Call for Proposals: IOM Mission Program in Tajikistan

Deadline: 11-Jan-2026

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan invites qualified NGOs to implement skills development, job-readiness training, employment facilitation, and income-generating activities for Afghan refugees and vulnerable Tajik communities in Vahdat and Rudaki districts. The program focuses on economic inclusion, social cohesion, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihood creation.

Overview of the Opportunity

The IOM Mission in Tajikistan seeks partnerships with NGOs to enhance economic self-reliance, social integration, and community cohesion for Afghan refugees and vulnerable host communities. This initiative leverages market-driven vocational, digital, and entrepreneurship training while providing employment support and opportunities for income generation. Key goals include strengthening livelihoods and economic empowerment, promoting skills development via TVET, digital, and vocational training, enhancing job readiness and workplace integration, facilitating social cohesion and refugee-host community interaction, and prioritizing women’s economic inclusion and youth engagement.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible Applicants: NGOs with proven experience in skills development, job-readiness training, and employment facilitation, organizations with experience working with refugees, vulnerable populations, women, and youth, NGOs capable of delivering sustainable, community-centered solutions in Tajikistan. Target Beneficiaries: Afghan refugees residing in Vahdat and Rudaki districts, vulnerable Tajik community members, women, youth, and marginalized populations, including persons with disabilities.

Key Program Areas and Activities

1. Skills Development

• Vocational training aligned with local labor market demands

• Digital and entrepreneurship training for self-employment

• Hands-on market-oriented skill-building opportunities

2. Employment Facilitation

• Job-readiness training, including soft skills, workplace communication, and job search coaching

• Employer linkages, apprenticeships, and income-generating pathways

• Focus on women’s economic empowerment

3. Social Cohesion and Community Engagement

• Community interaction activities such as joint learning sessions

• Peer-support mechanisms

• Exhibitions showcasing participant-created products and services

• Activities designed to foster collaboration and mutual understanding between Afghan refugees and host communities

4. Data-Driven Interventions

• Utilize profiling and needs-assessment data to tailor programs

• Monitor and evaluate participant outcomes for continuous improvement

Why This Program Matters

• Economic Empowerment: Supports self-reliance and financial stability for vulnerable populations

• Social Cohesion: Strengthens trust and collaboration between refugees and host communities

• Women’s Inclusion: Promotes active participation of women in economic and social activities

• Sustainable Impact: Builds scalable and replicable models for livelihood development

• Community Integration: Leverages existing resources like Women’s Resource Centres and vocational networks

How to Apply / Proposal Submission

Step 1: Prepare Your Proposal

Include a clear project description aligned with program objectives, methodology for skills development, job facilitation, and social cohesion activities, budget plan consistent with proposed activities, and evidence of experience with marginalized and refugee populations.

Step 2: Demonstrate Organizational Capacity

Show previous success in similar programs, highlight experience in community-centered, gender-sensitive, and inclusive interventions, include partnerships with local authorities, employers, or vocational training centers.

Step 3: Submit for Evaluation

Proposals are assessed based on relevance to program goals and expected outcomes, feasibility and quality of methodology, alignment of budget with proposed activities, capacity for sustainability, scalability, and innovation, experience working with refugees, women, youth, and persons with disabilities, stakeholder engagement, and familiarity with local context.

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Skipping gender considerations: Ensure women’s participation is clearly included

• Weak alignment with local labor markets: Tailor training to real employment opportunities

• Insufficient sustainability planning: Include strategies for long-term impact and replication

• Overlooking community engagement: Highlight activities that foster social cohesion

• Incomplete budget or methodology: Provide detailed, realistic, and well-justified plans

FAQ

1. Who can apply to this program? Qualified NGOs with experience in skills development, employment facilitation, and working with vulnerable populations in Tajikistan.
2. Who benefits from the program? Afghan refugees and vulnerable Tajik community members in Vahdat and Rudaki districts, with emphasis on women and youth.
3. What types of training are offered? Vocational, digital, and entrepreneurship training, along with job-readiness and soft-skills development.
4. How does the program support social cohesion? Through joint learning sessions, peer-support mechanisms, and exhibitions that foster community collaboration and mutual understanding.
5. Are women prioritized in this program? Yes. The initiative ensures meaningful participation of women in all activities, promoting economic and social inclusion.
6. How are proposals evaluated? Proposals are assessed on relevance, feasibility, alignment with objectives, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and demonstrated expertise with vulnerable populations.
7. What is required for a successful proposal? Detailed methodology aligned with local labor needs, budget consistent with activities, evidence of organizational capacity, gender-sensitive and inclusive design, and plans for sustainability and community impact.

Conclusion

The IOM Tajikistan skills development and employment program represents a strategic effort to improve economic self-reliance, social cohesion, and inclusion for Afghan refugees and vulnerable Tajik communities. By leveraging market-driven training, job facilitation, and community engagement, NGOs can create sustainable, replicable solutions that empower marginalized populations, strengthen local economies, and foster harmonious refugee-host community relations.

For more information, visit International Organization for Migration.