Code-of-Conduct-2008.pdf
ย [YK1]Given that these ToRs will be publicly advertised, and in consideration of potential political sensitivities, it may be advisable to use a more neutral formulation.ย
I would suggest replacing the specific reference with: โNigerโs relevant national development plans or planning and development frameworksโย
ย [PG2]Ajusted
ย [YK3]It would be helpful to briefly acknowledge that RDPP NA is a regional initiative implemented by multiple partnersโincluding COOPI, Save the Children, and UNHCRโin other countries such as Mauritania, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. This would situate the Niger component within the broader multi-country effort and clarify its contribution to the RDPP NAโs overall objectives.
ย [PG4]Noted and taken into account
ย Roles and responsibilities of the Consultant / Evaluation TeamThe selected Evaluator / Evaluation team will be required to carry out the following tasks that will lead to the evaluation deliverables:
Data collection Develop a methodological proposal for the evaluation and submit it to OIM Niger for validation (methodology, sampling, data collection tools, etc.). Guarantee that data collection and interviews are properly carried out. Develop final report and prepare and deliver a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Coordinate with IOM Niger MRRM[1]ย Programme team on logistical arrangements for field data collection. Roles and responsibilities of IOM Niger as lead of the Evaluation technical / management teamย
The evaluation will be conducted with the support of the Evaluation Technical / Management Team made up of IOM Niger, the project team, and other relevant stakeholders. IOM Evaluation Management Team will:ย
Develop and advertise the terms of reference. Provide access to the projectโs documentation and monitoring data. Facilitate the introduction of the Evaluator / Evaluation team to the partners/stakeholders for field data collection. Finalize the recruitment of the Evaluator / Evaluation team. Review and approve the inception report (including the methodology and tools) prior to on field data collection phase. Monitor and oversee the consultant's activities in the field ensuring quality and adherence to standards. Provide the agreed financial resources. Conduct field monitoring visits to ensure that data collection is carried out properly. Consolidate feedback,ย review and approve the final report of the evaluation with the Donor. An inception meeting will be held at the beginning of the evaluation to ensure shared understanding between IOM and the consultant regarding the evaluation scope, methodology, questions, and respective roles. During this meeting, the consultant will present a summary of the proposed methodology and work plan, and IOM will present the project to be evaluated. ยย
Quality assurance:
The consultant will deliver a presentation on preliminary findings following the data collection and initial analysis. This will allow for any obvious oversights, misinterpretations, or information gaps to be identified and addressed before the evaluator start drafting the final report. IOM Niger, in coordination with IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa (WCA RO)โincluding the Regional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (RPMEO) and other relevant thematic specialists - will review, revise, and validate the final report of the evaluation and the evaluation brief.IOM Niger Evaluation Focal Points
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of MRRM Programme will act as focal point between OIM Niger and the Consultant / Firm.ย The Protection Coordinator will act as Evaluation Manager. Time scheduleThe duration of this assignment may be 35 - 45 working days within two (2) months including the submission and approval of the final report. The provisional timetable for the evaluation mission is as follows:
#ActivityResponsible partyNumber of days and Time periodExpected resultsย 1 Inception Meeting
Consultant/Firm
Program Managerย
M&E Officer MRRM
1ย workingย day
Tools, methodology and action plan discussed and approved 2 Submission and validation of the Inception ReportConsultant/Firm
Project Manager
M&E Officerย
MRRM
1ย workingย day
Submitted report approvedย 3 Desk review - Project documents analysis ยConsultant/Firm
3ย workingย days Project documents reviewed 4 On-field data collection Consultant/Firm15 working days
Evaluation data collected 5 Analysis of the evaluation data Consultant/Firm 5 working days Evaluation data analyzed 6 Presentation of the preliminary findings Consultant / Firm 1 working day Preliminary findings report available 7 Submission of the draft evaluation report Consultant/Firm 5 working days Evaluation Draft Report Submitted 7 Feedback to consultant on the draft evaluation reportย Evaluation Manager 5 working days Draft report with comments from IOM and Donor is shared with consultant 8 Submission of draft 2-pages brief and management response matrix to IOM Consultant/Firm 2 working days Draft management response matrix sent to IOM 9 Feedback to consultant on management response matrix Evaluation Manager 2 working days Draft report with comments from IOM is shared with consultant 10 Submission of Final report and management response matrix of the evaluation to IOM Consultant/Firm3 working days
Final report submitted to IOM and ready for dissemination 11 Presentation of the evaluation findings (in person/online) Consultant/Firm 1 working day Evaluation findings are presented to audience 12 Submission of Final report of the evaluation to the Donor Project Manager1 working day
IOM submits the final report to the Donorยย
Evaluation requirementsThe consultant selected for this evaluation may be an individual, a group of consultants, or a consulting firm.
The Evaluation Team Leader must meet the following minimum requirements:
A university degree (masterโs level or higher) in social sciences, development studies, international relations, or a related field.ย At least five (5) years of experience in designing and conducting programme or project evaluations and/or research, preferably in humanitarian settings.ย A solid experience and understanding of thematic areas related to migrantโs assistance, protection and reintegration, and gender, will be considered as an asset.ย Proven experience with Sub-Saharan African countries will be an advantage.ย A track record of at least (03) evaluations related to migration or protection conducted in the past three years will be considered as a strong asset.ย Ability to travel to and within Niger, including to field location. Fluency in English is required, with a good command of French.ยThe following criteria will contribute to the shortlisting of the consultant:
N Criteria Score 1 At least 5 years of higher education in the field of social sciences, statistics, development,ย 5 2 Good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysisย 20 3 Experience in conducting evaluation activities with vulnerable people, preferably migrants 40 4 Good knowledge ofย protection and gender thematic and their inclusion in the evaluation proposal 10 ย Total 75 BudgetThe budget allocated to this consultancy is 30.000 - 35.000 Euro all inclusive.[YK1]ย [PG2]ย
Submission of applicationHOW TO APPLY - Interested candidates are invited to submit the following:
Technical proposal: the candidate should submit a strong and detailed technical proposal including detailed schedule of the evaluation. Curricula vitae detailing knowledge and experience in the above-mentioned fields must be included, as well as at least two references attesting that the consultant is familiar with this type of evaluation in contexts similar to that of Niger over the last 03 years. Financial proposal / detailed โ all-inclusive -ย budget, including daily fee rates, expenses, taxes, etc.A team from OIM Niger will score the documentations provided by the potential consultant based on their technical โknow howโ and expected fee on the basis of 75% for the technical proposal and 25% for the financial proposal.