Expression of Interest (EoI)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for Organizations/NGO for Identification and review towards development of a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) as per below

Terms of Reference (ToR)

1. Background/Context of the programme:

 With 50 million people remaining in poverty, a youth unemployment rate of 9.4 per cent and an estimated two million people entering the labour market annually, Bangladesh continues to heavily rely on international labour migration as a livelihood and national development strategy. Where only 200,000 new jobs are created annually in the formal sector, still leaving over a million new labour market entrants jobless annually. For several years remittances have been contributing 7.87 per cent of the national GDP, making international migration one of the main pillars of the national economy.

Large proportions of these departing migrant workers go without clear information on any services that may be available or on employment or living conditions. As many go without specific skill sets and certification, not only are they able only to access low paying employment, but they also have to bear high migration costs, fraudulent and exploitative recruitment practices and low protective standards in their workplaces. Even those who do depart with some training may find themselves ill-equipped for the job requirements in destination countries, due to differences in training equipment or practices. In addition, skills, training or qualifications received in Bangladesh may not be recognized in the destination country, meaning that they are employed at a lower wage than expected or prevented from accessing employment that matches their skill set. Due to the lack of labour market information restricts Bangladeshi’s ability to link training and recruitment opportunities because of lack of access to accurate labour market information of Country of Destination, weak market analysis mechanism and strategies for disseminating LMI or policy makers and job seekers. Lack of data on migrants at each stage in the migration cycle, and lack of integration at home to ensure that individual migrant’s progress can be tracked weakens oversight and monitoring. 

The Labour market information system provides quantitative and qualitative information and intelligence on the labour market that can assist labour market agents in making informed plans, choices, and decisions related to their business requirements, career planning, education and training offerings, job search, recruitment, labour policies and workforce investment strategies. An active LMIS is a labor market policy instrument that collects, evaluates and provides labor market information to both the labor supply side and the labor demand side. The LMIS helps to reduce the information deficit on the labor market, so the labor market can work better.
 
Through the proposed project, IOM aims to identify the current gaps in the LMIS, how an effective LMIS can contribute to its development, how migrants can be benefited from LMIS and in providing services to the various stages of their labour migration cycle.

2. Objectives:

In this context, IOM Bangladesh is looking for a Consultant/Consultancy Firm to carry out a study on labour market information system need assessment, develop operational guideline and Implementation strategy, which will include options/approaches for systematic and sustainable data collection, along with a set of recommendations for the Government of Bangladesh.

3. Scope of work:  

• Prepare a draft work plan and share it with IOM prior to the start of the assignment.
• Conduct desk research (document and literature review) of existing data & reports on overseas employment trends and labour market priorities and, available LMI of key CODs including LMI sharing tools;
• Consult  with the relevant stakeholders and carry out targeted KIIs with MEWOE, BMET,BBS, BIDS, etc;
• Map out the information, modalities, and resource gaps in existing systems and structures also identify the gaps between demand & supply to respond to the labour market needs.
• Prepare a draft report of and share with relevant stakeholder and get feedback.
• Undertake an international exploratory visit to gather information about the LMIS system on how other countries are collecting and sharing information to prepare the workers, good practices on how a good LMI system functions.
• Based on above, draft and outline an interactive LMIS strategic plan
• Organize workshops to validate the findings of the study as well as to get feedback from the relevant stakeholders.
• Finalize and submit a report of a unified LMIS with an implementation strategy.

4. Methodology:

The Consultant/Consultancy Firm will conduct desk research, consultation meetings with the key stakeholders to identify the current gaps, collect data from KII’s (MEWOE, BMET, BBS,BIDS etc), identify the current trends and requirements of CODs,  based on which, the consultant/consultancy firm will draft reports and  operational guideline, based on the review and stakeholder consultations/meeting/KIIs. 

Further to documenting good practices on LMIS, an International exploratory visit can be undertaken to see how an effective LMIS works. After reviewing all, consultant/consultancy firm will develop an Interactive LMIS plan and implementation strategy.

They will submit a final report based on feedback from relevant counterparts.

5. Deliverables:

A report of an Interactive LMIS plan and implementation strategy to promote the state led programmes and schemes.

 The summary of the report should consists of:

• Comprehensive analysis of the trends, trades, labour market situation, and demand versus supply gap to respond to the rapidly changing labour market needs and environment that can fit into the labour migration system
• Information of the employment opportunities in the key destination countries, various recruitment systems, working environment and career progression
• A thorough review and analysis of comparable approaches in terms of data collection, analysis and dissemination should be identified and improved planning of the supply of skills to maximize business potential and employment opportunities in the key destination countries.
• Multi-stakeholder recommendation, sustainable approach to gathering and disseminating gender-inclusive labour market information of overseas employment to reduce gap between labour supply and demand.

6. Tentative Timeline for Deliverables:

The above is an indicative timeline and proposed activities. In the proposal, Consultants can modify/add according to their perspectives/reasons.

The duration of the assignment is six months starting from August, 2017.

7. Required expertise:

• Must be an expert/institution which has a minimum of five years of experience working in the Social Sciences or related field. Individual with a PhD degree or Organization with PhD professionals in the team is an added advantage;
• Sound knowledge and demonstrated capacity in carrying out labour market studies/ research
• Strong ability to draft the report, analyze and draw lessons from relevant international, regional and national practices and processes and adapt them to the realities of Bangladesh;
• Familiarity with the labour migration issues in Bangladesh
• A good knowledge of Govt.’s recruitment system i.e Mega, Musaned, EPS, G2G etc.
• Must have experience of engaging wide range of stakeholders ranging from government, development partners, NGOs/CSOs
• Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills

8. Method of Application:

Candidates with the required qualifications and competencies are invited to submit their proposals to IOM Bangladesh together with the following documents as integral part of their proposals:

(1) Cover letter
(2) Curriculum Vitae. In case of a proposal by a team of consultants/firms, please submit the CV of the lead consultant and a maximum of 2 main supporting consultants.
(3) Technical and Financial Proposal, outlining the proposed methodology for the data collection including desktop research, the proposed schedule for the data collection, the budget and the team composition.
(4) Sample documents of similar assignments undertaken by the consultant previously.

The completed EoI should be placed in a plain, sealed envelope and clearly marked: CFCV-43/2017/C-BD1: Identification and review towards development of LMIS to IOM, Dhaka Office by 25 July, 2017 in the below address:

Procurement Department

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
House 13/A, Road 136, Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212
Phone: +880-2-55044811 – 13

OR

Interested Consultants are also invited to submit: a) financial proposal with work plan, b) CV c) sample of previous work by 25 July, 2017, e-mail to: nafza@iom.int; faahmed@iom.int; Please mention the reference code CFCV-43/2017/C-BD1: Identification and review towards development of LMIS on the email subject header.

In case of any technical query or any further clarification about the ToRs, inquire through email: mmhasan@iom.int; with subject line; “CFCV-43/2017/C-BD1: Identification and review towards development of LMIS”

The EoI should be written in English.

Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification

ONLY SHORT LISTED NGOs WILL BE ASSESSED

ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TAX OR VAT ISSUES IF APPLICABLE.