Project Context and Scope The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, is supporting the development of a Strategy for the Provision of Financial Services in Support of Womenโs Entrepreneurship. The strategy aims to foster a gender-responsive financial ecosystem by enhancing women's access to finance, addressing regulatory gaps, and promoting inclusive economic growth. This initiative is part of broader efforts to empower women, particularly those impacted by migration, and to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) led by women.
To facilitate this process, IOM is recruiting a consultant, who will coordinate the development of the strategy, research, and stakeholder engagement necessary to underpin the development process.
Objective
The consultant will coordinate all foundational activities, liaise with key stakeholdersโprimarily the Central Bankโand ensure that the context-specific challenges and regulatory aspects are accurately reflected in the strategy.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing Labour Mobility Division (LMD) unitย Tasks to be performed under this contract โ under the direct supervision of the Head of LMD/Senior Programme Assistant and overall coordination from the Chief of Mission (CoM)
โข ย ย ย ย Conduct a desk review of national policies, financial regulations, and SME oversight frameworks relevant to women's entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan.
โข ย ย ย ย Identify gender-specific barriers to accessing finance and business development services.
โข ย ย ย ย Analyse the impact of migration on womenโs economic empowerment, including the integration of returnee migrants and potential migrants.
โข ย ย ย ย Design and oversee the implementation of a structured survey to collect qualitative and quantitative data on challenges and needs of women entrepreneurs.
โข ย ย ย ย Map and assess existing financial products and services offered by the Central Bank and other financial institutions, with a focus on their relevance and accessibility for women-led SMEs.
โข ย ย ย ย Facilitate regular coordination meetings with stakeholders and ensure incorporation of key national priorities and gender commitments into the strategy.
Deliverables/Performance indicators for the evaluation of results Deliverable Description Timeline Payment First deliverableย
Inception report (including methodology and coordination plan), Desk Review Summary, Stakeholder engagement plan
Within 4 weeks of contract start
30% upon approval
Second deliverableยStakeholder consultation report, Mapping of existing financial products, Summary coordination notes for strategy input
By end of assignment
70% upon submission and validation
Education, Experience and/or skills requiredโข ย ย ย ย Proven experience in conducting policy research, institutional assessments, or analyses related to migration systems;
โข ย ย ย ย Strong understanding of the economic context in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, especially regarding women entrepreneurs and migration;
โข ย ย ย ย Proven experience working with International, governmental bodies and financial institutions;
โข ย ย ย ย Experience in conducting research and data analysis related to SMEs, gender equality, and financial products;
โข ย ย ย ย Proficiency in Uzbek and English (both written and spoken); working knowledge of Russian is an asset;
โข ย ย ย ย Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills to ensure timely and high-quality delivery;
โข ย ย ย ย Capacity to coordinate closely with multiple stakeholders and respond to feedback in an iterative and collaborative manner.
Languages
Proficiency in Uzbek and English (both written and spoken); working knowledge of Russian is an asset; 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. ย Travel required Travel based on activities and requirements 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