ThaiNGO

Who We Are 

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.  

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.   

The Need 

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Consultancy for Forced Labor Capacity Development Project’s Final Evaluation to conduct a final evaluation of the project Equipping Thai Officials to Identify and Investigate FL/LT: Improving Case Outcomes and Victim Engagement through Enhanced Capacity Building implemented by International Justice Mission (IJM) Thailand. 

This position is based in Bangkok, Thailand and reports to Project Director and is only available for candidates with the right to work in the Thailand.

1. Summary Purpose

To conduct a final evaluation of the project Equipping Thai Officials to Identify and Investigate FL/LT: Improving Case Outcomes and Victim Engagement through Enhanced Capacity Building implemented by International Justice Mission (IJM) Thailand.

Commissioner: IJM Foundation (IJM Thailand)

Dates: January to March 2026

Location: Thailand

2. Background

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems.  The largest non-profit organization of its kind, IJM combats forced labor/labor trafficking (FL/LT), sex trafficking, and gender-based violence, working through over 30 projects across South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

In Thailand, IJM is working to address gaps in the implementation of Thailand’s anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) legislation; confusion among front-line officials in distinguishing between forced labor (FL), labor trafficking (LT), and other labor violations; and the lack of coordination between relevant agencies on FL/LT cases. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), IJM is at the end of implementing a 42-month project called “Equipping Thai Officials to Identify and Investigate FL/LT: Improving Case Outcomes and Victim Engagement through Enhanced Capacity Building”[1]. The project aims to build the Thai government’s capacity to enforce its TIP laws in a trauma-informed, victim-sensitive manner, equipping frontline officials with guidelines and training needed to ultimately increase the number of FL/LT cases identified and improve case investigation outcomes.

The project pursues four interconnected objectives:

• Objective 1: Develop and provide frontline officials with implementing guidelines and coordination and referral SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to strengthen their ability to identify, refer, and investigate FL/LT cases.
• Objective 2: Build training capacity through Training of Trainers (TOTs) and an online learning platform, enabling agencies to systematically train frontline officials in applying the guidelines and SOPs.
• Objective 3: Equip agencies to train frontline officials in trauma-informed, victim-centered practices to ensure sensitive and effective identification and engagement with FL/LT survivors.
• Objective 4: Establish and strengthen teams of expert mentors within each target government agency to reinforce Objectives 2 and 3, providing continuous coaching and support that embeds training into institutional practice.

Some of key activities and achievements to date of the project includes: 

• Strengthened national policy implementation through collaborative work with Thailand’s Ministry of Labor (MOL), resulting in a revised and improved second version of the Forced Labor Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This updated SOP provides clearer, more actionable guidelines for enforcing trafficking in persons and forced labor laws and reflects inputs from frontline practitioners and legal experts.
• Delivered 15 nationwide trainings, reaching over 500 frontline officials from across Thailand. The training focused on victim screening and identification and trauma-informed approach when dealing with potential victims, aligned with the revised FL SOP and the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These trainings helped build practical skills and understanding among frontline  officials working directly with vulnerable populations.
• A group of over 40 Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) was established, who subsequently trained more than 480 frontline officers across 37 provinces across Thailand. This approach contributed to a stronger and more coordinated national response to forced labor and trafficking in persons. The trained frontline officers represented key relevant agencies, including the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare (DLPW); Department of Employment (DOE) and Department of Fisheries (DOF); Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS); Ministry of Labor (MOL); Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA); Royal Thai Police (RTP); and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in this sector.
• A total of 30 trained and experienced mentors were selected from key government agencies to support the implementation of Forced Labor and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) laws and policies. These mentors strengthen frontline capacity by guiding officers in screening and identifying potential victims, particularly in complex or sensitive cases. Through ongoing coaching and field support, they ensure provincial-level officers apply the SOP and victim-centered approaches effectively. Their involvement also promotes peer-to-peer learning, fosters inter-agency collaboration, and enhances case coordination between central and provincial levels.
• Development of an FL SOP e-learning platform for Thai government officials to be completed early next year.

Approaching November 2025, when the project will end, IJM is commissioning a final evaluation to measure the program’s effectiveness, efficiency, relevancy, sustainability and impact. The project may also extend until May 2026.

3. Final Evaluation Objectives

IJM is seeking a consultant team (one or two members) to conduct a final evaluation and document good practices of the project. The specific objective of the final evaluation is to assess the achievement of the project objectives and expected results, to measure efficiency and relevancy of the project, to capture best practices, lessons learned, challenges and to produce recommendations for the U.S. State Department’s TIP Office, IJM,  partners and other actors working on anti-trafficking and forced labor programs in Thailand. 

Evaluation Criteria and Key Questions

Below are the draft evaluation questions which selected consultant(s) are expected to finalize with IJM during the course of the evaluation.

Effectiveness

• To what extent has the project achieved its stated goals and objectives?
• How has the project supported Thai government officials in improving individual job performance and contributing to their organizations’ overall effectiveness?
• Which approaches, practices, and interventions have proven most effective in achieving intended outcomes?

Efficiency

• Were project resources (time, personnel, and funding) used in an efficient and cost-effective manner?

Relevance

• To what extent was the project design responsive to the needs of Thai officials and the broader FL/LT landscape?
• How well did the project align with Thailand’s national strategies and priorities for combating FL/LT?

Sustainability

• Are the results of the project likely to be sustained beyond the project’s lifetime?
• What mechanisms or partnerships are in place to ensure the continued application of skills and knowledge?
• Do beneficiaries expect to continue project activities or maintain outcomes after external support ends, and if so, how?

Impact

• What broader changes in forced labor and anti-trafficking investigation or victim protection practices can be attributed, at least in part, to the project?
• Has the project contributed to systemic or institutional improvements in the Thai justice system or related agencies?

4. Final Evaluation Methodology

The consultant(s) will draft and finalize the evaluation methodology which may include, but not limited to:

• Desk review of key project documents and data and other available data; Review post training surveys and impact stories from beneficiaries of the project and incorporate results in the evaluation.
• Primary data collection with partners, relevant government officials, and other actors working on anti-trafficking and forced labor in Thailand as well as project beneficiaries. The consultant(s) should propose the most appropriate methodologies and approaches. 

IJM will support the consultant(s) in identifying relevant stakeholders and individuals as well as requesting for their participation in this.

5. Consultancy Scope

The consultant(s)/firm is expected to undertake the following tasks: 

1. Draft and finalize the evaluation design key questions, study and sampling methodology, and data collection tools in collaboration with IJM.
2. Develop detailed data collection tools and evaluation timeline.
3. Conduct a desk review of key project documents.
4. Conduct data collection in-person (and some possible remote interviews) with  approximately 10 Thai Government Agencies, and key-stakeholder groups in Thailand, as well as the project team. This will involve travelling to four to six provinces in consultation with project team. Chiang Rai, Ranong, Chonburi, and Bangkok are the key project areas.
5. Analyze the data collected and draw out key findings.
6. Produce a draft report based on a structure agreed with IJM Thailand/APAC and selected external stakeholders to validate the findings. The report must be prepared in both Thai and English.
7. Present the draft findings to IJM (in English).
8. Finalize the evaluation report and present it to IJM partners and key stakeholders in a national event. The slide decks must be prepared in both Thai and English.

Consultant(s)/team will work under the overall management of IJM’s Forced Labor Programs Sr. Lead MERL, Asia Pacific, and collaborate with the project team to design and implement the study on time and within budget. This evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with IJM’s protocol and guidelines. Consent and confidentiality will be obtained and ensured throughout the data gathering phase.

The key outputs and timeline for the consultancy is as follows (a more detailed timeline will be shared and agreed with the consultant(s)/firm during the contract negotiation process):

All products arising from this evaluation will be owned by IJM. The consultant(s)/firm will not be allowed, without prior authorization in writing, to present any of the analytical results as their own work or to make use of the study results for private publication purposes.

Consultant/team requirements

• Master's degree in social sciences or relevant fields for main evaluator (if submitting as team).
• Experience in conducting research, baseline or final evaluation is essential.
• Expertise on data collection process and management.
• Experience related to human trafficking and justice system projects is an advantage.
• Strong institutional networking in Thailand will be an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to conduct research/evaluation in English and Thai, individually or through team members.

Request for Proposal Timeline and Protocol

Interested candidates or candidate teams must submit their application on or before 23:59 on October 03, 2025 (GMT 7). Any questions related to this RFP must be submitted by September 22, 2025. Responses to the questions will be provided by September 26, 2025.

The application should contain:

1. Cover letter explaining qualifications, experience, and competence of the consultant or each consultancy team member for this specific final evaluation.
2. Technical proposal with initial proposed methodology and work plan (which will be discussed and finalized between IJM and the selected consultant(s)/firm, no more than five pages).
3. Résumé package, containing résumés for all team members if applying as a team/firm (no more than four pages per résumé).
4. Financial proposal, which should show the breakdown of the evaluation cost, including the consultant’s rate, travel, per diems, and any other possible costs. The estimated working days are 35-40 working days.
5. Attachment of previous evaluation or research report (optional).

Questions and completed applications should be submitted in PDF format with “RFP: Forced Labor Capacity Development Project in Thailand—Final Evaluation  – [Last Name/Firm Name]” in the subject line and emailed to Mr. Emmanuel Genio Jr. at egeniojr@ijm.org and to bangkokrecruiting@ijm.org. 

Annex 1:  Project Overview of IJM Thailand’s Forced Labor and Labor Trafficking Capacity-Building Project

Background and Problem

Thailand, a regional hub for migrant labor, hosts an estimated five million workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. These migrants are concentrated in sectors such as fishing, seafood processing, agriculture, and construction—sectors with well-documented patterns of exploitation. Studies reveal alarming rates of trafficking: nearly 38% of migrant fishermen surveyed had been trafficked[3] in the past five years.

Despite Thailand's 2008 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its 2019 amendment (Section 6/1) criminalizing forced labor, gaps in implementation remain significant. Section 6/1 lacks clear guidelines, leaving frontline agencies—such as the Royal Thai Police, Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Labor, and Department of Fisheries officials—confused about how to distinguish forced labor and labor trafficking (FL/LT) from standard labor law violations.

Project Overview

The International Justice Mission (IJM), funded by the U.S. Department of State, has launched a 42-month, $1.44 million initiative titled:

Equipping Thai Officials to Identify and Investigate Forced Labor and Labor Trafficking.

Vision: The Government of Thailand protects victims of forced labor and labor trafficking through the rule of law.

Goal: Equip frontline officials to consistently identify and investigate FL/LT cases in alignment with Thai law and in a trauma-informed, victim-centered manner.

Key Partners: Royal Thai Police, Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Department of Special Investigation, Department of Fisheries, Department of Provincial Administration, and relevant subcommittees.

Objectives and Key Activities

Objective 1: Frontline officials are resourced with implementing guidelines to operationalize Section 6/1 and guide the coordination and referral of cases between relevant agencies

- Draft and refine implementing guidelines for Section 6/1.

- Establish interagency referral procedures and related guidelines for inspectors and law enforcement.

- Refine the Forced Labor and Labor Trafficking (FL/LT) screening form for the Ministry of Labour (MOL).

- Host consultations, workshops, and roundtables to secure endorsement from the National TIP Committee and ministries.

- Launch guidelines nationwide for uniform application.

Objective 2: Thai agencies are equipped to train frontline officials to identify and investigate cases of FL/LT using the implementing guidelines and SOPs

- Design a training curriculum clarifying distinctions between labor violations, FL, and LT, based on the refined FL/LT SOP.

- Pilot classroom-based trainings and scale to frontline officers in identified provinces.

- Train-the-trainer (TOT) sessions to create agency-based instructors.

- Develop an e-learning platform to institutionalize training and counter officer rotations.

Objective 3: Thai agencies are equipped to train frontline officials to identify victims and conduct investigations and prosecutions in a victim-centered, trauma-informed manner

- Adapt IJM’s trauma-informed care (TIC) modules and exist Thailand’ child-focused manuals for labor trafficking contexts.

- Integrate survivor testimonies and community-based organization (CBO) insights into training.

- Train officials to conduct victim identification, interviews, and investigations with sensitivity to trauma.

Objective 4: Frontline officials receive mentoring from expert teams established within their agencies to apply FL/LT law and TIC in interviews, investigations, and prosecutions

- Create cross-agency mentor groups of experts drawn from TOT graduates and exist experts in each agency.

- Provide mentoring, coaching and support for frontline officials on live cases.

- Convene interagency roundtables for shared learning and best practice exchange.

Cross-Cutting Strategies

- Sustainability: Training curricula institutionalized through e-learning, certification, and integration into government budgets; phased co-funding from partner agencies.

- Partnerships: Collaboration with government, NGOs, and CBOs, such as migrant organizations, to bridge trust gaps.

- Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL): Mid-term and final evaluations, quarterly reflection sessions, and indicators tracking adoption of guidelines, training outcomes, and victim engagement.

- Gender Integration: Training will encourage balanced participation of female officers and incorporate gender-sensitive interviewing protocols.

- Coordination & Track Record: IJM has supported FL/LT investigations since 2017, helped identify victims, and contributed to several convictions, including under Section 6/1. IJM serves on multiple Thai government subcommittees, ensuring alignment with broader national strategies.

Organizational Capacity

Founded in 1997, IJM operates in 20 countries to combat trafficking and violence against the poor. Its model integrates policy advocacy, capacity building, and direct casework support.

Expected Outcomes

By the project’s conclusion in late 2025, IJM anticipates:

1. Government-endorsed guidelines and SOPs clarifying FL/LT case handling.
2. Institutionalized training systems (classroom and e-learning) on FL/LT for frontline officials.
3. Broader adoption of trauma-informed, victim-centered practices.
4. Stronger interagency mentoring structures and sustained collaboration.

Conclusion

The IJM Thailand initiative addresses the structural weaknesses hindering Thailand’s anti-trafficking response. By combining legal clarity, institutionalized training, survivor-informed curricula, and ongoing mentoring, the project seeks to transform how frontline officials identify and prosecute forced labor and labor trafficking. Its sustainability strategy—anchored in government ownership—ensures long-term impact. Ultimately, the project aims to restore justice for victims, strengthen rule of law, and reduce impunity for traffickers in Thailand.