International Consultancy for Scoping Study on Heatwaves and Migrant Health in Uzbekistan

Job Description

Nature of the consultancy: 

Consultancy services to support the implementation a Gender-Sensitive Scoping Study on the Impacts of Rising Temperature/Heatwaves on the Health of Migrants and Their Families in Uzbekistan.

Background information:

Uzbekistan, like many countries, is experiencing the impacts of climate change, particularly rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves. These climate-induced events can have significant health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations, including migrants and their families. The Third National Communication of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reported that research has shown that the arid climate, particularly during long and hot summers, can exacerbate conditions like ischemic heart disease, hypertensive disease, and cerebrovascular disease, due to thermal discomfort and external hyperthermic hypoxia (Uzbekistan. National Communication (NC). NC 3.," UNFCCC, Tashkent, 2017). Moreover, there is compelling evidence linking warmer periods to an increase in food-borne and water-borne diseases in Uzbekistan. Acute intestinal infections have been found to correlate positively with higher air temperatures, with a noticeable rise in bacterial dysentery cases during the summer months compared to other seasons. Increased mortality rates due to extreme heat have also been observed, underscoring the urgent need for effective measures to address climate-related health risks in Uzbekistan. (V. Novikov and C. Kelly, "Climate Change and Security in Central Asia.," 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.osce.org/secretariat/355471?download=true)

Migrants, who often live and work in precarious conditions with limited access to health care and public services, may be at an even greater risk from extreme heat events. However, specific research on the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves on migrants and their families in destination communities remains limited in Central Asia in general and Uzbekistan in particular. At the same time, the gendered dimensions of these impacts are often overlooked. Understanding the specific vulnerabilities of male and female migrants, as well as women from migrant families to rising temperatures and heatwaves is essential to develop targeted interventions that protect the health of migrant communities.

This project aims to improve the understanding of national stakeholders of the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves on migrants – both internal and international - and their families in destination communities in Uzbekistan. It will contribute to the Government of Uzbekistan's implementation of the National Adaptation Plan as part of its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a special focus on the Sectoral Adaptation Plan for the Health Sector.

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: 

“Supporting the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and assessing the impacts of climate change-induced rising temperatures and heatwaves on the health of migrants” (NC0144) funded by IOM Development Fund

Reporting and Coordination

The selected consultant will report to the Project Manager and work closely with the Project Steering Committee and other key stakeholders, including local government bodies, migrant support organizations, and health services. Regular updates on progress will be expected throughout the study.

Objectives of the Study

To improve understanding of the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves on migrants – both internal and international - and their families in destination communities in Uzbekistan and contribute to an evidence base on the nexus between migration, environment, and climate change, including gender considerations.

Scope of the Study 

The study will be conducted in selected regions of Uzbekistan with significant migrant populations. The scope includes:

1. Geographical Scope: Targeted regions will be selected in collaboration with relevant sectoral and local stakeholders based on migration patterns and climate vulnerability.
2. Demographic Scope: The study will include male and female migrants, as well as gender-diverse groups, and their families. It will include:

• Internal migrants who have migrated from climate-vulnerable regions, including from rural areas to urban centers. These populations often live in informal or underserved settlements with limited access to health and public services, making them particularly vulnerable to climate-related health risks such as heatwaves. 
• International migrants, specifically returning Uzbek labour migrants who have previously worked abroad and returned voluntarily or due to crises or job loss. Upon return, they often settle in areas that are also exposed to environmental and climate stressors. The study will adopt a gender-sensitive approach by ensuring inclusive participation to reflect diverse health vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities across gender and migration profiles in the face of rising temperatures and extreme heat events.

3. Climate and Health Focus: The study will focus specifically on the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves, examining both short-term and long-term health consequences. It will assess a range of physical and mental health outcomes, with particular attention to conditions exacerbated by extreme heat, such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and mental health stressors. This integrated focus aims to better understand the complex interactions between climate-induced heat and the health of migrant populations. 

4. Gender Sensitivity: The study will use a gender-sensitive approach to understand the differing impacts of heatwaves on men and women, including reproductive health, gender roles, and access to resources.

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract: 

The Consultant agrees to provide to the IOM the following services:               

Component 1 - Coordination: 

• Finalize a work plan in coordination with the IOM Project Manager and input from the national research partner. 
• Participate in the working group meetings as required by the IOM Project Manager.

Component 2 – Data collection:

• Lead the development of the gender-sensitive research design for the scoping study (including methodology, sampling strategy, research questions, data collection methods, data protection considerations, and data analysis approach) (in English) and support the development of a work plan (in English), in close coordination with IOM and the national research partner.
• Develop and refine research tools (e.g., the house list, survey questionnaire, interview guidelines, etc.) (in English) in coordination with IOM and national research partner, ensuring alignment with study objectives and contextual relevance. Ensure a gender-sensitive research approach by integrating indicators that capture the experiences and vulnerabilities of women, men, and gender-diverse individuals across different migrant groups.
• Support IOM to organize a consultation to better understand the state of knowledge, define target groups, and identify priority regions of the gender-sensitive scoping study. The international research consultant will help to develop the agenda, the concept note, and the presentation materials for this consultation with input from IOM and the national research partner. IOM will organize the consultation.
• Support the national research partner online to facilitate a capacity development workshop (2 days) for the enumerators ahead of the data collection in the study areas in Uzbekistan. This capacity development workshop will be led and organized by the national research partner. Based on input from the international research partner, the national research partner will develop the workshop agenda and workshop presentation materials and submit them to IOM before the workshop for review and feedback.
• Supervise the data collection in the study areas of Uzbekistan by the national research partner according to the Work Plan and agreed research methodology. Research must comply with data protection standards in place in the context of research and should be aligned with IOM Data Protection Principles.
• Support the data cleaning, ensuring rigour and consistency. Oversee and provide technical guidance on the quality assurance and supervision of data collection processes.

Component 3 – Analysis and reporting:

• Prepare the first draft of the findings report of the scoping study for Uzbekistan in English (maximum 10,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List). The international research consultant will take the lead in drafting this report. The national research partner will co-author this report. The international research consultant, who will lead the development of this report, will involve the national research partner in drafting this report.
• Finalize the report incorporating stakeholder feedback. Prepare the first draft of the findings report of the scoping study for Uzbekistan in English (maximum 10,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List). The international research consultant will take the lead in drafting this report. The national research partner will co-author this report. The international research consultant, who will lead the development of this report, will involve the national research partner in drafting this report.
• Lead the preparation of the info sheet summarizing the study findings (maximum 3,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List). The international research consultant, who will lead the development of this information sheet, will involve the national research partner in drafting this information sheet.

Timeline:

The timeline should include the following key milestones:

Component 1 - Coordination: 

• Finalize a work plan in coordination with the IOM Project Manager and input from the national research partner by 31 July 2025.
• Participate in the working group meetings as required by the IOM Project Manager between July 2025 and 31 May 2026.

Component 2 – Data collection

• Develop the gender-sensitive research design (including methodology, sampling strategy, research questions, data collection methods, data protection considerations, and data analysis approach) (in English) by 30 August 2025. The research design will be submitted to IOM for approval. 
• Develop and refine research tools (e.g., the house list, survey questionnaire, and interview guidelines, etc.) (in English) by 15 September 2025. The research design will be submitted to IOM for approval.
• Support IOM to organize a consultation to better understand the state of knowledge, define target groups, and identify priority regions of the gender-sensitive scoping study by 5 September 2025.
•  Support the national research partner online to facilitate a capacity development workshop (2 days) for the enumerators by 30 September 2025.
• Supervise and quality assure data collection activities by 10 November 2025.
• Guide and provide input on cleaning, processing, and analyzing the data collected by 25 November 2025.

Component 3 - Reporting:

• Prepare the first draft of the findings report for Uzbekistan in English (maximum 10,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List) by 5 January 2026. The international research consultant will take the lead in drafting this report. The international research consultant, who will lead the development of this report, will involve the national research partner in drafting this report. The first draft report will be submitted to IOM for approval.
• Finalise the findings report for Uzbekistan in English (maximum 10,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List) by 20 February 2026. The international research consultant, who will take the lead the development of this report, will involve the national research partner in drafting this report. The report will be finalized in coordination with IOM.
• Develop an information sheet summarizing the study findings (maximum 3,000 words including figures, references, and footnotes written in compliance with the IOM House Style Manual and Spelling List) by 28 February 2026.

Qualifications

Expertise and Qualifications:

Qualification, capacity, and experience

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing mixed methods studies on the migration, environment, and climate change nexus.
• Demonstrated expertise in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data from large survey datasets.
• Demonstrated expertise in the team on researching the migration, environment, and climate change nexus. 
• Demonstrated expertise in the team on researching the interlinkages between migration, environment, and climate change nexus and health will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience of collaboration with relevant sectoral government entities in Uzbekistan in researching the migration, environment, and climate change nexus will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing a longitudinal study on the migration, environment, and climate change nexus will be an advantage.

Proposed methodology, approach, and implementation plan

• Understanding of the requirement: The important aspects of the task have been addressed in sufficient detail. The different components of the project are adequately weighted relative to one another.
• The submission addresses the ethical considerations for this work and how these will be practically addressed within the methodology.
• The work plan is clear and realistic.

Management Structure and Key Personnel:

-Qualifications of key personnel proposed

• Team Leader

1. Advanced postgraduate degree (i.e., PhD, MA, MSc) in Public Health, Demography, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Statistics, Development Studies, Migration Studies Public Affairs, Health, and/or other disciplines relevant to the assignments.
2. Demonstrated experience in managing a research team and working in an interdisciplinary team.

• Other team members

1. Advanced postgraduate degree (i.e., PhD, MA, MSc) in Public Health, Demography, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Statistics, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Public Affairs, Health, and/or other disciplines relevant to the assignments.
2. Demonstrated experience in sampling and designing surveys.
3. Demonstrated experience in GIS will be an advantage.

-Demonstrated experience in publishing in peer-reviewed journals or being commissioned by government entities, UN agencies, or development partners to develop reports on topics relevant to this assignment.

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 act in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules, and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates the 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 of 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.

Required Skills

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