Secondary National Consultant (National Assessment on Online Fraud and Fraudulent Recruitment Practices)
- Organisation: International Organization for Migration
- Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
- Contract: Consultant
- Deadline: 19 November 2026
Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Project Context and Scope
This consultancy contributes to the implementation of two IOM projects in Tajikistan: the “Central Asia Safe Migration” project funded by the UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF), which aims to reduce migrants’ vulnerability to exploitation, recruitment fraud, and unsafe migration while supporting sustainable reintegration for returning migrants across Central Asia; and “Tajikistan: Enhancing the Detection and Prevention of Online Recruitment Fraud and Digital Risks Targeting Migrants”, funded by the IOM Development Fund (IOMDF), which seeks to strengthen the detection and prevention of online labour recruitment fraud and related digital risks affecting migrants in Tajikistan.
Working closely with the Lead National Consultant and under the guidance of IOM National Project Officers, the Secondary National Consultant will assist in ensuring that all research components are integrated into a coherent and evidence-based assessment that examines the risks of online fraud affecting prospective migrants and the effectiveness of existing prevention and response mechanisms.
The assessment will be structured around two complementary thematic pillars:
(1) Legal, Organisational, and Institutional Analysis , which will examine the legal, regulatory, and institutional environment responsible for labour migration, recruitment practices, digital platforms, online fraud, and victim protection in the Republic of Tajikistan. This component will assess the roles, responsibilities, capacities, and coordination mechanisms of relevant government institutions, law enforcement agencies, recruitment intermediaries, civil society organizations, and private-sector actors. It will also identify legislative, regulatory, and operational gaps that may enable fraudulent recruitment practices to persist.
(2) Individual Behavioural Analysis , which will explore the social, behavioural, and informational factors that influence migrants' vulnerability to fraudulent recruitment schemes and online scams. This component will examine how prospective migrants access recruitment opportunities and migration-related information, their perceptions of risk, decision-making processes, and the tactics commonly used by fraudsters to gain trust and exploit vulnerabilities.
The Secondary National Consultant will take primary responsibility for the research and analysis under the second pillar and will support the Lead National Consultant in the implementation of desk research and analysis under the first pillar. The Secondary National Consultant will contribute to the design of research tools, lead the collection of qualitative data from prospective migrants and key informants, conduct preliminary analysis of interview findings, and ensure that primary research evidence is accurately documented and integrated into the overall assessment.
Under the guidance of the Lead National Consultant, the Secondary National Consultant will contribute to the formulation of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, improving prevention and enforcement measures, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and informing targeted awareness-raising interventions for populations most at risk of online fraud and fraudulent recruitment practices.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Cross-departmental: Migrant Solutions Unit / Migrant Protection and Assistance Unit
Tasks to be performed under this contract
Under the direct supervision of the Lead National Consultant, and overall supervisions of National Project Officers and the Chief of Mission, and in collaboration with project staff based in IOM Tajikistan office, the successful candidate will support the delivery of a National Assessment Report on Online Fraud and Fraudulent Recruitment Practices in Tajikistan and complementary Mapping Report on Existing Mechanisms for Detecting, Preventing and Responding to Online Fraud Affecting Migrants. The outputs will be delivered on a two-instalment payment basis.
Deliverables
Tasks
# of working days and timelines
Instalment
Deliverable 1 :
Comprehensive Desk Research
• Finalize assessment methodology with IOM and other relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of existing literature and empirical data on the social, behavioural, and informational factors that influence migrants' vulnerability to fraudulent recruitment schemes and online scams internationally.
• Compile Desk Study Report in Tajik/Russian , including a preliminary analytical framework to guide the assessment.
5 days within W1-W3
40%
Deliverable 2 :
Draft Assessment Report Based on Desk Research
• Review findings from the Lead National Consultant's desk review on the legal, institutional, and organisational environment of labour migration in Tajikistan and provide feedback and suggestions.
• In collaboration with the Lead National Consultant, synthesize institutional, legal, regulatory and social-behavioural evidence into a unified analytical framework.
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with the submission of the (a) First Draft National Assessment Report on Online Fraud and Fraudulent Recruitment Practices in Tajikistan based on findings from desk research (and stakeholder consultations, if necessary).
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with thesubmission of the (b) First Draft Mapping Report on Existing Mechanisms for Detecting, Preventing and Responding to Online Fraud Affecting Migrants.
5 days within W4-W5
Deliverable 3:
Analysis of Primary Data and Expanded Assessment
• Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with affected migrants
• Collaborate with the Lead National Consultant to analyse qualitative data collected through interviews with affected migrants.
• Triangulate primary data findings with desk research to validate, refine, and expand the assessment.
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with the submission of a revised (c) Second Draft National Assessment Report on Online Fraud and Fraudulent Recruitment Practices in Tajikistan, incorporating primary research findings.
7 days within W6-W7
60%
Deliverable 4 :
Final Report and Validation
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with developing a PPT summarizing assessment findings for validation workshop and assist with the faciliation of this workshop.
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with the submission of the (d) Finalised National Assessment Report on Online Fraud and Fraudulent Recruitment Practices in Tajikistan.
• Assist the Lead National Consultant with the submission (e) Finalised Mapping Report on Existing Mechanisms for Detecting, Preventing and Responding to Online Fraud Affecting Migrants, which summarises the key findings and recommendations for the mapping exercise on fraud detection, prevention and prosecution mechanisms.
3 days within W8-W9
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
The Secondary National Consultant’s performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
• Advanced degree (Master’s) in social sciences, legal studies, criminology or a related discipline.
• At least five years of experience in conducting research with a focus on institutional, organisational or legal analysis in the Republic of Tajikistan.
Experience
• Experience developing and validating research instruments, managing data collection processes, and ensuring data quality.
• Adequate administrative and logistical support to handle any operational aspects of the research, including coordination of fieldwork, stakeholder engagement, and reporting.
• Knowledge of labour migration, recruitment and/or online fraudulent practices, cybersecurity governance, data protection and policies with specific reference to the Republic of Tajikistan.
• Experience working with or in government institutions, preferably in relevant migration or internal affairs institutions
Languages
For this consultancy, fluency in Engish, Tajik and Russian (oral and written) is required.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Application Requirements
• In addition to standard application documents, applicants are required to submit a brief proposed methodological approach (maximum 2-3 pages) outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed research methods, data collection and analysis approaches, and key considerations for implementing the assessment. The proposed methodological approach will be considered as part of the technical evaluation of candidates. The selected consultants will be responsible for further developing and finalizing the detailed assessment methodology in consultation with IOM and relevant stakeholders following the commencement of the consultancy.