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Research Manager Consultancy for Thailand’s Endline Studies on Fishing Industry

: IJM Foundation

: Nonprofits / องค์กรไม่แสวงหาผลกำไร

: 190

: 8 October 2025

17 October 2025

1. Summary Purpose

To manage an endline prevalence study and a final evaluation of IJM Thailand’s project on forced labor / labor trafficking in Thai fishing industry

Commissioner: IJM Foundation (IJM Thailand)

Dates: November 2025 - July 2027

Location: Thailand

2. Background

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects people in poverty 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 with over 30 projects across South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

IJM Thailand focuses on protecting vulnerable migrant workers from forced labor and labor trafficking (FL/LT). From 2017-2021, IJM Thailand focused on FL/LT casework across Southern Thailand and national-level capacity development, with a heavy focus on the Thai fishing industry and Thai-Cambodian cross-border casework. Additionally, in 2021, the project expanded to address FL/LT in all sectors. In 2016, IJM Thailand conducted a baseline study on the prevalence of Burmese and Cambodian migrant workers in the Thai fishing industry and currently seeks to conduct an endline prevalence study. The baseline study can be found at Not In The Same Boat | International Justice Mission. IJM is also commissioning a final evaluation of IJM’s interventions related to this sector.

3. Consultancy Scope and Objectives

IJM is seeking a consultant who will serve as a Research Manager to 1) manage a planned endline prevalence study on Thai fishing industry and 2) manage a planned final evaluation of IJM Thailand project’s impact on forced labor/labor trafficking rates in the Thai fishing industry and relevant justice system responses. The final evaluation is expected to start after the completion of the endline prevalence study.

The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Scope of work

Endline Prevalence Study:

1. Lead an internal Research Steering Committee (RSC) which is comprised of global, regional and country team members;
2. Develop a feasible and implementable plan for the endline prevalence study and manage the research budget;
3. Draft and finalize a Request for Proposals (including research scope of work) to select a research partner to conduct an endline prevalence study, aiming to use the same methodology implemented in the 2016 baseline study.
4. Lead the application evaluation process to select a research partner, based on IJM’s standards;
5. Collaborate with IJM’s procurement and the RSC team to select an appropriate research partner and to sign a contract;
6. Lead and manage the endline prevalence study on behalf of IJM, ensuring effective liaising and flow of communication between the research partner and IJM;
7. Oversee research monitoring, including quality assurance and adherence to IJM standards;
8. Support IJM and partners in synthesizing and disseminating study findings;

Final Evaluation:

1. Develop a feasible and implementable plan for the final evaluation and manage the evaluation budget;
2. Draft and finalize a Request for Proposals (including evaluation scope of work) to select an evaluation partner to conduct the final evaluation;
3. Adhering to IJM standards, lead the application review of the evaluation portion;
4. Collaborate with IJM’s procurement and the RSC team to select an evaluation partner and to sign a contract;
5. Lead and manage the final evaluation on behalf of IJM. Liaison with selected evaluation partner and IJM;
6. Oversee evaluation monitoring, including data quality, methodological rigor and safeguarding compliance;
7. Support IJM and partners in synthesizing and disseminating evaluation findings; 

Cross-Cutting:

1. Ensure all research activities adhere to IJM’s safeguarding standards, ethical guidelines, and best practices for research with vulnerable and hidden populations;
2. Provide technical guidance to IJM MERL staff and local research partners as needed;
3. Review and provide feedback on research instruments and datasets;
4. Develop and oversee data quality assurance protocols;
5. Proactively identify gaps or needed changes through regular review meetings and monitoring activities in the research studies and work with the research partner(s) and IJM to conduct course corrections;
6. Work with IJM and research partner(s) to appropriately incorporate survivor voice and engage survivors in the studies;
7. Ensure development, dissemination, uptake of, and adherence to research guidance, including study staff training manuals and data quality assurance plans;
8. Ensure compliance with IJM security, financial, staff care, ethical research, data security, and other internal policies and procedures. 

The Research Manager Consultant will work under the overall management of IJM’s MERL Specialist, Asia Pacific, and collaborate with the project team to design and implement the studies on time and within budget. These studies 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 are as follows (a more detailed timeline will be shared and agreed with the consultant during the contract negotiation process:

 

Key Outputs/Deliverables	Timeframe
Contract signed	November 2025
Thai Fishing Endline Prevalence Study   Output 1: Request for Proposal posted to select a research partner	December 2025
Output 2: contract with a qualified research partner selected to conduct the endline prevalence study	March/April 2026
Output 3: Research monitoring to ensure high quality products	April 2026-2027
Output 4: an endline prevalence study successfully completed	March/April 2027
Final Evaluation   Output 5: a Request for Proposal posted to select a research partner	December 2026
Output 6: contract with a qualified evaluator partner selected to conduct the final evaluation	March/April 2027
Output 7: Research monitoring to ensure high quality products	April-July 2027
Output 8: a final evaluation successfully completed	July 2027

All products and results arising from these studies shall be the sole property of IJM. Consultants are prohibited from presenting, publishing, or otherwise using the results for personal or private purposes without IJM’s prior written consent.

4. Consultant requirements

• Master's degree in social sciences, public policy, international development, or other relevant fields;
• At least 8 years of experience in applied research, program design, monitoring and evaluation, as well as program management experience. Experience in conducting and/or managing research, baseline or final evaluation is essential;
• Expertise on data collection process and management;
• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams, in research or M&E activities;
• Strong experience in qualitative and quantitative methods, data collection and management, and analytics;
• Experience related to human trafficking, forced labor, and justice system projects is an advantage;
• Strong institutional networking in Thailand/and or region, including with government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions, is an advantage;
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills;
• Ability to communicate proficiently in English is required; proficiency in Thai is preferred.

5. Application Process

Interested candidates must submit their application which contains cover letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience for this consultancy and CV/Resume in English to Ms. Jamaica Lucas at  jjlucas@ijm.organd to bangkokrecruiting@ijm.org on or before 23:59 on October 17, 2025 (GMT 7). 

Please indicate your daily rate in Thai Baht or in USD in the cover letter. It is expected that the selected consultant will allocate eight days a month for a period of 20 months (November 2025 to July 2027). A detailed proposal is not expected for this RFP. Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance and reference check processes. 

Contact : jjlucas@ijm.org

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ที่ปรึกษา / Consultantนักวิจัย / Researcher