Context
This project is part of the second phase of a regional project that was launched in July 2017 by five partner organizations working with migrant workers in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan as migrant-sending countries and in Russia as migrant-receiving country, with financial support from Secours Catholique - Caritas France, and the contribution of Caritas Spain. The second phase of the project started in September 2018 and will end in November 2021. In its third year, the geographical coverage of the project got extended to Uzbekistan.
Currently, three NGOs in Kyrgyzstan, one NGO in Armenia and one NGO in Uzbekistan are working with migrants, their families and potential migrants, leaving predominantly to Russia, by accompanying them before their departure and after their arrival in Russia, with the support of a partner organization based in Russia. The project aims at promoting the legal and social rights of migrant workers in Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan through building a network of partner organizations in these countries
A baseline study was conducted in 2019 to analyze the situation in the beginning of the new phase of the project.This study most notably involved face-to-face interviews of 400 migrants in Armenia and 400 migrants in Kyrgyzstan selected via random sampling. This final study should therefore respond to the baseline study, both in terms of methodology and objectives. **
The overall aims of the final study:
(1) Analyse the situation in the third final year of the project according to the indicator of the overall project objective in order to assess the extent to which this objective has been achieved, as well as the extent to which the project has had an impact on improving the protection of migrant workers and their families as a result of improved opportunities to realize their rights in the Russian Federation (RF) in accordance with international treaties and conventions.
(2) Identify areas where future project work needs to be continued or strengthened or where there are gaps that need to be filled in order for the project to best meet the needs of migrant workers and their families and to address their problems as effectively as possible.
Indicator of the overall goal: Migrants from the Republic of Armenia (RA), the Kyrgyz Republic (KR) and the Republic of Uzbekistan (RU) coming to the RF for labour purposes confirm that their situation and that of their family members related to their labour rights, rights to social security, health care, access to information and legal protection have improved compared to the start of the project.**The main objectives of the study:**
1.Measure the situation of migrants by the following parameters:
1 .1. Migration registration (accessibility of migration registration at the place of actual residence, free migration registration, violation of migrants' rights when registering and extending registration, frequency of migration registration checks by the police, violations of migrants' rights during such checks, the impact of migration registration on other documents for migrants, the impact of migration registration on other areas of migrants' lives, other violations of migrants' rights in connection with the migration registration);
1.2. Official employment (extent of documented migrant labour, the impact of documented migrant labour on respect for labour rights, the conclusion of employment contracts with real employers and not with "cleaning companies", PEAs and other intermediaries, reliability of information recorded in contracts, the dilemma of labour and civil law contracts, migrants' awareness of and readiness for documented labour relations)
1.3. Migrants' access to social and pension security (factors facilitating access and factors limiting access; problems in legislation or law enforcement practices perceived to hinder access; migrants' awareness of and desire for access to social and labour rights)
1.4. Migrants' access to health care (level of access to health care, free and affordability, institutions providing health care, the professionalism of staff serving migrants, migrants' awareness of access to health care, demand for health care among migrants - rank of the problem)
1.5. Migrants' access to legal aid (level of access to legal aid, free and affordability, institutions providing legal aid, the professionalism of staff serving migrants, migrants' awareness of access to legal aid, demand for legal aid among migrants - rank of the problem)
1.6. Access of migrants to information directly affecting their rights and legitimate interests (information on migration registration, information on entry bans, information on the validity of documents, information on tax status, information on pre-departure training and assistance programmes at the destination, access to job vacancies and information on training opportunities, etc.)
1.7. Degree of corruption in receipt and verification of documents.
1.8. Violations of migrants' rights by the police, especially during COVID-19 and after the mass protests in the Russian Federation in January-February 2021 (police violence, illegal detention and arrests, torture conditions, etc.)
It is also proposed to add some questions on migrants' incomes, plans regarding migration, marital status and family members left behind, as well as public attitudes towards migrants.
2.Compare with the results of the baseline survey conducted in the first year of the project. The baseline survey included face-to-face interviews of 400 migrants in Armenia and 400 migrants in Kyrgyzstan selected by random sampling. A report on the baseline survey as well as the questionnaire used during the survey will be made available. If any data cannot be compared to the baseline study for one reason or another, it is suggested that the final study should include the collection of data to enable a comparison of the situation of migrants according to the parameters proposed in paragraph 1.
3.To analyse the data on the situation of migrants and their families from the final study and identify changes from the comparison with the baseline study;
4.Analyse data on the changing situation of migrants and their families to be provided by the partner organizationTong Jahoni based on its practical work based on migrants’ appeals (with a particular focus on migrants from RA, KR and UZ);
5.Summarize the results in a final study report. At a minimum, the following questions should be answered in the report:
5.1. What is the situation of migrants and their families according to the parameters mentioned in point 1?
5.2. In what ways have migrants improved in all of the dimensions mentioned in paragraph 1 compared to the baseline study, and to what extent has the project had an impact on these improvements?
5.3. To what extent has the overall objective of the project been achieved and what is the impact of the project on improving the protection of migrant workers and their families?
5.4. How do migrants perceive their situation three years ago and now? (based on the results of focus groups)
5.5. What is the migrants' assessment of the possibilities of receiving assistance from the project implementers three years ago and now? (based on the results of the focus groups)
5.6. What is the recognition of the project implementers by migrants (do they know that they can turn to the project implementers and what kind of help they can ask for)? (based on the results of the focus groups)
6.Give recommendations for planning a future project. As a minimum, answer the following questions in the recommendations section:
6.1. If we consider the final study as a baseline study for a future project with the same overall goal, what areas are recommended for project implementers to work on in the future so that the project meets the needs of migrants and their families as much as possible and addresses migrant issues with maximum efficiency;
6.2. If we consider the final study as a baseline study for a future project with the same overall goal, what measurable and achievable indicators would you recommend to the implementers of this project to measure the project’s impact?
Methodology for data collection in the final study:
1) Conducting a desk study (reviewing the project proposal, the baseline study report, the methodology of the study)
2) Individual face-to-face interviews with 400 migrants from Armenia, 400 migrants from Kyrgyzstan and 400 migrants from Uzbekistan. Collecting information from different sources.
Migrants will be selected by researchers using random sampling. Interviewees are migrants with recent migration experience (no earlier than April 2019), male and female, and migrants with whom the project partners work. Interviews can take place at airports, airline ticket offices, bus stations, and in the regions where the project partners work. It is also possible to conduct online interviews both with migrants who are currently in the sending countries (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia) and in the receiving country of migrants (Russia).
3) Conducting at least two focus groups in each of the migrant-sending countries covered by the project (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), with one focus group conducted with migrants who have been in contact with the project through at least one activity, and another focus group with migrants who have not been reached by the project. The purpose of the focus groups is to cross-check and validate the data obtained in the survey and to determine the possible impact of the project on changes in the situation of migrants, for which focus groups are conducted separately with those who were reached and with those who were not reached by the project. The focus groups should also include those migrants who had been in the Russian Federation no earlier than April 2019 (with occasional departures) so that there is an opportunity to compare the situation at the beginning of the project and at the time of the research.
In Kyrgyzstan, 6 focus groups will have to be conducted as there are 3 partner organizations in Kyrgyzstan, while in other pilot countries of the project (Russia, Armenia and Uzbekistan) there is one partner organization each. Two focus groups will need to be conducted per each 3 partners’ area of coverage in Kyrgyzstan: one focus group - pilot (with those migrants that were reached by the partner organisation) and one focus group - control group (with those migrants who were not reached).
4) Conducting at least 4 focus groups in the RF, where part of the focus groups will be conducted with migrants who have been in contact with the project through at least one activity, and another focus group with migrants who have not been reached by the project. The purpose of the focus groups in the Russian Federation is to refine and confirm the results of the survey conducted in the countries of origin of the migrants and to determine the possible impact of the project on changing the situation of migrants. The focus groups should include migrants who have been in the Russian Federation no earlier than April 2019 (with periodic departures) so that there is an opportunity to compare the situation at the beginning of the project and at the time of the survey.
Thus, the total number of focus groups to be conducted is 14 (2 focus groups in Armenia, 2 focus groups in Uzbekistan, 6 focus groups in Kyrgyzstan and 4 focus groups in Russia).
Additional requirements for conducting interviews and focus groups:
Given the closed nature of the target audience and in order to control the quality of the results, it is proposed to conduct a preliminary online mini-training on conducting interviews for interviewers with representatives of partner organizations of the project on such issues as making contact with the respondent, prepare (position) the respondent for frank answers, correctly convey the meaning of questions without distortion, not to influence answers by giving hints, correctly select and enter answer options, fill in all questions with answers, etc. In short, to control the quality of the results.
In addition, during surveys and focus groups, it is mandatory to record with special software to ensure verification of the data obtained during the survey.
People who represent the diversity of this group should be selected to participate in focus groups.
THE EXPERTS MAY PROPOSE A DIFFERENT METHODOLOGY FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE THAN THE ONE PROPOSED ABOVE, BUT IN THIS CASE, THIS METHODOLOGY MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PROJECT PARTNERS AND CARITAS-FRANCE.**
The study can be conducted either by a single research company with experts/researchers in the study countries (Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) or by a team of experts/researchers working in the study countries.
In the first case, the contract will be signed with a research company, which will carry out the study in all four countries according to the Terms of Reference.
If the study is to be carried out by the team of experts/researchers working in these countries, they will need to develop a common methodology, assign responsibilities, carry out the studies in their respective countries and prepare a common report following a common format. One of the experts, in agreement with the other experts, will coordinate the study and be fully responsible for the overall Terms of Reference. A contract will be concluded with each of the experts.
All steps in developing the methodology (interview questionnaires, focus group questionnaires, work plan for carrying out the study, methodology for selecting focus group participants, etc.) should be agreed upon with the client of the study. The preliminary and final version of the report should also be agreed upon with the project partners and Caritas France. The final version of the report should be provided first in Russian and then in English.
Expected results (outputs**) of the study:**
1) Refined research methodology, including developed questionnaires;
2) An executive summary with the main findings, conclusions and recommendations (no more than 5 pages);
3) A detailed, well-structured report on the results of the study with clearly described methodology (including all variants of the questionnaires used), with well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations should be provided in Russian and English. The report shall answer all questions set out in the Terms of Reference. A sample report template can be found in Appendix 2. Experts may propose their own report format, but in this case, it must be agreed with Caritas-France.
Timeframe for the study: 1 April to 31 June 2021. A report on the results of the study should be submitted by 20 July 2021.
Timetable for research and reporting:
Activities
Timeline
Responsible
Agreeing on the methodology and structure of the report
Until the contract is signed (until 1 April 2021)
Development of questionnaires, its coordination with project partners and Caritas-France
10 days (until 10 April 2021)
Conducting surveys and focus groups
60 days (until 10 June 2021)
Preparing a preliminary version of the report
20 days
Providing a preliminary version of the report in Russian
Until 30 June 2021
Providing comments on the preliminary version of the report
Within 5 days
Providing the final version of the report in Russian
Within 15 days (until 20 July 2021)
Providing the final version of the report in English
Within 15 days (until 5 August 2021)
Qualification requirements for consultants (experts) carrying out the study:
The competition is opened to consulting companies or registered Independent experts
The experts should have a higher education, at least Master’s degree in social sciences: of sociology, law, political sciences or related sciences
Experience in conducting migration researchs in the target countries where the study will be conducted (at least 5 years);
Experience in preparing analytical reports in the field of migration.
Experience in conducting base line studies and research in social development.
Proficiency in the state language of the country where the study is to be conducted, and or provide for the services of local interpreters in the languages spoken by most migrants from KR, RU and RA (Kyrgyz, Uzbek Armenian). Proven written English and Russian is required.
Independence and analytical skills: analysis and use of statistical programs and tools.
How to apply:
**
Approximate budget structure:
type of costs
price
quantity
cost
questionnaire production
Interviews with migrants
expert interviews
Deciphering and coding
researcher's fee
consolidated report fee
Taxes:
TOTAL:
**
You can add budget lines that are missing in this format, or remove those lines that are not needed.
Terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal for conducting a final survey:
The competition is opened to consulting companies or registered Independent experts
Experts wishing to bid for conducting the final study must submit a free-form application in English for their services to perform the study, but with a mandatory indication of their qualifications (providing copies of diplomas and research reports (or links to these reports), a detailed methodology and timetable for the study, and a detailed budget for the study. If the consultant/expert will team up with other experts, he/she should describe their roles in carrying out the Terms of Reference, as well as their knowledge and experience.
The contract will be signed with a Consulting Company or with only one registered independent Consultant representing the team. Only one payment banking address will be accepted
Requests for their services in carrying out these Terms of Reference must be sent by 24 March 2021 at the latest to : missioncourteduree@secours-catholique.org
The complete TORs of this announcement should be asked at: missioncourteduree@secours-catholique.org