Request for Proposal (RFP)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for a qualified Consultant or a Consultancy Firm to conduct a “Organizational Assessment for effective migration management in Bangladesh” as per below Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Background/Context of the programme:

For decades, migration has been a strategy for alleviating poverty in Bangladesh with around 11 million Bangladeshis living in more than 165 countries worldwide. To support the overseas employment sector, the Government of Bangladesh established a separate ministry named “Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment” (MoEWOE) on 20 December 2001. The main objective of the Ministry is to ensure welfare of the expatriate workers and enhancement of overseas employment with a principle of equal opportunity for the people of all areas of the country. To that end, the Ministry is responsible for formulating policies, plans, enacting laws, rules and regulations, developing projects, programmes and monitoring relating to the management of overseas employment as well as overall welfare of expatriate workers. It comprises seven Wings namely: 

  1. Administration and Finance
  2. Mission and Welfare
  3. Overseas Employment
  4. Organization Administration
  5. Planning and Development
  6. Monitoring and Enforcement
  7. Training

The strategic objectives of MoEWOE are to:

  • Create skilled labour force with technical knowledge as per demand of overseas labour markets for overseas employment
  • Enhance overseas employment opportunities
  • Ensure welfare of expatriates and workers going abroad
  • Ensure increased inflow of remittances

Implementation of the policy, planning and programmes of the Government relating to the management of overseas employment are being carried out by its Directorate/Department named Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) with 45 District Manpower Offices (DEMOs) under it. The Ministry is also being supported by the Probashi Kalyan Bank (PKB), Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Limited (BOESL) and Wage Earner’s Welfare Board (WEWB).

Regarding the budget, the MoEWOE allocated only 1.64 per cent of the total budget (BDT 4,500,000 / US$ 56,250) in FY2016-2017 for development programmes. In addition, there was an allocation of BDT 47,950,000 (US$ 599,375) to cover salaries, administrative and operational costs of 17 government employees based in destination countries, who serve five million onsite migrant workers in eight Gulf countries. However, this budgetary allocation does not cover any direct support or assistance to vulnerable migrant workers. MoEWOE received only 0.17% of the total government budget for FY 2016-17. Budget allocation also registered a downward trend of almost 18% for FY2015-2016 when compared to FY 2014-2015. In FY 2018-2019, MoEWOE will receive budget allocation of BDT 594,00,00,000 (USD 7,07,14,286  approx.) which is 14 percent lower than previous years allocation. Along with financial resources, the actor also suffers from inadequate manpower both at the capital and field level. Many of the approved positions according to the institutions organogram are vacant. 

The Wage Earners Welfare Board data (available) shows that, in 2017, BDT 1,025.77 million (US$ 14.07 million) was spent on repatriation of deceased migrant workers, burial costs, and financial grants to their remaining families. Welfare fees have supported 2,658 children of migrant workers to access education (BDT 25,059,600/US$ 313,245). It has also supported critically sick migrant workers to access healthcare, and maintained the operation of three safe houses in two Gulf countries to assist vulnerable women migrant workers.

The MoEWOE is playing the lead role in facilitating the process of overseas employment which contributes approximately 8% of total GDP. Given the increasing importance of migration at the international, regional and national arenas, it is critical to have the required capacities in place to ensure that Bangladesh remains as a top labour sending country. In addition, the capacities and mechanisms need to be in place for migration management, skills and welfare.

However, in recent years various other dimensions of migration have emerged as pressing issues like internal migration, climate/environmental migration, reintegration of returnee migrants, curbing irregular migration, inward migration of foreigners, student migration, etc. For some of these issues, other organs of the government machinery play leading role and for the rest, there is no clear indication in terms of institutional arrangement. All these factors add up to limited implementation of the policy and legal framework, stain in service delivery and inefficient migration management. 
 
In this regard, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is proposing to conduct an organizational assessment of the MoEWOE and its subordinate agencies so that coherent and coordinated approach for policy making and service delivery can be further enhanced.

2. IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing:

Bangladesh: Sustainable Reintegration and Improved Migration Governance (Prottasha), implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and funded by the European Union (EU). The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the sustainable reintegration of returnees and the Progressive achievement of Goal 10.7 to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed policies.

The specific objectives (SO)of the project are to ensure that;

  • SO 1: Irregular migrants returning to Bangladesh are sustainably reintegrated (Reintegration component)
  • SO2: The capacities of the Government of Bangladesh and other migration actors are strengthened to manage migration at central and local levels and to ensure reintegration of irregular migrants (Migration Governance component)

3. Objectives:

Conduct an institutional assessmentof MoEWOE and its subordinate agencies namely BMET (and its subordinate offices TTC and DEMO), BOESL, WEWB, PKB in view of proposing relevant legal and regulatory changes. Specific objectives of the assignment are as follows:

  • Assess the areas for improvement in the current institutional structure including resources for effective migration management.
  • Recommend ways to strengthen institutional structures including resource allocation and utilization for improved migration management.
  • The findings of the assignment will lay the foundation of advocacy initiatives for institutional reform. 

4. Key Tasks of the Consultancy:

  • Review relevant documents including constitution, budget, organogram, infrastructure, human resources and its capacity, strategic planning, achievements and draft interview guides and/ or Stakeholder Questionnaires for the MoEWOE and its related agencies as mentioned above to ensure thorough assessment;
  • Conduct In-depth Interviews and/or assessments consultation meetings with relevant officials both at field and central level;
  • Compile report on findings and facilitate the organization of a validation workshop for the relevant stakeholders to share, discuss and review the initial findings of the assessment;
  • Submit Final Assessment report, containing recommendations addressing relevant legal, regulatory and institutional changes.

5. Methodology:

The consultant needs to detail out their proposed methodology to fulfil the objectives of the assignment, however, the following can be considered as a guide: 

  1. Primary data collection: Data to be collected at both central and field level through Focus Group Discussions/Key informants’ interviews with officials from MoEWOE and its related departments (BMET, DEMOs, TTCs, BOESL, WEWB, PKB and so on)
  2. Secondary Data/information: Review of organizational operating procedures/structures/annual progress reports/budget/staffing and so on
  3. All work submitted must be in line with the programme communication guidelines including IOM spelling list: 2013, IOM House Style Manual and IOM Brand Guidelines 2018.

6. Deliverables

The following are the expected deliverables;

  1. Inception Report containing final methodology and workplan.
  2. Draft In-depth Interview Guide and Questionnaire;
  3. Draft assessment report consisting of information from primary and secondary sources
  4. Facilitation at the sharing and validation workshop;
  5. Final Assessment Report with recommendations addressing relevant legal and regulatory changes.

7. Duration/ Timeline:

The total duration for this assignment is proposed to be approximately 5 months.

8. Method of Application:

Interested Consultants are invited to submit documents stated below by 6 September, 2018 through e-mail to: faahmed@iom.int ; mentioning the RT/CO-400/012 in subject line.  Please keep the attachment size under 5 MB.
For any queries please write to: DhakaProttasha@iom.int  and DhakaPL@iom.int

9. Required Documents:

Consultancy Firm/Individual consultant need to submit technical and financial proposal.

Each Submission Must Include the Following:

  • Consultancy Firm/Consultant Profile: A brief summary of the organization and 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;
  • Financial Proposal listing all costs associated with the assignment. In particular, the financial proposal should itemize the following:
    1. Consultancy fees in local currency per day;
    2. Variable costs inclusive of transportation costs (including to selected districts), printing of study tools; research team (if applicable); meeting/FGDs/KIIs costs
    3. Costs associated with the validation workshop (venue, food and others) held in Dhaka will be borne by IOM.

10. Professional and Related Experiences:

The proposed team from the consultancy firms or the consultants should have following competence.

  • 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 and conducting organizational assessments.
  • Solid understanding of migration sector and government structures of Bangladesh.
  • Demonstrated ability to draw lessons from relevant international, regional and national practices and processes;
  • Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills;
  • Proficiency in English and good analytical, drafting skills.
  • Ability to deliver according to specified timeline while maintain quality of the output.

The Proposal should be written in English.

Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification

ONLY SHORT LISTED CONSULTANTS/CONSULTANCY FIRMS WILL BE ASSESSED

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

IOM is an equal opportunity employer and women are encouraged to apply.
IOM Offices and vehicles have smoke-free work environment.