International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Request for Proposal (RfP)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for a qualified service provider to develop a “Digital Information Platform for potential migrants, returning migrants and migrants at destination countries”, as per below Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Background/Context of the programme:

Limited and lack of access to information services often makes it difficult for migrants to obtain important information during a migration cycle. Potential Bangladeshi migrants in most the cases do not have the necessary information for safe and orderly migration process. Often, they end up taking the help of middlemen with many of them unknowingly take irregular pathways. This triggers risk of being trafficked during the process. Moreover, over the last couple of years, a notable number of Bangladeshi migrants crossed the Mediterranean into Europe to escape from the conflict in middle east and Africa.

Migrants also face with lack of information on their rights and privileges at destination countries. Cases such as inability to complaint on abuse and exploitation, seek advice through the proper channel on post arrival, reaching out for medical assistance is continuing to become a major challenge.

Upon return to destination country, in order to make reintegration sustainable, it is important to provide services targeting the social, psycho-social and economic needs of returning migrants. Sustainable reintegration includes the economic, social and psychosocial aspects and the capacity of the individual to cope with push factors, or, the eventual legal remigration made possible by skills acquired during the reintegration process.

Given the backdrop, IOM along with BRAC are working to develop a hotline service where potential migrants, migrants in destination countries as well as returning migrants can reach out for adequate information on safe and orderly migration process, rights and privileges at migrants’ countries of destination, available referral services as well as counseling support.

Moreover, it is understood that the usage of internet and digital applications have drastically increased over the past decade. Regardless of whichever stage migrants belong, they highly depend on cellphones, digital applications to communicate.

2. IOM Project to which the task is contributing:

Bangladesh: Sustainable Reintegration and Improved Migration Governance (Prottasha), implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with BRAC 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;

SO1: 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 the reintegration of irregular migrants (Migration Governance component)

SO3: Returning migrants, aspirant migrants, families, communities and local government and private sector actors make informed decisions about migration, and practice and promote safe, orderly and regular migration behaviors, including remittance management. The action will implement comprehensive behavior change communication campaigns across target districts to improve awareness on safe migration processes, reintegration issues, orient community attitudes towards safe migration behaviors, and change aspirant migrant behaviors around using formal migration mechanisms.

The assignment will contribute to the purpose of third objective mainly.

3. Objectives of the task:

The objective of the assignment is to develop a digital platform that provides potential migrants with necessary information to influence behaviours on safe and orderly migration and assist returning migrants to sustainably reintegrate back into the society.

4. Key Tasks of the service provider:

Developing a digital application with automated task initiating capacity that provides potential migrants with necessary information on the process of orderly migration, migrants at countries of destination with basic post arrival information including their rights and priviledges, process for reporting incidents and seeking assistance, returning migrants with acess to information on economic and psychosocial referral services, skill development opportunities, legal assistance and remote councelling for migrants at all stages of migration.
Making the application available for Government, partner agencies and third-party service providers to operate and modify as required.
Linking the application with hotline services as well as making it a preffered alternative of the hotline.
ToT for IOM, BRAC staff members and Government Officials on operating the software.
Troubleshooting support until April 2021.

5. Methodology:

The app developer needs to detail out a methodology for the proposed activities.

6. Deliverables

The following are the expected deliverables:

Inception Report containing the final methodology and work plan.
Content finalization in both Bangla and English
Draft of trainer’s manual to IOM in Bangla and English
Test run the application
Review and revise contents
Releasing the final version
Training back end users
Developing promotional contents to influence communities for using the app

7. Duration/ Timeline:

The total duration for this assignment is proposed to be approximately 4 months.
The above is an indicative timeline. In the proposal, Consultants can modify/add according to their perspectives/reasons.

8. Method of Application:

Interested service providers are invited to submit documents stated below by 20 June 2019 through e-mail to faahmed@iom.int; mentioning the title of the RFP: RT/CO-383/2019/010: develop a Digital Information Platform for potential migrants, returning migrants and migrants at destination countries in the subject line. Please keep the attachment size under 9 MB.

For any queries about technical part of the ToR please write to Abdullah Al Muyid (email: aamuyid@iom.int; cell: +8801713068384) and for any other queries write to DhakaProttasha@iom.int and DhakaPL@iom.int

A pre-bidding session will be organized for interested applicants on 10 June 2019 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm at IOM Dhaka Office.

9. Required Documents:

Interested firms/agencies/service providers need to submit a technical and financial proposal separately in single email.

Each Submission Must Include the Following:

a. Technical Proposal must contain:

Profile of the firm/agency/service provider: A summary of the organization and CV of the experts including technical capacity and past records in similar assignments and name of the references.
Methodology with detailed work plan and timeline along with samples of previous work.
Proposal for Technological Approach during initial setup period, operation period and transition management considering the key tasks and deliveries under this ToR

b. Financial Proposal must contain:

listing all costs associated with the assignment. In particular, the financial proposal should itemize the following:
Associated technical as well as human resource costs
Variable costs inclusive of technological costs, cost of equipment from initial to operation period and transition management, troubleshooting management, transportation costs etc.
All associated cost needs to be show in local currency (BDT).

10. Professional and Related Experiences:

The Service provider should have following competence:

Proven relevant professional experience for a satisfactory level, namely strong relevant experience in developing online support cell or information cell.
Sound knowledge and demonstrated capacity in developing an online support cell/information cell.
Solid understanding of safe migration, remittance management and reintegration issues in Bangladesh.
Demonstrated ability to draw lessons from relevant international, regional and national practices and processes.
Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills both in English and Bangla.
Ability to deliver according to a short timeline while maintaining the quality of the output.

The Proposal should be written in English.
Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification.
ONLY SHORTLISTED SERVICE PROVIDERS/AGENCIES/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.