Request for Proposal (RFP)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is inviting interested Consultant for preparation of an analytical report on the Assessment of Trafficking in Person (TiP) and Other forms of Irregular Migration in Bangladesh as per below Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Background   

Bangladesh is a major migrant-sending country, with most Bangladeshi migrants leaving to seek employment opportunities in countries as diverse as India and Malaysia and Libya, as well as European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries. While many of these migrants, travel using regular migration channels, many others rely on people smugglers. Regardless of the modality of travel, Bangladeshi nationals migrating abroad are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and the associated forms of exploitation and abuse, including commercial sexual exploitation, bonded and forced labour and forced and early marriage. But Bangladeshis are also vulnerable to exploitation within Bangladesh as well, women and children are often taken from their homes on false promises of a better life with good employment, or by using various other criminal acts and means by the traffickers who sell them to brothels. As described in the Bangladesh country report the problem is particularly pronounced in rural areas where people face survival challenges and are subjected to discriminatory socio-cultural practices. Bangladeshi children and adults are exploited in sex trafficking and forced labor, including domestic servitude and bonded labor, in which traffickers take advantage of an initial debt assumed by a worker as part of the employment terms.
 
The trend of trafficking in persons from bordering districts has been reduced with initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh government and NGOs and victimization of persons of districts of distant areas has been increased.1 Further, rural women and girls are migrating to cities for work like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna etc., and the traffickers are targeting these women and girls with allurement of better jobs abroad. Besides socio-economic issues, vulnerability factors of bordering districts lie in its geographical and historical aspects, acceptance of irregular migration and human smuggling.

Bangladesh also hosts in Cox’s Bazar close to million Rohingya, an even more vulnerable population that have been rendered stateless by having to flee persecution in Myanmar. Without legal status in Bangladesh, Rohingya lack basic educational and livelihood opportunities in Bangladesh and therefore see few alternatives to irregular migration overland to India or across the Andaman Sea towards Malaysia.

In response to the risk of human trafficking, the Government of Bangladesh passed specific legislation in 2012 to criminalize trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, and prepared a national action plan structured to better prevent trafficking in persons, protect victims of the trade, and prosecute its perpetrators. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been in the lead role of coordinating counter-trafficking activities. There are various committees and sub-committees working under the Ministry of Home Affairs for policy making including inter-ministerial representatives, NGOs and INGOs working on combating human trafficking in a concerted way. Moreover, other relevant ministries are also actively engaged in counter-trafficking activities and are extending their cooperation to the Ministry of Home Affairs in implementation of ‘The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012’ in line with National Plan of Action. Different departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) like Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Ansar/ Village Defence Party (VDP), National Security of Intelligence (NSI), Special Branch (SB) and Detective Branch (DB) of Police actively participating in Bangladesh Government’s collective effort on combating Trafficking in persons. Moreover, Bangladesh government is working in partnership with IOM, other UN bodies, non-governmental organizations, and other international agencies to combat human trafficking . 2

However, despite these efforts, there is no country wide assessment of trafficking trends and patterns in Bangladesh. Ministry of Home Affairs realizes the importance of accurate information and data in effective design and efficient targeting of counter trafficking initiatives, hence, requested IOM to support a country wide Trafficking in Person (TiP) assessment. 

As a part of the project, Addressing Trafficking and Smuggling through Improved Border Management and Counter Trafficking Response in Bangladesh, IOM has been working with the Government of Bangladesh and Border management authorities to prevent trafficking in persons and its associated abuses by protecting victims, and facilitating investigations with more effective border management and law enforcement capacity and practices.
For this purpose, IOM conducted a national research assessment of trafficking in persons in all 64 districts in Bangladesh.  Primary data has already been collected from 64 districts of Bangladesh, captured the sensitive and confidential information around trafficking through ethnographic methods. The process was involved informal detail interviews (IDIs), key informant’s interviews (KIIs), case studies methods, focus group discussion. The work was involved engagement with relevant government officials at the districts and sub-districts levels, elected representatives at the district, sub districts and union level, NGO’s/CSO’s working in the districts and transit homes/ shelter homes (both government/non-government) in the districts. Additionally, case study methods/IDIs has been used to interview victim of trafficking (VoTs) and other vulnerable returnees.

2. Objective:

IOM invites interested consultant to prepare an analytical report on Trafficking in Person (TiP) and Other forms of Irregular Migration based on date collected form 64 Districts of Bangladesh.
Under the supervision of Project Manager, the consultant will be responsible for drafting and finalizing the report on IOM’s current data on trafficking in person and irregular migration. The consultant will be shared necessary data sources and content for the preparation of the report.

3. Tasks and Responsibilities of the Firm/Service Provider

The Consultant will be responsible for the following:

  • Propose and discuss report structure and format with the IOM programme team (content presentation, best use of primary data of IOM, visual elements, etc.)
  • Review background materials, including the primary data of IOM and provide necessary feedback for further modification in line with producing the report.
  • Prepare a Master Data Sheet of Primary Data and conduct data analysis in close coordination with the IOM programme team.
  • Draft and edit report text – including chart and graphs, ensuring accuracy and currency of all content.
  • Present and share the report in a workshop with a focus to executive summary, findings, analysis and other component including recommendations and way forward 
  • Finalize the report, integrating any feedback from Govt. and IOM ensuring accuracy, clarity and coherence for both internal and external stakeholders. 

4. Timeline

The total duration for this assignment will be 6 weeks.

5. Expected outputs and deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver

  •  A master sheet of primary data with analytical fields.
  • A comprehensive and high-quality analytical report to IOM.

6. IOM Project to which the Services is contributing

The project titled, Bangladesh: Addressing Trafficking and Smuggling through improved border management and Counter Trafficking Responses in Cox’s Bazar. The report will contribute to –

  • Output 2.1: An evidence-based border management and CT and counter-smuggling capacity building plan is approved by relevant government actors.

Important considerations

  • All work must be completed in consultation with IOM project team.
  • The consultant shall have the responsibility to analyze the content and the existing primary data of IOM and provide necessary feedback to IOM for further modification.

7. Qualifications and Competencies:

  • University degree preferably in statistics, law, social science, or another relevant field.
  • Extensive social science research skills with theoretical and practical experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research in Bangladesh, preferably in the field of migration and human trafficking.
  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
  • Experience of working in Rohingya issue including trafficking would be added advantage.
  • Ability to produce analytical and well written report in English based on the field information/results of the surveys and Focus Group Discussions. Proven experience demonstrated through at least 2 samples.
  • High proficiency in the use of Word and Excel applications.
  • Fluency in Bangla and English.
  • Familiarity with IOMs report writing requirements.

8. Timeline

This study is scheduled for June 2020 to July 2020 (4 weeks)

9. Submission of Proposal

Please mention the reference code CT/CO-211/2020/005: RFP: Report Writing on Trafficking & Irregular Migration in subject line during application. Interested persons  are invited to submit required documents by June 4, 2020, e-mail to: faahmed@iom.int via below mentioned email submit following three separate pdf files (attachment size should be less than 10 MB)

  • Technical proposal: It should include cover page, understanding of the assignment (Please do not copy & paste), methodology and a work-plan.
  • Consultant Profile: A brief summary including records on past experience (as per below mentioned format) in similar assignments and references – Max 2 page including CV.
SL# Study Type Study Title Study Details (Summary) Study Locations Clients Year
             
             
             
             
  • Financial proposal listing all costs (including VAT) associated with the assignment. Consultant will be responsible for any tax or VAT issues and need to submit the original bank challan copy at the time of final payment/settlement.

Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification.

ONLY SHORT-LISTED ORGANIZATIONS/INDIVIDUALS WILL BE NOTIFIED.


1 MoHA. Bangladesh Country Report.

2 Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) works with UNICEF, UNODC, IOM and different NGOs work in this field to combat human trafficking. There is a GO-NGO coordination committee on Human Trafficking chaired by Senior Secretary of MoHA