Nodira Saidkarimova

Short-term Concultancy: Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team of international and local experts conducting a comprehensive labour market demand–supply and skills gap analysis in Uzbekistan

Asian Development Bank Project on Skills and Employability Enhancement in Tajikistan • Providing strategic leadership in the design and institutionalization of a comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) program aimed at enhancing migrant protection and minimizing risks of trafficking in persons. • Advising national stakeholders on the integration of PDO frameworks within the mandate of government skills development centers, including capacity building of trainers and frontline staff to deliver rights-based and gender-responsive services for labor migrants and their families. • Leading the conceptualization and development of a nationwide information campaign, including messaging and multimedia content, to strengthen migrant preparedness on legal migration pathways, ethical recruitment, psychosocial well-being, and support systems in destination countries. • Embedding counter-trafficking (CTIP) and safeguarding principles into labor migration governance by promoting evidence-based, inclusive programming that prioritizes the rights and agency of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.

ICMPD — RISE Project: Preventing Irregular Migration from Uzbekistan via Reintegration and Information Support for Local Empowerment (RISE) • Conducted national policy analysis on reintegration services and institutional frameworks supporting returning labour migrants in Uzbekistan. • Developed research methodology and analytical framework assessing migration governance gaps across social protection, employment, and reintegration services. • Led desk research, stakeholder consultations, and key informant interviews with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations. • Produced analytical report with policy recommendations to strengthen reintegration systems and reduce drivers of irregular migration. • Facilitated policy discussions with government stakeholders to translate research findings into practical migration governance reforms

Republican Scientific and Methodological Center for Educational Development under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, Lead Spealist: • Design national capacity-building programs for educational reform, integrating modern pedagogy and 21st-century skills, grounded in needs assessments and baseline studies. • Commission, co-author, and synthesize applied research (e.g., pilot evaluations, teacher practice studies, policy reviews) to inform reforms and scale decisions. • Facilitate quarterly policy forums that convene experts, stakeholders, and policymakers to translate evidence into actionable guidance for Uzbekistan’s education system. • Facilitate alignment with international standards (OECD/UNESCO-aligned competencies, assessment frameworks), ensuring evidence-based adaptation to the national context. • Provide strategic advisory support to develop teacher guidelines, digital resources, and policy toolkits, using monitoring data and mixed-methods findings to improve outcomes.

- Led registration and establishment of Winrock International’s legal presence in Uzbekistan, ensuring full compliance with national NGO regulations. - Managed organizational operations, including finance, reporting, compliance, and administrative systems, in line with donor and national requirements. - Represented the organization in engagement with government authorities and national stakeholders. - Supervised administrative and support teams to ensure efficient and compliant operations. - Strengthened internal systems and procedures to enhance accountability, performance, and operational efficiency.

- Led regional implementation of the USAID Safe Migration in Central Asia Project in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan. - Provided strategic oversight of programme activities on migration governance, migrant protection and countering trafficking in persons. - Managed relationships with donor and regional stakeholders. - Facilitated cross-border cooperation, regional policy dialogue and research. - Supervised multi-country teams and coordinated program delivery. - Ensured quality of outputs, including research, policy recommendations, and capacity-building activities. - Conducted M&E activities.

- Led implementation of the USAID Safe Migration in Central Asia Project (SMICA) in Uzbekistan, providing strategic leadership on safe migration, counter-trafficking, and migrant protection. - Drove onboarding and engagement of key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations, strengthening multi-sector collaboration. - Conducted and applied policy analysis to inform programme design and support advancement of national migration governance, and countering human trafficking frameworks. - Supported development and refinement of policies and institutional mechanisms related to safe migration and protection systems. - Organized stakeholder consultations, capacity-building activities, and awareness campaigns to translate policy into practice. - Managed partnerships and ensured compliance with donor requirements, while contributing to research and analytical outputs on migration and trafficking trends. - Implemented capacity-building activities for the government agencies and NGOs, including organization of international study visits, on TRM, NRMs, TIP investigation, protection frameworks, victim-centered and traum-informed approaches. - Oversaw grant program for NGOs on strengening victim protection frameworks.

Liaison with international organizations; Design and management of joint projects with international organizations; Fundraising activities; Research and analyses of best international practices and provision of recommendations on improving methods and approaches in education

· Contribute to implementation of IOM counter-trafficking projects in Uzbekistan, including USAID, JTIP, and Norwegian government-funded activities of countering human trafficking, promoting safe migration, and preventing violent extremism. • Led analytical and policy-focused components of migration governance and counter-trafficking projects implemented by IOM in Uzbekistan, including USAID-, JTIP-, and Norway-funded initiatives. • Conducted migration research, needs assessments, and policy analyses examining drivers of irregular migration, human trafficking risks, and institutional responses to migrant protection challenges. • Contributed to the development of evidence-based policy recommendations to strengthen national migration management systems, including identification, referral, protection, and reintegration mechanisms for trafficking victims and vulnerable migrants. · Led development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operational guidelines for social, psychological, and protection services for vulnerable groups, including victims of trafficking and survivors of domestic violence.

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation / Project Coordination Unit RESP/WRMP Project Coordination Unit (PMU), Upscaling of the Swiss IWRM approach in Uzbekistan - Liaison with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and Agency on restructuring agricultural enterprises; - Project implementation, M&E; - Preparation of quarterly, annual and final reports on the administered projects; - Organization of large events and capacity building trainings; - Contracting/managing national consultants; - Logistical arrangements; - Procurement procedures; - PR&Communication activities.

UNDP 'Business Forum of Uzbekistan' Project, implemented by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan

Un Joint Programme 'Sustainable Livelihoods Affected by the Aral Sea Disaster'