Research and analysis

Modern Slavery Fund internal review 2022 to 2025

Published 27 January 2026

1. Executive Summary

The Modern Slavery Fund (MSF) supported 62 projects between 2022 and 2025 to prevent and respond to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) globally. This internal review draws on final reports, evaluations, outcome harvesting workshops, and stakeholder consultations to assess collective performance, highlight achievements, and extract lessons for future programming.

From 2022 to 2025, the MSF has delivered considerable achievements and lessons for future programming. Its interventions have contributed to greater visibility, improved victim care, and increased institutional responsiveness to modern slavery.

• Over 2,900 potential victims were identified through MSF programming, and more than 11,200 individuals received tailored support services.
• Nearly 29,000 individuals—including rights holders, law enforcement, civil society, and service providers—received training to strengthen prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts.
• More than 11.8 million people were reached through awareness campaigns.
• The fund contributed to 22 legislative and policy changes in countries including Albania, Viet Nam, Romania, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
• 255 operational interventions and criminal justice proceedings have been initiated or supported through MSF interventions.
• The fund also supported the development and scaling of 28 innovations, particularly in survivor empowerment, technology, and cross-sector collaboration, with 15 scaled due to demonstrated effectiveness, and 43 knowledge products were produced and disseminated.

Despite these successes, the report identifies structural limitations that constrained long-term impact. Many interventions faced insufficient government buy-in, making sustained systemic change difficult. Prevention work, while essential, often lacked sufficient duration and resources to tackle root causes. The Modern Slavery Innovation Fund (MSIF) innovations showed promise but often lacked pathways for scaling within institutional systems. Furthermore, measuring impact across the fund remains a challenge due to inconsistent definitions, reporting standards, and data gaps—especially around prevention and re-trafficking.

The report identified four main recommendations:

1.1 Recommendations

Adopt and implement principles for the engagement of people with lived experience

• The MSF should adopt and operationalise clear, ethical, and inclusive principles for engaging people with lived experience of MSHT across all stages of the programme cycle. This includes design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, at project and fund level.
• Engagement should move beyond consultation to ensure survivor voices inform strategic decisions and programmatic design in a safe, supported, and non-tokenistic manner, and should be adequately compensated.
• In contexts where direct engagement with survivors may be politically sensitive or pose protection risks, alternative approaches should be considered, such as working through survivor-led organisations, anonymised feedback channels, or trusted intermediaries.
• Where feasible and safe, interventions that engage directly with survivors—such as those providing protection or reintegration assistance—should seek to systematically involve survivors in shaping the design, delivery, and assessment of services.

Interventions need to embed sustainability and systemic thinking

• The MSF should actively support interventions that go beyond individual-level assistance to address the structural drivers and institutional weaknesses that enable MSHT. This includes investing in programmes that aim to strengthen systems, influence policy and shift harmful norms, working through or with government institutions.
• Interventions should be required to have a sustainability or transition plan in place in order to receive funding, outlining how the work will continue beyond the grant.
• Piloting and testing approaches is encouraged so long as they are clearly designed with a pathway to scale or institutional uptake—whether by local governments, community-based organisations, or other relevant actors- rather than pursued as standalone or one-off innovations.
• With that in mind, the fund would benefit from a clearer and more operational definition of innovation.
• Also, to maximise learning, all interventions, including those that prove unsuccessful, should be rigorously documented and lessons shared with relevant stakeholders and the wider anti-trafficking community.

Adopt a more holistic and evidence-based approach to prevention

• The MSF should adopt a more holistic and strategic approach to prevention by ensuring that awareness-raising efforts are embedded within broader interventions that tackle the underlying drivers of vulnerability to MSHT.
• Standalone campaigns, while useful for increasing knowledge, are unlikely to generate sustained impact unless complemented by additional support mechanisms.
• In parallel, the fund should invest more resources—time, expertise, and funding—into identifying, testing, and refining methodologies to measure the effectiveness of prevention interventions.
• Together, these actions will help shift prevention from a predominantly awareness-based model toward one that tackles root causes and builds the evidence base for effective and scalable prevention strategies.

Strengthen MSF fund management systems

Much progress has been made in the overall management of the fund compared to previous phases, however further improvements are needed to consolidate these gains and embed good practice in safeguarding and risk management, Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), consistency and accountability of projects, learning and performance measurement.

2. Introduction

Modern slavery is a grave and evolving global crime, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. The United Kingdom (UK) has long played a leading role in the global fight against modern slavery, combining international programming, diplomatic and policy efforts to drive system-wide change. From 2016 to 2025, the Modern Slavery Fund (MSF), supported by the UK Home Office, has worked to address these challenges through targeted investments in country programmes, innovation grants, and strategic partnerships.

The MSF was initially set up to reduce the prevalence of modern slavery in the UK and overseas and contribute to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 8.7. The MSF has three components: core programmes in countries from where high numbers of people are trafficked to the UK; the MSIF which trials new approaches to build the evidence base on what works to tackle modern slavery;  catalytic projects to respond to local priorities and unlock wider influence in countries where there is a high prevalence of modern slavery managed by overseas posts and strategic projects managed centrally through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

This internal review covers 64 interventions across 20+ countries implemented from April 2022 to March 2025, for a total of £23.9 million. These include three core programmes (Albania -£3.2 million-, Viet Nam -£3.8 million- and Romania -1.3 million) jointly managed by the Home Office and FCDO, a Home Office voluntary return grant -0.3m-,12 projects under the Home Office run MSIF phase III -£9.7 million-, and 33 projects managed by FCDO centrally and at post -£4.6 million-.  

The MSF’s investments offer valuable insights into what works—and what remains challenging—in delivering anti-slavery programming that is adapted to each specific context, while being responsive to local needs and aligned with survivor engagement principles. This synthesis brings together findings and learning from across the MSF portfolio drawing on project documentation, evaluation reports and internal reviews. It offers an overview of achievements, innovations, and structural constraints, and provides recommendations to inform future programming under the MSF and broader UK efforts to tackle modern slavery globally.

3. Methodology

• There is broad recognition that measuring impact in the MSHT field is extremely challenging, and that it is not possible to determine precisely the extent to which interventions have reduced MSHT overall. This presents a significant difficulty for policymakers seeking evidence-based guidance and accountability.

• This review was developed using a range of secondary data sources to draw out key outcomes, achievements, and lessons across the portfolio. These sources included project final reports, quarterly progress reports, and project-specific evaluations, as well as findings from a fund-wide independent evaluation carried out in 2024. Additionally, insights were gathered from internally led after-action reviews as well as a learning event with MSF partners in February 2025. Finally, lessons and recommendations were developed by the programme team.

• For this review, data was extracted from all MSF-funded interventions against a set of indicators developed by the MSF programme team. Some of the analysis focuses on each project’s progress toward intended outcomes as a proxy for performance across the fund. It is important to note, however, that not achieving 100% of targets does not indicate failure but reflects the complexity and ambition of the interventions.

• Caution is warranted when interpreting aggregate figures. Interventions classify individuals in different ways—such as victims, potential victims, or high-risk individuals—which limits the comparability of data and complicates fund-level aggregation. Also, while quantitative data helps convey the scale and reach of MSF-supported activities, it cannot fully capture the transformative impact of these initiatives on survivors and frontline actors.

• The quality and completeness of reporting was good across the fund, although a few MSF-funded projects lacked robust theories of change and results frameworks, which contributed to gaps or weaknesses in the data reported. Also, many FCDO-funded projects were targeted one-year interventions, and therefore subject to more proportionate reporting requirements.

• This review was developed without direct input from individuals with lived experience (PLE) as there were no established mechanisms or dedicated processes in place to facilitate their meaningful participation within the limited timeframe of the review. More broadly, the integration of survivor voices into programming across the fund was uneven. It was primarily led by a small group of partners who demonstrated strong commitment to meaningful PLE engagement. These partners played a pivotal role in shaping practice—both within their own interventions and across the wider sector—and their leadership has also influenced the strategic direction of MSF management itself.

• For clarity and brevity, this report refers to interventions by naming the lead organisation or consortium lead only, rather than listing all sub-implementing partners involved. This is solely a stylistic choice to aid readability and is in no way intended to diminish the contributions of partner organisations, whose work has been essential to the success of these interventions.

4. Top-line findings

• MSF has funded 64 interventions in 20+ countries from April 2022 to March 2025. The Home Office managed 13, FCDO managed 33 and 18 were co-managed between the Home Office and FCDO.

• Home Office run interventions have an achievement against outcomes score of 89%^{[footnote 1]}. This means that on average, the projects funded achieved 89% of their intended outcomes^{[footnote 2]}. In most cases where outcomes were not fully achieved, the primary reason was that the intended changes required a longer timeframe to materialise than the project duration allowed. Many outcomes—particularly those involving shifts in policy, practice, or social norms—are inherently long-term and were still in progress at the time of reporting. In a few instances, outcomes were not achieved because initial assumptions did not hold true and/or changes in the project design occurred mid-way through delivery.

• Over 2,900 victims and potential victims were formally identified (including child labour, sexual exploitation, forced labour, criminal exploitation and other forms) and more than 11,200 were supported with needs-based care. 13,460 at-risk individuals were assisted with one or more types of support (livelihoods, psychological, legal)^{[footnote 3]}.

• A total of 28,879 individuals—including rights holders, service providers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), law enforcement personnel, and criminal justice officials—participated in formal training sessions delivered through MSF-funded interventions. These trainings were structured and purposefully designed to build knowledge, skills, and capacity related to human trafficking prevention, victim protection, and access to justice.

• Over 11,813,000 individuals have been exposed to information disseminated through campaigns, the majority in Southeast Asia (64%), Romania (27%) and Albania (9%).

• The MSF has contributed to 22 legislation, policy or strategy changes at local or national level:
  • In Albania, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) programme contributed to the country’s first National Victim Protection Strategy and Action Plan which placed children and other victims of trafficking on the central stage. The programme supported revisions to the national criminal code to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation.
  • In Viet Nam, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UK Embassy, and members of the Counter Trafficking Network submitted feedback to the Ministry of Public Security on the draft revision of the 2011 Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat. Several of their recommendations were incorporated into the final version, which was approved in November 2024. Their collective efforts contributed to expanding the definition of victim status and facilitating victim identification under the revised law.
  • In Romania, MSF partners made significant contributions to strengthening anti-trafficking policy and institutional frameworks. Notable achievements include:
    • Finalisation of national standardised guidelines for reintegration of victims trafficked to the UK in partnership with the national anti-trafficking platform.
    • Integration of MSHT training into the healthcare and education sectors, and of online exploitation content into the national school curriculum.
    • Endorsement by Romanian authorities of simplified National Identification and Referral Mechanism (NIRM) guidelines for healthcare professionals.
    • Formal accreditation of the Victim Navigator role within Romania’s Code of Occupations and amended legislation to ease survivors’ access to the labour market.
  • Under a project led by the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) in Indonesia, affected stakeholders, including fishers and migrant workers, as well as unions and CSOs, have been consulted to ensure their voices are represented in the Draft Governor Regulation concerning prevention and handling of human trafficking in Central Java, which passed in 2025.
  • In the Philippines, the IOM CREATE project developed localised versions of the national anti-trafficking law (R.A. No. 11862) and submitted them to the legislative body of Minalabac and Pio Duran in November 2024.
• The MSF has played a critical role in bringing visibility to MSHT issues on a global scale. Across diverse contexts, it has helped surface under-recognised risks, reveal hidden forms of exploitation, and shape more informed discourse:
  • In Bangladesh, early engagement with relevant stakeholders under a Goodweave managed project, who have so far not disputed evidence of child labour in subcontracted supply chains, has opened space for constructive dialogue. This engagement has the potential to influence the national discourse and contribute to positive change in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, extending beyond the immediate scope of the project.
  • In Albania, UNICEF and its partners’ mobile units reached remote and underserved communities, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities and raising awareness of trafficking risks in places where such conversations are rare.
  • In India, the Nottingham Rights Lab (NRL) project’s newly developed geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI) platform, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India Accelerator Lab, mapped over 48,000 clay brick kilns across India and assessed the environmental and working conditions of more than 4.3 million workers in six states. By layering this data with environmental risk indicators—such as heat stress and monsoon exposure—the project revealed how climate vulnerabilities intersect with and compound a range of factors, deepening understanding of systemic drivers, and effective opportunities to improve environmental and worker welfare
  • In Sudan, community-based research led by Global Partner Governance (GPG) generated some of the first in-depth insights into trafficking routes, recruitment practices, and local perceptions of risk—helping to expose an underreported dimension of an ongoing crisis.

• Crucially, MSF programming has not only made exploitation more visible—it has also given a voice to those most affected. From migrant agricultural workers in Italy and Spain, to garment workers in Bangladesh, Romanian sex workers in the UK, and brick kiln labourers in India, the fund created spaces for individuals who are often marginalised to speak, influence solutions, and reclaim agency.

• The MSF supported the development and/or testing of 28 innovations^{[footnote 4]} spanning multiple areas: cross-sector collaboration, survivor empowerment, technology and monitoring and learning^{[footnote 5]}). Of these, 15 were scaled, having demonstrated early signs of effectiveness or having been formally adopted. Many of these were implemented under the MSIF, but not all of them.
  • Among the innovations, three AI-powered technological solutions stand out for having been tested, adopted, and scaled through MSF support: Marinus Analytics’ Traffic Jam platform, the NRL GeoAI platform and chatbot.
    • Traffic Jam leverages artificial intelligence to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking by analysing vast amounts of online data.
    • The NRL GeoAI platform is a data-driven tool that uses geospatial artificial intelligence to map, analyse, and visualise labour and environmental patterns in India’s brick kiln sector, supports improved responses by state-level authorities and CSOs.
    • The chatbot is an AI-based support tool developed to assist kiln workers in India by providing access to publicly available information on rights and entitlements, aligned with existing legal frameworks.
  • These tools demonstrate the promise of technology in the anti-trafficking space, particularly in improving data collection, case management, and victim identification. However, they are not standalone solutions to the complex structural issues underpinning human trafficking. While technology can enhance data collection, improve case management, or support victim identification, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the broader system in which it operates. Without strong relationships, trust, coordination, and institutional will, even the most advanced tools risk being underused or misapplied. Lasting impact comes not from technology alone, but from the ecosystem of actors, values, and structures that surround and support it.
• Additional innovations focused on:
  • Monitoring and learning, where new methods helped deepen contextual understanding and track behavioural change.
  • Cross-sector collaboration, which fostered meaningful partnerships between private sector actors, civil society, and law enforcement.
  • Survivor empowerment, including the introduction of peer-led aftercare models, the deployment of survivor-centred case management systems, and a groundbreaking approach to including people with lived experience in anti-trafficking research and advocacy.

• Several projects have not been classified under this typology but have nonetheless sought to adapt existing strategies to the human trafficking field. For instance, IOM applied established climate resilience tools in a novel way to address human trafficking vulnerabilities.

• The Romania programme stands out as the most strategically aligned with UK policy priorities in-country and reinforced by accompanying policy engagement. This alignment has not only ensured coherence with broader UK objectives, but also stronger institutional buy-in from the Romanian government and greater potential for systemic change.

5. Challenges

Limited government buy-in and weak ownership: A key challenge across several contexts was limited government buy-in and weak ownership, which significantly hindered the long-term sustainability of anti-trafficking efforts. In many cases, shifting political priorities and a lack of sustained political will meant that MSHT issues were deprioritised, resulting in fragmented and short-term responses that remained heavily dependent on donor funding. Programmes tended to achieve greater sustainability and impact when they addressed root causes and involved government stakeholders either as direct partners or through consistent engagement on progress and challenges. In that respect, the MSF independent evaluation highlighted that systemic, institutional-level engagement is essential to foster state accountability and ensure the durability of programme outcomes. Positive examples included the Romania programme’s alignment with national policy through the UK-Romania Joint Action Plan and Vietnam’s model of assigning government partners to each programme outcome. In contrast, the lack of strategic dialogue with the Albanian government on foundational issues—such as leadership gaps and absence of sustainable shelter funding—illustrated how limited national ownership could undermine long-term impact.

Prevention requires longer timeframes to tackle root causes: Effective prevention means addressing the structural drivers that make people vulnerable to trafficking in the first place—such as poverty, exclusion, and harmful gender norms. Most specifically, efforts to change perceptions and behaviours are challenged by deep-rooted societal attitudes, including victim-blaming, gendered assumptions, and narrow stereotypes of what trafficking looks like. However, doing so meaningfully often exceeds the scope and timeframe of short-term projects or pilot initiatives. It is no coincidence that prevention-focused projects that are the most sophisticated in their approach have received two or three phases of MSIF funding. This prompts reflection on whether short-term projects — at times only six months in duration — are the best fit for achieving MSF’s intended objectives.

Limited pathways for scaling successful innovations: Another challenge facing the MSF lies in its limited ability to institutionalise or scale up successful approaches and innovations developed under the MSIF. While the MSIF has supported a range of promising interventions—some of which have exceeded expectations in terms of outcomes—it lacks the formal structure, resources, and mandate to integrate these approaches into either the Home Office’s broader programming or the national systems of the countries in which it operates. In the absence of clear pathways for transition from innovation to system-wide adoption, opportunities to embed effective models within law enforcement, protection systems, education, or labour regulation mechanisms are missed.

Difficulty to measure the impact of the fund as a whole, as the issue is multifaceted, hidden, and the tools to measure impact are still evolving. It has been a particular challenge to ascertain the impact of prevention efforts as well as the extent to which interventions have reduced retrafficking. In addition, the fact that projects use different definitions (e.g., victim, survivor, at-risk individual), tools, and indicators, makes it difficult to aggregate or compare data across countries or interventions.

Balancing systemic changes and limited timeframes: The independent evaluation of the fund has recommended for the MSF to prioritise systemic change and holistic programming as central goals — aiming to tackle the root causes of exploitation and support sustainable solutions. However, fund partners raised that there is an inherent tension between these ambitions and the short funding windows and modest budgets that most projects operate within. Systemic change often requires long-term engagement, trust-building, and multi-level coordination, which are difficult to achieve within typical 24-month project cycles. Similarly, holistic approaches — which may span prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership work — demand time, depth, and cross-sector collaboration. Partners have found it challenging to deliver such breadth and depth in short bursts of funding, especially when also being encouraged to test new approaches or respond to shifting contexts.

Limited understanding the fund’s impact on GEDSI: While many interventions funded by the MSF have targeted underserved, marginalised, and vulnerable populations—who are disproportionately at risk of human trafficking—there is limited evidence on how these programmes have specifically impacted different social groups. In particular, the effects on persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities such as the Roma in Romania, and other socially excluded groups remain unclear. The lack of disaggregated data and targeted analysis has limited the fund’s ability to assess whether it has effectively promoted GEDSI or unintentionally reinforcing existing patterns of exclusion.

6. Unintended consequences

• Strain on services and resources: it was found that improvements and innovations resulting from MSF interventions unintentionally placed additional strain on already overstretched service providers and institutions.
  • In Albania, improved identification created service demand that overwhelmed system capacity, as evidenced when 27 cases referred within two days depleted resources meant to last months.
  • Several projects introduced new tools or practices (e.g., procedures, referral pathways), but implementing partners lacked the capacity or resources to maintain or scale them, creating additional strain.

• Creation of dependency patterns: while direct victim support is essential, some interventions unintentionally created patterns of dependency when not accompanied by longer-term reintegration measures, economic empowerment, or broader systemic change. In Albania, case managers noted that survivors often struggled to engage with state services after receiving comprehensive support from NGOs, leading to hesitation in transitioning to mainstream systems. In Bangladesh, some after-care facilitators (ACFs) employed by Justice and Care expressed a strong preference to remain within the organisation, as they valued its high standards of survivor-centred care and protection — standards they felt would be difficult to find or replicate in other organisations.

• Emotional stress: if survivor involvement increased visibility and influence, in some cases it also exposed some individuals to stress and retraumatisation:
  • While Everfree’s Freedom Lifemap helped survivors feel empowered and effective in their recovery journey (100% recommended continued use), some participants experienced difficult emotions while recalling past experiences. They reported feeling a range of emotions when taking initial assessments ranging from anxiety and disappointment to hope and motivation.
  • The Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS) and the Survivor Alliance reported that the deep engagement of survivors in the project sometimes led to heightened emotional strain, highlighting the need for stronger mental health support mechanisms.
  • ACFs in Bangladesh also reported that listening to survivors share their experiences sometimes triggered their own trauma, making this aspect of the work particularly challenging.

• Awareness campaigns can sometimes unintentionally reinforce stereotypical representations of trafficking, portraying it as a rare or extreme crime involving physical abduction, rather than reflecting the complex, subtle, and often systemic nature of exploitation^{[footnote 6]}. This can lead to misconceptions about who is at risk, how trafficking occurs, and what support victims need—ultimately undermining prevention and victim identification efforts. An example of this under the MSF hailed from a project seeking to raise awareness among Romanian women on the ‘lover boy’ method of recruitment, a narrative in which young women are manipulated into trafficking through romantic relationships. While this reflects one real risk, research shows that girls and women who find themselves controlled by a lover boy were already on the path to sex work. Over-reliance on this storyline can lead to narrow public understanding and undermine other pathways into exploitation, especially in the eye of government authorities.

• Women’s empowerment: No instances of backlash were reported as a result of women being supported to gain economic and financial autonomy. Implementing partners took a deliberate approach by engaging family members and addressing power dynamics within households. As a result, mostly positive changes were observed, including increased support from male family members. In Bangladesh, as women supported by the Justice and Care led project gained increased decision-making power at home due to their financial contributions, they reported gaining greater respect, voice, and agency within their homes and communities. In Ethiopia, men were reported to have become supportive, some even joined Self-Help Group (SHG)-linked activities or shared in the benefits. Women have also gained a seat at the National Dialogue Reconciliation, a platform for marginalised voices to express their concerns and aspirations related to injustices.

7. Outcome 1: Strengthened law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation and capability to disrupt and prosecute offenders

• 22% of MSF interventions focused on strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice actors’ capabilities (specialised police, investigators, border police and prosecutors).

• 255 operational interventions and criminal justice proceedings have been initiated or supported through MSF interventions.

• 66% resulted from government-led operations in or related to brick kilns in India, 14% resulted from Justice and Care’s Victim Navigators supporting victims in engaging with investigations and prosecutions in Romania, and 13% of these represented operational interventions launched by UK and Romanian law enforcement on the back of intelligence leads generated through Traffic Jam, Marinus Analytics’ machine learning and AI-based solution. The Romanian Trafficking in Human Beings Unit have used Traffic Jam to screen Romanians who were refused and removed at the UK border for matching profiles advertised online and identified several positive cases.

• The rest happened under BCWA’s innovative partnership with West Midlands Police (WMP), an OSCE-supported Taskforce on human trafficking in Albania, and an FCDO-funded project implemented by Preda in the Philippines, supported an impressive number of convictions for offences concerning exploitation and abuse of children (11).

• The full extent to which criminal justice outcomes have been achieved through MSF programming is unknown as it is a very lengthy process that spans beyond funding cycles. Furthermore, fear of repercussions, lack of trust in law enforcement, emotional unreadiness and cultural stigma are important reasons explaining the limited engagement of victims of human trafficking with law enforcement and the criminal justice system, which ultimately limits the ability to secure convictions of traffickers. As an example, while six Duty to Notify (DTN)^{[footnote 7]} were filed as a result of the intelligence leads shared with UK law enforcement, one NRM referral only was initiated through the Marinus Analytics project in the UK, but the individual later decided not to proceed. However, several interventions have successfully brought perpetrators to justice through careful and sustained engagement with victims:
  • The Preda project in the Philippines has succeeded in contributing to 11 convictions through the provision of trauma-informed legal support for children. The project also supported their reintegration through education, monitoring and psychosocial support.
  • Engagement with Romanian sex workers has dramatically improved with the involvement of the Romanian-speaking officer during visits to sex work locations in the West Midlands. As a result of the sustained partnership between Black Country Women’s Aid (BCWA) and West Midlands Police (WMP), seven investigations into trafficking groups were initiated, some of which have already resulted in convictions.
• The MSF impact evaluation identified evidence from multiple interventions of changed knowledge and practices within law enforcement:
  • 76% of trained law enforcement officials in Viet Nam reported improvement in their knowledge on the use of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) data collection forms for the MPS central data consolidation and biannual reporting.
  • Following the rescue and return of Vietnamese victims trafficked to Cambodia for forced criminality in scam centres, IOM Viet Nam reported that there had been an increase in prosecuting offenders in provincial courts.
  • London Policing College (LPC) trained Vietnamese police on digital investigations and electronic evidence handling which resulted in police using these skills to improve investigations and reopen cold cases. This led to new protocols for integrating digital evidence in cold case investigations and improved long-term case management strategies.
  • The OSCE-supported Taskforce on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions in Albania contributed to a large-scale investigation into a ring operating between Colombia and Albania, which resulted in eight arrests. Advanced investigative techniques were used by investigating officers which they learnt in training.
• The lack of law enforcement cultural understanding or experience engaging sensitively with victims is an issue that many MSF interventions sought to address.
  • Following training by the International Justice Mission (IJM) to 81 Romanian police officers, prosecutors and ANITP staff (52M; 29F) on trauma-informed approaches, victim engagement and victim hearing techniques, 75% self-reported changing their practice in responding to trafficking cases. Participants reported increased empathy and awareness toward victims, recognition of burnout and vicarious trauma for the first time and willingness to reflect on biases.
  • HOIO delivered Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) training to Border Police agents and Border Training School in Romania, with one trainee submitting her first case to ANITP within three months of the training and others reporting higher levels of confidence in being able to identify signs of human trafficking.

A Border Police officer from Cluj Airport, Romania, referred a potential victim for the first time in January 2025, a young woman who was accompanied by an older man. “Her behaviour was submissive, she was scared and didn’t answer questions for herself. I let them go through and then we observed their behaviour. I then asked more questions about their trip, the hotel they would stay in, and I checked their return tickets. We then asked the young woman alone for an interview. It was clear that their relationship was strange, but she responded that she wanted to go with the man. We filled in the form to ANITP even though she did not give consent to being referred and I gave her the national emergency number and the consulate’s contact in case she needed help, and I advised not to give her phone and documents to anybody else. I tried to show that we cared, with gentle questioning” (…) “Now for such cases we run verifications on Schengen flights and spend more time with the persons. Now we know how to connect with ANITP, how to fill the form.”

(Source: group discussion with Romanian Border Police officers, Bucharest, February 2025)

7.1 Limitations

• A major challenge that surfaced in working with law enforcement was limited resources in staff and time and shifting priorities nationally. One of the key limitations faced by the Marinus Analytics project was the constrained capacity of police to fully integrate or act upon the intelligence provided.

• Most projects have concentrated their efforts on training police officers, with comparatively little engagement or capacity-building directed at judicial actors such as prosecutors and judges, partly due to the UK not being well placed to share its experiences with countries that have very different criminal justice systems. As a result, critical gaps remain in ensuring a consistent, victim-centred response across the entire justice system.

• The MSF impact evaluation recommended putting a stronger focus on improving criminal justice actors’ capacity to investigate MSHT cases and prosecute offenders.

7.2 Lessons

Three keys to transforming law enforcement response to MSHT

Across different contexts, programmes have taken varied yet effective approaches to shifting law enforcement practices on modern slavery and human trafficking. In the UK, civil society-led models—such as BCWA’s partnership with West Midlands Police—used long-term collaboration and partnership-building to increase police sensitivity, victim-centred responses, and operational effectiveness. In Nigeria, the Tackling Modern Slavery (TMS) programme from FY2019-2022 embedded a mentor directly within the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), drawing on institutional trust, internal leadership, and international backing to influence investigative practices.

While the modalities differ—external partnership versus internal mentorship—their success hinged on three common elements: building trusted relationships between actors, ensuring sustained engagement beyond short-term training, and identifying credible internal champions who can influence peers and drive reform.

The value of experiential training to challenge deep-seated beliefs

Effective training, particularly for law enforcement personnel, must go beyond lectures and incorporate interactive methods such as practical exercises and scenario-based role plays to challenge entrenched beliefs and assumptions. These are more effective as they go beyond information delivery and engage people at a deeper emotional and behavioural level, which is key to lasting change. A good example is the Bali Process Regional Support Office (RSO) open-source intelligence (OSINT) training to address the growing challenges posed by cyber-scam centres, managed by the FCDO, which combined extensive practical exercises with follow-up support and meaningful participation from CSOs. Integrating the voices and lived experiences of survivors—through guest speakers, testimonials, or case studies—is also essential to foster empathy and understanding. This is why in-person training, as seen in the approaches of many partners, tends to be significantly more impactful than online alternatives. In the case of SEG/REE-Hub, while their in-person sessions on worker rights were well-attended by Romanian citizens across the UK, the online course was not taken up.

Establish clear data sharing protocols from project start

In data-driven innovation projects, it is essential to establish clear data sharing agreements and protocols from the outset, particularly when working with government bodies and law enforcement agencies, where data often involves sensitive personal information, ongoing investigations, or protected intelligence. This includes defining data ownership, outlining anonymisation and privacy safeguards, and agreeing on ethical use of data. Projects like those led by Marinus Analytics show that clarity in these areas is especially critical when intelligence is shared with law enforcement, and feedback is expected on how that information is acted upon. It was also raised that ultimately, beyond formal frameworks, the success of such collaboration hinges on the strength of relationships and mutual trust between data providers and police forces.

8. Outcome 2: Partnerships strengthened to prevent and remedy modern slavery in supply chains

This outcome broadly relied on the idea of fostering shared responsibility and collective action to protect human rights throughout the supply chain. On prevention, it involved risk assessments to identify sectors or regions where workers are vulnerable to exploitation, training and capacity building for suppliers and labour inspectors, and community partnerships to empower vulnerable populations. On remediation, it included the design of grievance mechanisms accessible to workers, victim rescue and compensation, and government legal protections.

• Seven projects contributed to this outcome overall (four under the Home Office MSIF and three one-year projects led by FCDO at post^{[footnote 8]}). The four Home Office led projects developed and tested innovations in the sector and only one yielded significant outcomes within the programme timeframe. Two others needed more time to make more tangible contribution to their outcomes, while the last one did not meet its intended outcomes. 

• A key highlight of MSF’s work on preventing modern slavery in supply chains is the NRL project in India. This initiative stood out for its use of cutting-edge GeoAI to identify, and map forced and bonded labour in the brick kiln sector.
  • Six Indian states and seven CSOs reported using the platform to inform their brick kiln-related work.
  • 2,183 bonded labourers were released by Volunteers for Social Justice (VSJ) within two years, which is 4.5 times the number they achieved in six years.
  • 4,332,800 kiln workers whose conditions are captured by the platform/app.
  • 10 non-project stakeholders have expressed interest in possibilities of EO to progress their worker welfare aims.
  • Since its pilot in February 2025, workers and volunteers have also used the project’s Chatbot prototype to access legal aid, report abuses, and coordinate rescues, leading to at least one successful additional rescue operation through digital communication during the time of evaluation.

• Goodweave’s project screened for known (and evidenced) risk factors of forced and child labour in the supply chain, as opposed to screening for incidence, which was generally well received by brands and suppliers. The participating suppliers have improved their understanding of risk factors of forced and child labour and have started to work towards improving their policies and management systems (i.e. developing an age verification system to ensure that underage workers were not employed), but the final evaluation showed that they need more time and technical assistance to translate these early efforts into sustained improvements in working conditions.

• The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) partially tested its migrant workers-informed grievance mechanism in agricultural supply chains of UK businesses in Spain. The project did manage to set up a national coalition of CSOs from Morocco, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Italy, and Spain called “Digniwork” to collaborate on cross-border prevention and support migrant agricultural workers in countries of origin, transit and in southern Europe.

• Trilateral Research rolled back its AI-driven risk assessment tool due to the lack of integration with investor^{[footnote 9]} decision decision-making processes and data scarcity.

• These projects highlighted the need for longer timeframes to address structural gaps due to time and human resources needed to achieve collective action across complex systems of actors in often hard to access supply chains. This also meant that interventions were limited in scale in both Bangladesh and Spain (projects only able to reach a very small proportion of actors).

• They also underscored the need for strong and collaborative partnerships established with experienced and well-embedded organisations on the ground.
  • NRL partnered with UNDP India Accelerator Lab, VSJ, the Society for Technology & Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) as well as a Research Advisory Group (RAG) composed of members with lived experience and frontline knowledge.
  • Goodweave partnered with the Awaj Foundation, the Bangladesh Labour Foundation and Impact Limited.
  • ETI’s collaboration with the Spanish Ethical Trade Forum (SETF) was indispensable to ensure access to growers.
  • Trilateral Research cooperated with UN Global Compact Network UK (GCN), the Congolese Federation of Enterprises (FEC) and Labour Inspectorate.
• As a result of a Wilton Park dialogue held in February 2025 and brought together 50 global participants—including governments, businesses, worker organisations, investors, and civil society—, attendees developed a set of principles aimed at all stakeholders in global supply chains for developing a balanced approach to eradicating modern slavery and make progress toward SDG 8, particularly Target 8.7 (eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour).

8.1 Limitations

• One of the recurring challenges faced by projects aimed at preventing human trafficking in supply chains was the limited engagement of some private sector actors due to there being few or weak incentives compelling businesses to act, among other reasons. Under the ETI project, the initial research and mapping phase was meant to generate sufficient interest and participation among growers in both Italy and Spain. However, this did not materialise as expected. Gaining the trust and engagement of growers in both countries required more intensive and locally grounded efforts, including adjusting the approach entirely in Italy and leveraging local partners more strategically in Spain. It turned out that low grower participation became one of the primary challenges for the grievance mechanism in agriculture.
• The Trilateral Research project’s theory of change posited that if investors had access to clear, actionable insights about modern slavery risks, they could make more ethical and better-informed investment decisions. However, the project revealed critical misalignments between its goals, user needs, and practical execution. The purpose of the tool remained unclear for investors, who were unconvinced they could act as enforcers, especially in contexts like the DRC, and expressed a preference for tools integrated into existing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks rather than standalone platforms. While the project did engage stakeholders and gather investor feedback, investors found the dashboard insufficiently actionable, not mapped to investment workflows, and lacking in credible, granular data. They preferred open-source, integrated solutions that go beyond modern slavery to assess broader ESG risks.

8.2 Lessons

Longer timeframes needed to build relationships with actors in supply chains

Projects that aim to build partnerships to prevent and remedy modern slavery in supply chains are inherently ambitious undertakings—particularly within a two-year timeframe. This is especially true when foundational relationships and trust with key stakeholders—such as businesses, government agencies, or civil society actors—are not already in place. Developing meaningful engagement in complex supply chain contexts requires time to understand the operating environment, align incentives, and build mutual confidence. Without existing connections, a significant portion of the project period may be spent on outreach and relationship-building alone, leaving limited time for implementation or demonstrating measurable outcomes, as demonstrated under the ETI project in Italy and Spain.

Aligning incentives

Projects have shown that stopping modern slavery in supply chains works best when everyone involved — like businesses, suppliers, NGOs, and governments — is working toward the same goal. However, these groups often have different priorities. For example, businesses may not perceive sufficient value in taking proactive steps to reduce the risks in their supply chains unless they are legally required to do so. Suppliers might be under economic pressure to deliver at low cost. To get everyone on board, it is important to understand what matters to each group and to explain how taking action on human rights can actually help them too. Laws and regulations also make a big difference — when rules are strong, companies are more likely to act. -

9. Outcome 3: Reduced vulnerability to victimisation and offending

• 30% of interventions contributed directly to this outcome. All MSF interventions focused on reducing victimisation rather than offending or criminal behaviour.

• There is evidence that individuals and communities have developed job skills, accessed opportunities to generate income and increased their awareness of trafficking risks as a result of MSF programming. However, there are significant limitations to measuring the extent to which they are less likely to become victims of modern slavery – not least because it means assessing the absence of harm. While MSF programme partners made significant efforts to gather evidence on the impact of prevention efforts, there is still much to do to build a credible case that vulnerability has significantly been reduced.

• This evidence points to reduced risk factors, increased protective factors, and changes in behaviour or systems. This is best shown through projects that are geographically localised. This is mainly because prevention outcomes — such as reduced vulnerability or behaviour change — typically materialise at the local level, where people experience risk (e.g. migration pressure, economic hardship), trust-based relationships influence decisions (e.g., religious leaders, teachers) and interventions can be tailored to cultural and social norms.

• The concept of targeting at-risk individuals and communities implies focusing on people most vulnerable to being trafficked, based on known risk factors such as poverty, gender, migration status, discrimination, conflict, or lack of legal protections. MSF interventions have sought to reduce the specific vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit in particular groups or regions, for instance youth in state care in Romania and young girls from impoverished communities in Ethiopia. Among these groups, interventions have sought to provide individuals, communities, and frontline actors with the knowledge, attitudes, and practical abilities they need to recognise, avoid, and disrupt the risks and mechanisms that lead to trafficking before it occurs.

9.1 Awareness-raising

• Awareness raising and information sharing play an important role in building preventative skills to address human trafficking, as it helps create the knowledge base and alertness needed for individuals, communities, and institutions to take action before exploitation happens. These activities have featured in around a quarter of all MSF interventions. They have ranged from national multimedia and multi-channel campaigns to in-person sessions delivered in schools, workers’ cafés, and community centres. In total, over 11,813,000 are estimated to have been exposed to and engaged with MSF-funded information.

• KAP survey data collected under the large UNICEF Albania and IOM Viet Nam programmes show increased understanding of trafficking risks, preventative measures and safe migration options:
  • Youth who were exposed to UNICEF anti-trafficking materials in Albania were much more likely to show higher concern about trafficking, to recognise more types of exploitation and intent to take preventive action (61% vs. 46%). However, while knowledge and concern increased, translating this into protective behaviours (like reporting) remained a challenge. Only 23% of girls and 29% of boys strongly agreed that young people felt confident reporting abuse or exploitation.
  • In Viet Nam, youth exposed to the “Think Before You Go” campaign and youth engagement activities showed higher knowledge of exploitation risks and a greater intention to take preventive action. The mid-term evaluation of Think Before You Go showed that 69.7% of respondents correctly identified high-risk situations, such as being promised a well-paying job by an unknown broker which required large sums for travel and documents, or working in a foreign country with no legal documents, harsh conditions, and no social benefits. Women scored significantly higher (71.5%) than men (65.8%).
  • In both countries, there was also growing recognition that trafficking doesn’t only happen abroad but also involves domestic exploitation, and in the case of Viet Nam, online scams.
  • Surveys revealed that even informed individuals may still choose risky migration options due to economic desperation.
• There is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of one-off awareness raising campaigns. While they can be effective at grabbing attention or addressing urgent issues, their impact is typically limited by time, reach, and follow-up. In contrast, regular evaluations of the Think Before You Go (TBYG) campaign in Viet Nam show that long-standing, iterative, and multi-channel communications that build credibility and trust with audiences over time and combine awareness-raising with practical information, digital tools, and access to support, are more effective.
• While awareness campaigns have the potential to play a role in combating human trafficking, the extent to which they lead to behaviour change is debated. To date we lack a sufficient body of evidence that proves their impact, not least because compiling that evidence is extremely challenging.  As pointed out in the MSF independent evaluation, awareness raising is necessary but not sufficient to tackle human trafficking because it does not address structural vulnerabilities—it is not simply a matter of people being unaware of the risks, not least because many victims do know the risks—but are deceived, coerced, or forced into trafficking situations. Most MSF interventions have integrated this into their programming and have sought to pair awareness raising with access to or diversification of livelihoods. The MSF independent evaluation also stressed that awareness efforts were most effective when part of a broader set of interventions, such as skills training, psychosocial support, or legal empowerment.

9.2 Access to support

Overall, 13,460 at-risk individuals have accessed at least one type of support through the MSF that was designed to reduce their vulnerability to modern slavery (social, economic, psychological, legal, etc). The core MSF programmes in Albania and Viet Nam have been able to do this at scale:

• In Albania, 1,744 adolescents and young people at risk (587M; 667F) participated in programmes ranging from online safety and ICT skills to gender norms training, with 90% showing improvements in 21st-century skills post-participation.
• 1,918 individuals received services through the Multifunctional Community Centres. 244 individuals (65M, 179F) were supported to improve their business and employment skills and 17 businesses participated in employment programmes for vulnerable groups.
• 1,918 individuals received services through Multifunctional Community Centres (MFCCs) in Kukës, Shkodër, and Bulqiza.
• In total, 1,257 individuals (456M, 801F) received mental and psychosocial support, with women consistently seeking help more frequently than men due to anxiety, depression, relationship issues, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS concerns, and suicidal thoughts.
• Legal support was provided to 216 children (89M; 127F) and their caregivers affected by various vulnerabilities including domestic violence, poverty, unaccompanied and separated foreign children etc.

In Albania, interventions around livelihoods support for victims and potential victims of human trafficking delivered by Key Adviser have given several young people at risk of precarious migration an opportunity to set up businesses in Albania and support themselves and their families financially. One of these beneficiaries is Ilda, a 17-year-old girl whose family is based in Dibër county, in Eastern Albania, bordering North Macedonia. When she was 16, her family was going to migrate to France due to insufficient work opportunities for the family in Albania. Her father had been in the woodworking business for many years, and she had helped him out since she was a young girl – however, the individual jobs were not enough to sustain the family in the long term. Ilda received business training and psychosocial support from Key Adviser and eventually developed a business plan with their support. At the end of the training, she was awarded with a 5000€ grant to set up a woodworking business that she now co-owns with her father. With the help of social media, Ilda has managed to expand the customer base beyond her hometown of Peshkopi in the wider Dibër county area. Alongside the family business, she is currently finishing high school with the aspiration of studying business at university in Tirana. She is hoping to further support her family business through her studies and has hopes to be a role model for other young Albanians who are unsure whether they can have a prosperous future in Albania, as well as for young women who work in traditionally male-dominated jobs.

(Source: MSF independent evaluation, March 2025)

• In Viet Nam, 1,854 job seekers, including aspirant migrants, in hotspot communities either completed vocational training, secured local jobs, or applied for regular labour migration programmes.
• 288 youth union leaders, vocational staff and teachers were trained to deliver key job skills such as digital literacy, soft skills, job application skills, and entrepreneurship skills to young aspirant migrants and guide them in their search for safe jobs and alternative livelihood opportunities in-country. They went on to deliver 60 roll-out trainings for 2,564 young jobseekers or technical and vocational education and training students (1450M; 1114W).
• 112 counselling staff at Employment Service Centres (ESC) were trained to better engage with employers, deliver career orientation for job seekers and be more sensitive to vulnerable groups of job seekers including aspirant migrants and returnee migrants. They have provided counselling services to 2,140 local job seekers (1237M; 903W).
• 33 enterprises have received technical coaching and mentoring.

Tập, a man in his 40s from the Thai ethnic minority in Nghệ An, Vietnam, endured a harrowing migration experience after irregularly travelling to China for work. Lured by promises of high wages, he was instead exploited in a leather factory, denied pay, and brutally attacked after being mistaken for an intruder, leaving him with severe physical injuries. After being hospitalised in both China and Vietnam, he returned home unable to work, burdened by debt and reliant on short-term bricklaying jobs.

In 2023, IOM’s partner, Hagar International, reached out to Tập and provided him with psychological support over the phone and livelihood assistance through the donation of a buffalo—an animal he could care for despite his limited mobility. This gift became a vital source of daily purpose and emotional recovery, as Tập saw it as a way to contribute to his family’s survival. His example has encouraged other returnees to seek help and opened up communication between families and local partners. At the time of the deep dive study, Tập as taking animal husbandry classes and planned on expanding his small farm to include chickens and pigs.

(Source: Deep dive assessment – Protection, August 2024)

• Goodweave and the Skills Education Group adopted a similar model of delivering awareness raising sessions for at-risk workers in Bangladesh and the UK. In both projects, there is strong positive evidence of an increase in understanding of labour and worker rights among the at-risk workers who attended the training sessions. Following these sessions, participants were given access to legal support which a significant percentage took up.

• Several interventions have taken a sustainability-oriented approach to building preventative skills among key audiences:

  • In Viet Nam, IOM trained government officials, school personnel and youth leaders to use behaviour change communications (BCC) to promote safe migration and prevent human trafficking, who then went on to deliver awareness raising events and extra-curricular activities to hundreds of people.
  • In Romania, ALEG sought to transform the way children are cared for in the Romanian social care system by equipping educators, caregivers, social workers and NGO volunteers with the understanding and tools to raise awareness of human trafficking, resulting in 65% demonstrating noticeable changes in their professional practices.

9.3 Tackling social norms

• Harmful cultural practices —such as child marriage, gender-based violence- are one of the strongest structural vulnerabilities underpinning human trafficking. The MSF independent evaluation noted that the most impactful “has been activity to change social norms that underpin the prevalence of MSHT”^{[footnote 10]}.

• In Albania, evidence shows measurable but uneven progress in challenging harmful gender norms. The programme delivered Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for teachers as well as for pupil self-governance structures on gender equality principles and human trafficking risks, in an effort to create more equitable gender attitudes that could serve as protective factors against exploitation. Qualitative and quantitative results show that while there were improvements in promoting open discussions on harassment and improving institutional responses in schools, persistent gender inequalities remain, including limited confidence among girls to report abuse and stricter social expectations for girls compared to boys.

• In Ethiopia, the endline results of the Hope for Justice project show progress in reducing the acceptance of exploitative practices, particularly in attitudes toward child marriage, labour conditions, and domestic worker obedience, compared to the baseline. However, economic pressures and entrenched social norms continue to justify exploitative labour and gender hierarchies in some areas, indicating that financial constraints often outweigh attitudinal shifts.

• Several interventions have worked off the logic that the transformation of women into resilient economic and social actors significantly reduces their individual vulnerability, and that of their children to exploitation. In Ethiopia, the support to women’s SHGs and Cluster Level Associations (CLAs) successfully resulted in securing income generating livelihood activities and land to expand the marketplace for sellers from Wolaita and Hadiya. In some cases, women also reported opening their own personal bank accounts. It is however challenging to gauge the extent to which strengthening women’s economic independence and leadership roles within the community have been sufficient to diminish the financial pressure to send children away.

9.4 Legislative and policy changes

• Other smaller initiatives managed by FCDO have focused on plugging policy and legislative loopholes:
  • In the context of heightened vulnerability of Indonesian migrants to labour exploitation in the global fishing industry, the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) project developed a policy paper and roadmap specifically aimed at creating a Governor Regulation (Pergub PMI PP) to improve the protection, regulation, and oversight of migrant fisher recruitment and working conditions.
  • The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) conducted a systematic review of Indonesia’s anti-trafficking law, examining its definitions and alignment with international standards, and reviewed 60 Supreme Court decisions on trafficking cases to advocate for the revision of Law no. 21 of 2007. The revision of the law is still ongoing to this date.

9.5 Human trafficking and climate change nexus

• Finally, two MSIF interventions sought to explore and address the impact of climate-driven migration and displacement on human trafficking.

  • IOM’s CREATE project in Ethiopia and the Philippines sought to integrate climate change adaptation strategies into anti-trafficking efforts by improving access to climate-resilient livelihoods for vulnerable groups such as returnees and unemployed youth. 59.5% of participants reported reduced need for distress migration, with particularly strong results in Ethiopia (70.7%) and 88.3% of participants felt better prepared to manage trafficking risks when migrating.

  • ASI, IIED and OKUP have been engaged in global policy dialogues on the links between MSHT and climate change. The final project evaluation notes that advocacy efforts helped secure important outcomes, including Bangladesh’s acceptance of a UPR recommendation addressing modern slavery risks linked to climate change, and ASI’s invitation to join IOM’s advisory group on climate and trafficking.

9.6 Measuring prevention

• Some projects have invested significant efforts in pushing the boundaries of how prevention work is measured. UNICEF in Albania have hypothesised that access to information, livelihoods opportunities and ability to challenge harmful gender norms would increase individual and community resilience to human trafficking. Their outcome measurement strategy included an assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and mixed-methods assessment of target audiences’ ‘personal stability’ (physical and psychological wellbeing, engagement in livelihoods opportunities, level of social connections and influence of social norms). Both studies were carried out at regional level. While these have provided general information across a wide demographic, and in the case of the KAP survey, allowed for meaningful comparison of results over time^{[footnote 11]}, they have fallen short of answering the question about the programme’s prevention impact. These large-scale assessments, which were not carried out with the same participants each time, presented significant limitations, including smoothing out differences across communities, regions and specific groups (e.g. undocumented migrants, foreign nationals), and did not allow assessing the programme’s contribution to results on KAP.  As a result, the investment in three waves of KAP surveys provided numbers but not the depth, relevance, or clarity needed to meaningfully shape programming. While the intention to assess personal stability among adolescents and their caregivers was well-founded, the study on ‘personal stability’ has also fallen short of providing tangible insights into the programme’s role in affecting its key determinants, as the questions weren’t framed around the pathways of change the programme was trying to influence (e.g., increased help-seeking, improved decision-making). The study did however shed light on important structural issues: for instance, social relationships within families was generally reported to be positive, but adolescents reported feeling misunderstood or judged, especially in rural/small towns. Safety perceptions also differed with adults believing that their communities were safe, and youth reporting the persistence of harassment (girls) and bullying (boys).

9.7 Lessons

Design awareness campaigns as two-way, survivor and community-led conversations

The most effective awareness-raising efforts move beyond one-way information delivery to create spaces where people—especially young people—can actively engage, question, and shape their own understanding of migration and trafficking. For example, in Viet Nam, TMSV organised a televised student debate contest in target provinces, created interactive tools for school staff to use during extracurricular sessions, and hosted a mock trial on online scams and trafficking cases. Similarly, youth-led initiatives such as the “Safe Migration and Human Trafficking Prevention” contest have encouraged critical thinking and peer learning. In Albania, UNICEF’s “Untold Stories 3” art competition and the BiblioTech Challenge 3.0 also reflected this shift—inviting young people to explore, interpret, and communicate these issues creatively.

This is strengthened when campaigns are grounded in the lived experiences and leadership of survivors and those directly affected, with messages co-designed and pre-tested with target audiences to ensure they reflect real-world risks, resonate meaningfully, and avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Justice and Care Romania, for example, worked closely with survivors to co-create a safe migration campaign, then tested the materials with other survivors of different backgrounds at multiple stages. The result was high recall and understanding of the key messages. In the Philippines, organisations composed of family of migrant workers played a crucial role in mobilising their respective communities in changing perceptions on various issues of migration, gender-based violence, trafficking and OSAEC. This stresses the broader lesson that awareness campaigns are often most effective when they are grounded in the voices and leadership of those with direct connection to the issue.

Pair awareness-raising and rights training with practical and accessible support

Awareness-raising and rights-based training are essential for informing people about the risks of trafficking, their rights, and safe migration options, but they are not enough on their own to prevent exploitation. Projects have shown that even when individuals understand the dangers of irregular migration or forced labour, they may still make risky choices if they feel they have no viable alternatives. As emphasised in the MSF independent evaluation, Prevention efforts are most effective when paired with tangible, practical support—such as access to safe livelihoods, psychosocial services, social protection, and legal assistance. For example, Goodweave and Awaj in Bangladesh coupled workers’ rights training with an on-site legal clinic, while SEG/REE-Hub provided immigration caseworker support alongside training. Both cases demonstrated that when workers not only learn about their rights but are also offered pathways to exercise them, they are more likely to seek remedies and avoid exploitative situations.

Measuring prevention should be more localised

The effectiveness of prevention efforts seems to be most accurately assessed through geographically localised evaluations. This is because the key outcomes of prevention—such as reduced vulnerability and changes in behaviour—typically occur at the local level, where individuals actually encounter risk factors like economic hardship or migration pressures. Local contexts strongly influence migration-related decisions, as certain regions or communities—often shaped by history, economic conditions, and social networks—are known to be “emigration-prone”. Furthermore, interventions can be more effectively tailored to align with specific cultural and social norms in these settings. As a result, large-scale surveys seem inadequate for capturing the nuanced, localised nature of prevention impacts.

10. Outcome 4: Improved survivor engagement, victim identification, needs-based support and reintegration, reducing the potential for re-trafficking

• The majority of MSF funded interventions focused on this outcome (45%). This might be due to the fact that many MSF grantees specialise in victim care and reintegration, and may lack the expertise, capacity or mandate to engage in systemic prevention or to engage with law enforcement or private sector actors.

10.1 Survivor engagement

• Improved survivor engagement refers to the meaningful, sustained, and empowered involvement of trafficking survivors in their own recovery process, service delivery, as well as in broader anti-trafficking efforts.

• The positive impact and benefits of centring lived experience and meaningful inclusion of survivors is widely recognised across fund partners, however, it has not translated into consistent survivor engagement during project design, implementation and evaluation.

• The following section uses the lived experience inclusion ladder developed by Chris Ash and Sophie Otiende^{[footnote 12]} to assess the degree to which impacted people were included in the decision-making of Home Office led interventions^{[footnote 13]}.

• Although the MSF has increasingly emphasised the importance of ensuring projects are informed by survivor perspectives, most Home Office-led interventions funded have had limited involvement of survivors in their design and have yet to fully integrate participatory mechanisms for gathering their feedback (61% were rated as involving survivors as ‘beneficiaries’ or ‘tokens’). 26% have arranged for survivors to be consulted, sometimes through individual consultants or advisory groups, while 13% involved them in parts of the design and decision-making processes.

• Survivors’ involvement was primarily centred around contributing perspectives and validating approaches and tools rather than initiating or co-leading their conceptual development. In many cases, survivors’ insights were used to adapt programmes and practices.

• Home Office-run projects in which survivors have taken on roles beyond their own recovery — as peer mentors, advocates or advisors shaping service design and policy have performed exceptionally well (90% of achievement against outcomes).
  • Under the NRL project in India, an advisory group composed of people with lived experience of bonded labour contributed at design and delivery stages by shaping tools intended for worker empowerment, particularly the chatbot. This approach added both strategic value and ethical integrity, although gender, tribal and caste diversity within survivor participation was limited due to contextual constraints.
  • The Justice and Care model in Bangladesh demonstrated that survivors are not passive recipients, but that they actively participate in developing their care plans, setting recovery goals, and making decisions about their futures.
• In terms of empowering survivors in anti-trafficking efforts, several projects stand out for having advanced survivor leadership:
  • The GFEMS POWER project convened a World Congress conference gathering 112 survivor-leaders, and lived experience working groups to advance collaborative survivor-led review and discussions of key issue which resulted in an Action Plan For Survivor Leadership in the Next Decade. emphasised survivor engagement by training individuals with lived experience in research and facilitating their leadership in anti-trafficking efforts. Following the Fellowship, 13 of the 27 Fellows had secured placements in research institutions.
  • FCDO provided funding to a survivor-led project enhancing survivor protection and empowerment for Yazidi and other trafficking survivors in post-Daesh Iraq. Two other projects sought to empower survivors of human trafficking to actively participate in national roadmap development under the Alliance 8.7 framework in Kenya and the DRC. This work had the additional benefit of leading to the formation of Survivor Network Kenya (SNK). The UK has since supported SNK to develop a three-year Strategic Plan and participate in Alliance 8.7 accountability workshops and the Global Coordinating Group, during which Kenya officially joined Alliance 8.7 as a Pathfinder Country.

• All projects recognised that survivor inclusion requires significant investment in time, trust-building, and support services.

• Projects that meaningfully involved survivors did so through carefully designed frameworks that ensured safety, empowerment, and appropriate compensation. It is worth noting that not all projects remunerated survivors for their input, which is not standard practice.

• Overall, ensuring consistent and meaningful survivor involvement across policy, practice, and evaluation remains an improvement area for the fund as a whole.

10.2 Victim identification and referral

Victim identification and referral refers to the formal process of identifying victims of MSHT and referring them to appropriate support services.

• The MSF independent evaluation found that programming had improved the systematic identification of victims. Identification and recognition as a victim is critical as it permits access to victim support services such as shelters, medical care, or legal aid. Approaches have varied depending on the country context: in Romania, NGOs have actively worked to embed trafficking identification capabilities within mainstream services (such as education, health), while in Albania, the UNICEF programme has sought to develop, pilot and integrate identification service models (Mobile Units, One-Stop Centres) into institutional systems.

• Over 2,900 potential victims and victims have been identified through MSF programming, spanning sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and labour exploitation. Cases of criminal exploitation mainly concerned Vietnamese nationals recruited in cyber scam centres in Southeast Asia. In addition, through its GeoAI platform, the NRL project in India identified potential indicators of forced labour among approximately 2.88 million kiln workers^{[footnote 14]}.

• Among these 2,900 individuals were women, men and children who would most likely not have been identified without MSF programmes. As an example, the Mobile Units funded through UNICEF in Albania identified 1,548 individuals, among which 188 were in regions previously believed by authorities to have no instances of human trafficking.

• Technology played a pivotal role in enhancing the identification of trafficking victims across multiple contexts. The geospatial technology developed by the NRL enabled the identification of indicators of forced labour among an estimated 2.88 million workers, of whom 2,183 were successfully liberated (1260M; 923W). Similarly, advanced data analytics through Traffic Jam supported the Brazilian Federal Police in identifying 80 potential victims of sex trafficking, while Romania’s Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) unit was able to identify 57 potential victims within just weeks of receiving access to the tool. In Bangladesh, Justice and Care created the technology platform for the Government’s new National Referral Mechanism for survivors of human trafficking, which is being piloted by MoHA in five districts prior to national rollout. This digital platform is planned to be used by all service providers nationally to identify and refer survivors. These results highlight the transformative potential of tech-driven solutions in uncovering and responding to exploitation at scale.

• Limited awareness and knowledge of reporting mechanisms among frontline actors is an issue that many MSF interventions sought to address, as a first critical step toward victim rescue and support. The range of actors sensitised and trained involves law enforcement and border authorities, healthcare professionals, labour inspectors, social workers, education personnel and faith leaders.
  • In Viet Nam, IOM trained DOLISA, local labour officers, police officers, provincial officials and protection service providers to use a screening form to detect and refer victims of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations, which led to 43 officers from the provincial DOLISAs screening 92 people, of which 25 have been identified as potential VOTs.
  • In Romania, health professionals trained by eLiberare referred six cases to authorities only a few weeks after participating in the training.
  • 686 emergency line operators and specialists of the 119 service across Romania were trained on the identification and referral of cases of trafficking in human beings and trauma-informed exposure.
• In Romania, NGOs have sought to refine or establish clear referral pathways for actors to consistently report cases.
  • As a result of a strengthened relationship and referral pathway between Justice and Care Romania and ANITP, the number of victims directed to the NGO for support reportedly increased.
  • eLiberare developed a simplified and user-friendly version of the NIRM tailored to healthcare professionals, which were shared throughout the country in addition to a campaign reaching 19,944 healthcare professionals.

• In some cases, the extent to which identification of victims led to their safeguarding is much more uncertain. Barriers to recognising them as victims are numerous: victim not self-identifying, fear of deportation or retaliation from exploiters, distrust in police, fear of shame and rejection, misclassification of cases, stereotypes and discrimination, narrow legal definitions, inconsistent or lengthy procedures etc.

• The MSF independent evaluation recommends that MSF should prioritise improving host institutions’ identification and support systems for victims of trafficking. It is also important for partners to adapt their internal processes to align with the local or national systems’ referral and reporting processes.

10.3 Needs-based support and reintegration

• 11,242 victims have been provided with needs-based care under the MSF. Several programmes have placed at their core the provision of holistic support for victims, that is to say comprehensive, victim-centred care that addresses all aspects of a survivor’s recovery and reintegration, not just their immediate rescue or legal case. This comprehensive support coincides with the seven outcomes identified by MSPEC for adult survivor recovery and reintegration. Other projects have provided more episodic support such as the NRL in India helping workers access government welfare and employment schemes, and Goodweave providing legal counselling to workers.

• The Home Office-run IOM Viet Nam, UNICEF Albania and Justice and Care Bangladesh programmes were able to provide comprehensive support to survivors at scale (232, 740 and 205 victims supported respectively).

• In Albania, many survivors reported improved physical and emotional well-being, increased self-confidence, and stronger decision-making skills. Economic empowerment initiatives were described by beneficiaries as “life-changing”, however, long-term economic independence remains a key challenge, especially due to limited funding and economic opportunities in rural areas. Survivors often faced stigma and discrimination, making family and community reintegration difficult. Community perceptions of safety and support also showed mixed progress.

• The wider structural issue in Albania remains that the identification and services provided to victims are largely donor dependent. Many critical services (e.g., shelters, Mobile Units) need project funding to function and are not institutionalised into public systems. Without a formal mechanism to adopt and fund these services, they remain temporary. Still, the Ministry of Health committed to cover the personnel costs of the One-Stop Centres established within regional hospitals, suggesting some institutional buy-in for continued survivor support.

• In Romania, 82% of survivors supported by Justice and Care Romania showed improvement in recovery scores (especially in safety, health, wellbeing) and 85% stayed engaged with police/prosecutor processes. Some survivors reached out after facing new risks, demonstrating trust and impact of the programme. However, reaching financial stability remains the weakest area of survivor recovery.

• In Bangladesh, 20 survivors were trained as after-care facilitators (ACFs) by Justice and Care, among which 16 are still actively providing support to other survivors. ACFs reported gaining emotional resilience, professional confidence, and community respect. This approach had a positive impact on the survivors they helped, who reported high satisfaction scores for ACF support. 69% improved mental/emotional wellbeing and 81% showed improved sense of community reintegration. External evaluators confirmed that ACFs significantly impacted survivor recovery and wellbeing, and that the model outperformed traditional staff-led care due to empathy and lived experience. Despite significant gains in economic stability, employment barriers remain due to stigma, gender norms, and job market constraints. The programme also encouraged all 20 ACFs to enrol in further education and to share advice through strong peer networks.

PSA, a 20-year-old survivor from Khulna, Bangladesh, endured years of exploitation and trauma after being trafficked to India as a child. Following her rescue and return to Bangladesh, Justice and Care Bangladesh took over her legal case and enrolled her in a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. Central to her recovery was the dedicated support of ACFs, who provided consistent emotional, psychological, and practical guidance throughout her journey.

Initially struggling with deep trauma, stigma, and threats from her trafficker, PSA found a lifeline in the ACF team. Through their counselling, peer mentoring, and family mediation, she learned to manage anger, rebuild relationships, and gain confidence. She recalled that speaking to her ACFs lifted a heavy burden and helped her navigate emotional pain and social judgment. With their guidance, she pursued vocational training, launched a tailoring business, saved money, and even started fish farming. ACFs helped her re-enter school and continuously checked on her well-being, responding with urgency and compassion no matter the circumstance. Today, PSA works at the Jute Product Making Hub, dreams of becoming a trainer, and aspires to one day become an ACF—to help others the way she was helped.

(Source: External evaluation of the Justice and Care Bangladesh Champion Survivor Aftercare programme, March 2025)

• In Bangladesh, the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) implemented a comprehensive intervention to ease the economic and social burdens of migrant returnees, especially women. Support included mental health counselling, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship assistance, and access to justice through three local Grievance Management Committees (GMCs), which mediated 58 cases, resolved 14, and recovered BDT 1.17 million from intermediaries. Additionally, 132 legal cases were pursued via Bureau of Manpower and Employment (BMET) arbitration. RMMRU also hosted a national conference to promote safer migration, trained government officials on decentralised mediation and successfully advocated for ethical recruitment training for 87 new recruiting agencies, endorsed by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE).

• In the Philippines, 115 children (five boys and 110 girls) received holistic, centre-based assistance through the Preda therapeutic home for children; DAWN supported 360 migrant women returnees and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and trafficking with specialised psychosocial counselling and livelihoods activities; and World Hope International provided mental health support to 38 children survivors of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation (OSAE) and their families, as well as family bonding activities.

• IOM UK has started to implement a project aimed to strengthen the capacity of UK support providers to improve reintegration outcomes for survivors of modern slavery who choose to return to their countries of origin. Despite a shortened delivery period, the project successfully delivered all planned outputs, including a national assessment of current return arrangements, five country-specific service directories, and a package of risk assessment and support tools. Webinars reached over 125 stakeholders, and a high number who reported increases in knowledge and intention to apply learning.

• EverFree sought to trial a survivor-centred needs assessment tool, Freedom Lifemap, with a pool of organisations across multiple countries. Data from 190 adult participants who completed follow-up assessments showed that most (64.55%) reported improvements in their well-being over roughly seven months. Organisations noted the usefulness of Freedom Lifemap and how they were utilising it to better serve the survivors in their care, shape programmes, and identify gaps in services. Survivors also appreciated the increased sense of ownership over their recovery.

“The positive impact was that it has helped me to set medium- and long-term goals and accomplishing them makes me feel calmer because I can set goals and say, ‘This I have to do, and this I can improve.’ One of the things that impacted me was to see my economy, because I know that I am not financially sound, and it has made me think about how I could improve the situation and how to do it.”

“I think it has greatly influenced my sense of involvement because you get to sit there and fill these things according to how you feel your life is doing. It is not about someone dictating. It is very personal because you get in touch with yourself. So when someone says you need to work on this, you feel it is valid because it is you who put it as a point where you are weak.”

(Source: Participant interviews, final evaluation of Everfree’s Freedom Lifemap innovation partners pilot programme, March 2025)

10.4 Limitations

• While it is positive that different organisations tailor the way they measure recovery and reintegration outcomes to reflect their specific context, priorities, and target populations, this diversity in approaches presents a challenge. The lack of standardised indicators or methodologies makes it difficult to compare results across projects or geographies and limits the ability to draw broader conclusions about what works best in supporting survivors of trafficking.

• It is also challenging to measure instances of retrafficking because survivors often drop out of contact with support systems, and there are few mechanisms in place to systematically track their long-term outcomes or re-entry into exploitative situations.

• While improvements and innovations in the human trafficking sector—such as new tools, protocols, or data systems—are often essential and well-intentioned, they can unintentionally place additional strain on already overstretched service providers and institutions. In environments where staff capacity, funding, and infrastructure are limited, this can create a burden that risks overwhelming frontline actors, reducing the effectiveness of both new and existing efforts. This was reported under the UNICEF programme in Albania (see ‘Unintended Consequences’).

• Male victims are often excluded from services despite the prominence of labour trafficking. In Albania, significant gaps remain for them, particularly in accessing housing and long-term support services, as well as for individuals from marginalised groups.

• While IOM and UNICEF in Viet Nam and Albania have deployed strategies to reach ethnic minorities who live in remote areas with less access to media and technology, and NGOs working with Romanian victims of trafficking have taken into consideration the high prevalence levels among Roma groups, there is little reporting across the fund of the extent to which people with disabilities or members of LGBTQIA+ communities have been able to access support.

10.5 Lessons

Planning proactively to reach vulnerable individuals

Accessing the perspectives of the most vulnerable can be challenging in certain contexts, and requires intentional planning, logistical support, cultural sensitivity, and budget allocation. ETI, for example, strategically scheduled data collection to align with quieter periods in agricultural operations to increase worker participation. Still, newer migrants and field workers—those arguably most at risk—remained significantly underrepresented due to practical barriers like demanding work schedules, limited mobility, language and literacy challenges, and isolation at remote worksites. To address similar constraints, Everfree adopted a flexible and survivor-sensitive model by training in-country partners to carry out interviews, designing appropriate tools, and ensuring interviewers were not directly involved in case management. This approach helped mitigate ethical concerns while promoting trust and access.

Ensuring survivor participation is mutually beneficial

It is widely recognised that when survivors and vulnerable individuals contribute their time and lived experience to research or programme design, they should receive something meaningful in return. This is not only a matter of ethics, but of respect and reciprocity. Compensation—whether financial or non-financial—acknowledges the value of their insight, and helps offset any associated costs, such as transportation, mobile data, childcare, or lost income. Across MSF projects, forms of compensation have included direct payments, vouchers, travel and meal reimbursements. In some cases, such as in Goodweave’s worker surveys, participants also received information on support services and hotlines, ensuring they left the engagement with access to resources or knowledge that could benefit them.

Engaging lived experience requires sensitivity and long-term vision

Several MSIF partners reflected on their approach to engaging with people with lived experience, or lack thereof, some of them recognising in their lessons that participation and representation of those with lived experience would have greatly enriched their projects. In the DRC, important lessons arose about ensuring that survivors are well-informed about a project before participating, and that the mental health status of survivors was well understood to ensure that training and engagement process was sensitive to their needs. In Kenya, the importance of investing in capacity building for survivors to ensure that they can lead and sustain advocacy efforts independently was a key lesson learnt. From a project management perspective, it was found that ensuring the sustainability of survivor engagement in the absence of further funding was vital, and that long-term planning should be incorporated into project plans.

Economic empowerment is central to survivor reintegration

Multiple interventions have stressed how central economic and financial empowerment is to survivors’ reintegration outcomes. The Justice and Care project in Bangladesh initially supported survivors through individual income-generating activities, but this approach faced challenges—some survivors lacked autonomy, with male relatives taking control, and others were re-traumatised in unsupportive workplaces. Survivors also expressed dissatisfaction with poor wages and working conditions. In response, the programme adopted a mixed model combining individual and group-based enterprises, which enhanced shared ownership, stability, and empowerment.

In Ethiopia, Hope for Justice found that in addition to seed capital, skills training, market linkages and other interventions that the project implemented, SHGs and their higher structures needed to access finances and other resource/knowledge building opportunities through existing government or private structures, in addition to what the project could offer, as it would deepen economic empowerment of vulnerable groups in the long term.

Feedback and complaint mechanisms must be tailored

Effective feedback and complaint mechanisms must be tailored to the context in which projects take place. In Bangladesh, Terre des Hommes (TdH) implemented a multi-tiered Complaint, Feedback, and Response Mechanism (CFRM) that included hotlines, visibility materials, feedback boxes, SMS, and in-person reporting options. Through ongoing engagement, the team learned that participants overwhelmingly preferred raising concerns in person at the local partner organisation’s office, where they felt a greater sense of confidentiality and trust. In Ethiopia, the project team reflected that establishing formal feedback and complaints systems earlier could have improved community trust and accountability.

11. Outcome 5: Improved evidence base on what works best, how and where

• 43 knowledge products were produced and disseminated, spanning research reports, toolkits and guidelines that aim to generate knowledge for practical use, decision-making, or capacity building (see ‘Annex I: List of knowledge products’). Among these feature ground-breaking research studies that contribute to a growing body of evidence linking modern slavery to structural drivers such as poverty, governance gaps, climate vulnerability, and weak labour protections. Highlights include:
  • GPG in Sudan produced a research report delivering key insights on the impact of conflict on modern slavery and human trafficking trends in Sudan and the region.
  • Goodweave and partners documented the existence of modern slavery and child labour within the garment industry in Bangladesh, opening a “window of opportunity for advocacy and meaningful progress towards elimination of forced and child labour”^{[footnote 15]}. However, because the study draws mainly on beneficiary perspectives, further engagement with a wider range of stakeholders,  including industry representatives and public sector actors, will be critical to build a more comprehensive picture.
  • A participatory research study was conducted by TdH in Bangladesh to surface the dynamics that drive children and young women into commercial sexual exploitation and to identify sustainable solutions to break this intergenerational cycle.
  • The Global Commission for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking launched a report that included key recommendations for governments, businesses and CSOs to address modern slavery at the national and international level, designed in consultation with PLE. The report was launched at the UN in the presence of 250 senior member state leaders, businesses, civil society and the United Nations, including the President of the UN General Assembly and UN Deputy Secretary-General.
• As stated in the MSF independent evaluation, “the MSIF has been a good vehicle for evidence creation, particularly on areas that have not received widespread traction, such as the climate change and MSHT nexus.”^{[footnote 16]}
  • Under the ASI, OKUP and IIED consortium in Bangladesh, a research report explored the links between climate-induced migration and risks of forms of modern slavery among vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. The field research included research methods that were designed to be inclusive of various identities such as gender, age, sexual orientation and ethnicity. The inclusion of four case studies of individuals with disabilities in the field research ensured research was inclusive and representative of the population impacted by the nexus. The project also developed the Climate Change and Modern Slavery Hub Map, which aims to address fragmentation in the global evidence base by providing a curated, interactive, and policy-relevant platform aggregating existing research on climate-induced migration and modern slavery risks.
  • Recognising the importance of evidence generation, IOM incorporated knowledge creation as a standalone outcome in its theory of change, resulting in six research outputs focused on deepening understanding of the intersection between climate change and human trafficking.
  • The NRL and VSJ synthesised findings from their project in a research paper shedding light on how kilns will be impacted by climate change in the context of workers’ heat stress vulnerabilities and the decent work agenda.

• Between 2023 and 2025, the MSF organised five events bringing together implementing partners—some focused on specific programmes, others open to the entire fund. These gatherings aimed to foster connections among partners, encourage the exchange of experiences, and surface key lessons learned across different contexts and approaches. These opportunities were valued by partners and should be continued.

• The Home Office programme team also conducted two ‘challenge workshops’, which are structured, collaborative sessions that bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and peers from other organisations to collectively address a specific issue or obstacle faced in a project.

• Under Phase III of the MSIF, the Home Office programme team established evidence groups at the outset of implementation to enable partners working on similar themes to exchange project insights, share lessons, and access peer support. Although some partners took the initiative to convene meetings in the first year, these efforts were not sustained due to the absence of a formal structure or coordination mechanism.

• 93% of >500k projects and programmes had evaluation processes in place (internal or external) but two projects could not go forward with endline evaluations^{[footnote 17]}.  The Home Office has placed a stronger focus on MEL systems at programme and project level starting from 2023, including through ensuring the quality of theories of change and results frameworks, an appropriate allocation of resources to outcome measurement and the set-up of evaluations for all MSIF phase III interventions. Romania projects and FCDO-led projects, due to their smaller size and timeframes, were not subject to the same requirements.
  • The TMSV programme in Viet Nam stands out for deploying a multi-layered monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) strategy that aligns with the scale and complexity of the intervention. This comprehensive approach can be considered best practice within the field. It integrates diverse and complementary tools, including:
    • Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) surveys to assess changes over time;
    • Regular independent assessments of the online communications campaign to gauge digital engagement and message effectiveness;
    • Two qualitative deep dive studies focusing on testing assumptions underpinning certain areas of the Theory of Change;
    • An independent review of how trafficking in persons content has been integrated into extracurricular school activities;
    • A sustainability assessment of reintegration support for returned migrants to evaluate long-term impact;
    • A reachability and remigration intentions survey to understand ongoing vulnerabilities;
    • Follow-up assessments six months after training sessions to evaluate knowledge retention and application;
    • Field monitoring visits by IOM to provide direct oversight and adaptive learning;
    • And a comprehensive final programme evaluation.

• In 2024, the MSF undertook its first independently led impact evaluation, marking a significant step in strengthening evidence and accountability across the fund. This experience yielded valuable lessons—not only about the type of evaluation team and institutional setup best suited to assess complex, fund-wide initiatives, but also about the importance of timing these exercises right to ensure findings can best inform future programming.

• The Home Office programme team also piloted the use of ‘deep dive studies’ with IOM under the TMSV programme in Viet Nam. These qualitative studies aim at investigating complex questions underpinning MSHT programmes, such as core assumptions in a theory of change or emerging evidence that is uncovered by a programme.

• Since FY2024-25, the Home Office piloted a new final reporting process assessing the extent to which project outcomes and outputs were achieved, based on the available evidence. These reports also captured key lessons learned. This reporting process has proven valuable for both implementing partners and the Home Office programme team—particularly when used in conjunction with external evaluation reports, allowing for effective triangulation of findings^{[footnote 18]}.

11.1 Limitations

• The independent evaluation of the MSF found that “there has been less focus on communicating lessons more widely to the MSHT community outside of MSF circles”^{[footnote 19]}. While some projects were effectively connected to relevant policy teams in FCDO, there was no systematic dissemination of knowledge to internal and external stakeholders.

• There was a lack of standardisation in reporting requirements between the Home Office and FCDO. Due to their more targeted one-year nature of the FCDO projects, evaluations were not commissioned.

11.2 Lessons

Knowledge generation and sharing need to be resourced

The MSF was not initially designed or resourced to actively generate, document, or disseminate learning across its portfolio. As a result, valuable insights and innovations from projects have not consistently translated into broader organisational or sector-wide learning. Recognising this gap, the fund is now shifting its approach: responsibility for capturing and sharing knowledge will be placed directly with project partners. This includes requiring partners to integrate learning dissemination activities into their workplans and budgets from the outset.

Balancing rigour and relevance in project evaluations

In 2023-2025, the MSF placed greater emphasis on evaluation and generating valuable learning across projects. However, the process revealed that conducting meaningful evaluations is complex and resource-intensive, particularly when tackling nuanced issues like modern slavery. Partners faced several common challenges: difficulty finding evaluators with both subject-matter expertise and evaluation skills, missed deadlines, uneven data quality, and limited depth in analysis. While hiring independent evaluators brought objectivity, it sometimes came at the expense of a deeper understanding of the intervention.

Flexibility in designing evaluation approaches allowed partners to tailor methods to their context, which was valued by partners, but also resulted in varying levels of rigour and inconsistent focus on outcomes. To improve future evaluation efforts, MSF should provide clearer guidance on expectations, quality requirements (i.e. acceptable sample sizes and margin of error) and ethical standards (i.e. setting up a management response process in case of disagreement with evaluation findings and conclusions, carrying out safeguarding checks before validating inception reports), while still allowing some contextual flexibility. Additionally, partners recommended the creation of a curated list of vetted evaluators across the fund.

Many good practices are worth highlighting:

• ETI embedded external evaluators early and allocated a generous five-month timeframe for the evaluation, allowing for ongoing engagement with project staff and key stakeholders throughout the process.
• Everfree ensured strong continuity and contextual understanding by involving a researcher who had been part of the project from the outset, supported by a dedicated evaluation team.
• Hope for Justice used a community validation process to review and discuss evaluation findings and recommendations with key stakeholders, enhancing both accuracy and local ownership.
• Marinus Analytics adapted their mid-term evaluation approach to prioritize practical utility, ensuring findings were relevant and actionable for project decision-making.

Increasing the role of survivors in fund-wide evaluations

At the request of the Home Office, the MSF independent evaluation set up a Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG). With the support of several leading MSHT organisations, five individuals with lived experience were recruited and engaged with evaluators during workshops at inception, data collection and recommendation design stages. This process was incredibly valuable in many respects. All advisors gave positive feedback about their experience of being part of the LEAG and identified areas of improvement for future evaluations: more frequent and in-depth engagement with the evaluation team and offering equal opportunities for all advisors to contribute. 

12. Fund-wide lessons

12.1 Flexibility in programme design enables timely responses to emerging trafficking and migration trends

Human trafficking and irregular migration patterns evolve quickly, driven by political, economic, and technological changes. Without the ability to adapt, programmes risk becoming misaligned with country priorities and victim needs. Flexibility allows implementers to seize opportunities for prevention and protection, close emerging gaps in victim assistance, and strengthen advocacy on new threats. MSF core programmes were able to adapt activities to address new patterns of exploitation, such as the rise in trafficking of Vietnamese nationals to scam centres in neighbouring countries and the increasing exploitation of third-country nationals in Albania. The targeted nature of FCDO projects meant that they were able to address emerging threats more swiftly, as it was the case with IOM’s forced criminality project in the Philippines.

12.2 Operating in conflict zones requires clearer and more flexible processes

Operating in conflict-affected environments requires flexible governance structures, agile decision-making processes, and a clear mandate to manage risk. The MSF was not originally designed for such contexts, and its existing frameworks lacked the adaptability needed to guide partners through heightened crises. As highlighted by the MSF independent evaluation, a risk-averse institutional culture—such as that of the Home Office—can further limit the ability to respond effectively in volatile settings, underscoring the need for tailored tools, delegated authority, and crisis-responsive mechanisms in future programming. It became evident that the MSF required more structured processes for managing projects in conflict-affected settings—particularly to guide programme adaptation or early closure when necessary. Effective oversight also depends on more consistent engagement with policy teams and local embassies throughout project implementation. These improvements, however, rely on the MSF having a fully resourced team capable of responding rapidly as situations evolve.

12.3 Assessing the value of end-to-end approaches across origin and destination countries

A key lesson emerging from this phase of MSF is the need for a deeper understanding of whether interventions are more effective when focused solely on countries of origin, or when designed to span both countries of origin and destination (such as the Romania programme). While working in origin countries is crucial to addressing the root causes of trafficking and exploitation, these vulnerabilities often manifest through exploitative practices that occur in destination contexts. End-to-end approaches, which engage actors and systems at both ends of the trafficking chain, offer the potential for more coordinated and holistic responses. They are also better aligned with the fact that individuals’ migration decisions and behaviours are shaped not only by conditions in their country of origin, but also by information, influence, and support networks both in countries of origin and destination. However, they are typically more complex and resource-intensive to deliver.

12.4 Adopting a risk-based approach to safeguarding

The MSF programme team recognises that safeguarding was applied uniformly across all programmes and projects, regardless of their level of direct engagement with vulnerable individuals. However, this approach did not account for the varying levels of risk — some projects involved close interaction with at-risk groups and therefore required more proactive safeguarding measures, including field visits and in-depth discussions. Moving forward, a more risk-based and targeted approach to safeguarding is needed to ensure resources — particularly the limited availability of the Home Office Safeguarding Adviser — are focused where they are most needed.

12.5 Bigger programmes aren’t always better

While larger programmes can be easier to manage from a funder perspective — offering consolidated reporting and fewer partnerships to oversee — they are not inherently more effective. Experience from the MSF shows that smaller, locally driven projects can often achieve deeper impact, particularly in influencing policy and practice. For example, in Romania, small-scale initiatives led by NGOs have contributed to transformational policy changes by building on strong relationships and offering practical and transferable solutions to government institutions. In contrast, the larger UNICEF programme in Albania, despite its scope and resources, struggled to gain traction with key government stakeholders. However, across both large and small projects, one consistent insight is that longer timeframes significantly improve the chances of meeting outcomes.

12.6 Strengthening project selection and moderation processes

The project selection and moderation phase revealed that some proposals that were ultimately funded lacked the necessary contextual understanding, local relationships, or robustness in their design. In hindsight, these projects could have been ruled out earlier had there been more time and structure for in-depth follow-up during the review process. This points to the need for a more rigorous and flexible selection process — one that allows space after moderation to explore unresolved concerns through targeted follow-up questions or clarification meetings. Additionally, when the moderation team lacks specific subject matter expertise, external experts should be consulted to ensure sound decisions. To better align project selection with the fund’s strategic objectives, greater emphasis should also be placed on a project’s potential for policy engagement, with a higher weighting for this criterion during the moderation phase.

12.7 Flexibility is needed in grant agreements for early project closure

In some cases, it became evident that projects could no longer continue as planned due to significant shifts in context—such as the outbreak of conflict in Sudan or the breakdown of key assumptions underlying a project. However, the lack of a clear mechanism for early closure within the grant funding agreement created uncertainty and delays, both for implementing partners and fund managers. This experience highlights the importance of building adaptive provisions into grant agreements from the outset. These should explicitly allow for early project closure or suspension in response to major contextual changes, including clear criteria, decision-making processes, and guidance on how remaining funds should be managed.

12.8 Casting beyond MSHT actors

Working through established charities with a mandate on gender-based violence, child protection, migrant support etc. can prove to be a vector of sustainability, as they tend to have extensive expertise in addressing the root causes and consequences of MSHT, and well-established networks across government and frontline services. They may also have the reach and ability to land messages in spaces or with actors who are unlikely to receive information on MSHT. ALEG in Romania and BCWA in the UK for instance are examples of this, as they both specialise in gender-based violence at their core.  

13. Recommendations

As the MSF looks beyond 2025, it may face a scenario of reduced funding and tighter budget constraints. This makes it imperative for the fund to focus resources on interventions with the greatest potential for sustainable, systemic impact. Hard choices will be necessary, and clear criteria will be needed to guide investment decisions.

13.1 Recommendation 1: Adopt and implement principles for the engagement of people with lived experience

The MSF should adopt and operationalise clear, ethical, and inclusive principles for engaging people with lived experience of MSHT across all stages of the programme cycle. This includes design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, at project and fund level. Engagement should move beyond consultation to ensure survivor voices inform strategic decisions and programmatic design in a safe, supported, and non-tokenistic manner, and should be adequately compensated. In contexts where direct engagement with survivors may be politically sensitive or pose protection risks, alternative approaches should be considered—such as working through survivor-led organisations, anonymised feedback channels, or trusted intermediaries. Where feasible and safe, interventions that engage directly with survivors—such as those providing protection or reintegration assistance—should seek to systematically involve survivors in shaping the design, delivery, and assessment of services.

13.2 Recommendation 2: Interventions need to embed sustainability and systemic thinking

The MSF should actively support interventions that go beyond individual-level assistance to address the structural drivers and institutional weaknesses that enable MSHT. This includes investing in programmes that aim to strengthen systems, influence policy and shift harmful norms, working through or with government institutions. Interventions should be required to have a sustainability or transition plan in place in order to receive funding, outlining how the work will continue beyond the grant. Piloting and testing approaches is encouraged so long as they are clearly designed with a pathway to scale or institutional uptake—whether by local governments, community-based organisations, or other relevant actors- rather than pursued as standalone or one-off innovations. With that in mind, the fund would benefit from a clearer and more operational definition of innovation. Also, to maximise learning, all interventions, including those that prove unsuccessful, should be rigorously documented and lessons shared with relevant stakeholders and the wider anti-trafficking community.

13.3 Recommendation 3: Adopt a more holistic and evidence-based approach to prevention

The MSF should adopt a more holistic and strategic approach to prevention by ensuring that awareness-raising efforts are embedded within broader interventions that tackle the underlying drivers of vulnerability to MSHT. Standalone campaigns, while useful for increasing knowledge, are unlikely to generate sustained impact unless complemented by additional support mechanisms. In parallel, the fund should invest more resources—time, expertise, and funding—into identifying, testing, and refining methodologies to measure the effectiveness of prevention interventions. Together, these actions will help shift prevention from a predominantly awareness-based model toward one that tackles root causes and builds the evidence base for effective and scalable prevention strategies.

13.4 Recommendation 4: Strengthen MSF fund management systems

Much progress has been made in the overall management of the fund compared to previous phases, however further improvements are needed to consolidate these gains and embed good practice in the following areas:

• The systematic integration of GEDSI considerations across all stages of the funding cycle, including through the use of FCDO Gender and Equalities advisers,
• Tighter safeguarding protocols and risk management processes, particularly in contexts involving direct engagement with vulnerable individuals,
• Improved alignment and oversight of projects implemented by other departments to ensure consistency and accountability,
• Efforts to foster knowledge exchange among implementing partners and
• A continued commitment to improving performance measurement across the fund, including through clearer results frameworks and MEL support.

14. Core programme results

14.1 IOM “Tackling Modern Slavery in Viet Nam” programme results (2023-2025)

Summary

From 2023 to March 2025, the programme empowered over 7.5 million people through the Think Before You Go campaign, significantly raising awareness of the risks of irregular migration and trafficking, especially among women. The campaign influenced behavioural change, increased trust in verified migration information, and was amplified through local advocacy groups and government channels. Over 1,800 job seekers, including aspiring migrants, accessed safe employment or vocational training, with income levels rising above local averages. Under protection efforts, 737 trafficking survivors and vulnerable migrants received reintegration support, with 98% reporting progress toward economic and psychosocial stability. The programme also contributed to systemic change, including the approval of Viet Nam’s revised anti-trafficking law, expanded victim identification, and stronger interagency coordination.

Outcome 1: Individuals and communities are empowered to make informed decisions on migration

• Total reach of the Think Before You Go (TBYG) campaign: 7,514,645 individuals (online: 7,477,076; in-person: 37,569) from project start in 2020 until 31st March 2025. The Facebook platform reached over 3.5 million users.

• The campaign was the main lever under this outcome and positioned itself as a credible source of information for aspirant migrants to provide accurate and accessible information on the risks and realities of irregular migration including modern slavery and encourage protective migration behaviours, as well as to increase awareness of available Vocational Education Training (VET) opportunities and alternative options to migration.

• Campaign messages were taken up by Government institutions multiple times and also systematically relayed on national networks and top online news sites.

• A qualitative study carried out in 2023^{[footnote 20]} showed that exposure to TBYG messages had contributed to changes in awareness, belief and attitude amongst respondents. The page has garnered the trust of its followers as a reliable source of information. The availability of a helpline for assistance was particularly appreciated. Participants have become more cautious when it comes to overseas job recruitments and advertisements promising quick migration services. They now recognise that working overseas is a complex endeavour, requiring substantial legal knowledge, skills, qualifications and licenses. Followers have adopted a habit of verifying migration related information or advertisements and actively seeking reliable sources.

• A mid-term evaluation^{[footnote 21]} showed that the TBYG campaign was widely recognised by community members and local officials and that it had significantly increased awareness and knowledge about safe migration and human trafficking among participants, leading to positive yet moderate changes in attitude across all groups and locations.
  • 69.71% of respondents correctly identified scenario questions on safe migration and TIP risks, The majority correctly identified high-risk situations, such as being promised a well-paying job by an unknown broker, which required large sums for travel and documents, or working in a foreign country with no legal documents, harsh conditions, and no social benefits.
  • Women, especially those aged 40–59, were the most proactive in sharing information and engaging with campaign content.
  • Participants demonstrated more confidence in making informed migration decisions post-campaign. Women showed stronger attitudes toward seeking legal migration options and rejecting risky pathways.
  • There were early signs of behavioural change, particularly in communities like Bao Thanh (Nghe An), where participants were more active in using information sources and taking preparatory actions such as acquiring new skills and researching legal migration channels.
  • Younger audiences (13–18) and men aged 18–39 in coastal communities were less engaged, particularly in on-site events.
  • Community Advocacy Groups (CAGs) were a key component of the campaign, serving as local-level mobilisers and messengers who helped extend the campaign’s reach and relevance within their communities. They played a bridging role between the campaign and community members, particularly in rural and high-risk areas. CAGs identified and supported at-risk individuals, guiding them toward safe migration practices or connecting them with local resources.

• 296 government officials, school personnel and youth leaders (83 men, 213 women) who were trained to use behaviour change communications (BCC) to promote safe migration and prevent human trafficking went on to deliver awareness raising events and extra-curricular activities. For example, 39 school leaders and teachers from four high schools and one vocational school were equipped with IOM’s guidelines for integrating counter-TIP content into school extracurricular activities, and then independently organised activities that reached 4,910 participants, including 185 teachers and 4,725 students.

• The nationwide “Youth-led activities to promote safe migration and prevent human trafficking” contest attracted 188 teams from 13 cities and provinces, and resulted in the six best youth-led initiatives being supported to implement their project. 254,637 people were reached through online campaigns and 4,284 people participated in community outreach activities. Participants in the contest reported using their experience to convey knowledge through monthly youth union meetings or student club gatherings, but also that they gained confidence in sharing safe migration practices with peers and family members if they plan to migrate, and greater self-awareness of job scams and fraudulent job advertisements online.

Victim identification

• The programme developed, piloted and rolled out a screening form for DSVP inspectors of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Hai Phong to use for victim identification. Since, 92 individuals were detected with exploitative indicator(s) and 25 were identified for further referral. Protection officers from the provincial Department of Health (formerly the Department of Labour) are now able to provide essential protective responses.

• The effectiveness of these measures is evidenced by the recent approval of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) law, which adopts a victim-centred approach and expands protection to individuals who are in the process of being identified as victims. Additionally, the ongoing draft Decree, currently being developed by the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Health, outlines the implementation of the TIP law and includes updates on the cost norms for victim protection, which were proposed under the programme, and the promotion of Hotline 111 into a National Hotline for TIP.

Access to jobs

• 1,854 job seekers, including aspirant migrants, in hotspot communities have either completed vocational training, secured local jobs, or applied for regular labour migration programmes. Regular follow-up shows that most job seekers were able to secure in-province employment after receiving counselling. The wage range varied based on the job seekers’ education level and labour market’s demand of human resources. Their monthly income average has been estimated at 6-8 million VND, higher than the average of 4 million per month in those localities. Other employment options for job seekers and young aspirant migrants include going overseas for study, apprenticeships, or participating in joint labour migration programmes in South Korea or Japan. Those wishing to join high-skill programmes will need to accomplish further training, such as language courses or vocational programme, to better prepare for labour migration. More specifically, participants provided vocational training in beverage or food processing were also able to open and run small-scale business models, such as bakeries or coffee shop.

• 112 counselling staff (63 women, 49 men) at Employment Service Centres (ESC) were trained to better engage with employers, deliver career orientation for job seekers and be more sensitive to the vulnerable group of job seekers including aspirant migrants and returnee migrants, have provided counselling services to 2140 local job seekers (1237 men, 903 women).

• 288 youth union leaders nationwide, vocational staff and teachers were trained to provide key job skills such as digital literacy, soft skills, job application skills, and entrepreneurship skills to young aspirant migrants and guide them in their search for safe jobs and alternative livelihood opportunities in-country. They went on to deliver 60 roll-out trainings for 2,564 individuals (1,450 men, 1,114 women) young jobseekers or TVET students.

• 33 enterprises have received technical coaching and mentoring.

Outcome 2: Victims of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations successfully reintegrate into their communities of return  

• Cumulatively, since the start of the programme, 737 beneficiaries (310 men, 346 women, 39 boys, 42 girls) received protection and reintegration support (NFI/shelter, legal, medical, psychological, vocational training, in-kind livelihood). During phase 3 of the programme alone (August 2022 - 31 Mar 2025) assistance has been completed for 157 out of 232 beneficiaries.

• 98% of beneficiaries reported sufficient levels of economic self-sufficiency, social stability, and psychosocial wellbeing (score 0.5 and higher in Reintegration sustainability survey).

• 98 Vietnamese nationals returning from cyber scam compounds from Cambodia were supported.

• 150 police and border officers (135 men, 15 women) from central and southern provinces undertook training on domestic trafficking, forced criminality, and trafficking in children and unborn children.

Outcome 3: The Government of Viet Nam proactively identifies and effectively responds to all TIP forms through strengthened capacity and cooperation

• At the request of MPS, IOM supported the operationalisation of existing TIP technical group under the National Steering Committee 138 through convening with line Ministries and Agencies  tasked with the combat against TIP to facilitate timely information exchange on emerging TIP trends and issues and to agree on coordinated priority actions, i.e. .2023 July workshop on emerging TIP to cyber scam compounds, 2024 March workshop to review counter-trafficking progress in 2023 and identify priority for 2024, 2024 December workshop to enhance interagency coordination in the context of revised TIP law.

• IOM and the UK Embassy alongside members of the Counter Network Trafficking provided comments to MPS on the initial draft revision of the 2011 Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat, some which were integrated into the final version. The law was approved in November 2024. Collectively, they achieved a broadening of victim status and easier victim identification as part of the recent TIP law revision.

• 220 law enforcement officials (154 men, 68 women) were trained on the use of TIP data collection forms including 94.6% who reported improvement in their knowledge on the use of TIP data collection forms for the MPS central data consolidation and biannual reporting, and 100% reported having applied acquired knowledge into data collection and reporting assignment at their agencies.

14.2 UNICEF “Transforming the national response to human trafficking in and from Albania” programme results (2022-2025)

Summary

The UNICEF-led programme in Albania strengthened community resilience to trafficking by reaching over 1 million people through multi-level awareness campaigns, delivering life skills and digital literacy training to over 1,700 at-risk youth, and integrating trafficking prevention into school curricula and local governance. Economic empowerment efforts supported 244 vulnerable individuals with job skills, vocational referrals, and startup support, while community centres provided tailored services to nearly 2,000 people. Victim protection systems were expanded through mobile units and One-Stop Centres, identifying over 1,500 individuals at risk and providing services to 740 people, including 322 confirmed victims. Despite notable progress, persistent gaps remain in housing, long-term care, and shelter access—particularly for male victims. At the national level, the programme influenced the creation of Albania’s first National Victim Protection Strategy and improved trafficking-related coordination, data inclusion, and municipal planning, though urban–rural disparities and sustainability of coordination mechanisms remain challenges.

Outcome 1: Vulnerable adolescents and communities are increasingly resilient to trafficking: they have access to livelihood opportunities, receive enhanced information, and are able to challenge harmful gender norms

The programme’s Theory of Change aimed to bolster resilience against human trafficking by enhancing awareness, improving access to livelihood opportunities, and challenging harmful gender norms. Measuring resilience is complex due to its multifaceted nature, hidden dynamics, and lack of standardised metrics. UNICEF focused on assessing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and personal stability to gauge impact.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

• The communication approach employed a three-tier strategy: national-level messaging through mass media coupled with digital outreach on social media, and locally tailored content delivered through face-to-face sessions in schools, community centres, youth centres, health facilities, libraries, and professional training institutions. Communication efforts were strategically aligned with human trafficking awareness months and engaged influential figures on social media.  In total, over a million users were reached through digital platforms and 10,337 individuals participated in workshops, information sessions, and community meetings on human trafficking.

• Programme communications significantly increased awareness among vulnerable adolescents and communities in targeted Albanian regions. KAP survey results showed an increased concern about trafficking abroad as well as domestic trafficking from baseline to endline, as well as improved knowledge of exploitation types and of recruitment methods. Individuals exposed to programme communications were more likely to report heightened understanding and intent to act. However, geographical disparities in awareness levels persist across regions: from Shkodër region consistently show lower concern and knowledge levels despite a full range of programme activities implemented there. Progress in addressing the issue of harassment and gender abuse was evident, particularly in schools.

• However, the effectiveness of these efforts is undermined by a comparably low level of confidence among adolescents and youth in reporting cases of sexual harassment, abuse, violence or exploitation. According to KAP survey results, only 23% of interviewed youth strongly agreed that a young girl would feel confident in reporting such cases, compared to 29% when asked about young boys.

• Modest improvements were observed in emotional health indicators for young people, with qualitative evidence suggesting greater self-awareness and agency among youth. Conversely, declines were noted in perceived preparedness to seize opportunities, sense of safety, and connection to family and community.

Life skills

• The programme also sought to develop young people’s life skills (digital literacy, understanding of gender norms, participation in decision-making processes and development of protective factors). 1,744 adolescents and young people at risk (587M; 667F) participated in programmes ranging from online safety and ICT skills to gender norms training, with 90% showing improvements in 21st-century skills post-participation.
  • The BiblioTech initiative, which focused on building digital literacy and cybersecurity skills among young people trained 1,100 young people from 41 schools.
  • 128 teachers were trained to address gender norms and stereotypes that can increase vulnerability to trafficking, as well as pupil self-governance structures in schools.
  • In Dibër, over 100 adolescents aged 10-17 received civic engagement and advocacy training and were supported to voice out their concerns, including on discrimination, online bullying, and trafficking risks, which were then integrated into the official Child-Friendly Dibër Municipality Action Plan 2024-2026.

• 1,918 individuals received services through Multifunctional Community Centres (MFCCs) in Kukës, Shkodër, and Bulqiza. These centres provided community-based specialised services through case management processes to improve access to social services and livelihood opportunities for individuals at high risk of trafficking.

• The programme implemented economic empowerment initiatives to address the financial vulnerability often underlying trafficking risk. including soft skills training, IT network user modules, and digital marketing education for participants in five municipalities.
  • In total, 244 individuals (65M, 179F) successfully completed the programme, 60 have been referred to more specific vocational training programmes in their communities, 36 have been employed in local businesses, intermediated by the partners and the labour office. 21 individuals also received career advice and got self-employed, establishing start-ups. 60% of established businesses remained active after initial support ended.
  • 17 businesses participated in employment programmes for vulnerable groups.
• Mainstreaming trafficking concerns into municipal governance, such as the Child-Friendly Dibër Municipality Action Plan, has embedded prevention within broader protection systems, supporting the hypothesis of systemic change through policy and institutional commitments.

Outcome 2: PV/VoT and population at high risk are empowered through a continuum of protection and rehabilitation services to reduce (re-) victimisation and (re-) trafficking

The programme enhanced victim identification, service accessibility, and rehabilitation support, focusing on trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches. Innovations like Mobile Units and One-Stop Centres addressed gaps in service delivery, though considerable systemic challenges persist – including the continuation of services without donor funding and disparities between NGO and state services.

Victim identification

• Four Mobile Units in strategic regions identified 1,548 individuals including 188 PV/VOTs and 1,1360 at-risk individuals), uncovering previously unrecognised victim demographics, including men, ethnic minorities and foreign nationals. Boys were consistently identified as the most at-risk group. Initial collaboration challenges with local police were overcome, enhancing proactive identification.

Victim services

• One-Stop Centres in Fier and Shkodër Regional Hospitals emerged as one of the programme’s most successful interventions. These centres provided case management services to child victims of the worst forms of violence and sexual abuse. In total, 82 children and 43 caregivers were supported and keep offering identification services that are less stigmatising compared to traditional settings like police stations. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection committed to funding personnel costs from 2025, ensuring sustainability.

• In Fier and Shkodra an inter-sectoral coordination mechanism was established for severe cases, involving Child Protection Workers, social service specialists, police, and the Prosecutor’s Office.

• 740 individuals, out of which 322 PV/VOTs, received needs-based care, with significant improvements in service quality and accessibility reported. 94% of programme beneficiaries reported that access to services was very good and 92% that they were responsive, although results show regional disparities between urban and rural areas.

• However, significant gaps remain, particularly for victims to access housing and long-term support services, and for specific groups including male victims, who do not have shelter options in Albania. While state funding covers basic shelter operations like staff costs and rent, donor funding is essential for case management and reintegration services, including psycho-social and health support, housing, legal aid, and vocational training.

• In total, 1,257 individuals (456M, 801F) received mental and psychosocial support through the online platform www.nukjevetem.al.

• Legal aid was provided to 216 children (89M; 127F) and their caregivers including to unaccompanied and separated foreign children as well as children returned from EU countries, which highlighted regulatory gaps in the system that UNICEF detailed in their 2023 “Unaccompanied and Unprotected: Assessing Protection Gaps for Unaccompanied Foreign Children in Albania” report.

• 968 professionals (317M, 651F) including child protection specialists, social administrators, mobile unit staff etc. were trained and mentored to support at-high risk individuals and PV/VOT, significantly enhancing the system’s ability to provide quality services. This investment in human capital extended beyond direct service provision to include media professionals on ethical reporting, health workers on early identification and support, and law enforcement on forensic interviewing techniques. This last training was institutionalised within the State Police Training Academy.

• As identification efforts improved, the number of victims and at-risk individuals referred to services increased significantly — a positive development in terms of outreach, but one that quickly overwhelmed the capacity of available support systems. This level of care also fostered a degree of dependency in some cases, as individuals were reluctant to transition to state-run services, which were perceived as less responsive or lower in quality. This highlights a broader challenge around ensuring that support systems are not only effective in the short term but also sustainable, scalable, and well-integrated with public services to promote long-term recovery and reintegration.

Outcome 3: Anti-trafficking coordination mechanisms are enhanced to advance an effective and evidence-based response

• The programme’s technical support contributed to significant policy developments, including Albania’s first National Victim Protection Strategy with a costed Action Plan that placed children and other victims of trafficking on the central stage.

• Regional Anti-Trafficking Committees (RATCs) were bolstered, creating structured opportunities for information exchange among diverse stakeholders and improving regional coordination. However, reliance on programme facilitation for RATC meetings puts in question their sustainability.

• The endline study revealed uneven improvement in coordination, with better results in urban areas than rural ones, highlighting geographic disparities that limit overall effectiveness.

• UNICEF reports that human trafficking is more openly discussed across various platforms and addressed by various organisations and institutions, breaking the taboo around the topic.

• Programme advocacy resulted in the inclusion of trafficking indicators in official statistics and SDG reporting, addressing a critical data gap in Albania’s data infrastructure. Government funding also increased for research on vulnerable groups, and there are plans to allocate a greater portion of the National Scientific Research Programme budget to human trafficking ($50,000 for 2025-2026).

• Support to Dibër, Shkodër, and Kamza municipalities resulted in developed Local Social Plans that incorporated human trafficking-related elements in various service provision steps, starting from identification, services to PV/VoTs, capacity building for local professionals, prevention, and awareness raising. By early 2024, Dibër and Kamza had secured municipal council approval for these plans, institutionalising anti-trafficking within local governance systems.

14.3 Romania programme results (2023-2025)

Summary

MSF-funded interventions in Romania and the UK improved awareness, survivor support, and law enforcement responses to modern slavery and trafficking. Awareness campaigns and community outreach reached millions, significantly increasing knowledge and engagement among at-risk groups, including Romanian migrants in the UK. Survivors received holistic support, with most showing improvements in health, safety, and legal engagement, though long-term employment remains a challenge. Training for professionals led to improved victim identification—by healthcare staff, police, and border officers—and informed national strategies and cross-border investigations. Survivor-informed approaches, legal reforms, and strong partnerships helped drive systemic change, despite persistent gaps in economic reintegration and sustainability.

Outcome 1: Reduce vulnerability in Romania and/or of Romanian nationals to exploitation through better understanding of risks and addressing drivers (PREVENT)

ALEG sought to transform the way children are cared for in the Romanian social care system:

• 81 educators, caregivers, social workers and NGO volunteers equipped with the understanding and tools to raise awareness of human trafficking in Sibiu and Brasov counties, 65% demonstrated noticeable changes in their professional practices, including increased engagement with the topics of modern slavery, human trafficking, gender-based violence, and safeguarding in their direct work with youth, willingness to raise awareness within their organisational structure, as well as sharing knowledge with their colleagues. Some youth workers also reported attitude and behaviour changes in a series of testimonials.
• Child protection decision-makers at national, regional, and county levels verbally committed to promoting these initiatives and recommended the training to their counterparts in Cluj. Key institutional actors at county level attended the full training and presented lessons learnt from the project at a national event.
• After attending the national event, two police officers responsible for leading prevention activities in Brasov organized and conducted several awareness sessions in their community, schools, and in family-type homes as part of the local project “My Safety Has No Price”, carried out in collaboration with ANITP and regional authorities.

Justice & Care Romania delivered a 2-million strong nationwide campaign for safe migration:

• Survivor-informed reintegration and safe migration guidance reached more than two million viewers across Romanian television channels, plus 42,500 individuals with awareness raising materials at airports and land borders.
• The campaign messages were tested for retention with survivors who are receiving or have received aftercare support from J&C and showed that 85% were able to recall the key messaging from the videos and flyers.

Over 2,000 Romanians across the UK received information about workers’ rights and how to deal with abuse and exploitation:

• Skills and Education Group and the Romanian and Eastern European Hub have provided 135 first of a kind “Workers’ Rights and Labour Exploitation” information sessions tailored to Romanians in the UK, by Romanian community facilitators, in urban centres and areas with a high concentration of Romanians across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The sessions reached 2,013 Romanian nationals, primarily working-age adults employed in low-wage or precarious sectors.
• Evaluation showed a 6.4x increase in participants reporting high knowledge of modern slavery and labour exploitation by the end of the course. 97.2% would recommend the course to others; 90.6% rated trainer knowledge as “Very Good” or “Excellent”. Participants highlighted practical topics (e.g. payslips, contracts, union rights) as most valuable. Course materials deemed “Very” or “Extremely Relevant” by over 75% of participants across 23 employment sectors.
• A dedicated caseworker from the RoEE Hub supported 109 individuals directly with their immigration, legal, or employment issues and managed referrals through a secure CRM system.
• 166 individuals accessed the online version of the course. Online engagement remained low however, due to a combination of factors including digital poverty, language barriers, and mistrust of institutions.

Stop the Traffik used geotargeted ads on Meta to reach women in Romania with safety message:

• The campaign reached 980,310 Facebook and Instagram users in Romania and achieved a click-through rate of 6.4% (standard for NGO campaign is 1%).
• The lack of post-campaign feedback data means that it is unclear if they have landed and generated the expected gains in knowledge on sexual exploitation and adoption of preventative behaviours.

Outcome 2: Improve existing state and community support systems for MSHT survivors throughout identification, repatriation, and reintegration in Romania (SUPPORT)

eLiberare pioneered human trafficking awareness in the healthcare sector:

• For the first time, six cases were referred to police and ANITP by doctors and nurses from Brasov and Sibiu counties who were trained by eLiberare in 2024 (including two minors). The training reached 406 healthcare professionals in total and was later picked up at the Annual Search and Rescue conference gathering +900 emergency services personnel.
• eLiberare also succeeded in incorporating healthcare-specific objectives into the National Strategy against Trafficking in Persons for 2024-2028.
• They have secured the establishment of a Medical Professionals Victim Identification/Referral/Assistance Working Group to implement the strategy, co-chaired with the Ministry of Health.
• Groundbreaking research into experiences of victims with the healthcare sector was conducted and will be published to support policy recommendations.
• Although not initially part of the project’s core target audience, school medicine professionals—including school nurses and doctors—emerged as key actors in the identification and support of potential victims of human trafficking, particularly among minors. In response to this insight, eLiberare adapted its awareness-raising and educational materials to include specific resources for school medical staff, distributed campaign materials to 143 school medical cabinets, ensuring frontline access to the simplified NIRM guides, trafficking indicators, and referral tools.

Border Police officers adopted victim-centred interviewing techniques:

• HOIO-delivered Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) training to Border Police agents and Border Training School, with one trainee submitting her first case to ANITP within three months of the training and others reporting higher levels of confidence in being able to identify signs of human trafficking.

41 survivors of labour and sexual exploitation received holistic support but still face strong barriers to finding economic stability:

• 95% of the 41 survivors accessed at least one needed service (material aid, healthcare, legal aid, employment support, education for children, and trauma-informed psychological counselling).
• 82% of survivors showed improvement in recovery scores (especially in safety, health, wellbeing) and 85% stayed engaged with police/prosecutor processes including testimony in trials and court proceedings with convictions achieved in some cases. Survivors were supported in their recovery and reintegration process by Justice & Care’s team of Victim Navigators, but despite improvements in several domains among which health and safety, they face difficulties in securing long-term employment opportunities, which risks creating dependency to the support.
• 12 cases were closed during the timeframe of the project, seven because survivors were stable and settled and no longer in need of support, and five disengaged from the programme. In two of these cases the survivor was already well stabilised, but not in the three cases. These could be considered at risk of re-trafficking.
• 100% of consulted stakeholders and survivors reviewed the Survivor-Informed Upskilling Programme which was designed under the project and rated it as relevant and appropriate.
• J&C RO successfully advocated for inclusion of the Victim Navigator role in Romania’s national anti-trafficking strategy and began formal process of registering the role in the Code of Occupations — a key step toward institutionalisation.
• J&C RO formed a new partnership with the National Agency for Equality between Women and Men, enabling free access to safe housing for survivors.
• J&C RO introduced localised multi-stakeholder “task forces” involving police, social services, health providers, and civil society to coordinate care for individual survivors. This improved speed and quality of service provision.
• J&C RO also secured an amendment of the legislation for the Romanian state to cover the salary of any recruited survivor in the private sector for 18 months, in order to ensure an easier access to the labour market for the survivors.

Outcome 3: Strengthen the capability of professionals in the UK and Romania to disrupt MSHT and implement victim-centred responses (PURSUE)

BCWA formed a lasting police partnership to reach Romanian sex workers in the West Midlands:

• This transformative partnership between Black Country Women’s Aid and the West Midlands Police’s operation Sandstar has led to improved engagement with Romanian sex workers and police forces understanding of the Romanian sex trade, and contributed to seven WMP-led investigations, some of which that have resulted in criminal justice proceedings. The project directly contributed to the rollout of operation Sandstar to three additional boroughs in the West Midlands.
• The best practice framework produced under the project was refined and adopted by WMP and included in their training rollout under op Sandstar.
• BCWA conducted 1,866.5 hours of outreach in the West Midlands, including independent visits to brothels and public meeting spaces. 95 Romanian sex workers provided verbal feedback during outreach, contributing to the evidence base and the production of survivor-informed recommendations.
• BCWA/CeAnEx briefed over 350 law enforcement professionals (HM Prisons & Probation Service, Border Force, NCA) through in-person events, plus further reach through online briefings.
• Initial resistance among Romanian NGOs to acknowledge the exploitation of Roma women began to shift by 2025. Relationships were strengthened with organisations such as e-Romnja and ALEG, although intended partnership with eLiberare did not materialise.

Trauma-informed training for specialised police and prosecutors confronted prejudices and deep cultural barriers:

• 81 police officers, prosecutors and ANITP staff were trained by the International Justice Mission (IJM) on trauma-informed approaches, victim engagement and victim hearing techniques.
• 75% of trained professionals self-reported changing their practice in responding to trafficking cases. Participants reported increased empathy and awareness toward victims, recognition of burnout and vicarious trauma for the first time and willingness to reflect on biases. Exercises such as recorded mock interviews and the “power walk” activity prompted deep reflection on power dynamics and institutional practices.
• Elements of the Educational Guide on MSHT have been incorporated into eight compulsory modules at the Romanian Police Academy, reaching at least 860 students per year. The guide was distributed to 11 universities, six additional police schools, the National Institute for Public Order (ISOP), and NGO SafePol. ISOP will also run a new MSHT course for serving officers three times a year using the guide.
• The cultural and legal guide for UK law enforcement was shared with 70+ UK anti-trafficking professionals, UK Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and NGOs. It was added to the Met Police intranet for access by all officers.
• The project enabled new peer networks among prosecutors, police, and ANITP staff for ongoing case consultation and according to project staff, stimulated a shift at the Police Academy toward more openness, collaboration, and modern pedagogy.

Romanian Police secondees sparked key connections and overcome post-Brexit challenges for joint investigation with Police Scotland:

• Romanian Police Officers assisted the Scottish National Human Trafficking Unit (NHTU) in setting up a joint investigation involving an organised crime group based in Romania. Their involvement was critical in overcoming post-Brexit barriers to instigating a joint investigation and the necessary level of cooperation early on to approach Europol and Eurojust.

Romanian Trafficking in Human Beings unit used software tool to identify 57 potential victims of trafficking and initiate 13 investigations:

• The Romanian Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) unit reported they have used Traffic Jam to identify 57 potential victims within six months of receiving the four licenses.
• 13 criminal investigations were initiated, including cross-border cases, and one missing vulnerable child was located and safeguarded using the platform.
• Joint investigations were launched with Police Scotland, Greater Manchester Police, and counterparts in Switzerland and Germany.
• The THB unit have also used Traffic Jam to screen Romanians who were refused and removed at the UK border for matching profiles advertised online, and identified several positive cases.
• Licence usage has been extended until November 2026, but long-term subscription by Romanian Police remains uncertain.

15. Annex 1 – List of knowledge products

Programme	Partner	Year of publication	Title	Description
Albania	UNICEF	2023	Unaccompanied and Unprotected: Assessing Protection Gaps for Unaccompanied Foreign Children in Albania	This comprehensive assessment identifies the legal and practical challenges faced by unaccompanied and separated foreign children entering Albania.
Albania	OSCE	2023	Scoping Study on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions	This study provides findings and recommendations on policies, operations, training, resources to implement a victim-focused and multi-agency prosecution approach of human trafficking offences.
Romania	BCWA - CeAnEx	2024	Understanding and tackling the trafficking of Romanian women and their sexual exploitation in the UK - Interim report	This report documents the findings of Black Country Women’s Aid’s project and focuses on Romanian adult females who are selling sexual services, or who are sexually exploited, in the West Midlands.
Romania	BCWA - CeAnEx	2025	Understanding and tackling the trafficking of Romanian women and their sexual exploitation in the UK - Final report	This report documents the findings of Black Country Women’s Aid’s project and focuses on Romanian adult females who are selling sexual services, or who are sexually exploited, in the West Midlands.
Romania	NRL - IJM	2025	Tackling Cross-Border Human Trafficking Between Romania and the UK: An International Collaboration Guide for Enforcement Agencies	A cultural and legal guide to improve mutual understanding and collaboration between Romanian and UK law enforcement bodies.
Romania	NRL - IJM	2025	Combatera Traficului de Persoane în România	An educational guide on trafficking for Police Academy students.
Romania	eLiberare	2024	The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Detecting and Referring Victims of Human Trafficking - an exploratory study	The research provides an evidence base on the intersection between healthcare and human trafficking in Romania.
Romania	JC RO	2025	Development of an Upskilling Programme for Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) in Romania	This report paves the way for the development of a life skills programme specifically tailored for survivors of MSHT in Romania.
MSIF	GPG	2024	The impact of conflict on modern slavery and human trafficking in Sudan and the region	A research report delivering key insights on the impact of conflict on MSHT trends in Sudan and the region
MSIF	GFEMS – Survivor Alliance	2024	Action plan for survivor leadership in the next decade 2023-2033	Call to action to place survivors at the forefront of the anti-trafficking and anti-slavery movement.
MSIF	GFEMS – Survivor Alliance	2024	A funder’s toolkit for lived experience inclusion in modern slavery research	This guidance document is for funders and organizations that aim to improve their inclusion of people with lived experiences of modern slavery in their research, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning work.
MSIF	GFEMS – Survivor Alliance	2024	Evaluating gaps in employment programs for Survivors of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery	This report, built from the ground up by survivor leaders, details the existing gaps in global survivor employment programs and provides calls to action for organizations, funders, allies, and those working in policy.
MSIF	GFEMS – Survivor Alliance	2024	Exploring Lived Experience Involvement in Anti-Trafficking Conferences	This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the practices and impacts of anti-trafficking conferences, with a particular focus on the involvement and support of individuals with lived experience.
MSIF	ETI – Partner Africa	2023	Rapid Supply chain and Grievance Mechanism mapping of the Italian Agriculture Sector
MSIF	ETI – Partner Africa	2023	Rapid Supply chain and Grievance Mechanism mapping of the Spanish Agriculture Sector
MSIF	ETI – Partner Africa	2023	Grievance mechanisms in agriculture: Supporting pre-departure networks in West and North Africa, Partner Africa
MSIF	ETI – Partner Africa	2024	Grievance mechanisms in agriculture - Synthesis report	This synthesis report combines four pieces of desk-based research with primary data collection to update our understanding of the essential factors leading to migration for work and impacting the availability, awareness, accessibility, and use of operational grievance mechanisms among agricultural workers in targeted regions of Italy and Spain.
MSIF	ASI - OKUP - IIED	2024	Climate Change and Modern Slavery Hub	The Hub is intended to provide a curated, interactive, and policy-relevant platform aggregating existing research on the intersection of climate-induced migration and modern slavery risks.
MSIF	ASI - OKUP - IIED	2025	Exposed and exploited - Climate change, migration and modern slavery in Bangladesh	Focusing on two climate vulnerable regions in Bangladesh — Pirojpur and Sylhet — this paper examines the links between climate change, migration and vulnerability to modern slavery.
MSIF	ASI - OKUP - IIED	2026	Climate Change, Mobility and Modern Slavery: Emerging approaches and perspectives from civil society	This report provides a rapid assessment of current and emerging responses to the intersecting challenges of climate change, mobility and modern slavery.
MSIF	NRL - VSJ	2024	The future of decent work: Forecasting heat stress and the intersection of sustainable development challenges in India’s brick kilns	This study sheds light on how kilns will be impacted by climate change in the context of workers’ heat stress vulnerabilities and the decent work agenda.
MSIF	Goodweave – NRL – Awaj Foundation	2025	Modern slavery and child labour in Bangladesh’s garment sector: Documenting risks and informing solutions	This study documents the existence of modern slavery and child labour within the RMG industry in Bangladesh, with additional focus on hidden and undocumented subcontracted worksites.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Mapping the relationship between climate, trafficking in persons and building resilience	This report explores the intricate connections between climate change, livelihoods, vulnerability and the risks of trafficking and exploitation, building the evidence-based and so that it is possible to enhance practices around prevention and response.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Mapping the relationship between climate, trafficking in persons and building resilience in Ethiopia	This report explores the intricate connections between climate change, livelihoods, vulnerability and the risks of trafficking and exploitation in the Ethiopian context.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Mapping the relationship between climate, trafficking in persons and building resilience in the Philippines.	This report explores the intricate connections between climate change, livelihoods, vulnerability and the risks of trafficking and exploitation in the Philippines context.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Knowledge bite 1: climate, trafficking and gender	This paper showcases the ways in which climate affects women’s vulnerability to trafficking, and what actions can be taken to better protect women who are affected.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Knowledge bite 2: climate, trafficking, infrastructure and cash programming	This paper showcases the trade-offs involved in different program modalities – cash and infrastructure – when working to mitigating climate risks in communities vulnerable to trafficking.
MSIF	IOM	2025	Climate chains: Knowledge bite 3: climate, trafficking and coping mechanisms	This paper presents a case study that illustrates the potential harmful impacts of short-term coping mechanisms.
FCDO	RMMRU	2023	The Patterns and Trends of Labour Migration from Bangladesh in 2022: Achievements and Challenges	This report highlights the achievements and challenges of labour migration in 2022.
FCDO	ICJR	2023	Evaluation of the Law on anti-Trafficking in Persons in Indonesia	This evaluation reviews the legal framework for trafficking in persons in Indonesia, analyses gaps in existing policies and reviews Supreme Court decisions.
FCDO	Terre des Hommes	2024	Life Stories of Survivors & Children and Young Women At-Risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Daulatdia, Bangladesh: Narrative analysis report	The study gathered life stories from 50 children and young women either at risk of or surviving commercial sexual exploitation in the Daulatdia brothel.
FCDO	Terre des Hommes	2024	Life Stories of Survivors & Children and Young Women At-Risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Daulatdia, Bangladesh: Qualitative analysis report	Narrative analysis of life stories collected in Daulatdia brothel which identifies essential causal links and understand how they relate to one another as a system map
FCDO	Active Citizenship Foundation	2024	Baseline case study research examining the Lived Experiences of Victim-Survivors and Institutional response to combat trafficking of persons in cyber scam hubs	Baseline report which aims to understand, document, and analyse the experiences of Filipinos trafficked into scam hubs in Southeast Asia and the pathways by which human trafficking occurs.
FCDO	Wilton Park	2025	Modern slavery, regulation and investment: finding a balanced approach to SDG8	This report provides a summary of key themes and conclusions emerging from an event that aimed to identify tools and approaches that could empower governments, investors and EMDE businesses to create sustainable, market-based solutions that reduce exploitation in international supply chains and domestic markets, whilst facilitating critical access to global markets and investment even in high-risk contexts.
FCDO	Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking	2025	No country is immune: working together to end modern slavery & human trafficking	This report examines the causes of vulnerability to modern slavery and human trafficking and sets out clear recommendations for urgent action.
FCDO	Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking	2025	Framework of Analysis for Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking: A tool for prevention	The Global Commission’s Civil Society Working Group has developed this Prevention Framework as a guide to the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.

16. Annex 2 – Terms of Reference

16.1 Background

The Modern Slavery Fund (MSF) was established by the UK Government to support innovative, evidence-based interventions to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT), strengthen protection and assistance to victims, and build sustainable systems to respond to exploitation. Since 2016, the MSF has funded a wide range of projects, implemented both in the UK and internationally, with a strong focus on prevention, capacity building, and policy reform.

Between 2022 and 2025, MSF interventions were implemented by the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) across multiple geographies and thematic areas. These interventions have generated a body of evidence through programme data, project reporting, and independent evaluations.

As the 2022–2025 programming cycle draws to a close, an internal review is required to synthesise the results and lessons learned across all MSF-funded interventions. This review will support accountability, inform decision-making, and strengthen the design of future programming in a constrained ODA funding environment.

16.2 Objective

The objective of the internal review is to synthesize results and lessons from MSF programming based on programme data and findings from various evaluations and reviews carried out between 2022 and 2025. The review will cover all MSF interventions funded during this period.

The review will not generate new primary data. Instead, it will rely on existing evidence and programme data, with validation through structured workshops with the MSF programme team.

16.3 Review questions

The review should answer the following questions:

1. How has the MSF performed between 2022 and 2025?
2. What are the most significant achievements of the fund across its outcomes?
3. What lessons should we take forward for future programming?

The report will be published online and shared with all MSF implementing partners, as well as other UK government departments.

16.4 Methods

This is a desk-based exercise, complemented by internal validation. The following methods will be used:

Document review of fund-level, programme-level, and project-level documentation, including but not limited to:Independent MSF evaluation (Itad, 2025)

• Final completion reports
• Romania programme review (HO, 2025)
• Programme reviews, deep dives and KAP surveys
• Mid-term and final evaluations/reviews
• Quarterly reporting data

Data aggregation against pre-identified indicators across interventions.

Data validation workshops with MSF programme team to test findings, clarify ambiguities, and capture lessons not reflected in written documentation.

The review will be overseen by the Head of the Countering Exploitation Programme (CEP). Day-to-day management will be provided by the MSF programme team. The reviewer is Lola Cecchinel, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Adviser.

The draft report should be reviewed by the MSF programme team, FCDO in London and at post in all countries where projects operated.

16.5 Limitations

The reviewer should acknowledge and address the following limitations:

• Indicators are not standardised across projects.
• Data may be inconsistent, incomplete, or of varying quality.
• Risk of overcounting or undercounting beneficiaries.
• Variations in focus, scope, and methodology between projects limit comparability.
• Data extraction from reports may be manual and prone to errors.
• Data is not representative of all victims, only those reported through projects.
• As a desk-based review, no new primary data will be generated.

1. At the end of Financial Year (FY) 2024-2025, the Home Office programme team piloted a new final reporting process in which implementing partners assessed their achievement against outcomes and outputs, drawing on project-generated evidence and cross-checking their ratings with external evaluation data. ↩

2. While the overall score of 89% achievement against outcomes suggests strong performance across the portfolio, this figure should be interpreted with caution. Outcomes were not defined uniformly across projects: some partners included both immediate and longer-term outcomes, while others focused only on short-term results. The level of ambition and specificity also varied, making direct comparisons difficult. Moreover, although the outcome ratings were triangulated through a collaborative process—with partners self-assessing, followed by review and challenge from the MSF programme team using available evidence and findings from independent evaluations—there was no fully standardised method for rating across all projects. As such, the 89% figure provides a useful indication of progress, but should not be seen as a precise or directly comparable measure of performance. To note that only the core MSF programmes, MSIF phase III projects and Romania projects from FY2023-25 were included in this assessment. ↩

3. The figures are estimates rather than precise counts. Across the portfolio, definitions and methods for identifying and recording victims, potential victims, and at-risk individuals varied by context and partner. As such, while these estimates give a sense of the scale and reach of MSF interventions, they should not be viewed as exact or directly comparable figures across all projects. Also, considering that a very small number of projects did not provide gender-disaggregated data, it cannot be fully broken down by gender across the entire fund. This limits the extent to which we can analyse gender-specific outcomes and trends. ↩

4. In the context of the fund, innovation is defined as “new or improved models, policy practices, approaches, technologies, behavioural insights that seek to 1) benefit and empower the most vulnerable countries or audiences and 2) measure the extent to which this is being achieved”.   ↩

5. Survivor empowerment: an innovation that shifts survivors from being passive recipients of support to active agents in programme design, implementation, research, and advocacy. Technology: the use of digital or technological tools to enhance the identification, prevention, or response to trafficking. Monitoring and learning: innovations that strengthen how programmes track progress, learn from evidence, and adapt. Cross-sector collaboration: a partnership-based innovation that brings together actors from different sectors—such as civil society, government, private sector, and academia—to develop and implement solutions collectively. ↩

6. Special Issue–Trafficking Representations, Anti-Trafficking Review, issue 7, September 2016  ↩

7. Since 1 November 2015, specific public authorities in England and Wales must notify the Home Office via the DtN process of suspected adult victims of modern slavery that do not consent to enter the NRM. ↩

8. The MSIF projects include Goodweave in Bangladesh, the NRL in India, ETI in Spain and Italy, and Trilateral Research in the DRC; the FCDO projects include ECPAT in Indonesia (FY23-24), the Centre for Child Rights and Business in the DRC (FY24-25) and Wilton Park (FY24-25). ↩

9. While UK investors do not strictly form part of supply chains, the project is assessed under this Outcome because of their influence on ESG goals or risk mitigation in supply chains. ↩

10. Independent evaluation of Home Office-funded modern slavery programming, Itad, March 2025 ↩

11. The qualitative assessment was introduced mid-way through implementation which meant that its baseline and endline were carried out less than year apart. ↩

12. Ash C., Otiende S., The meaningful engagement handbook: A guide for understanding, implementing, and measuring lived experience leadership across the spectrum of engagement, Collective Threads Initiative, 2025; This work is an updated version of the work originally published in 2023 by National Survivor Network and GFEMS. It has been revised by the original authors and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. ↩

13. While there are many good examples of the inclusion of PLE in FCDO’s work, this assessment does not include FCDO projects as information was not available to rank projects implemented prior to FY24-25 against the survivor inclusion ladder. ↩

14. These figures are indicative and not based on verified individual assessments. ↩

15. Endline evaluation of the “Addressing Modern Slavery in the Bangladesh RMG Sector: Closing the evidence gap and informing solutions’ project, Almizan Advisors, April 2025 ↩

16. Independent evaluation of Home Office-funded modern slavery programming, Itad, March 2025 ↩

17. The MSIF-funded GFEMS-Survivor Alliance and GPG projects ended earlier than expected. ↩

18. FCDO partners were required to submit a standard FCDO final completion report. ↩

19. Independent evaluation of Home Office-funded modern slavery programming, Itad, March 2025 ↩

20. 13 in-depth interviews were conducted in total, 11 with followers of the page and two with non-followers. ↩

21. A mixed methods approach was adopted including a KAP survey, FGDs and in-depth interviews. ↩