Consultant

Position details

• Vacancy type: Consultancy
• Recruiting type: Consultant
• Contract type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
• Initial contract duration: 6 months
• Office or unit: Country Office
• Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Application deadline: 2026-08-17T16:59:00+00:00

Context

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – 22510

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

Context: 

Human trafficking remains critical challenges in Cambodia, with victims subjected to severe abuse and exploitation. Ensuring that trafficked and exploited people are accurately identified, referred and provided with appropriate, comprehensive support is essential to safeguarding their rights and dignity.

Despite notable progress in recent years to combat exploitation and strengthen victim protection, significant gaps persist in Cambodia. These include a limited understanding of trafficking dynamics, insufficient support services, and weak frameworks for standardized referral and reintegration. Current mechanisms for identification, referral, and (re)integration of survivors remain fragmented and inconsistent, leaving many victims without the coordinated timely assistance they require.

To address these gaps, Cambodia developed a draft Guidelines on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victims of human trafficking in August 2023. The framework was designed to establish standardized procedures for identification, referral, and service provision to potential and confirmed victims of human trafficking across government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners. The framework ultimate goal is to ensure that human trafficking survivors in Cambodia – from among both nationals of Cambodia and foreign nationals – are identified in a timely and rights-based manner, comprehensively supported and duly coordinated in their rehabilitation process.

However, despite this progress, the framework has not yet been finalized or operationalized. Stakeholders continue to rely on fragmented practices, resulting in inconsistencies in victim support and coordination. This gap undermines Cambodia’s ability to fully meet its obligations under international commitments, such as the Palermo Protocol of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, among other instruments.

Currently available only as a draft, the NRM Guidelines require comprehensive updating in line with MoSVY feedback, and the latest developments in Cambodia and the region. The updated NRM Guidelines should be reflective of and complimentary to the latest policy and operational frameworks in the counter-trafficking field in Cambodia, including the Victim Identification Guidelines (currently in the final revision stage, expected to be launched in August 2026), the Standard Operating Procedures for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, etc.

As requested by MoSVY, it is planned to update and finalize the draft NRM Guidelines, clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms among relevant stakeholders involved in the identification, referral, assistance and reintegration processes based on the findings of consultative workshops with relevant stakeholders; and support the rollout of the NRM through developing training curricula and the delivery of three training sessions. These will include one four‑day Training of Trainers (ToT) for up to 20 MoSVY officials followed by two three‑day cascade trainings for 25 officials each, led by trained MoSVY facilitators.

This initiative will be implemented under the regional project “Ship to Shore Rights in South-East Asia: Safe Migration and Decent Work in the Blue Economy” (S2SR SEA), funded by the European Union (EU). IOM Cambodia will engage a qualified consultant to lead the process.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, direct supervision of the Program Officer, and in close coordination with the Senior Program Assistant at IOM Cambodia, the Consultant will be entrusted with the following tasks:

Responsibilities

• Finalization of the NRM: Review relevant existing policies, guidelines, and documents, and update and finalize the draft Guidelines, establishing clear mandates, responsibilities, and coordination structures among government agencies, specifically MoSVY, civil society, and international partners engaged in victim identification and protection ultimately, this will ensure a victim-centered approach where the rights, dignity, and safety of trafficking survivors are prioritized throughout the reintegration journey. 

  To guarantee broad ownership and inclusiveness, at least two consultative workshops will be conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY). The first will be a consultative workshop to collect inputs and gather proposals for revisions to the draft NRM Guidelines with relevant ministries, UN Agencies, INGOs, and CSOs. The second consultative workshop will be a validation and launching workshop to present the finalized NRM Guidelines and promote their adoption and implementation across all relevant actors. The finalized Guidelines will clearly define and operationalize the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved in victim identification, referral, and reintegration to ensure consistency, accountability, and sustainability. In addition, the Guidelines will serve as a practical reference tool for frontline officials, providing step‑by‑step guidance on procedures for reintegration, monitoring, and reporting.

• Development of curricula and training delivery: Develop a comprehensive, practical, and user-friendly training curriculum on the NRM Guidelines, fully aligned with implementation needs. Once finalized, deliver three training sessions: one Training of Trainers (TOT) to build the capacity of key facilitators, followed by two cascade trainings for relevant actors in Phnom Penh and key provinces directly responsible for implementing the Guidelines.

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

The consultant is requested to submit a budget proposal for this assignment.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• National consultant with a university degree in Social Sciences, Law, Human Rights, Public Policy, or a related field is required.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• At least, seven years of technical, policy and/or research experience in the field of human trafficking, migrant protection, migration management. 

• Strong background in capacity‑building programs, with proven expertise in designing, delivering, and evaluating standardized training curricula and materials for institutional or government settings.
• Extensive experience in research, assessments, and the development of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, such as UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs, and government institutions. Prior experience with IOM or another UN agency is considered an advantage.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills as well as analytical, with the ability to produce clear, rights-based, and practical outputs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, showing personal commitment, efficiency, and flexibility, while being gender-sensitive and culturally aware.

Languages

Required

Fluency in English is required. 

Travel required

The Consultant shall be fully responsible for their own arrangements and expenses in the performance of their services. Should the Consultant be required to travel at the request of the Organization, the Consultant shall manage their own transportation and accommodation.

Competencies¹ 

 The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies: 

VALUES - All IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five 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. 

CORE COMPETENCIES - 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 Organization’s 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. 

 IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link- https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/aboutiom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf  

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview. 

Other: 

• 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. 

• Only shortlisted candidates will be called for assessment.

• 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. 

How to apply: 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via IOM e-Recruitment system  within the above mentioned deadline by 11:59 PM (Phnom Penh Time) referring to this advertisement.

Applications should include:

• Cover letter, indicating the dates of availability and a proposed rate for this assignment 
• Curriculum vitae 

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. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: iomphnompenh@iom.int 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Posting period: 

From 11.08.2026 to 17.08.2026