CONSULTANCY ON DEVELOPMENT OF ADVOCACY ASSESSMENT REPORT /ADVOCACY PIECE – RFP 315739 20 views0 applications

Terms of Reference (TOR)

A Rapid Assessment on the barriers and opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers accessing IDs, work permits, and Sim Cards.

Background

Kenya hosts around 777,354 (registered) refugees and asylum seekers (UNHCR,30th June 2024), of which 87% reside in the two biggest camps, Dadaab (383,048 people) and Kakuma (289,861people). Urban areas including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru host around (104,445 people) representing 13% of registered refugees and asylum seekers.

The dynamic environment in urban areas such as Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa offers the opportunity to integrate livelihood interventions and social protection programs, supporting displaced communities’ economic independence while protecting them against risks such as illness, maternity, old age, unemployment, or disability.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is implementing a project funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the US Department of State. The project, named, “Promoting Pathways to Economic Inclusion and Social Protection for Refugees and Host Communities in Kenya” (PATHWAYS Project) aims to improve refugee and vulnerable host community access to decent work opportunities and social protection. However, the barriers that refugees face when accessing to IDs, work permits, and Sim Cards, is jeopardizing their opportunities to access to decent work.

The ILO has signed an implementation agreement with Danish Refugee Council (DRC), as an implementing partner for the project, considering their comparative advantage and experience with refugees, asylum seekers and host communities. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with specific expertise in forced displacement. DRC has been operational in Kenya since 2005 and is one of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR)’ largest Implementing Partners in the refugee response. DRC is present in Garissa (Dadaab & Garissa), Turkana (Kakuma, Kalobeyei & Lodwar), Nairobi and Mandera counties.

The Danish Refugee Council is currently engaging telecommunication companies including Safaricom, Airtel, and Telcom through existing projects on refugees’ access to sim cards and m-wallet. Leveraging these partnerships and networks DRC, through thePATHWAYS project will formalize and document successes and challenges through a rapid assessment which will build on existing knowledge to further validate some of the key issues facing refugees around access to SIM cards, IDs and work permits.

Given the extensive amount of information and studies conducted, as well as DRC’s regular engagement in this space, the rapid assessment will consolidate this learning and map who are the key stakeholders working on this field and what they are doing to address the main barriers that refugees face when trying to access IDs, work permits and sim cards. For example, in many places’ refugees’ partner with host community members who purchase the sim card ‘for them’ in which case sim cards are not issued in their name. While this serves the purpose of access there are issues related to the security of information and the potential to affect the security of M-Pesa access which need to be documented and understood to support refugees to have consistent and safe access to sim cards and related functionalities (i.e. M-pesa).

Objective of the assessment

The primary objective of this assessment is to consolidate main findings on barriers and opportunities that refugees face in accessing identification (ID), work permits and SIM cards, and to map who are the main stakeholders working on this and what they are doing to address these challenges. Ultimately, the assessment should serve as an advocacy piece to influence legal, policy and practical frameworks around refugee access to IDs, work permits and SIM cards.

The specific objectives are:

1. To identify key barriers faced by asylum seekers and refugees in obtaining IDs, work permits and SIM cards, including legal, policy, administrative, social, and logistical challenges.
2. To map main stakeholders working in the field and the activities/strategies that are being implemented to address these barriers
3. To explore opportunities, challenges, gaps, and strategies utilized by refugees, including partnerships with host community members, to access SIM cards and facilitate connectivity.
4. To document the implications of current access methods, especially regarding the security of personal information and the effects on access to services such as mobile money (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, etc), thereby informing policy recommendations for improved support.
5. To identify the main challenges that employers face when trying to employ refugees and to find practicable solutions to streamline the process.

Scope of the Assessment

The assessment will be done within the existing national legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks, and will entail a comprehensive rapid assessment as per the project design. It will involve conducting a thorough assessment utilizing qualitative data collection methods. The assessment will be also built on a review on secondary data such as the policy framework and regulations around the issuance of IDs, work permits and Sim Cards to refugees and asylum seekers.

Interviews will be conducted with mapped partners working in the field, such as government institutions, telecommunications companies, refugee-led organizations, workers’ and employers’ organizations, among others, to understand any regulatory barriers and opportunities related to issuing IDs, work permits, and SIM Cards to refugees and asylum seekers.

The final deliverable will be a detailed assessment report containing key stakeholders, findings, analysis, and actionable recommendations, all while upholding the highest ethical standards in data collection and analysis. The assessment is expected to be completed within a maximum period of 30 days from the signing of the contract.

Methodology

The assessment will deploy various techniques to ensure a high-quality finding that would aid in making informed decisions. The methodological processes to be deployed are:

• Approach

This rapid assessment will adopt a participatory approach to gather qualitative data directly from key stakeholders.

• Methodology Design

The methodology will utilize a cross-sectional design to capture a snapshot of the current barriers and opportunities faced by refugees regarding IDs, work permits, and SIM card access. Open-ended questions will be used in the interviews for qualitative insights, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

• Data Collection Method

Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) will be conducted to government institutions, telecommunication companies, refugee-led organizations, workers’ and employers’ organizations, among others in charge of issuing IDs, work permits and Sim Cards.

• Target Population

The target population for this assessment will include key stakeholders in Nairobi and Environs Metropolis areas (Kajiado and Kiambu Counties), Mombasa and Nakuru counties working in the field, such as government institutions, telecommunications companies, refugee-led organizations, workers’ and employers’ organizations, among others.

Key Deliverables of the Assessment

The key deliverables of this rapid assessment will include:

• Comprehensive Assessment Report– A detailed report consolidating and analysing the findings from the data collected, including a list of key stakeholders working in the field, highlighting the main activities and strategies they are implementing to address the identified barriers, opportunities, and recommendations for improving access to refugee IDs, work permits, and SIM cards.
• Executive Summary– A concise summary (15 to 20 pages) of the assessment findings, highlighting key stakeholders, barriers and opportunities as well as essential recommendations.
• Presentation to Stakeholders: A presentation of key findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders to facilitate discussions on intervention strategies.

Process and Timeframes

The assessment will follow a structured timeline to ensure timely completion. The proposed timeline is as follows:

Preparation

• Development of the tool for the KIIs by the MEAL team.
• Conduct interviews to key stakeholders
• Analyse qualitative data to draw insights.
• Report writing and consolidation of findings
• Process review and feedback from ILO and DRC

Total duration

Duration, Timeline and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 30 working days upon signing the contract.

The payment will be made in 3 instalments:

1. 50% the first instalment will be upon submitting the detailed work plan, methodology, and inception report. of the agreed total amount.
2. 20% The second instalment will be upon submission and approval of draft report
3. 30% while the third and final instalment will be paid upon submission and approval of the final report.

The payment shall include the necessary and valid taxes as defined by the Kenyan constitution. All the payments shall be in Kenya shillings (Kes).

Travel Guidelines

The assignment involves travel within DRC urban program areas of operation within Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado, Mombasa and Nakuru Counties to conduct interviews with the project participants/stakeholders.

The consultant shall be expected to arrange transportation, accommodation (if need be), insurance, and food and to make adequate provisions in the financial proposal.

Expertise

Essential:

• Demonstrate knowledge of refugee laws, protocols, frameworks and main stakeholders in Kenya
• At least 5 years’ experience conducting similar advocacy assignments and assessments.
• Proven experience conducting qualitative research, data collection, analysis and report writing
• Strong understanding of labour laws, employment regulations and social protection systems in Kenya in the context of refugee access to work.
• Familiarity with refugee context and experiences
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and adhere to project timelines and budgets.
• Ability to produce clear, concise and impactful reports.
• The consultancy firm / individual consultant is registered under Kenyan law; Certificate of service /Consultancy accomplishment.

Desirable:

• Experience in working in Humanitarian Development programs, UN agencies, and other international organizations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to analyse complex issues and draw meaningful conclusions
• Experience conducting labour market assessments especially for refugee populations.

Eligibility:

The consultant has the authorization to work in Kenya.

Qualification:

• At least an advanced degree in International Relations, Development Studies, Development Communication, Law, Human Rights or other relevant disciplines

Language requirements:

• Written and spoken fluency in English
• Working knowledge of Kiswahili is an advantage.

Ethical Considerations

The assessment will respect the essential ethical guidelines. Generally, the assessment team will consider the following key ethical considerations during the assessment process:

• Respect for the target population: The assessment team will prioritize the dignity, rights, and well-being of the respondents, ensuring their informed consent, willingness and meaningful participation in the evaluation process.
• Data Confidentiality: The assessment team will safeguard the confidentiality of all sensitive data collected during the assessment, ensuring that personal information and individual responses remain secure and anonymous.
• Avoiding Harm: The assessment team will assess potential risks and ensure that the process does not inadvertently cause harm or distress to the community members or main stakeholders involved.
• Transparency and Accountability: The assessment team will provide transparent explanations of the assessment methods, purposes, and all processes to relevant stakeholders.
• Cultural Sensitivity: The assessment team will demonstrate cultural sensitivity and respect for local norms, traditions, and customs, adapting the evaluation approach to align with the cultural context of the community.

Evaluation of bids

Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview with the panel to ensure their understanding of the consultancy services.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the consultancy’s qualifications, experience, proposed methodology, creativity, and cost-effectiveness. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or presentation to discuss their approach in more detail.

All bidders will be scored on a scale from 1 – 10 for each of the below criteria and will be assessed for profile and qualifications (document 1), technical approach (document 2), and any similar experience (document 3). Bids will be scored according to the criteria below for the initial screening:

DRC Kenya will conduct reference checks from at least 2 previous works as an additional mandatory requirement.