Request for Quotation: Discussion note and facilitated dialogue to support the ILO internal strategy on bilateral labour migration agreements in the Africa-Arab States corridor

 

Organizational Unit

ILO Regional Office for Arab States, Beirut (FAIRWAY Programme)

 

Requirement:

External collaborator

Timeline:

Approximately 20 working days from 15 November 2023– 30 January 2024

Budget:

Based on proposal

 

Background

The past several years has seen a proliferation of bilateral labour migration agreements (BLMAs) negotiated and signed between (sub-Saharan) African countries and Arab States, as African countries work to find new labour markets for a growing youth population.

 

A combination of demographic pressures, a growing workforce, wage differentials, and poor employment prospects at home are key drivers of young African women and men to seek work abroad, both within and outside the region. Against the backdrop of existing and significant decent work deficits in Africa, the predicted youth bulge will create ever more demographic pressure, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, for jobs which national governments will struggle to provide. Climate change distress and displacement are also predicted to impact on migration patterns, pushing an increasing number of Africans on dangerous journeys towards the Middle East and Europe. A growing number of these workers are being recruited into low-wage work in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and, in the context of Ethiopian women specifically, Lebanon and Jordan as temporary migrant domestic workers.

 

Many African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, have, until recently, implemented migration bans on their nationals travelling to work in the GCC, Kenya was the first to lift its three-year ban on nationals working as domestic workers in the GCC in 2017 and shortly after signed a BLMA with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Kenya signed a new BLMA with Saudi Arabia, as well as with Kuwait. Ethiopia lifted its ban in 2018, claiming that a new law would bring improved protection to workers, and, in fast succession signed BLMAs with Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar, and in 2023 it also signed a BLMA with Lebanon and MOUs with Saudi Arabia and Jordan). Uganda similarly lifted its ban in 2021 after the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development had reformed the regulations governing recruitment and employment. Shortly after, Uganda signed BLMAs with the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, but allegations of abuses, especially in Saudi Arabia, intensified. While Ghana retains a migration ban on the GCC, the flow of workers to the sub-region continues.

 

According to the African Union Commission, “BLMAs are a critical tool to support labour migration governance and policy coherence” (ref to be added). The UN Network on Migration, in its Global Guidance on BLMAs developed by ILO and IOM in collaboration with other stakeholders, has also taken the view that BLMAs can improve the governance of labour migration and safeguard migrant workers' rights (UN Network on Migration). However, despite global guidance on good practices in developing, negotiating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating BLMAs, it is not clear whether this is leading to the conclusion of more rights-based BLMAs and their effective implementation in practice.

 

Objective:

The objective of the consultancy is to analyze the recent negotiation and conclusion of BLMAs between African and Arab States (during the last 5 years), with a focus on the role of the ILO – if any - and to draft a discussion note, followed by a facilitated internal ILO dialogue that will provide ideas regarding ILO's enhanced and strategic positioning concerning BLMAs. The consultant would analyze recent BLMAs in this corridor (both the draft and final texts of BLMAs), stakeholder perspectives on the negotiation process (both ILO and selected key external persons), and propose innovative, proactive strategies for ILO consideration.

 

Scope:

The purpose of the discussion note and facilitated dialogue will be to:

• Present an overview of the type of assistance that ILO has given on BLMAs to all constituents in the selected corridor[1] in the past 5 years (including brief information on ILO presentations at workshops on BLMAs or regional guidance, ITCILO courses, informal technical comments, brief general comments on drafts and Comprehensive ILO technical Note (prepared by HQ mostly);
• Understand the circumstances that led to ILO being requested to provide comments to a BLMA and/or other support to the BLMA process (I.e. where did the request originate, and when, how and what was the scope of the ILO assistance requested).
• Detail specific instances where the ILO's involvement in the BLMA process made a difference and where opportunities may have been missed.
• Discuss specific challenges encountered in different regions or contexts.
• Explore avenues for the ILO to maximize impact with its limited resources, considering the extensive BLMA landscape.
• Brainstorm and propose non-traditional approaches for the ILO's engagement, emphasizing stakeholder collaborations, digital tools, and localized interventions.

                                                                

Methodology:

 

1. Stakeholder Interviews:

• Engage in semi-structured interviews with key ILO labour migration focal points in Africa, Arab States and HQ, including specialists, programme managers and national-level staff as relevant (approximately 10 people, but interviews may be arranged as focus group discussions)
• Engage in semi-structured interviews with key external people (most likely in African countries of origin) (approximately 5 people)

 

1. Review of Recent BLMAs:

• Map out recently concluded BLMAs in the Africa-Arab States corridor. From ILO colleagues, obtain drafts of those agreements where the ILO was asked to comment and compare to the final versions to see what elements of the ILO’s recommendations (if any) were reflected in the final BLMA.
• Look at global good practices in BLMA engagements, benchmark to the Africa-Arab States BLMAs (recently signed) and identify adaptable strategies.
• Understand the evolving landscape of worker migration and predict future trends.

 

1. Collaboration Landscape Analysis:

• Draft a SWOT analysis of the ILO interventions as compared to those of other organizations
• Detail existing collaborations and highlight gaps or opportunities for deeper synergies.

 

1. Developing the facilitated internal ILO dialogue

This virtual dialogue will take place through a two-hour participatory discussion with 10-12 key ILO staff working on migration in the Africa-Arab States labour migration corridor. The consultant will be responsible for developing the agenda and ensuring that the event is designed in an interactive way – with breakout groups, joint brainstorming, etc.

 

Key Deliverables:

 

Discussion Note:

A detailed document of approximately 10 pages that:

• Summarizes the type of assistance that ILO has given on BLMAs to all constituents in the selected corridor in the past 5 years, including the circumstances behind the activity (who requested, for eg).
• Brainstorm and propose non-traditional approaches for the ILO's engagement, emphasizing stakeholder collaborations, digital tools, and localized interventions.
• Chronicles interview insights, categorizing common themes, including relating to the circumstances that led to ILO being requested to provide comments to a BLMA and/or other support to the BLMA process and possible impact
• Features an exhaustive analysis of BLMAs, highlighting good practices and areas for improvement.
• Proposes forward-looking strategies based on historical learnings and global trends.

 

Facilitated Dialogue:

• A structured session with agendas, breakout groups, and feedback mechanisms.
• Documentation of dialogue outputs and key action items.
• A summative document that refines all findings, feedback, and recommendations into a strategic guide for the ILO's future engagement with the BLMA process.

 

 

Timeline:

The consultancy will commence on 15 November and finish on 15 January over approximately 20 working days (to be negotiated).

 

Activities

Deadline

Identification of stakeholders and scheduling of interviews.

By 20 November

Conducting of interviews.

By 10 December

Review of BLMA texts and desk research.

By 15 December

Drafting of the discussion note.

By 20 December

Organizing and facilitating the internal ILO dialogue.

By 20 January

Compilation and submission of the final report.

By 30 January

 

Qualifications:

• A postgraduate degree in International Relations, Labour Law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years experience in labour migration issues.
• Proven track record of qualitative research and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with labour migration from Africa and/or to the Arab States, especially in the context of BLMAs would be highly desirable.
• Outstanding presentation and workshop-leading skills.

 

 

Proposal Submission:

 

Interested consultants should submit a comprehensive proposal, incorporating both a brief technical strategy and a financial breakdown, along with a CV, by 31 October 2023, 5pm Beirut time (GMT+3). A written sample of work is not essential, but highly recommended.

 

Proposals will be judged on the basis of:

• Technical ability to perform the assignment (based on previous experience)
• Understanding of the assignment (technical proposal)
• Value for money (financial proposal).

 

Confidentiality and intellectual property

All deliverables under this consultancy will be the intellectual property of the ILO.

The consultant must keep all information obtained under the consultancy