Job description

Project Context and Scope: The consultant will contribute to the training and capacity building needs of the project entitled “Supporting Regional Centre of Excellence for Combatting Trafficking in Persons  in the Kingdom of Bahrain Phase II” (RCTIP II/2). The objective of this project is to support the efforts of the Government of Bahrain to combat trafficking in persons (TiP) and strengthen technical capacity and regional cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa, in alignment with international standards. The Kingdom also inaugurated a Regional Centre of Excellence and Capacity Building for Combatting Trafficking in Persons (now called RCTiP) in 2021. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) have been the lead implementers of this project. Training curriculum and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed for key target groups to enhance identification and referral procedures for VoTs and PVoTs. While these efforts have successfully increased knowledge and awareness of counter trafficking  mechanisms in the Kingdom, the RCTiP has potential to grow, both nationally and regionally.  

The Phase 2 project is based on two strategic pillars: 1) the expansion of existing training materials to reach a wider audience of practitioners (including through digital channels); and 2) the strengthening of Bahrain’s role as a regional leader on combating TiP. Both of these pillars are guided by IOM’s Counter-Trafficking Theory of Change, with activities that reflect the following intervention models: Capacity-development for service provision and protection; Referral system strengthening; Law and policy development; and Research and data collection/management. These modules aim to ensure a cohesive approach to counter-trafficking.

While the resources developed under Phase 1 effectively capacitated almost 100 frontline workers to become  counter trafficking trainers, additional action is needed to reach a broader audience of practitioners who can assist trafficked persons. Through Strategic Pillar 1, the existing curriculum will be adapted for a broader audience, including other professionals who may come into contact with PVoTs, such as interpreters, recruitment officers and manpower agents, and border or immigration officials. Through an e-learning platform, a greater focus will be placed on self-learning and awareness raising. The aim will be to streamline frontline workers’ knowledge of TiP and ability to identify and assist PVoTs, in accordance with national protection mechanisms (namely the NRM, Expatriate Protection Centre and national anti-trafficking hotline) and in alignment with international standards. Opportunities to support the sustainability of the centre, for example through monetization of these trainings, will be explored throughout this phase, with a view to supporting the long-term viability of the centre. Through Strategic Pillar 2, the RCTIP will be better positioned to fulfil its regional mandate. Given that Phase 1 activities focused on frontline workers in Bahrain, Phase 2 will also target professionals elsewhere in the region. The visibility of the centre and its partners will also be increased through a dedicated visibility strategy. These initiatives will serve to strengthen the counter-trafficking ecosystem in Bahrain and the wider region, focusing in particular on enhancing service provision and protection, referral systems, and law and policy frameworks on counter-trafficking.