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
- First deliverable – Submission of a methodology and annotated legal matrix of reviewed documents to IOM. First installment payment – 30 July 2025 (online);
- Second deliverable - Analytical report highlighting inconsistencies and legal risks - second instalment payment – 20 September 2025 (online);
- Third deliverable - Draft legislative amendments or consolidated legal text submitted to the IOM - third instalment payment – 20 October 2025 (online);
- 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
- 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
- At least 5 years of proven experience preferably in research and legal field, working with normative and legal acts;
- Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of Kazakhstani system of migration management and legislative framework;
- Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between migration and development;
- Experience in statistical tools, reporting, liaising with government authorities advantageous; preferably within the international humanitarian field;
- Advanced experience in analysis of legal acts and legislation;
- Experience in working with international organizations and UN agencies, an advantage; Skills
- Strong analytical, writing and communication skills particularly in the field of writing analytical memos, legislative analysis, lectures, presentations;
- Good knowledge of the migration & development concept;
- Familiarity with IOM’s mandate; Languages
- 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
- 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:
- 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. 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: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies