National Awareness Campaign Consultant

Job Description

Tajikistan is a country that experiences significant outward labor migration. Migrant workers travelling abroad are exposed to risks associated with international labor migration, including trafficking in persons. The country’s economy also heavily relies on the remittances sent back by migrant workers abroad. In some cases, individuals in remittance-dependent households can become vulnerable to entering situations of exploitation and abuse when the primary wage earners are unable to send money home. In recent years, the pandemic-related travel restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 led to such a reduction in remittances. Over the last two decades, the Government of Tajikistan has taken steps to address TIP through the establishment of a TIP legislative framework and by putting in place prevention-oriented mechanisms to reduce the exploitation of Tajik migrants abroad, such as pre-departure orientation centers that provide timely information to migrant workers to reduce their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse while abroad. However, additional support is needed to further strengthen efforts in the country to identify victims and potential victims of trafficking and refer them to adequate trauma-informed, age-appropriate, gender- and culturally sensitive services.  

The project Tajikistan Safe Migration and Combating Trafficking in Persons (Tajikistan SM & CTIP) contributes to wider efforts in Central Asia, focusing on Tajikistan, and aimed at reducing vulnerability to TIP among vulnerable individuals, communities, and populations through the promotion of safe migration and increased access to trauma-informed, age-appropriate, gender- and culturally sensitive services. It envisions a whole-of government and whole-of society approach to Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), working to strengthen systems and address gaps in a participatory manner, working to ensure the local ownership of its achievements and results. To achieve this objective, the project focuses on three primary intended outcomes in the areas of preventing trafficking in persons, protecting victims of trafficking, and strengthening partnerships to better combat trafficking in persons.

Responsibilities

1. Implement a national awareness campaign strategy for IOM “Safe Migration and Countering Trafficking in Persons” Project and revise it while implementation, if necessary. It should contain, but not limited to:

• Based on the targeting assessment results in identifying the project target audience and counterparts in designing the tailored-made communication activities in line with the objectives of the project; 
• Use of modern communication tools to develop communication message and materials;
• A subset on engagement with service providers, local leaders, and other stakeholders;
• Provide advice on national and local migration campaigns, and promote their visibility globally;
• Tracking, monitoring and reporting on new developments in migration and TIP and associated events;
• Identify opportunities for further public relations work around migration and TIP work of program; 
• Develop a set of communication guidelines in areas of non-discriminatory access to service delivery for migrants, promotes diversity inclusion.

2. Support local CSOs, mahalla leaders and local influencers to conduct regular information sessions and hold awareness raising events. 

• Identify community-based communication spaces, and information channels to disseminate information on integration services available to migrants;
• Capacity building for CSOs and local leaders, and other stakeholders to provide clear and accurate safe migration and trafficking in persons prevention information;
• Capacity building for the stakeholders through mentoring, training, and the provision of targeted grants to organize local awareness raising event initiatives;
• Identify specific or complex legal cases through local initiatives/events at the oblast, city/district, and local levels; 
• Use of social media and web-based awareness raising tool, such as geographically targeted internet advertisements to reach out to potential migrants, individuals on the move, vulnerable groups, trafficking in persons survivors, and other risk groups, with safe migration and trafficking in persons prevention messages;
• Assist the project team in the preparation of press releases, speeches, and other communication products which will be identified in principle at the outset of, and refined at periodic intervals throughout the consultancy;
• Post information materials in different platforms such as: webpages, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), information portals; 
• Support local CSOs and local mahalla leaders to conduct regular information sessions and hold local awareness raising events with local populations by building their capacity to provide clear and accurate safe migration and trafficking in persons prevention information. 

3. Implement targeted awareness raising through social media, in line with the developed national awareness campaign strategy and taking into consideration the initial targeting assessment

• Educate a wider audience on the consequences of irregular migration, migration-related legal procedures, hotline availability, available resources and referral pathways;
• Participate in IOM Communication Group meetings and contribute with inputs in relation to a joint IOM events/action; 
• Create a media mix, specifying appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders;
• Support in using the social media and web-based awareness raising tools, such as geographically targeted internet advertisements to reach out to potential migrants, individuals on the move, vulnerable groups, TIP survivors, and other risk groups, with safe migration and TIP  prevention messaging. 
• Cooperate closely with Tajik media to ensure their participation in project events when required; 
• Prepare and submit reports on all activities of the campaign; 
• Perform any other duties upon request.

Expected deliverables

• A national awareness strategy and campaign using the most effective materials and methods to reach the segments of the population most likely to migrate and most vulnerable to trafficking in persons;
• Support for local SCOs and mahalla (community) leaders to conduct information sessions and hold regular local awareness raising events with their local population;
• Targeted social media, in line with the national awareness campaign strategy, to educate a wider audience on the consequences of irregular migration, migration-related legal procedures, hotline availability, available resources and referral pathways;
• An action plan to roll-out media and awareness raising strategy;
• Monitoring and evaluation plan for developed strategies and activities;
• Present awareness raising strategy to local population most likely to migrate and most vulnerable to trafficking in persons in four regions of Tajikistan, e.g. Khatlon, Sughd, GBAO and DRS.

• Drafted and revised written information materials for external communication, such as press release, stories, social media postings, infographics for visibility purposes on regular basis;
• Posted information materials in different platforms, including IOM and USAID webpage, social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), and information portals on continuous basis;
• Provided a monthly report about work done by the end of each month.

Qualifications

Required Skills

Job info