Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, 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.
Project Context and Scope
The Project is implemented in Armenia to further strengthen the capacities of the national authorities to tackle cross‑border organized crime and to enhance independent border management capacities. The primary national partners benefiting from its outcomes are the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia (NSS) and its Border Guard Troops (BGT). Armenia’s border guard training and education system plays a central role in preparing personnel for professional, effective, and rights‑based border management. As Armenia seeks deeper alignment with European Union practices, it is essential that the training and educational system comply with Frontex standards, including the Common Core Curriculum (CCC), the Sectoral Qualification Framework (SQF), the Common Training Framework (CTF), fundamental rights and ethics standards, and the quality assurance principles for border guard education. The assessment focuses on evaluating the training and educational ecosystem and identifying gaps and opportunities for alignment with EU/Frontex frameworks.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Enhancing the Capacities of Armenian Authorities in Border Security and Crime Prevention /IB0525 Tasks to be performed under this contract
Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office and the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, as well as in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, the international consultant will perform the following tasks:
Review the current training and education system, including institutional set up, policies, processes, and training cycles.
Conduct a full curriculum assessment for basic, specialized, and refresher training.
Assess the training methodologies, resources, learning materials, and educational infrastructure.
Evaluate the training quality assurance system, including assessment and certification practices.
Identify gaps relative to Frontex CCC and SQF competency requirements.
Provide actionable recommendations and a roadmap for aligning Armenia’s training system with international and EU/Frontex standards.
Deliverables
1. Inception Report
Detailed methodology
Work plan
Validated Frontex standards reference set
2. Training and Education System Assessment Report (Draft & Final) Including:
Full curriculum mapping
Assessment and QA review
Infrastructure review
Gaps vs. Frontex standard
Practical recommendations
3. Improvement Roadmap
Priority actions
Timeline
Responsible units
Resource implications Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
Deliverables submitted on time according to the agreed workplan.
Accuracy and completeness of the assessment against Frontex CCC, SQF and other standards.
Quality of curriculum mapping and gap analysis, including clear evidence and practical recommendations.
Clarity and feasibility of the improvement roadmap, with actionable priority steps.
Stakeholder satisfaction with the usefulness, clarity, and relevance of the consultant’s outputs.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
Completed advanced university degree in a relevant field.
Specialization in border management.
Other formal education as relevant for the assignment
Experience
Minimum of five years of professional experience in border management, border guard training systems, or security sector capacity development.
Proven track record in conducting curriculum assessments, training system evaluations, or educational framework reviews.
Demonstrated experience working with or aligning training systems to EU/Frontex standards (CCC, SQF, CTF, fundamental rights frameworks, QA principles).
Experience in assessing training quality assurance mechanisms, including certification, evaluation methods, and pedagogical standards.
Skills
Background in analyzing training methodologies, learning materials, and trainer qualifications within security or law‑enforcement training institutions.
Prior engagement in consultancy assignments, preferably within international organizations, security institutions, or public sector reform.
Experience working with stakeholders in government, border authorities, or law‑enforcement agencies, especially in transition or reform contexts.
Ability to produce high‑quality assessment reports, mapping exercises, and strategic roadmaps with practical, actionable recommendations.
Languages
For this consultancy, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
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 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.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 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.