JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Consultant for Risk Assessment
POSITION: Consultant for Risk Assessment of Bongpheak - Job seeking system for low-skilled workers in Cambodia to prevent risky migration DURATION: October to December 2019 (30 to 40 days) 2019 REPORTS TO: Sara Piazzano Chief of Party, USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons BACKGROUND: Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Winrock’s Asia Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID Asia CTIP) has goals to reduce trafficking in persons in the region and to better protect rights of trafficked persons. Under the Cambodia Countering Trafficking-in-Persons project, Open Institute (OI) developed Bongpheak, the first large-scale job-posting platform and service specifically designed for unskilled and low-skilled employment, which was launched in 2016. The goal of the service has been to reduce the risks of trafficking-in-persons (TIP) by more efficiently connecting potential workers to domestic jobs. While the platform is currently in the process of transitioning into a self-sustaining service, Winrock would like to document the components of the model, assess risks, capture strong recommendations on how to improve data security and due diligence. OBJECTIVES: Winrock International is currently seeking a consultant to conduct a risk assessment and evaluation of the tool described above. The main purpose of the study is to holistically assess potential risks of the online job-portal such as theft of sensitive data, disclosure of sensitive information, misuse of information and exploitation of workers using the portal, and provide a risk mitigation plan to address identified risks Based on analyzing the job-portal functioning, interviews with Open Institute, and interviews with users (both job-seekers and employers) and other stakeholders in Cambodia and elsewhere, the aim is to understand what risks the platform could potentially pose to unskilled and low-skilled migrants in Cambodia and develop the mitigation plan. The assessment will focus on the following areas: 1- Data security risks for workers - protecting identity and personal information 2- Risk of scams and hacking 3- Misuse of platform 4- Due diligence process and policies 5- Security of the overall platform – including data and information 6- Risk of the system not serving intended vulnerable and at-risk people and not preventing exploitation and TIP 7- Risks associated in using social media to recruit workers 8- Any others identified 9- To explore ways to link or integrate the system with other technologies to increase its effectiveness in reaching and protecting low-skilled workers to secure jobs, while remaining a competitive solution in the market and attractive for employers. TASKS: 1- Develop and approve with Winrock a detailed research design and timeline outlining proposed methodology, research questions and final report structure 2- Develop and approve with Winrock data collection tools 3- In collaboration with Winrock, develop a list of experts that can contribute to the assessment and to the mitigation plan 4- Carry out the assessment 5- Develop evaluation tool/criteria in which to evaluate similar global platforms and models 6- Hold bi-weekly status calls with Winrock 7- Prepare a final report and a power point presentation on the findings, conclusions and recommendations Proficient with Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPointFor more information, and for the full ToR, please reach out to [email protected]
Consultant, Gathering Evidence on Irregular Migration
POSITION: Consultancy for gathering evidence on irregular migration to Thailand from main sending countries (Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos) to identify policy gaps and opportunities DURATION: October to December (3 months) 2019 REPORTS TO: Sara Piazzano Chief of Party, USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons BACKGROUND: Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Winrock’s five-year Asia Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID Asia CTIP) has goals to reduce trafficking in persons in Asia and to better protect rights of trafficked persons. As a key country of origin, transit and destination for migrants, Thailand is a regional migration hub within South-East Asia and although migrant workers play a vital role in filling labor market demands in Thailand and despite efforts to regularize migration to Thailand, the majority of migrant workers continue to choose irregular channels to migrate and they live and work in a precarious legal status with increased opportunities for deception and exploitation. And if irregular migrants face risks of being exploited and deported employers face difficulties to fill labor demand and often have to rely on brokers to hire and provide needed documentation to workers, with increased costs that may end up being deducted from workers’ salaries. The process is inefficient and damages both migrants and employers, reducing profits and increasing opportunities for exploitation and bonded labor. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this TOR is to research, verify and document the current regulations, pathways, practices and costs related to the recruitment of both seasonal and long-term migrant workers entering Thailand from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to work on fishing vessels, on construction sites, and in agricultural jobs. Asia CTIP seeks to better understand: patterns used by migrants to enter the destination country; involvement of intermediaries; time needed and costs to cross the border and secure a job once in Thailand. This information should be disaggregated by migrant nationality and job sector, including the time and costs for documentation. Part of the study must also include recommendations on existing or potential platforms and technology that could be used (within the current legal framework) to facilitate faster, more direct, cheaper and more transparent recruitment processes that connect migrant job seekers with employers. These potential recruitment processes should also ensure rapid employment, legal registration and documentation to reduce risks of exploitation and TIP. The rapid assessment will address the following gaps in knowledge: 1- The current migration and recruitment practices and patterns for migrant workers in the said sectors, both from the perspective of workers and employers; 2- The number and type of agencies, agents, brokers and other actors that are involved in migration, recruitment, provision of documentation, and employment placement/administration. This should include agencies that both the employer and potential employee are dealing with. 3- The steps for recruitment and job placement and the official and unofficial fees paid by workers and employers at each step, disaggregated by industry, nationality of workers, and gender. 4- The time it takes to go from taking the decision to migrate to actual employment through informal channels, how migrants connect to employers, and how employers connect to migrants. 5- The average length of employment in the industries and main reasons for workers to leave. 6- The challenges faced by employers in hiring migrant workers. 7- The current options for workers to change employer. 8- The deductions employers place on workers’ wages. 9- The financing mechanisms the workers use to pay recruitment and employment fees, how they repay, and how long it usually takes 10- The technologies/ platforms/systems that could be developed in facilitating more transparent, cheaper, faster, accessible and accountable recruitment and job placement services/ opportunities including registration and document provision for migrants within the current legal framework. TASKS: 1- Develop and approve with Winrock a detailed research design and timeline outlining proposed methodology, research questions and final report structure 2- Develop and approve with Winrock data collection tools 3- In collaboration with Winrock, develop a list of informants 4- Carry out the rapid assessment 5- Hold weekly status calls with Winrock 6- Prepare a final report (minimum 10 pages) and a power point presentation on the findings, conclusions and recommendations 1- By early 3rd month 2- By end of 3rd month 3- TBDFor more information, and for the full ToR, please reach out to [email protected]
