Expression of Interest (EoI)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for an International Consultant to Develop the National Strategy, Action Plan on Migration and Development (M&D) and a Monitoring & Evaluation Framework (People's Republic of Bangladesh) as per below Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Background/Context of the Programme:

Over the past years, Bangladesh has become a major labour-sending country with approximately 500,000 persons leaving the country in search of employment each year. Currently, there are around 10 million Bangladeshis living in more than 162 countries and engaged in various employments.

Given the growing recognition of migration as an enabler for development, there have been improved systems in the migration governance framework of the country. Migration is a multi-dimensional process that continues to contribute to the economic growth and has positive contributions on social, cultural, political, environmental and economic impacts of mainstreaming migration into national development strategies.

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has taken several steps to harness the potential of migration for development. The GoB has approved the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act 2013; Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Policy 2016 and successfully incorporated migration and development in the country’s national plan – the Seventh Five Year Plan. With evidence-based thematic strategy papers, the GoB is also continually advocating for inclusion of M&D into prioritized¹ sectoral plans and programmes.

Given this backdrop, it is important to streamline global and national development frameworks to design a holistic approach to maximize the positive impact of migration. In this aspect, a National Strategy and Action Plan on Migration and Development (M&D) would aim to contribute to national and socio-economic development by integrating international migration processes and considerations into development planning. This will forge a common understanding of the migration and development nexus among various stakeholders and delineate concrete actions to supplement the interventions by the GoB. 

2. Objectives:

The overall objective of the assignment is to provide technical support to the GoB, under the guidance of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration and Development (ICMD)² in developing a National Strategy and Action Plan on M&D. The assignment would include designing a Strategy and Action plan which would inter alia reflect:

1.            Strategic Goals and priorities
2.            Programmes/interventions to address them
3.            Timeframe and indicative resources
4.            Monitoring and evaluation framework (the list of indicators and data sources)
5.            Stakeholders responsible for implementation

The interventions should not be limited to the previously prioritized areas and can include any emerging issue of the recent times.

3. Scope of work:

In close collaboration with the IOM team and the GoB interlocutors (MoFA and MoEWOE)³ and National Consultant, the International Consultant shall perform the following tasks:

• Conduct desk research (document and literature review) and guide the National Consultant in conducting extensive literature review (including relevant documents and good practices on the development of the National Strategies and Action Plans on M&D) and submit an inception report;
• Present the outline and scope of work at a Prioritization Workshop to facilitate discussions among key stakeholders to identify the key priorities for the NAP and strategy;
• Conduct in-depth interviews with members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration and Development (ICMD), Technical Working Groups (TWGs), National Project Board and other relevant stakeholders;
• Develop the draft NAP and Strategy following extensive literature review (including relevant documents and good practices of similar NAP and strategy on M&D) and consultative meetings;
• Design relevant tools and guidance notes for divisional consultations (with support of the National Consultant);
• Co-facilitate seven divisional consultations⁴ (30 participants in each engaging with local government representatives, community members, NGOs) and coordinate with National Consultant to prepare summary reports;
• Facilitate the national consultation in Dhaka with government and a broad range of stakeholders (around 50-60 representatives from development partners, NGOs/CSOs and so forth) to share the draft NAP and receive the feedback (with support from the National Consultant); 
• Review the edited version for finalization and printing of NAP and strategy including preliminary Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) indicators to monitor NAP activities.

 4. Methodology:

The development of the National Strategy and Action Plan on M&D and M&E Framework would be based on information collected from the following:

1. Primary sources: consultations with thematic working groups, key informants’ interviews, discussions with international, regional and national experts, sectoral consultations; and
2. Secondary sources: national, sectoral and ministerial plans; national and international publications and research documents, national legislation and policies; international treaties and conventions; official statistics and others.

5. Coordination, Reporting & Deliverables:

*The above is an indicative timeline and proposed activities. In the proposal, Consultants can modify/add according to their perspectives/reasons. However, it is expected that all activities be finalized by October 30, 2017.

6. Project Duration/ Timeline:

The duration of this assignment is for four months, July 2017 to October 2017, of which the International Consultant/Organization is expected to provide 55 days of Consultancy to IOM, Dhaka.

7. Required Qualifications & Competencies: 

• Must be an expert who has completed minimum Master’s degree in Social Sciences or related field with at least five years of relevant professional experience. PhD is an added advantage;
• Sound knowledge and demonstrated capacity in designing the tools and methodology to develop national strategies and action plans in the areas of migration and development,  including design of the Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks;
• Demonstrated ability to draw lessons from relevant international, regional and national practices and processes and adapt them to the realities of Bangladesh;
• Proven experience in developing national strategic documents, policy papers and action plans and engaging with wide range of stakeholders ranging from government, development partners, NGOs/CSOs; and
• Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills;
• Proficiency in English and good analytical, drafting skills.

8. Method of Application:

Each Submission Must Include the Following:

• Consultant Profile: CV of the expert including records on past experience in similar assignments and name of the references.
• Technical Proposal with detailed methodology, tools and work plan along with samples of previous work;
• Reference list: the names of three persons who could provide recommendations to the candidate/team and their contact details (e-mail and phone numbers);
• Financial Proposal listing all costs associated with the assignment.  In particular, the financial proposal should itemize the following:

• Consultancy fees in local or USD currency per day;
• Variable costs inclusive of airfare, site support, local transport, local accommodation, communication, per diems, etc.

Please Note the Following:

• The duration of the assignment is four months, of which the International Consultant shall provide 50 days of Consultancy for the assignment.
• Travel to and from Dhaka and local accommodation (in any UNDSS approved accommodation) in Dhaka should be arranged by the International Consultant.
• The costs for the divisional consultations with be borne by the National Consultant and disbursed upon submission of summary report of the meetings to IOM Dhaka.
• The costs for the National Consultation will be borne by IOM Dhaka. All costs like refreshments for Consultations/Focus Group Discussions will be borne by IOM Dhaka.
• The proposals will be evaluated by a committee comprising of programme and financial staff of IOM Dhaka.

9. Applications deadline: 

All International consultants should send their detailed technical and financial proposals through email to DhakaJobs@iom.int; mentioning CFCV-34/2017/C-BD1: EOI to Develop the National Strategy & Action Plan in the subject line by 23 July 2017. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification

ONLY SHORT LISTED CONSULTANTS WILL BE CONTACTED

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