The Anti-Trafficking Strategy Toolkit (Malta) is designed to assist all stakeholders involved in combatting trafficking in human beings in Malta by providing a comprehensive set of practical resources to strengthen their efforts. The Toolkit includes the National Strategy and Action Plan on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings in Malta (2024-2030) and a series of digital resource cards that cover key implementation tools: Implementation Guidelines, Communication Strategy and Action Plan, Theory of Change and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, and Roadmap to Improve the Roles of the National Coordinator and the National Rapporteur.

The National Strategy and Action plan on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings as well its implementation tools were developed under the Joint EU – Council of Europe project “Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new national Anti-Trafficking Strategy” (September 2022 – January 2025). The project was co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform support (DG REFORM), in close collaboration with the Human Rights Directorate of Malta.

NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
ON COMBATTING TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS IN MALTA (2024-2030)

The "National Strategy and Action Plan on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings in Malta (2024-2030)" establishes a comprehensive framework to address human trafficking through prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, and prosecution of offenders. The Strategy emphasises a victim-centered, rights-based approach and integrates gender-specific and child-sensitive measures.

It outlines five strategic priority areas: strengthening institutional frameworks, improving prevention and early victim identification, enhancing investigation and prosecution, ensuring victim protection and justice, and fostering national and international partnerships.

The accompanying National Action Plan details concrete, time-bound actions for each strategic priority area, specifying roles and responsibilities for various stakeholders. Developed through multi-stakeholder collaboration, the Strategy and Action Plan include a robust monitoring and evaluation system to ensure adaptability and long-term impact.

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THEORY OF CHANGE AND
MONITORING & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

As part of a results-based management approach to the National Strategy and Action Plan, a Theory of Change and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework have been developed. The Theory of Change provides clarity on what the long-term goal of the Strategy is, articulates the short-term, medium-term and longer-term outcomes (the five pillars of the Strategy) are, and how each of the activities within the Action Plan contributes to achieving the outcomes and the longer-term goal.

In order to monitor this work and evaluate the outcomes achieved, the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and complementing tools have been created. These are to be used by all implementing partners in order to report on and track progress, and are a key method of sharing information across the stakeholders. The tool seeks to measure the activities and results of the Action Plan through the lenses of Impact, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Relevance and Sustainability.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
AND ACTION PLAN

Throughout the National Action Plan various activities are designed to enhance communication with the public and with people who are at-risk of being trafficked and people who are in situations of exploitation and human trafficking.

In order for these activities to be consistent, effective and impactful, they need to be planned appropriately, and clear communication across stakeholders needs to be established.

The Communication Strategy and Action Plan has been developed to coordinate these efforts.

• The plan contains specific communication objectives and messages connected to each objective, as well as the key audiences and the demographic information connected to each group.
• In addition, there are communication principles specific to the sensitivities around human trafficking, and a workplan outlining the activities for the next 12 months, drawing key responsibilities and timeframes.

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES
 

The Implementation Guidelines have been created in order to enable all stakeholders who are responsible for leading or supporting activities included in the National Action Plan to achieve their objectives, by providing principles, tips and steps to follow.

It is designed into two parts:

• The first part summarises key cross-cutting thematic areas, such as collaborative working and principles of working with survivors.
• The second part is organised around the key activity areas that are outlined in the Theory of Change.

Each section contains examples of how to operationalise the activities and draws on good practice examples from other countries if relevant.

It also contains tools and templates which can aid implementation.

ROADMAP to improve the roles of the National Coordinator and the National Rapporteur

The roadmap focuses on the Strategic Goal of the National Anti- Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) related to strengthening national anti-trafficking bodies.

The roadmap includes a legal and institutional review, analysis of international best practices for establishing the National Coordinator and independent National Rapporteur on human trafficking, stakeholder consultations and assessments to identify suitable bodies within the Maltese system.

The roadmap also prescribes interagency consultations to draft Terms of reference for both structures, as well engaging the Legislative Amendments Working Group (CJLA WG) to review the legal framework and propose legislative amendments. The roadmap includes the establishment and operationalisation of the structures, as well as their monitoring and evaluation.