Final Evaluation of the Project titled “Supporting Lesotho in Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Prevention and Protection

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Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration Project Context and Scope IOM Lesotho has implemented trafficking in persons (TIP) interventions that support the Government of Lesotho (GoL) to strengthen national and decentralized responses to trafficking through prevention, protection and prosecution, commonly referred to as the “3Ps” approach. These interventions have been implemented in close collaboration with key government counterparts, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs). The interventions aimed to strengthen the prosecution of TIP cases, enhance the protection of victims of trafficking (VoTs), and support victim-centred assistance and referral mechanisms. These efforts are aligned with Lesotho’s National Strategic Framework and Action Plan to Combat TIP (2021–2026), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011 (as amended in 2021) and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly targets related to human rights, protection and access to justice. Funded by the United States Department of State, IOM supported the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police to combat trafficking in persons under the project titled “Supporting Lesotho in Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Prevention and Protection” . Over its 39-month implementation period, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Lesotho (GoL) and civil society to prosecute TIP cases and protect victims of trafficking. The project had three objectives: (1) to strengthen law enforcement and judiciary capacities to respond to TIP through identification, intelligence-gathering, investigation and prosecution; (2) to strengthen information-sharing, coordination and collaboration among law enforcement, justice and civil society actors at national and district levels in reporting cases and prosecuting traffickers; and (3) to enhance access to justice and comprehensive, survivor-informed and trauma-informed services, including support to obtain legal identity documents for victims of trafficking (VoTs). To enhance the protection, safety, and well-being of victims through victim-centred, trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, IOM engaged a non-governmental organization (NGO); Beautiful Dream Society (BDS) as one of the implementing partners while Love Justice International (LJI) organisation was engaged to conduct t ransit monitoring as part of the project’s prevention and protection approach, particularly in identifying potential trafficking risks, supporting early detection, strengthening referral pathways and informing protection responses in areas where trafficking risks may occur. Activities were done in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to support project delivery. The project implementation was based on the assumption that strengthening the capacities of law enforcement, judicial institutions, social protection actors and CSOs, while improving coordination and survivor-centred service delivery, will lead to more effective prosecution of trafficking cases and enhanced protection of VoTs. Through the provision of standardized training, operational support, improved coordination mechanisms, cross-border cooperation platforms, and management of the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund, the project aimed to enhance the ability of stakeholders to identify, investigate and prosecute trafficking offences, while ensuring that victims receive comprehensive, trauma-informed protection and support services. This theory of change suggests that, if these interventions strengthen institutional capacities, collaboration and accountability, then law enforcement and judicial actors will improve the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases, stakeholders will share information and collaborate more effectively, and victims will have greater access to justice, rehabilitation and compensation mechanisms. Ultimately, these changes are expected to contribute to stronger national anti-trafficking systems, improved protection and access to justice for victims, and the disruption of trafficking networks in Lesotho, thereby advancing the overall goal of enhancing government and civil society capacity to prosecute TiP cases and protect victims EVALUATION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this external final evaluation is to assess the overall performance and results of the project "Supporting Lesotho in Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Prevention and Protection" over its implementation period (2023–2026). The evaluation will determine the extent to which the project achieved its intended objective and outcomes, identify the factors that facilitated or constrained implementation, and assess the project's contribution to strengthening Lesotho's national response to trafficking in persons. Particular attention will be given to the project's design, implementation approach, theory of change, underlying assumptions, management arrangements, partnership model, resource utilization, and monitoring systems. The evaluation will examine the extent to which the project: Strengthened institutional capacities of government institutions, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and civil society organizations to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate trafficking in persons cases, Strengthened national and district-level coordination, information-sharing, and cross-border collaboration mechanisms, Improved access to survivor-centred, trauma-informed protection services and access to justice for victims of trafficking, Strengthened systems and mechanisms that are likely to continue delivering results beyond the life of the project. The evaluation will serve two complementary purposes: Accountability To provide IOM, the Government of Lesotho (GoL), the United States Department of State, implementing partners, and other stakeholders with an independent assessment of project performance, results achieved, resource utilization, and the project's contribution towards strengthening the national response to trafficking in persons. Learning To identify lessons learned, good practices, innovative approaches, implementation challenges, and strategic recommendations that can inform the design and implementation of future anti-trafficking programming in Lesotho and similar contexts. The evaluation findings will also support evidence-based decision-making by the GoL through relevant ministries, institutional learning, and future resource mobilization. EVALUATION SCOPE This summative evaluation will cover the entire project implementation period from August 2023 to October 2026 in the five selected districts where the project was implemented i.e. Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Maseru, Mafeteng and Qacha’s Nek . The evaluation will also cover transit monitoring activities implemented under the project, including their relevance, effectiveness, contri