Consultant

Job Description

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – 21854

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. 

Context: 

The Kingdom of Cambodia originates 1.3 million migrant workers who are mostly working across seven countries, including Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Before the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, Thailand was the top country of destination for Cambodian migrant workers hosting approximately 1.22 million Cambodian workers given the close geographical distance and similarity of language and culture. Labour migration and Cambodian migrant workers per se contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Cambodia through transferability of knowledge, skills and remittances. It is estimated that Cambodian migrant workers oversea sent home 2.7 billion USD annually, which equates to approximately 4 percent of GDP (MLVT). To maximize the potential of labour migration for the socioeconomic development of Cambodia, as set in objective 3 of the Labour Migration Policy for Cambodia 2019-2023, protection and empowerment for migrant workers are required throughout the whole cycle of their labour migration journey, from pre-departure, during deployment abroad, to return and reintegration. To that end, return and reintegration should be given a stronger focus to make return and reintegration sustainable, maximizing potentials of migration for migrant workers, their families, communities and society as a whole.

In the context of international migration, return refers to the movement of persons returning to their country of origin after having moved away from their place of habitual residence and crossed an international border. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines sustainable reintegration as when (a) returnees reaching levels of economic self-sufficiency, social stability within their communities, and psychosocial wellbeing that allow them to cope with (re)migration drivers; and (b) the ability of returnees to make further migration decisions as a matter of choice, rather than necessity. Reintegration, therefore, is sustainable when an individual is successfully reintegrated in the everyday life, the labour market and the social environment of their origin country and has the resilience to deal with the forces that initially drove their migration.

Sustainable reintegration requires holistic and multidimensional approaches that address a range of economic, social, psychosocial and environmental factors and enhance synergies between different interventions in the areas of humanitarian assistance, community stabilization, sustainable development, migration management, broader policy coherence and development cooperation. 

The reintegration of returning Cambodian migrant workers has specifically come to the forefront since mid-2025. Since then, the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have triggered the return of 950,000 of Cambodians, many arriving without documentation, savings, or coordinated support, raising risks of irregular re‑migration, trafficking and exploitation, and straining services in border and high‑return areas. 

To that end, in 2025, IOM supported the government of Cambodia, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) to develop guidelines on sustainable reintegration of returning migrant workers to guide and enable facilitation of reintegration of Cambodian migrant workers. 

Available as a draft document as of now, the Guidelines has not yet been finalized yet and needs a comprehensive update in line with the MLVT feedback as well as the latest developments in Cambodia and the region. As per the MLVT request, it is planned to update and finalize the draft Guidelines; develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to operationalize the Guidelines by clearly defining the roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms among relevant stakeholders involved in the reintegration process.  Finally, to support and Guidelines and SOPs roll-out, it is envisioned to develop a tailored training curriculum and deliver four training sessions to relevant in-country stakeholders. 

Through the regional project “Ship to Shore Rights in South-East Asia: Safe Migration and Decent Work in the Blue Economy” (S2SR SEA), funded by the European Union (EU), IOM Cambodia will engage a qualified consultant to lead this initiative.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, direct supervision of the Program Officer, and in close coordination with the Senior Program Assistant at IOM Cambodia, the Consultant will be entrusted with:

Responsibilities

• Finalization of the Guidelines on Sustainable Reintegration of Returning Migrant Workers: Review, update, and finalize the existing draft Guidelines on Sustainable Reintegration of Returning Migrant Workers, developed in December 2025, to ensure they reflect current migration trends. At least two workshops will be conducted in coordination with Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT): the first to collect input from multi-stakeholders such as Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), Ministry of Interior (MoI), National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), Ministry of Health (MoH), and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), private recruitment agencies, as well as CSOs; and the second to serve as a validation workshop.
• Development of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs): Develop clear SOPs to operationalize the Guidelines, defining and outlining the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved in implementing the Reintegration Guidelines. The SOPs should establish coordination mechanisms among ministries, such as MLVT, MoI, NCCT, MoSVY, MoH, and MFAIC, as well as CSOs, to ensure consistency and accountability. They will also serve as a practical reference tool for frontline officials, providing step‑by‑step guidance on procedures for reintegration, monitoring, and reporting.
• Development of training curriculum and training delivery: Design a comprehensive training curriculum on the Reintegration Guidelines and SOPs, ensuring it is practical and aligned with implementation needs. Once the curriculum is finalized, deliver 4 (four) training sessions to the relevant actors in Phnom Penh and key border provinces responsible for implementing the Guidelines and SOPs.

Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• A university degree in Social Sciences, Law, Human Rights, Public Policy, or a related field is required; a postgraduate degree in a relevant field is an asset.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• At least five years of professional experience in migration, immigration, or border management, with proven expertise in developing standardized training curricula and materials.

• Strong background in capacity-building programs, including the design, delivery, and evaluation of training packages for institutional or government settings.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, such as UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs, and government institutions. Prior experience with IOM or another UN agency is considered an advantage.

Skills

• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills as well as analytical, report-writing capabilities in English, with the ability to produce clear, rights-based, and practical outputs.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, showing personal commitment, efficiency, and flexibility, while being gender-sensitive and culturally aware.
• Sound understanding of professional ethics, client-oriented approaches, and knowledge of Cambodia’s border management and migration context.

Languages

Required

Fluency in English is required. 

Travel required

The Consultant shall be fully responsible for their own arrangements and expenses in the performance of their services. Should the Consultant be required to travel at the request of the Organization, the Consultant shall manage their own transportation and accommodation.

Competencies¹ 

 The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies: 

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. 

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. 

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link- https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/aboutiom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview. 

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

• Only shortlisted candidates will be called for assessment.

• 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. 

How to apply: 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via IOM e-Recruitment systemwithin the above mentioned deadline by 11:59 PM (Phnom Penh Time) referring to this advertisement.

Applications should include:

• Cover letter, indicating the dates of availability and a proposed rate for this assignment 
• Curriculum vitae 

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. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: iomphnompenh@iom.int

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Posting period: 

From 02.07.2026 to 08.07.2026

Required Skills

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