Labour Migration Skills Assessment and Production of Occupation in Demand List (ODL) for Lesotho 73 views0 applications

Terms of Reference

Position Title: Labour Migration Skills Assessment and Production of Occupation in Demand List (ODL) for Lesotho
Type of Contract: Consultant (firms or individuals)
Duration of Assignment: 120 days (1 January 2022 to 30 August 2022)

BACKGROUND:

Africa Regional Migration Program (ARMP) is a regional migration program financed by the United States of America (USA) Government and implemented by International Organization for Migration (IOM) in many countries in Africa. The objective of the ARMP is to build the capacity of governments to effectively adopt, manage, and sustain immigration systems, laws, policies, and practices that promote fair, orderly, humane, and legal forms of migration, while also trying to reduce migrant vulnerabilities. The ARMP has three pillars: (a) promoting sustainable, humane migration management; (b) encouraging value-added partnerships and burden sharing; and (c) preparing countries to respond to migration emergencies.
In Financial Year (FY) 2022, the ARMP prioritizes followings; (i) to effectively manage of their immigration systems, policies, and practices; (ii) develop, as appropriate, new forms of labor migration that allow migrants to work; (iii) build their capacities to provide protection to vulnerable people transiting their country and host country nationals residing abroad; (iv) discourage illegal forms of migration; (v) promote policies to address migration accelerated due to climate change events, and (vi) coordinate migration management efforts more effectively with neighboring countries and regional partners to address shared challenges.
Under the support of APRM, Lesotho has prioritized the following activity as one of the priorities for this FY. S.A.1.3.14 Lesotho: Conduct skills gap assessment in Lesotho and develop Occupation in Demand List (ODL) through inclusive approach with private sector participation. This will contribute to the Output 1.3. for the ARMP Action Plan in Southern African countries. Output 1.3: Comprehensive policies (migration policy and labor policy) are developed and available to relevant stakeholders in target countries.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) in Lesotho, in collaboration with IOM Lesotho, is currently soliciting applications from a qualified international consultant to undertake a consultancy (home-based with international travel to Maseru, Lesotho), for 120 working days over a period of 1 January 2022 to 30 August 2022. The successful candidate/firm will be capable of multi-tasking and meeting the requirements associated with conducting an assessment of skills supply and demand (including foreign migrant workers and Basotho), with a focus on the private sector, in line with this Terms of Reference (ToR).
It is expected that a qualified international consultant will undertake an in-depth analysis of the current situation in Lesotho pertaining to labour supply and demand (with a focus on the private sector), in line with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Labour Migration Action plan 2020-2025 and SADC Employment and Labour Policy Framework 2020-. Special attention will be paid to the impact of the current labour market skills situation in Lesotho on labour migration, regarding migrant workers being both imported into and exported from the country. Additionally based on the skills gap assessment, the consultant is expected to develop the first Occupations in Demand List (ODL) for Lesotho aiming to bridge skills gap that are critical to inform decision making and deliver effectively the development agenda of the country. Development of ODL is the much needed action for Lesotho to identify and fill all skills gaps identified to deliver the second National strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).
To complement MoLE’s efforts in strengthening labour migration management as stipulated in Lesotho National Labour Migration Policy (2019), the ODL has been identified as a means of filling temporarily identified skills gaps by establishing mechanisms to allow foreign workers entry into the Lesotho labour market to fill the skills gaps. This assignment provides for the establishment of a list of occupations in demand for which there are no skills or are in short supply in the national labour market. Therefore, the ODL is a means to make good use of migrant skills as the Government continues to nurture national skills.

OBJECTIVE:

1. Labour Migration Skills Assessment: The overall objective of this assessment is to comprehensively assist the Government of Lesotho to better understand labour market challenges, propose solutions and mechanisms for managing them and ways to improve the positive effects of labour migration in the country.
   The specific objectives of the assessment are as follows:
2. To identify skills shortages and surpluses in key sectors/occupations in Lesotho; and
3. To propose appropriate mechanisms to address the identified skills shortages and capitalise upon the skills surpluses in line with Lesotho’s current needs and priorities, primarily from a labour migration perspective.
   Occupation in Demand List (ODL): The overall objective of this assessment is to provide a labour migration framework through developing the first ODL for Lesotho with an aim of identifying priority areas which lack qualified nationals to address skills gap hence upon identifying these areas the study will propose best mechanisms to address these gaps using foreign skilled labour while contributing to economic and social development in Lesotho.
   The specific objectives of the assessment are as follows:
4. To identify occupations with skills shortages in occupations in Lesotho
5. To propose the occupations that are in demand and revise the Occupations in Demand List taking into account skills gap identified in occupations
6. Propose labour market institutional structures and mechanisms to operationalize the implementation of ODL;
7. Develop the first Occupation in Demand List for Lesotho
8. MEHODOLOGY:
   Labour Migration Skills Assessment: The assessment should include the following elements, inter alia:
9. Assess existing instruments, indicators, methodologies, and information systems in relation to the labour market skills situation (supply and demand) and related international labour migration (both immigration and emigration) concerning Lesotho
10. Review the availability of vocational training, educational programmes, and other relevant national skills training programmes and identify key gaps.
    1. Review and assess the structures, instruments, and mechanisms as well as the information sources (including those from private sector actors) used to identify and disseminate employment, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities existing in Lesotho
    2. Examine relevant policies, strategies, and legislation in relation to training and skills development.
    3. Analyse the functions of the private employment agencies in relation to labour migration, with a focus on skills acquisition and exchange (i.e. skills import and export).
    4. Assess existing skills and competencies for foreign migrant workers in Lesotho and propose appropriate mechanisms to utilise them in line with Lesotho’s needs.
    5. Investigate the possibility of establishing skills transfer mechanisms in Lesotho
    6. Examine gaps inherent in Lesotho’s educational system, with reference to the standard curricula and skills development programmes such as those offered by TVETs, and their ability to meet the current labour market needs in Lesotho
    7. Ascertain the availability and use of information on occupations in demand by employers and small, medium, and with a major focus on large establishments in Lesotho
    8. Analyse pertinent issues related to skills recognition, skills development, skills enhancement, and skills matching, paying specific attention to educational and training institutions.
    9. Examine how professional bodies can facilitate skills transfer from foreign migrant workers to Basotho
    10. Analyse relevant data available (including associated data collection and management mechanisms) concerning the current Lesotho’s labour market skills situation (skills supply and demand), in relation to both foreign migrant workers and Basotho and identify any skills gaps.
    11. Determine the extent to which recruitment processes in the private sector are linked to current skills shortages and surpluses in Lesotho
    12. Determine means and opportunities of exploring bilateral arrangements with other countries to strengthen Lesotho’s manpower skills and capacities.
        Note: IOM is flexible to discuss with the selected consultant on the methodology and process of this assignment. The below is a proposed methodology which IOM is open for further discussion
        Occupation in Demand List (ODL): The assessment should include the following elements, inter alia:
    13. Assess existing instruments, indicators, methodologies, and information systems in relation to the labour market skills situation (supply and demand) and related international labour migration programs in Lesotho;
    14. Conduct extensive consultations with the private sector federation and professional associations to know the occupations which are often needed to be filled from abroad;
    15. Examine the effects of implementation of the current ODL to the existing labour market in Lesotho and cost therewith;
    16. Review critical skills gaps required to deliver the NSDP II priority sectors (manufacturing, agriculture, information and technology) and propose related occupations for filling them
    17. Identify occupations in demand resulting from relevant survey (i.e. Labour force survey, Census) and structured consultations with stakeholders including results of the skills gap assessment study.
    18. Draft ODL Ministerial instructions.
    19. Propose mechanisms for labour market testing
        Note: IOM is flexible to discuss with the selected consultant on the methodology and process of this assignment. The below is a proposed methodology which IOM is open for further discussion
    20. DELIVERABLES
        Labour Migration Skills Assessment: The content of the draft assessment report should be composed of the following sections:
        I. Government expectations and goals for labour recruitment
        II. Current recruitment processes and procedures
        III. Identified skills needs in the Lesotho’s labour market
        IV. Identified skills available in the Lesotho’s labour market
        V. Identified skills gaps and, if relevant, skills oversupply in Lesotho and measures to address these from a labour migration perspective
        VI. Propose possibilities of exporting labour – both skilled and unskilled
        VII. Make recommendations for mechanisms for skills transfer
        VIII. Make recommendations on how to improve the positive effects of labour migration
        IX. Interpretation of the findings
        X. Recommendations
        XI. Conclusions
        A typed final version of the assessment report must be between 50 and 60 pages, giving a clear description of the labour market skills situation in Lesotho and recommendations toward strengthening institutional capacities dealing with recruitment of both Basotho migrants and foreign migrant workers in line with good international practices.
    21. The following annexes need to be attached to the final report:
        • All notes from meetings with stakeholders
        • All interviews
        • All existing bilateral and multilateral agreements on migrant workers in Lesotho
        • All available statistics gathered in the course of the assessment
        • References
        • Any other material relevant to the assessment
        Occupations in Demand List (ODL): The outcomes of the assignment should be composed of the following:
        I. Identified occupations with skills gaps to be filled by foreigners and their occupational sector, required educational attainment, years of professional experience etc.
        II. Assess different models of how ODL is structured in other SADC countries and propose the suitable ODL for Lesotho
        III. Proposal of institutional framework to effectively operationalize the ODL;
        IV. A report which covers the methodology, limitations to the process and the analysis and recommendations
        V. Final Draft of an ODL Ministerial instructions
        The following annexes need to be attached to the final report:
        • All notes from meetings with stakeholders
        • All consultations outcomes
        • All existing bilateral and multilateral agreements on migrant workers in Lesotho
        • All available statistics gathered in the course of the assessment References
        • Any other material relevant to the assessment
        Note: IOM is flexible to discuss with the selected consultant on the content of the final product. The below is an indication of what is expected to be included in the report.
    22. 1. TIMEFRAME
        The below is an indicative timeframe to undertake this assessment.
        Deliverables Duration
        1
        Inception meeting with IOM and MoLE officials to discuss on the agreed next step for the assessments – 5 January 2022
        2
        Submit draft inception report which includes research design, methodology, key interview questions, and interview schedule on the skills gap assessment – 20 January 2022
        3
        Incorporate IOM, MoLE and stakeholders’ inputs in the inception report and submit the final inception report – 30 January 2022
        4
        Submit the first draft of Skills assessment report to IOM and MoLE and present to the technical working group / National Consultative Committee (NCC) on Migration (Workshop to be organized by IOM) – 15 April 2022
        5
        Submit the final Skills assessment report to IOM and MoLE incorporating all the inputs from the stakeholder – 30 May 2022
        6
        Submit the inception report for developing ODL for Lesotho to IOM and MoLE – 15 June 2022
        7
        Incorporate inputs from IOM and MoLE and submit the final inception report for ODL – 30 June 2022
        8
        Submit the draft ODL based on the extensive consultation with Private sector in Lesotho and present to the technical working group, NCC and private sector (workshop to be organized by IOM) – 30 July 2022
        9
        Incorporate inputs from the IOM, MoLE and stakeholders and submit the final ODL for Lesotho – 30 August 2022
    23. 1. Qualifications and Experience
        The Implementing Partner should have the project manager / responsible officer with the following qualifications and experience:
        a) Master’s degree in any appropriate field of Economics, labour mobility, skills and qualification or relevant social development studies;
        b) Significant experience in conducting similar work with multilateral and governmental partners
        c) Exceptional skills in designing and conducting research studies, with practical experience in research methods;
        d) Experience in and familiarity with labour migration research, systems, processes, and structures;
        e) Strong understanding of Lesotho or Southern African countries’ labour market characteristics and migration patterns;
        f) Experience in working with governments, employers’ associations, workers’ organisations, and other labour migration stakeholders
        g) Strong writing and analytical skills
        h) Strong interpersonal and communications skills
        i) Excellent written and spoken English and Sesotho
        j) Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships.
    24. Payment Schedule
        Total fee, inclusive of all travel and related costs, not subject to any deductions, will be paid to the consultant as follows;
        • 30 % upon the satisfactory completion of the deliverable 1, 2 and 3
        • 20 % upon the satisfactory completion of the deliverable 4 and 5
        • 20 % upon the satisfactory completion of the deliverable 6 and 7
        • 20 % upon the satisfactory completion of the deliverable 8 and 9