ThaiNGO

Open to Internal and External Candidates

Position Title               :      Consultant

Duty Station                :      Home-Based

Classification              :      Consultancy

Type of Appointment  :     Consultant Contract

Desired Start Date      :      As soon as possible

Closing Date               :      18 June 2025

Reference Code         :      CFA14635/2025

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.

1. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE: 

Founded in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization within the UN system, committed to fostering humane and orderly migration. The IOM's approach to migrant vulnerability emphasizes the promotion and protection of human rights, ensuring necessary support and assistance for all migrants facing vulnerable situations. In doing so, IOM applies whole-of-government approach aside from the whole-of-society. It means, through its presence, IOM respond to request from the government and support their responsibilities as duty bearers to protect, respect, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, without any discrimination.

Migration Context 

Thailand’s migration patterns are complex and diverse due to its central location in the region. Its higher economic status combined with ageing society and structural reliance on labour migration across several key economic sectors have invited inbound migrant workers from neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and to a lesser extent Vietnam.  

Another aspect of migration flows in Thailand is outbound migration, primarily driven by livelihood needs, employment opportunities, and access to services. Sporadic internal displacement also shapes migration patterns, often caused by emergencies and crises such as pandemic in 2020 and the military coup d’etat in Myanmar in February 2021. Additionally, Thailand hosts a substantial number of individuals without citizenship, including ethnic minorities, hill tribes, other stateless populations, as well as asylum seekers and refugees.

Commitments, Initiatives and Challenges to Protect Vulnerable Migrants

The RTG is committed to improving its migration management through policy works and ensuring compliance with international standards, including the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). However, closing protection gaps through policy reform, enforcement, and implementation to achieve national commitments remains challenging specifically on the areas of oversight of migrant workers, management of irregular migrants in an irregular situation, and mechanism for protected persons, victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrant children. 

Policy changes in recent years include the establishment of a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in March 2022 to protect and assist survivors of trafficking in persons. In 2023, the RTG established the Thailand Migration Reform Consortium (TMRCs) at House of Parliament to identify gaps and challenges in the migration management. However, there has been limited dialogue concerning protection of vulnerable migrants in the context of migration, both regular and irregular movement.  Additionally in 2024, Ministerial Regulation No. 15 on Domestic Work expanded protections in a sector traditionally associated with limited labor and social protection coverage, though gaps persist. Despite significant reforms in the fishing sector over the past decade, the revocation of the Fisheries Act, B.E. 2558 (2015) in January 2024 has left the future protection and welfare of workers in the industry uncertain. Successive Cabinet Resolutions continue to provide irregular migrants with opportunities to stay and work in the country, although these stopgap measures offer more limited rights and protections compared to regular migration pathways. 

As one of the remarkable policy strengthening in the area of Trafficking in Person, the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) remains challenging since its establishment in March 2022. Serve as the major reason is because the NRM’s operational guidelines are not in alignment with the National Anti-Human Trafficking Act. Additionally, the Act has not regulated the new trend of trafficking that is emerging in the region, such as trafficking for forced criminality and online sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Under the ongoing project on ​​Enhancing Safe and Regular Pathways in Thailand by Supporting the Roll Out of The Government's Five-year Plan of Action on Anti-human Trafficking, IOM aims to contribute to protecting and upholding the rights of vulnerable migrants, including VOTs in Thailand. This objective will be achieved through a two-pronged approach. Firstly, IOM will support the RTG in revising the Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2008 with the legal review as well as with facilitating consultative processes on developing and implementing its subsequent Plan of Action. Secondly, the project will equip the Government and key protection actors to provide improved protection services by harmonizing their response to VOTs.

Moreover, there is a critical consideration to factor in gender and victim centred approach in the development and implementation migration policies and procedures including protection of vulnerable migrants.

These policies and procedures need to include an understanding of gender-related vulnerabilities, expected roles and power dynamics associated with gender, which might expose migrant to divergent types of risks. Applying these is vital aspect to ensure appropriate and efficient migration management.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The primary objective of this consultancy is to provide a comprehensive analysis on the current mainstreaming efforts of the centred approaches and gender sensitivity in Thailand Law’s and Policy on Trafficking in Persons (TIP). 

Specific Objectives

1. Identify Gaps and Challenges: Identify any gaps or challenges in mainstreaming gender and victim centred approach in the current Act. The gaps and challenges should analyse the clarity of objectives, methodology issues, political and social pressures, data limitations, measurement difficulties, resource constraints, and implementation challenges.
2. Identify Opportunities and Proposed Mainstreaming Strategy: Based on the analysis derived from the gap and challenges, the report should also highlight opportunity on how the law can be advance and improve gender sensitivity and victim centered approaches
3. Develop comprehensive reports on mainstreaming gender sensitivity and victim centered approaches into Thailand Anti TIP Law.

Expected outputs: The expected output includes a set of recommendations for mainstreaming strategy on victim centered approaches and gender sensitivity. 

Scope of analysis: The analysis will cover the analysis of the implementation of Anti-Human Trafficking Act in Thailand. 

Methodology: The methodology will involve a thorough review of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and related policies and interviews with key informant.

2.1  Category B Consultant: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

Responsibilities and Deliverables

1) Develop research tools and submit it to IOM by the third week of May 2025.

2) Draft the report and policy recommendations

3) Prepare the PPT based and present the draft to the wider stakeholders during the validation meeting (date to be confirmed).

4) Finalize the Report and Policy Recommendations based on the feedback from IOM and stakeholders feedback and submit it by October 2025.

2.2  Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Satisfactory completion of all tasks listed above
• Timely submission of all key deliverables listed above
• Adherence to IOM Brand Guidelines and other visibility requirements
• Quality of final products.

3. REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in counter trafficking and human rights issues in Southeast Asia.
• In depth knowledge and experience on the implementation of migration management and protection of vulnerable migrants. This includes knowledge of the international standards, regulations and policies in the field of counter trafficking, labour migration and protection of vulnerable migrants including Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children and other vulnerable groups. 
• Possesses knowledge and skills on gender sensitivity lens and victim centred approach.
• Significant practical experience and knowledge of working with diverse national stakeholder groups, including with governmental partners on the development of networks, working groups, common standards and procedures, advocacy and technical capacity development on migration related issue.
• Experience working with an international or intergovernmental organization.
• Experience working with the Thai Government or other Southeast Asia countries is an advantage.

Skills:

• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a politically sensitive environment and exercise discretion, impartiality, diplomacy and neutrality.
• Excellent presentation and representational skills.
• Capacity to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Personal commitment, efficiency, and flexibility.
• Gender-sensitive, culture-sensitive, and able to work with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Travel required

Should the Consultant be required to travel by the Organization, the Consultant will be provided with transportation or reimbursed for the cost of their travel following advance agreement and in accordance with IOM’s travel policies, including IN/6. The Consultant will receive a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) according to IOM’s established rates, during their stay in the place of duty while on TDY.

4. Languages:

• Excellent language and communication skills (English).

5. DESIRABLE COMPENTENCIES

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintain 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: demonstrate 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 action and delegated work. 
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way. 

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 and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. 

Only candidates residing in either the country of the duty station or from a location in a neighboring country that is within commuting distance of the duty station will be considered. In all cases, a 

prerequisite for taking up the position is legal residency in the country of the duty station, or in the neighboring country located within commuting distance, and work permit, as applicable.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via IOM e-Recruitment system within the above said deadline referring to this advertisement. Please attach the following documents in your application.

• a cover letter, indicating the dates of availability;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a duly completed IOM Personal History Form which can be downloaded from https://thailand.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1371/files/Vacancies/Form/iom-personal-history-form-270122.xls.

Other

• Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
• This post is subject to local recruitment. Only those holding a valid residence and work permit for the country where this position is based will be eligible for consideration.
• 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. Vaccination against COVID-19 will be required for IOM personnel who are hired or otherwise engaged by IOM. As part of the mandatory medical entry on duty clearance, candidates will be requested to provide evidence of full vaccination.
• 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.
• Only applicants who meet the above qualification will be considered.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: Careers | IOM Thailand.