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
Since January 2024, IOM has been implementing the regional project โSupportingย Safeย andย Orderly Migration from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to the UKโ, funded byย Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), 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, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In Kazakhstan, recruitment of migrant workers under the 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. Misinformation and fraud have been rife as there has thus far been no legitimate and reliable information disseminated by the Government of Kazakhstan on the SWS and more specifically, recruitment.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.
In order to support the safe migration during all migration scheme , the project activities include conducting consultations on safe migration within the SWS program to the United Kingdom, which also involves referral mechanism to the public services available to migrants viaย 1414 helpline .
ย 5.Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:ย LMD, Safe Migration ofย Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UK. /KG10P0554
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Review the existing Safe Migration Hotline infrastructure managed by IOM to understand the systems, processes, and data flow, identifying key areas for adaptation to the 1414 helpline. Develop a detailed referral mechanismย ย from the Safe Migration Hotline to the 1414 helpline, including technical integration, process changes, and timelines. Provide on-site support at the 1414 helpline center to facilitate the adaptation of the Safe Migration Hotline services, ensuring that operational workflows, systems, and technologies are integrated smoothly. Design and deliver comprehensive training sessions for 1414 helpline staff, focusing on safe migration protocols, the new system functionalities, and effective communication strategies to assist migrant workers. Create clear and concise operational guidelines for the adapted Safe Migration Hotline services, ensuring that the 1414 helpline staff can effectively manage migration-related queries. Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the performance of the transitioned services, ensuring that key performance indicators (KPIs) are met and services are provided efficiently. ย Review and advise on the legal and regulatory aspects of the transition, ensuring that the adapted services comply with national and international migration laws and standards. Regularly update key stakeholders (e.g., IOM, government agencies, and project partners) on the progress of the transition, providing detailed reports on milestones, challenges, and recommendations.Timeline:
First deliverable: Submission of a detailed work plan and completion of the technical integration of migration services into the 1414 system by 25 July. Final deliverable: Conduct training for 1414 staff and submit a final compliance report on adapted services by 25 August.ยย
Bachelorโs or Masterโs degree in Migration Studies, Public Administration, Social Sciences, or related field. Atย leastย 3ย years of experience in migration services or helpline operations. Proven experience in transitioning services to government platforms or managing large integrations. Experience working with government agencies and international organizations (e.g., IOM).Travelย 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