Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Consultant

1. Duty Station of the Consultancy: Pohnpei, Republic of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The consultancy will be conducted primarily on a remote basis with travel to the duty station.

2. Duration of consultancy: Five (5) months from the start date

3. Nature of the consultancy: The objective of this consultancy is to develop practical, culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and user-friendly tools to strengthen TiP prevention in FSM and promote safe migration for FSM citizens migrating mainly to the United States of America and other areas.

4. Project Context and Scope:

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) continues to experience steady outward migration, particularly to the United States and its territories under the Compact of Free Association. FSM citizens migrate for education, employment, health care, family reunification, and broader socio-economic opportunities. While migration offers important benefits, it also exposes migrants to potential risks, including Trafficking in Persons, labor exploitation, and other forms of abuse. Although awareness activities on Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and safe migration have been conducted, these efforts remain fragmented and lack a consolidated, trauma-informed, and context-specific framework. There is currently no standardized TiP prevention toolkit to guide consistent national messaging, nor a structured pre-departure orientation curriculum to equip FSM citizens with practical knowledge and skills prior to migration.

At the policy level, the FSM Government in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration is currently developing a National Migration Policy in which emigration constitutes a core thematic area within the draft policy framework with safe migration emerging as one of the key priorities. In parallel, IOM is undertaking a diaspora mapping exercise to generate evidence on the experiences, challenges, and needs of FSM citizens abroad. The findings of this exercise are expected to provide critical insights into protection risks, integration challenges, labor market experiences, and support gaps faced by FSM migrants. This evidence will directly inform policy direction and strengthen national programming, including the design and institutionalization of structured pre-departure orientation, improved reintegration support, and enhanced diaspora engagement for national development.

In this context, there is a clear need to institutionalize prevention and safe migration efforts through standardized, practical, and sustainable tools. This consultancy therefore seeks to develop a comprehensive TiP Awareness Raising Toolkit and a Modular Pre-Departure Orientation Curriculum, each incorporating aligned and culturally appropriate visual communication materials to support effective dissemination and implementation across all the four (4) FSM states.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the consultant is contributing: The assignment will be carried out under the IOM Micronesia Migration Management Unit, and the consultant will work under direct supervision of the Migration Management Coordinator and overall supervision of the Chief of Mission for IOM North Pacific Coordination Office. In addition, coordination with other relevant IOM offices such as IOM Washington and IOM Regional Office for Asia and Pacific will be required as appropriate.

V. CATEGORY B Consultant: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment:

1. Inception Report

The consultant is required to submit an inception report within two weeks following the signing of the contract. This report will then undergo a review process lasting an additional two weeks, engaging relevant IOM offices and key government stakeholders. The report should cover; methodology for the TiP toolkit and Pre-Departure Curriculum, a workplan, stakeholder consultation plan, proposed structure for both packages, visual communication strategy, risk mitigation measures with recommended actions, and an analysis of relevant IOM CTiP toolkits and PDO resources.

Once completed, the inception report will be submitted to the FSM Government and IOM, including the Country Office and Regional Office, for review and approval. Approval of this report is required before proceeding with the main body of work.

2.  Draft TiP Awareness Raising Toolkit (including visual materials).

The consultant shall submit a complete draft Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Awareness Raising Toolkit developed using trauma-informed and rights-based approaches. This Toolkit will form a key component in strengthening national messaging and prevention efforts on trafficking and exploitation. The Toolkit shall include, but is not limited to, the following elements:

• A clear overview of TiP in the context of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), outlining the current landscape and challenges faced by FSM citizens.

• Defined prevention objectives, as well as segmentation of the target audience to ensure messaging is relevant and appropriately tailored.

• Provision of tailored key prevention messages designed to resonate with the specific needs and vulnerabilities of different groups within FSM.

• Identification of appropriate dissemination channels, based on stakeholder consultations. This will include community platforms, radio, youth engagement, faith-based outreach, as well as both print and digital formats, to maximise reach and effectiveness.

• Inclusion of practical session outlines and facilitator guidance, supporting effective delivery of 

  the Toolkit’s content in a variety of settings.

• Provision of monitoring tools and ethical implementation guidance to ensure responsible use of the Toolkit and promote continuous improvement of awareness-raising activities.

All Toolkit materials must be culturally appropriate for FSM, use clear and simple language, and reflect trauma-informed messaging. Materials should be fully aligned with existing branding guidelines, delivered in high-resolution, print-ready formats, and provided as fully editable source files for ease of adaptation and future use.

The consultant should also deliver PowerPoint presentations for both components to support capacity building sessions following the development of the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) curriculum.

The consultant is responsible for developing and submitting a comprehensive, modular Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) Curriculum package for FSM citizens migrating to the United States and its territories. The focus is on promoting safe migration, preventing trafficking, and fostering informed decision-making. The PDO package must be practical, adaptable, and suitable for delivery at both national and state levels.

• Curriculum framework: The package will contain clearly defined overall training objectives, structured and logically sequenced modules, learning objectives for each module, estimated duration per module, and a modular design adaptable for short, half-day, or full-day sessions.

  • Core Modules: At minimum, the curriculum will cover migration pathways and documentation requirements, rights and responsibilities in the United States and its territories, risks of trafficking and exploitation, safe migration practices and preparedness, and access to support services and reporting mechanisms. Content is to be clear, practical, culturally appropriate, and accessible to participants with varying educational backgrounds. 

  • Facilitator Guide: This guide will include step-by-step delivery guidance, key talking points, discussion questions, interactive exercises, FSM-relevant case studies, and advice on managing sensitive topics. The facilitator guide is intended to enable delivery by trained government personnel. 

  • Participant Materials: These will provide simplified handouts, a checklist for safe migration preparations, summary sheets covering rights and reporting pathways, and structured space for personal planning. 

  • Monitoring Tools: Tools will include simple pre- and post-session knowledge assessments, an attendance tracking template, suggested reporting indicators, and a participant feedback template.

The PDO package will also feature draft and final visual editable materials aligned with safe migration messaging, including visual summaries, infographics, and a standardised slide template.

The consultant will provide PowerPoint presentations for both components to support capacity building sessions following the development of the PDO curriculum.

4. Validation and Revision

The consultant shall support one validation workshop for both the draft TiP toolkit and PDO curriculum, along with the visual communication package for each component. The consultant will be required to travel on site to facilitate this process.

All final versions must be delivered in editable and PDF formats. In addition, the consultant should provide PowerPoint presentations for both components to support the capacity building sessions proceeding the development of the TiP toolkit and PDO curriculum.

i. Summary of expected deliverables:

1. Travel: The consultant will be required to undertake up to two duty travel missions. One at the inception phase to support data collection and stakeholder consultations, and one during the validation phase to support presentation and validation of findings. Any required travel will be coordinated with IOM and undertaken in accordance with IOM travel policies.

2. Candidate requirements

   1. Education, Experience and/or skills required

   • Bachelor’s degree in migration related studies, public policy, international relations or development, economics, data science/statistics or a related field with at least 7 years of professional experience in migration management, governance or policy development. OR Advanced degree in migration related studies, public policy, international relations or development, economics, data science/statistics or a related field with at least 5 years of professional experience in migration governance, policy development, or related areas.

   • Prior involvement in migration or related research surveys and familiarity with counter-trafficking program delivery, and pre-departure orientation, Communication for Development frameworks.

   • Proven experience in drafting policy documents for governments or international organizations.

• Strong understanding of international migration frameworks and regional migration contexts.

• Excellent research and analytical skills

• Communication, workshop facilitation, and writing skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with Pacific Island or Indigenous communities is an asset

2. Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of any of local languages (Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Chuukese, and Yapese) is advantageous.

3. Values and competencies:

Values

1. Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

2. Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

3. 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