Anunțuri de Angajare

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for a National Consultant, according to the Terms of Reference below, to start on 01 December 2021.

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, 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.

Nature of the consultancy:

National consultancy supporting the national Moldovan stakeholders to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between Moldova and Germany on labour migration.

 Project Context and Scope:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions, and to sustainably engage diaspora in home country development. 

The mass migration waves, which started in the 1990s has led to an outflow of Moldovan nationals, with almost a quarter of the country’s population currently residing abroad on a temporary as well as more permanent basis. While most often labour migrants have successful migration experiences , many of them are unaware of their rights and the requirements for legal labour migration, thus are often subjected to unethical recruitment practices and employment circumstances that may include exorbitant commission fees for recruitment intermediation, low wages, unreasonable physical and intellectual demands, poor accommodation conditions, inadequate resting periods, lack of access to essential health care and protection in case of accidents/sickness/ disability etc., no accrual of pension rights, particularly if they are in an irregular situation and are victims of the trafficking in persons. Despite the fact that Moldova ratified the ILO 181 Private Employment Agencies Convention, the national regulatory framework is incomplete and poorly enforced, hence market of recruitment abroad services is dominated by informal intermediators. Public institutions have weak capacities to properly monitor the activity of the proper recruitment sector and adequately manage labour migration.

In this context, the Government of Republic of Moldova (GoM) has set as one of its priorities the development of policies and initiatives aimed at managing the movement and mobility of Moldovan citizens, improve legal and regulatory framework of the private recruitment sector, guaranteeing migrants’ fundamental human rights, access to social security benefits, support reintegration of returnees, as well as capitalizing on their potential for the sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

The Ministry of Social Protection is responsible for developing labour migration policies and regulations, and managing specifically outward labour migration. In line with the provisions of the National Strategy on Migration and Asylum for 2011-2020 and the National Employment Strategy for 2017-2021, it has prioritized developing and promoting a more efficient the policy and regulatory framework for circular labour migration, promoting legal and circular/temporary labour migration, including by extending bilateral cooperation on labour migration, ensuring migrant workers’ rights, etc.  At the same time, the National Employment Agency has an extended role in supporting legal and circular migration (as the main public institution in charge of employment reintegration of returnees and information support to workers for legal migration, facilitating circular migration based on bilateral government labour agreements, etc.) needs capacity building and better mechanisms to monitor, coordinate the activity and cooperate with the private recruitment agencies.

On global level IOM works with governments, the private sector (employers, suppliers, brands etc.) and civil society organizations to build their capacity and create the enabling environment to promote ethical international recruitment through the International Recruitment Integrity System which is a global initiative that is designed to promote ethical international recruitment. IRIS works by defining and setting a benchmark for ethical recruitment (the IRIS Standard), and by establishing a voluntary certification scheme for ethical labour recruiters. The IRIS Standard has been developed through extensive consultation with stakeholder and expert communities and is based on international human rights instruments and labour standards such as UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Dhaka Principles for Migration with Dignity, as well as, recruitment industry best practices. It is designed to serve as a practical tool and guidance for enabling labour recruiters and employers to integrate ethical recruitment principles into recruitment related management systems, procedures, codes of conduct, and social sustainability initiatives. To achieve this, the Standard defines operational benchmarks for compliance with the IRIS ethical recruitment principles. The IRIS certification scheme currently under development will provide assurance of compliance with the Standard.

In the same context, in order to support safe, orderly and regular migration and reduce the risks and vulnerabilities migrants face at different stages of migration by respecting, protecting and fulfilling their human rights and providing them with care and assistance, the Ministry of Labour, and Social Protection has signed in 2021 an Memornadum of Understanding with the Federal Employment Agency from Germany on the employment of Moldovan workers for seasonal work in the Federal Republic of Germany to be implemented from January 2022.

Against this backdrop, within the framework of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) funded the UNDP project “Migration and local development” (hereinafter the Project), under which UNDP and IOM are assisting the Moldovan authorities in adjusting and consolidating the legal and institutional framework that would enable Moldovan migrants and their families to have successful temporary/circular migration experiences and facilitated reintegration, hence contributing to the development of their communities of origin. The UNDP and IOM joined the efforts, making the best use of their comparative advantages and identities, to support effectively and efficiently national stakeholders to:

1. develop an efficient policy and regulatory framework for circular labour migration;
2. consolidate the institutional framework and strengthen the capacity and coordination among public institutions;
3. promote awareness raising campaigns in the country and abroad on the advantages and risks of circular migration.

To achieve this, the MIDL II project assisted during 2019 and 2020 the GoM in devising a new vision of labor migration management and drafting and submitting to the GoM for approval the legislative amendments to the current labor migration management framework, particularly improving the private employment agencies’ (PEAs) normative and regulatory framework, based on up-to-date evidence and extensive and thoughtful consultations with migrants on the current state of play in the field of labor migration. The proposed legislative amendments, which are based on international best practices and reflect the Moldovan context, pave the way to a new model of labor migration management which localizes international ethical recruitment standards, aligns labor migration policy with national and international labor market needs and enforces the protection of men and women migrants rights, such as access to work rights, decent work, labor markets and justice, particularly for those in vulnerable situations.

The Project shall foster participation of all stakeholders, cross-institutional coordination and evidence-based design of circular labour migration policies and regulation, while accounting for human-rights and gender equality principles. The project shall strengthen stakeholders’ capacities to design and deliver human-centered employment services and raise awareness among migrants and their families about the risk and advantages of labour migration, benefits and opportunities of reintegration in Moldova.

Against this background, the overall objective of the foreseen consultancy is to provide support to the relevant national stakeholders to develop and implement a coherent and evidence-based legislative, policy, coordination and institutional framework in the area of labour migration, including for an efficient management of circular and temporary migration and the protection of migrants’ rights.

Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant:

In order to reach this overall objective, IOM Moldova will be contracting a national consultant to provide support to the relevant national stakeholders to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the employment of Moldovan workers for seasonal work in the Federal Republic of Germany signed in 2021 by Moldovan and German relevant authorities, aiming at promoting efficient management of circular and temporary migration and the protection of Moldovan migrants’ rights working in Germany. 

To achieve this, the consultant is expected to:

• provide expertise support to the public agencies from Moldova to operationalize and implement the signed MoU by addressing major concerns related to the protection of Moldovan migrants’ rights working in Germany, including by providing capacity building sessions and counselling to central and territorial National Employment Agency offices on relevant German labour legislation;
• provide legal counselling support in the area of employment to the Moldovan labour migrants working / preparing to work in Germany in the framework of the MD-DE MoU, who are referred to the national consultant by the Moldovan National Employment Agency representatives;
• support the Moldovan National Employment Agency to draft information materials addressing the eligibility criteria, legal procedures, rights, responsibilities, grievance mechanisms of the Moldovan temporary labour migrants working / preparing to work in Germany in the framework of the MD-DE MoU;
• based on the counselling support provided to Moldovan labour migrants working in Germany in the framework of the MD-DE MoU, draft a guide aiming at reducing the risks and vulnerabilities migrants face at different stages of migration by respecting, protecting and fulfilling their human rights and providing them with care and assistance.

The provided support is aiming at reducing the risks and vulnerabilities migrants face at different stages of migration by provided expertise support to the public agencies from Moldova to operationalize and implement the signed MoU; by provided counselling support to the Moldovan labour migrants working / preparing to work in Germany in the framework of the MD-DE MoU;  by drafted information materials, including leaflets and a guide, addressing the eligibility criteria, legal procedures, rights, responsibilities, grievance mechanisms and responding to the main concerns of the labour migrants during the entire migration circle.

Timetable of deliverables:

Consultant is hired to provide the bellow deliverables, according to the proposed timeline:

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:

Migration and Development Department of IOM Moldova Mission is responsible for coordinating and overseeing this assignment within the framework of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) funded the UNDP project “Migration and local development”.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

Satisfactory submission of deliverables indicated in these ToR.

 Period of consultancy and remuneration

The Consultancy and its tasks hereunder shall be performed during 1 December 2021 – 30 September 2022. Starting with day of the consultancy contract signing, the National Consultant will be given up to 60 working days to carry out the entire assignment. The fee will be paid to the Consultant in 4 (four) instalments, according to the established delivery schedule, upon completion by the Consultant of all tasks specified in these terms of reference.

Note: The 60 number of working days have been estimated as being sufficient/feasible for the envisaged volume of work to be completed successfully and is proposed as a guideline for the duration of the assignment. It cannot and shall not be used as criteria for completion of work/assignment. The provision of envisaged deliverables approved by the IOM and UNDP, shall be the only criteria for National Consultant’s work being completed and eligible for payment/s.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education, Experience and/or skills required:

• Advanced degree (PhD or MA) in law, public affairs and/or other social science related areas relevant for the assignment;
• Complementary studies in economics and/or international development will be an advantage;
• Other formal education relevant for the assignment;
• At least 5 years of proven experience in providing capacity building interventions to national governments on labour migration issues;
• Previous work in countries from the region and/or Moldova on relevant topics would be considered an asset;
• Strong knowledge of IRIS Standard, labour migration regulatory and legal framework at the EU and international level required;
• Strong Knowledge of the Moldovan labour migration regulatory, legal and institutional framework;
• Knowledge of German labour migration regulatory, legal and institutional framework;
• Experience in working with public administration agencies, international organizations and IOM
• and/or UN agencies in particular;
• Computer literacy, especially Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel;
• Strong organizational, analytical and writing skills;
• Ability to timely understand the Organization’s structure and portfolios;
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds;
• Proven ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to set deadlines;
• Practical experience of how to multi-task, prioritize and work independently;
• Fluency in Romanian and English language is required;
• Good working knowledge of German language would be an asset.

 Travel required:

No travel is envisaged under current contract

 Diversity:

IOM adheres to the core values of the United Nations; in particular, is respectful of differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

 Notes:

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality. The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation

 Competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• 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 action 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/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

 How to apply:

Method of application: Please express your interest by sending CV and cover letter in English or Romanian language to the following address

IOM Chisinau, 36/1 Ciuflea St., Chişinău MD 2001, Republic of Moldova

Fax. +373 22/ 23 28 62, E-mail: hrchisinau@iom.md  and vvarzari@iom.int

Queries can be directed to the same mentioned email addresses.

Please use the mandatory Subject title: “National Consultant to support the MoU between Moldova and Germany on labour migration”

Closing date for applications is 16 November 2021, however, interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for interview.

IOM reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to annul the selection process and reject all Proposals at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected Service Providers.