Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) works to strengthen the protection environment for displaced populations, migrants, returnees, and vulnerable communities in Pakistan. Within the context of increased movements of Afghan nationals between Pakistan and Afghanistan, evolving protection risks, return dynamics, legal and documentation challenges, and heightened vulnerabilities among different population groups, IOM seeks to commission a comprehensive qualitative and participatory research study.
The study will replicate and adapt the methodology used in the regional "Affective Cartographies" study while expanding its focus beyond women and girls to include:
- Adolescents
- Adult women
- Adult men
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Female-headed households
- Survivors of violence
- Persons at risk of trafficking, exploitation, detention, or deportation
- Valid VISA holders, documented (former) and undocumented Afghan nationals
The research will examine the experiences of Afghan nationals and other migrants with protection concerns through protection lens exploring:
- Individual Sphere
- Family and Community Sphere
- Institutional Sphere
- Cross-Border Sphere
The consultancy will generate evidence to support protection programming, policy engagement, advocacy, protection mainstreaming, community-based protection initiatives, legal assistance interventions, MHPSS programming, durable solutions planning, and future strategic investments by IOM and partners.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
The consultant will contribute to the Protection Unit, Humanitarian, Recovery and Resilience Division (HRRD), IOM Pakistan. The Protection Unit implements activities related to protection case management, gender-based violence, child protection, legal assistance, community engagement, protection mainstreaming, and evidence-based protection analysis through protection monitoring.
Objective of the Consultancy
To design and implement a comprehensive protection research study that maps:
- Protection risks
- Psychosocial wellbeing and migratory grief
- Access to services
- Protection barriers
- Coping mechanisms
- Community support systems
- Social cohesion dynamics
- Documentation and legal challenges
- Protection priorities and recommendations
Among Afghan nationals and other migrants with protection concerns in Pakistan and selected cross-border contexts relating to Afghanistan.
Scope of Research
The consultant shall examine:
Protection Risks
- Gender-based violence
- Family separation
- Human trafficking risks
- Smuggling vulnerabilities
- Exploitation and abuse
- Arbitrary detention
- Deportation risks
- Child protection concerns
- Child labour
- Child marriage
Psychosocial Wellbeing
- Identity and belonging
- Fear and uncertainty
- Migratory grief
- Trauma
- Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
- Resilience and coping strategies
Access to Services
- Documentation and legal identity
- Legal assistance
- Social protection
- Health services
- MHPSS
- Livelihoods
- Shelter and housing
- Education
Cross-Border Dynamics
- Return experiences
- Circular migration
- Family reunification
- Border management impacts
- Reintegration challenges
Social Cohesion
- Community support structures
- Relations with host communities
- Inclusion and participation
- Perceptions of discrimination
- Xenophobia
Responsibilities
Tasks to be performed under this contract
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
First Deliverable
The consultant shall submit an Inception Report including:
- Literature review
- Detailed methodology
- Sampling framework
- Research tools
- Ethical framework
- Data protection measures
- Workplan
- Stakeholder engagement plan
Second Deliverable
Data Collection Completion Package
The Submission will include:
- Completed FGDs
- Completed KIIs
- Completed IDIs
- Fieldwork summary
- Quality assurance documentation
- Preliminary emerging findings presentation
Third Deliverable
Draft Research Report
This would include Comprehensive draft report covering:
- Methodology
- Protection risks
- Migratory grief analysis
- Service access barriers
- Cross-border findings
- Protection risk mapping
- Community coping mechanisms
- Preliminary recommendations
Fourth deliverable
Validation Workshop and Policy Brief
The consultant shall:
- Facilitate one validation workshop
- Present preliminary findings
- Document stakeholder feedback
- Develop a concise policy brief (10-15 pages)
Final deliverable
Final Report Package
The Submission of Final Research Report will include
- Executive Summary
- Methodology
- Findings
- Protection Analysis
- Service Gap Analysis
- Recommendations
Affective Protection Cartography Framework
Develop visual analytical mapping of:
- Protection risks
- Protection pathways
- Migratory grief trajectories
- Community support systems
- Institutional barriers
Research Dataset
- Clean interview records
- Coding framework (where applicable)
- Research tools
- Presentation deck
Methodology:
The consultant shall utilize a mixed-methods approach combining desk research, participatory qualitative research, and stakeholder validation.
a) Desk Review:
Review of existing materials including:
- IOM publications
- Government policies
- UN reports
- Academic research
- Protection assessments
- Refugee and migration frameworks
- Relevant legislation and legal frameworks
b) Qualitative Data Collection:
The consultant shall design and implement:
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
Separate FGDs with:
- Adult women
- Adult men
- Adolescent girls
- Adolescent boys
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Returnees
- Migrant/refugees
- Undocumented Afghan nationals
Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
With:
- Government representatives
- Service providers
- UN agencies
- NGOs
- Community leaders
- Legal experts
- Academics
- Health professionals
- Protection specialists
In-Depth Interviews (IDIs)
With persons presenting specific vulnerabilities, including:
- Survivors of violence
- Persons facing deportation concerns
- Female-headed households
- Persons with disabilities
- Persons with complex protection concerns
Participatory Observation and Case Analysis
Where appropriate and approved by IOM, the consultant may review anonymized case management trends and protection monitoring findings to support triangulation of results.
Research Principles
The consultant shall comply with:
- Do No Harm principles
- Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
- Child Safeguarding Standard
- Gender-sensitive approaches
- Disability-inclusive research practices
- Informed consent procedures
- Data protection protocols
- Confidentiality and ethical research standards
These elements will be integrated throughout all stages of research.
c) Geographic Scope:
Fieldwork may be conducted in selected locations including:
Pakistan
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Balochistan
Particular attention should be given to communities hosting large populations of Afghan nationals.
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
- Inception Report
- Data Collection Tools
- FGD Guides
- KII Guides
- IDI Guides
- Data Collection Summary
- Draft Research Report
- Validation Workshop
- Policy Brief
- Final Research Report
- Executive Summary
- Protection Cartography Framework
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Final Research Package
The consultant's performance will be evaluated based on:
- Timely completion of deliverables.
- Quality and comprehensiveness of outputs.
- Methodological rigor.
- Compliance with ethical standards.
- Quality of stakeholder engagement.
- Quality of analysis and recommendations.
- Responsiveness to feedback.
- Utility of findings for programming and policy development.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, International Relations, Development Studies, Psychology, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Protection-related disciplines.
A PhD or advanced research credentials will be considered an asset.
Experience
- Minimum seven (7) years of relevant professional experience.
- Demonstrated experience conducting complex qualitative research.
- Experience with migration, displacement and protection programming.
- Experience working with Afghan populations.
- Experience conducting FGDs, KIIs and participatory research.
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
- Previous experience with IOM, UN agencies, research institutions, or international NGOs is highly desirable.
- Experience in protection monitoring, community-based protection, GBV, or legal protection programming is an advantage.
Skills
- Qualitative research design.
- Data analysis and research synthesis.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Policy and protection analysis.
- Strong English writing skills.
Knowledge of Dari or Pashto will be considered an advantage
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.
Annex: Minimum Research Targets (Indicative)
The consultant should propose a final sample in the inception report; however, the study is expected to include approximately:
- 25-30 mapping exercises with communities.
- 25 KIIs
- 40-50 IDIs
- 2 stakeholder validation consultations
- Desk review of at least 50 documents
This sample should ensure representation across age, gender, disability status, legal status, province, and migration pathway.
Notes
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.
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, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
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 e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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