Development of Standard Operating Procedures for Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund

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4.1 Project Context and Scope

Context

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police in combating Trafficking in Persons (TIP) under the project titled “Supporting Lesotho in the Protection of Victims of Trafficking and the Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons.

The Government of Lesotho has demonstrated its commitment to combating Trafficking in Persons (TIP) through the enactment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011 (as amended in 2021), and the establishment of institutional mechanisms aimed at preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and prosecuting offenders. The Act provides for the establishment of a Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund, intended to support assistance, protection, rehabilitation, reintegration, and recovery services for victims of trafficking. While the legal provision exists, the Trust Fund has not yet been operationalized, and there are currently no standardized procedures to guide its governance, administration, financing, accountability, disbursement, monitoring, and reporting.

IOM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police, seeks to engage a qualified consultant to develop comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the management of the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund. Given that the Trust Fund provided for in the Act has not yet been operationalized, the consultancy shall not only develop SOPs but also propose a practical operationalization framework to guide the establishment and functioning of the Trust Fund. This framework should identify the institutional, governance, financial, administrative, and legal arrangements required to make the Fund fully operational and sustainable. The SOPs will serve as a practical guide for the establishment, governance, management, utilization, and accountability of the Trust Fund, in accordance with national legislation and international good practices.

4.2. Scope of Work

Overall objective 

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop the operationalization framework and Standard Operating Procedures to guide the establishment, administration and effective functioning of the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund.

Specific Objectives

1. Review the legislative and policy framework governing trafficking in persons and victim assistance in Lesotho.
2. Assess existing institutional capacities, gaps, and operational requirements necessary for the effective establishment and operationalization of the Trust Fund
3. Assess international and regional best practices relating to trafficking victim compensation and trust fund management.
4. Consult relevant stakeholders regarding the proposed governance and management arrangements of the Trust Fund.
5. Develop a practical operationalization framework for the Trust Fund 

6. Develop standard operating procedures for the administration and management of the Trust Fund

7. Facilitate stakeholder validation of the draft SOPs and the operationalization framework and incorporate feedback into the final documents.

8. Produce final validated operationalization framework and Standard Operating Procedures 

    

4.2.1 Scope of Work

The consultant shall undertake the following tasks, which include but are not limited to:

1. Review relevant Anti-Trafficking legislation, policies, strategies, guidelines, regulations, and victims assistance frameworks

2. Review international standards and best practices on victim trust funds, compensation mechanisms, and victim assistance programs.

3. Review examples of victim of trafficking trust funds and operationalization frameworks.

4. Review examples of standard operating procedures for the administration and management of the Trust Fund from other countries.

5. Conduct stakeholder consultations in the development of both the operationalization framework and the SOP.

• Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in Law, Public Administration, Public Policy, Development Studies, Human Rights, Social Sciences. OR

• A first-level university degree in the above fields, combined with at least 10 years relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree, subject to applicable institutional requirements.

   

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in developing policies, institutional frameworks, standard operating procedures, or operational guidelines.

• Demonstrated experience in policy and operational programming on anti-trafficking, victim protection, gender-based violence, child protection, social protection, justice sector reform, or related protection programming.

• Proven experience conducting legal and institutional analysis and translating findings into practical operational frameworks and tools.

• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and validation workshops with government, civil society, and development partners.

• Previous work experience in Lesotho or Southern Africa and familiarity with public sector systems, trust fund mechanisms, and victim assistance programming will be an added advantage.

• Strong analytical and drafting skills, with demonstrated ability to produce high-quality policy and procedural documents.

• Excellent understanding of victim-centred, rights-based, gender-sensitive, and confidentiality principles.

• Knowledge of governance, accountability, and financial management arrangements relevant to trust funds or similar financing instruments.

• Excellent facilitation, consultation, and communication skills.

   

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Sesotho will be an added advantage

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work. 

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

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