National Consultant to conduct a comprehensive legal and strategic review of Kazakhstan’s migration legislation, identify inconsistencies, and propose consolidated amendments

Project Context and Scope
 

IOM Country Office for Coordination Function in Central Asia has been implementing the regional Labour Migration Project that aims to support the efforts of the Central Asian countries to enahce labour migration governance to better respond to the rapidly changing dynamics of labour migration and promote regular patways for labour migrants by leveraging the impacts of migration in countries of origin and destination. 

The LM Project, launched in 2022 with support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been supporting initiatives to enhance evidence-based governance of labour mobility in Central Asia, targeting both migrants and employers, and involving countries of origin such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Various approaches, including regional and national coordination mechanisms on labour migration governance, policy dialogue, capacity building, and research, are applied to implement activities of the project during the current phase. 

The project has six following deliverables: 

I. Participating governments and other key stakeholders in labour migration management develop coordination mechanisms to jointly identify and address problems, and regularly adapt and improve labour migration policies and processes in the region; 

II. Public and private employment agencies and vocational training centers are improving their services to better meet the needs of the labour market, as well as potential migrant workers 

III. Employers in destination states consider ethical recruitment and organised recruitment standards 

IV. Potential migrant workers are better informed and prepared to assert their rights and protect themselves in recruitment and migration 

V. Migrants and their families have better access to inclusive financial services and products, which improves living standards 

VI. Improving the migration accounting system. 

The LM Project currently is at its fourth year of implementation, focusing on strengthening regional and country coordination mechanisms, and promoting regular pathways through capacity development and research on ethical recruitment, migration diversification and financial inclusion, and support to related policy development, policy reform and dialogue. In the fourth year, IOM plans to conduct a comprehensive legislative analysis of the Kazakhstani legal and normative acts, strategic documents to measure the changes in the legal environment of the domestic migration policy. 

The analysis will allow to reveal the inconsistencies between strategic and legal-regulatory acts and orders of the responsible central Government. The final document, in turn, will include a package of proposed amendments to the legislation on harmonization of the documents and policy on migration in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The consultancy will contribute to output 1.3 of the SDC project, focusing on implementing research projects to evaluate programming and propose solutions or improvements for labour migration governance.
  Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
  Labour Migration Unit / LM.0479 Tasks to be performed under this contract  

1. First deliverable – Submission of a methodology and annotated legal matrix of reviewed documents to IOM. First installment payment – 30 July 2025 (online);
2. Second deliverable - Analytical report highlighting inconsistencies and legal risks - second instalment payment – 20 September 2025 (online);
3. Third deliverable - Draft legislative amendments or consolidated legal text submitted to the IOM - third instalment payment – 20 October 2025 (online);
4. Fourth & final deliverable – Presentation of findings to stakeholders and IOM the proposed package of amendments to the legislation - last instalment payment – 10 November 2025 (online).   Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
     To conduct a comprehensive legal and strategic review of Kazakhstan’s migration legislation, identify inconsistencies, and propose consolidated amendments

   • Consult with the IOM project team on appropriate and agreed approaches to the specified tasks before their completion;
   • Interviews and consultations with relevant authorities, experts, and other actors provide in-depth, valuable insights into the implementation and challenges of Kazakhstan’s migration concept;
   • The policy recommendations proposed in the evaluation are feasible, aligned with national development goals, and likely to lead to tangible improvements in migration governance;
   • All evaluation components, including data collection, report drafting, and final submission, are completed on time according to the established deadlines;
   • Feedback from the IOM Project Management Team, Thematic Specialist and counterparts;
   • Compliance with IOM House style Guidelines.
   • Compliance with IOM Data Protection Principles. Education

5. University degree / Diploma in Law, Humanitarian, Political or Social Science or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant experience or High School Diploma in the above fields with seven years of relevant working experience; Experience
6. At least 5 years of proven experience preferably in research and legal field, working with normative and legal acts; 
7. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of Kazakhstani system of migration management and legislative framework;
8. Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between migration and development;
9. Experience in statistical tools, reporting, liaising with government authorities advantageous; preferably within the international humanitarian field; 
10. Advanced experience in analysis of legal acts and legislation;
11. Experience in working with international organizations and UN agencies, an advantage; Skills
12. Strong analytical, writing and communication skills particularly in the field of writing analytical memos, legislative analysis, lectures, presentations;
13. Good knowledge of the migration & development concept;
14. Familiarity with IOM’s mandate; Languages
15. Good command of oral and written in Russian. Kazakh is an advantage.    Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.   Travel required
16. No Required Competencies   IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.   Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:
17. Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.