Request for Proposal (RFP)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for a qualified Consultant or a Consultancy Firm to conduct a “Profiling of returnee migrants and avenues of greater utilization of their skills and knowledge” as per below Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Background/Context of the programme:

Every year, around 600,000 Bangladeshis leave the country to be engaged of various forms of labour in different sectors. On average, only 31% of those who leave the country obtain employment in skilled occupations.  Most migrants lack training and very few have qualifications recognized by host nations. Albeit low in number, 7.5% of the returnee migrants have educational qualification of graduate and above, which is surprisingly higher for female migrants (18%) .

Many migrants (around 21%1) upgrade their skills on the job while working in foreign industry but as there are few opportunities for them to gain certification for these higher levels of competency, when they change jobs, they are slotted into positions with lower salaries. Migrant workers from other countries, such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and India, are able to negotiate higher wages due to their skills being recognized.

Similarly, when the migrants return home, they often face high degree of uncertainty in terms of employment and opportunities. Although there are no official data, Bangladesh has a fairly large population of returnee migrants. Majority of migrants return home at the age of 26-35, meaning they are still economically active. Returnee migrants bring back wealth of knowledge and skills which could be beneficial to the socio-economic development. According to, Bangladesh Association of Construction Industries (BACI)
a significant number of returning migrant workers already work at different construction sites Despite prevalence of high unemployment and underemployment, Bangladesh faces significant skill shortage in middle to upper level management and marketing related positions and in some key industries like ready market garments and hospitality and tourism. 

With greater avenues for utilization of skills, these migrants could get engaged in better paid jobs and even choose to re-migrate. However, due to lack of skills recognition, these returnee migrants are not able to take advantage of such situations. The business community is always looking for competent, skilled and experienced workers with high productivity but there is no record of the returnee migrants which could be a pertinent source.  

Also, many of the returnee migrants (67%1) are inclined towards self-employment/business ventures. For these ventures to become profitable and sustainable, awareness regarding financial products and understanding of business principles are required. 

With the aim to better planning for economic and social reintegration, IOM proposes to conduct “Profiling of returnee migrants and avenues of greater utilization of their skills and knowledge.” A profiling of returnee migrants would enable to assess entrepreneurship demand and encourage public and private sector organizations to come forward to optimize benefits from return migration.

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:

In close coordination with IOM and Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE), the study will aim to look at the following:

  • Demographic characteristics of the returnee migrants including type of work and skills levels
  • Institutional scope to provide services to returnees including assessment conducted under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) systems.
  • Current state of RPL in different industry/sector and demand for RPL services in the industry and among migrants.
  • Current engagement of returnee migrants, their future plans, requirements, awareness about financial products, business principles and understanding of labor market situation.
  • Employers perspective on returnee migrants and employability of returnee migrants at various levels of different sectors.
  • Review of existing policy and institutional framework for engaging with returnee migrants.
  • Practical avenues to utilize returnee migrant’s skill and knowledge; establishing link between potential employer and returnee migrants. 

4. Key Tasks of the Consultancy:

  • Develop tools for data collection from returnee migrant workers as well as other key stakeholders
  • Draft report based on information from primary and secondary sources
  • Share report at sharing and validation workshop in Dhaka
  • Finalize and submit report including a policy brief summarizing findings and way forward

5. Methodology:

The consultant need to detail out methodology for the proposed activities however, the following can be considered: 

  1. Primary Information: Information collected at both central and field level through Focus Group Discussions/Key informants’ interviews with returnee migrants. Surveys need to be conducted in selected districts based on information of returnee migrants. Data will be also required from selected industry, business leaders/sectors of economy (e.g. health/medical, tourism, hospitality, ship building, construction, agriculture, garments, service, etc.) to assess employability of returnee migrants. Information also to be gathered from officials from MoEWOE and its related departments; National Skills Development Council; Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB); relevant agencies implementing programmes related to RPL of returnee migrants and so on
  2. Secondary information: Review of policies, reports and various documents
  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 study tools e.g. In-depth Interview Guide, FGD checklist and Questionnaire;
  3. Draft assessment report consisting of information from primary and secondary sources
  4. Facilitation at the validation workshop
  5. Final Report along with policy brief summarizing findings and way forward

7. Duration/ Timeline:

The total duration for this assignment is proposed to be approximately 8 months.

8. Method of Application:

Interested Consultants are invited to submit documents stated below by 06 September 2018, through e-mail to: faahmed@iom.int ; mentioning the RT/CO-400/013 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 assessments.
  • Solid understanding of migration sector and skills sector 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.