National Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

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 Background The United Kingdom’s Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) enables foreign nationals to undertake temporary employment in the UK agricultural sector for up to six months within any 12-month period. Since 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the Government of Kazakhstan in strengthening the awareness, preparedness, and informed participation of prospective seasonal workers through a range of information, outreach, and capacity-building activities. To assess the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of project interventions, IOM seeks to engage an external consultant to monitor project implementation within Kazakhstan, assess progress against planned objectives and results, document lessons learned, and provide recommendations to inform future programming. Objective of the Consultancy To design, implement, and manage a highly detailed, adaptive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for the project implemented in Kazakhstan. The consultant will actively participate in and continuously monitor selected field events and capacity-building activities, and produce 2 (two) analytical programmatic reports as well as the final comprehensive report. All processes must strictly adhere to the IOM House Style, IOM Monitoring Policy, IOM monitoring and Evaluation Guidelines, and institutional RBM standards. Scope of Work Under the overall supervision of IOM Kazakhstan and in close coordination with Regional project M&E Specialist, and all relevant project stakeholders, the consultant shall: M&E Framework Development Conduct a review of all project documents, including the logical framework and, work plans, the donor agreements, and relevant national migration strategies in Kazakhstan. Develop a robust M&E framework aligned with the IOM Monitoring Policy and the project's regional approach . This must be based on the project’s Theory of Change (ToC), and include Indicator Tracking Matrix, defined data sources, collection frequencies, baselines, targets, and a risk mitigation strategy for data collection. Ensure the M&E framework mandates the collection of Sex and Age-Disaggregated Data (SADD) and integrates IOM’s cross-cutting themes: gender-responsiveness, a human rights-based approach, and the "Do No Harm" principle. Design, test, and finalize culturally contextualized quantitative and qualitative data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox/Qualtrics surveys if determined to be needed, Pre-departure Orientation Trainings’ (PDO) pre/post- assessments, key informant interview (KII) guides, and focus group discussion (FGD) protocols). Field Monitoring Conduct targeted monitoring visits to selected project activities and events in Kazakhstan, including pre-departure orientation sessions, awareness-raising activities, and stakeholder engagement events, as agreed with IOM. Assess the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of project interventions through field observations, participant consultations, and review of available project data. Collect and analyze feedback from project beneficiaries and stakeholders to assess participant satisfaction, knowledge gained, and perceived usefulness of project activities. Identify emerging challenges, lessons learned, and good practices, and provide practical recommendations to strengthen project implementation and maximise impact. Submit concise monitoring notes and observations following each field visit, highlighting key findings, outcomes, and recommendations for corrective actions, where applicable. Contribute to the assessment of the project's overall results and impact, including progress towards intended outcomes and benefits for prospective seasonal workers. Programmatic Reporting Collect, clean, verify, and analyze all monitoring data to systematically track quantitative and qualitative progress against project outcomes, outputs and indicators (as per the M&E Framework) Draft and submit 2 (two) comprehensive quarterly programmatic monitoring reports and 1 (one) final report. These reports must go beyond activity logging to include: progress against indicators and impact, analysis of emerging migration trends, identification of implementation bottlenecks, and risk matrix updates. Ensure all deliverables, datasets, and programmatic reports are developed and submitted exclusively in English , ensuring strict compliance with the IOM House Style manual. Ensure all data collected and reported aligns seamlessly with IOM's institutional reporting standards, data protection principles, and specific donor requirements. Document concrete best practices, lessons learned, and at least three (3) compelling human-interest stories/case studies illustrating the project's impact on individual migrants or communities. Deliverables All written outputs, reports, methodologies, and briefs listed below must be submitted exclusively in English and written in accordance with the IOM House Style. Deliverable Key Outputs Deadline Deliverable 1 M&E Framework, Indictor Tracking Matrix and Final Data Collection Tools 14 September 2026 Deliverable 2 First Programmatic Monitoring Report detailing progress against indicators, analysis of beneficiary feedback, financial/activity tracking context, and operational challenges approved by IOM management. 14 December 2026 Deliverable 3 Second Programmatic Monitoring Report detailing progress against indicators, analysis of beneficiary feedback, financial/activity tracking context, and operational challenges approved by IOM management. 15 February 2027 Deliverable 4 Comprehensive final report to measure end-of-project impact for IOM Kazakhstan’s activities. Must include documented best practices, actionable lessons learned, and human-interest case studies and strategic recommendations for future safe migration programming in Central Asia. Submission of the finalized, fully cleaned master datasets encompassing all project data. 15 March 2027 Performance Indicators Timely submission and institutional approval of all agreed deliverables according to the established workplan. Quality, analytical rigor, and practical relevance of the developed M&E framework and field data collection tools. Active and constructive participation in project events, demonstrated by prompt and insightful post-event monitoring briefs that lead to actionable project improvements. Strict adherence to the IOM House Style guidelines, including the mandatory use of English for all text and reports, demonstrating high-level drafting precision. Accuracy, reliability, and ethical collection of monitoring data in strict line with IOM. Full alignment with IOM reporting templates, RBM guidelines, and data protection policies. Education and Experience Education Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field, with five years of relevant professional experience; or Bachelor’s degree in