Terms of Reference
Consulting for the Preparation of a Study to Evaluate the Risks of Access to Rights in the Migratory Context for Humanitarian Assistance
BACKGROUND
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition, founded in 1947. It has 150 member churches in 99 countries. World Service (WS) is the development cooperation and humanitarian assistance arm of the Lutheran World Federation, which seeks to unite people of all backgrounds to achieve justice, peace and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. The Lutheran World Federation is a founding member of the ACT Alliance. The LWF/WS Central America Program began its work in the region in 1983, which is currently being carried out in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, through the Jotay Joint Program. The Central America Program works under the global strategy “So that they have hope and a future” in three strategic areas: Climate-resilient livelihoods Quality services Protection and social cohesion.
INTRODUCTION
The migration flow in Central America remains one of the most complex globally, particularly from countries in the north of the region (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras). These mixed migration flows include economic migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. According to recent data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM: Migration, Central America, North America and the Caribbean, Regional Strategy, 2020-2024),More than one million people transit through this region each year, seeking better living conditions or escaping violence and natural disasters. Among the structural causes of migration are poverty and lack of employment, which are significant drivers of migration. Economic opportunities are limited, and many people see migration as their only way out to better living conditions, generating a constant migration to the north, especially to Mexico and the United States, in search of higher incomes given the demand for low-skilled labor in developed countries and the effect of globalization on the increase in labor seeking higher wages in developed countries. Likewise, climate change and natural threats such as droughts, floods, hurricanes and other phenomena largely associated with climate change have seriously affected rural communities. In particular, the Central American region has experienced an intensification of natural threats that destroy livelihoods, forcing people to migrate. Agricultural communities in vulnerable areas of Guatemala and Honduras are especially affected by the lack of adaptation to these phenomena. The multidimensional and structural nature of the crisis has had a significant impact on the migrant population and host communities, disproportionately affecting women and girls, who face the feminization of poverty, unemployment, displacement, forced migration, and an increase in the burden of care work and femicides. Migratory transit in Central America is extremely dangerous, and migrants, regardless of their status, face serious risks. From violence and abuse by criminal groups to labor and sexual exploitation, migrants are vulnerable to a wide range of human rights violations. Women and unaccompanied children are particularly at risk, being frequent victims of human trafficking and exploitation, on the migration route and in detention centers. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), many women are coerced into forced labor or sexual exploitation during their migration route. In the case of children, the situation is even more critical. Many unaccompanied minors are kidnapped or lured with false promises of safety and employment, only to end up in sexual or labour exploitation networks. UNICEF has noted that unaccompanied children are at greater risk of falling into human trafficking due to their lack of protection, their need for resources and their lack of awareness of the dangers present on their journey. Detention centres along migration routes, which should be temporary refuge spaces, often aggravate the situation.Overcrowded conditions and a lack of trained personnel to provide protection increase the vulnerability of women and children. In these environments, it is common for human trafficking networks to take advantage of gaps in control to infiltrate and continue to exploit victims.
Currently, Central America, and especially El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the cross-border areas of Panama/Colombia and Guatemala/Mexico, are in crisis, sharing a common profile of high rates of gender-based violence, sexual violence and violence against children; high levels of displacement and migration (internal and cross-border); and recurring adverse effects of climate change. This context underlines the need for a comprehensive assessment of the risks of access to rights and humanitarian needs, which this study aims to address. Likewise, girls, boys and adolescents are forced to leave their studies due to aggravating situations such as extreme poverty, a triggering factor for child labor, social violence, migration or the lack of a life plan. Climate change has also exacerbated living conditions in the region; Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2023) indicate a 15% increase in extreme weather events such as droughts and floods in the last five years, which has displaced more than 100,000 additional people (World Bank, 2023). This context generates an extremely unfavorable environment and a discouraging outlook for them, exacerbating their vulnerability and limiting their development and protection opportunities.
To address the challenges of migration in Central America, a comprehensive approach is needed that addresses both the structural causes and the immediate impacts of migration flows. Improving local economies, combating violence and mitigating the effects of climate change, and strengthening humanitarian assistance are fundamental steps to reduce forced migration. In addition, migration policies must be guaranteed to respect human rights and adopt a gender approach, protecting the most vulnerable migrants, especially women and children.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the risks of access to rights in contexts of irregular migration, identifying and analyzing the needs, challenges and opportunities of humanitarian assistance for migrant populations in the stages of departure, transit, return and sustainable reintegration, with a focus on the protection of human rights, gender and sustainability of interventions.
Specific objectives of the consultancy:
- Develop adaptable and contextually relevant information gathering instruments or tools for preparing the evaluation report and recommendations, including a documentary mapping of the main tools and methodologies used to identify migration and humanitarian assistance variables.
- Analyze the current risks and needs for humanitarian assistance in the corridors from Central America, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama) and the Guatemala/Mexico cross-border areas (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula)
- Conduct a mapping of actors who are working on the issue of migration and humanitarian assistance
- Develop an infographic that summarizes the main findings of the study.
SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY
The consultancy will be carried out mainly virtually, with the possibility of field visits in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and the cross-border areas of Mexico (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula) to interact directly with key actors, including public institutions, regional platforms, agencies of the United Nations System and NGOs, ensuring the collection of contextualized and relevant data.
EXPECTED CONSULTANCY PRODUCTS:
PRODUCT 1: Develop a work plan proposal, with its methodology and schedule to be used for the formulation of the evaluation. The work plan must contain at least the following: general objective, specific objectives, activity schedules and the assignment of responsibilities to be used for each activity.
The methodological design should be robust and allow for comprehensive and representative information collection to produce an accurate assessment of the risks, needs, challenges and opportunities of migration and humanitarian assistance in Central America, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama) and the Guatemala/Mexico cross-border areas (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula), ensuring the inclusion of perspectives of key actors at the local, national and regional levels.** Information should be collected from primary and secondary sources to analyze the current context in the generation and analysis of data at the regional, national and local levels. This collection should cover available mechanisms, including instruments, sources, platforms, observatories and other initiatives that contain variables related to migration and its socioeconomic and political determinants. In addition, techniques such as interviews, documentary analysis and data analysis, among others, will be used to represent in detail the regional, national and local contexts, in order to provide a solid scientific basis for the formulation of assessments.
PRODUCT 2: Proposal for instruments or tools for collecting information for the preparation of the evaluation report and recommendations**.** This product must also include details of the information collection methods.
Collection and analysis of key documents, guides and existing methodologies.
- Identification of critical variables for risk analysis on migration and humanitarian assistance.
- Document review and tool mapping.
- Preparation of a report that systematizes the information collected.
It is important to highlight that the instrument should identify variables on migration, humanitarian assistance, analysis of the socio-political context and its socio-economic determinants included in traditional data sources (censuses, vital statistics, specific surveys, administrative records of the states, existing migration monitoring platforms). Likewise, the instrument should contemplate the construction of a survey to collect information that allows interviews to be conducted on the needs, challenges and opportunities with key actors such as: public government institutions, the Central American Integration System and the United Nations system and NGOs.
PRODUCT 3: Analysis of current challenges and needs for humanitarian assistance in migration in the Darien and Central American migration corridors**.** The following activities should be developed:
- Interviews and consultations with key actors in Central America, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) and the Mexico/Guatemala cross-border areas (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula).
- Assessment of specific risks at each stage of migration and their impact on access to rights.
- Conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of humanitarian responses in Central America, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) and the Guatemala/Mexico cross-border areas (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula) using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess the effectiveness, reach and sustainability of current interventions, and providing evidence-based recommendations to improve these responses.
- Development of a report on the analysis of current challenges and needs in humanitarian assistance for migration in both migration corridors.
PRODUCT 4: Mapping of actors working on the topic of migration and humanitarian assistance. To this end, the following should be developed:
- Identification and mapping of organizations and institutions that are working in the field of humanitarian assistance in migration contexts.
- Preparation of a report detailing the network of actors and their roles.
PRODUCT 5: Development of an infographic summarizing the main findings of the study. This should include a technical note and a concise infographic with the results of the consultation of the information sources identified in products 2, 3 and 4.
SUMMARY OF EXPECTED RESULTS:
- Documentary Tool Report :
- A detailed report identifying and assessing key tools and methodologies for risk analysis in migration contexts with a focus on gender and vulnerable groups.
- Analysis of Challenges in Migration Corridors :
- A comprehensive report describing the main current needs and challenges in humanitarian assistance throughout Central America, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) and the cross-border areas of Mexico (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula) including recommendations to improve the intervention.
- Actor Mapping and Diffusion Product :
- A comprehensive mapping of the actors involved in humanitarian assistance in migration contexts.
- An infographic designed to disseminate the main findings of the study, which serves as a communication tool for different audiences.
VARIABLES TO CONSIDER FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:
- Sociopolitical ContextPolitical Stability: Degree of political stability or instability in the countries of origin, transit and return.Migration Policies: National and international legislation and policies that affect the mobility and rights of migrants.International Relations: Bilateral or multilateral agreements that impact migration flow and the protection of rights.
- Economic ConditionsEconomic Conditions in the Country of Origin: Level of unemployment, poverty, and inequality that motivate migration.Economic Opportunities in Transit and Destination: Availability of employment, access to formal and informal labor markets.Access to Resources: Availability of basic resources (food, water, shelter) along the migratory route.
- Security:Risks of Violence: Presence of armed groups, drug trafficking, criminal gangs, and other risks of violence on migration routes.Personal Safety: Incidence of robbery, extortion, abuse, and human trafficking.State and Community Protection: Availability and effectiveness of protection mechanisms for migrants.
- Access to Basic ServicesHealth: Access to health services, including medical emergencies and mental health.Education: Access to education, especially for migrant children and adolescents.Housing and Shelter: Availability and quality of shelters and other types of shelter at different stages of migration.
- Human RightsAccess to Justice: Ability of migrants to access legal services, including the possibility of filing complaints or reports.Documentation and Legal Status: Documentary status of migrants (passports, visas, permits) and the ability to regularize their status.Labor Rights: Working conditions and labor rights, including protection against exploitation and abuse.
- Social and Cultural DynamicsSocial Integration: Level of acceptance and integration in transit and destination communities.Discrimination and Xenophobia: Presence of discriminatory attitudes and practices against migrants.Support Networks: Existence of family, community and organizational networks that offer support to migrants.
- Environmental FactorsDisasters: Risk of disasters on migration routes, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, which present a greater risk or impact on specific migration routes will be assessed, to ensure that humanitarian interventions are appropriately targeted and effective.Climate Impact: Influence of climate change on migration and the availability of basic resources along migration routes.Geographical Conditions: Geographical difficulties on migratory routes, such as mountains, rivers and jungles.
- Humanitarian Assistance CapabilitiesHumanitarian Infrastructure: Availability and quality of humanitarian infrastructure along migration routes.Response from Governments, NGOs, Churches and International Organizations: Response capacity and coordination between organizations that provide humanitarian assistance, including a differentiated approach to populations in conditions of greater vulnerabilityFinancial Resources: Availability of funds and resources to implement humanitarian assistance programs.
- Psychosocial aspectsPsychological Status of Migrants: Level of stress, trauma and other factors that affect the mental well-being of migrants.Psychosocial Support: Availability of psychosocial support services, including counseling and mental health services.Resilience and Coping: Migrants’ ability to adapt and cope with adversities during migration.
- Coordination and Monitoring MechanismsInterinstitutional Coordination: Level of coordination between government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Existence of systems to monitor the situation of migrants and the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance.Transparency and Accountability: Mechanisms to ensure that humanitarian assistance is distributed fairly and effectively within the framework of CHS principles in humanitarian care services.
ROLE OF THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION
- Prepare and sign the consultancy contract.
- LWF/WI will have sole technical responsibility for guiding, evaluating and providing feedback to the individual or company to ensure that they comply with the requirements to ensure that there is no conflict between the proposals, the guiding principles of humanitarian work and the regulations of LWF/WI and the donor.
- Provide the information and documentation available in a timely manner for the implementation of the consultancy.
- Ensure ongoing dialogue with the regional programme coordinator and provide contacts and access to all relevant information for the review.
- Participate in the review, monitor its quality and ensure compliance with deadlines.
- Likewise, it is understood that the FLM/SM will have the copyright and any other intellectual property rights arising from the contents and they will not be used for the purposes of the contracted natural person or company.
DEPENDENCY AND SUPERVISION
The consultant or company will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Program Coordinator.
The entire implementation methodology is expected to be delivered through Google Drive and/or One Drive shared between the individual or company and FLM/SM. This channel must contain a cloud folder with all the materials in their final versions, including editable ones. The individual or company must make a presentation to the assigned FLM/SM team on the consultancy mechanism.
REQUIRED PROFILE
- Natural person or legally established company, authorized to issue invoices.
- Experience in Migration and Human Rights Studies.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting, preparing and presenting complex technical documents, with an emphasis on risk assessments and humanitarian needs in migration contexts. Experience in evaluating humanitarian assistance projects.
- Knowledge and use of inclusive language with a humanitarian focus.
- Experience in design and analysis of methodological tools in humanitarian contexts.
- Experience working with LWF/WW and/or international organizations will be an advantage.
- Knowledge of the regional context of Central America and Mexico
EVALUATOR/S SELECTION CRITERIA
- Time management skills.
- Experience in developing illustrations and communication campaigns.
- Technical Offer (70%)
- Financial proposal (30%) : With competitive prices. The financial proposal must include all expenses related to the hiring of specialists related to the process, including any type of logistical, transportation, food and similar expenses.
CONDITIONS
- Flexibility to travel to Central American countries, especially (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama) and the cross-border areas of Mexico (Nueva Orizaba, El Ceibo, Tapachula) that will be consulted for this evaluation.
- Availability of time to hold virtual or in-person meetings with the LWF/SM programmatic team.
DURATION AND BUDGET
The award of this consultancy will be subject to the analysis of the technical and economic offer for a given period from September 20, 2024 to December 18, 2025. (3 months). It is recognized that unforeseen circumstances may arise during the execution of the consultancy, for which a margin of flexibility will be maintained to adjust the schedule and deliverables as necessary, in coordination with the FLM/SM.
Note: The total cost of the consultancy includes: payment of fees by the individual or company. FLM/SM is exempt from VAT.
PRODUCT 1: Develop a work plan proposal with its methodology and schedule to be used for the formulation of the evaluation. The work plan must contain at least the following: general objective, specific objectives, activity schedules and the responsibilities that will be used for each activity.
Single payment corresponding to 30% ($5,100) against approval of product 1.
Deadline: 09/30/2024
PRODUCT 2: Proposal of instruments or tools for collecting information for the preparation of the evaluation report and recommendations**.**
Single payment corresponding to 20% ($3,400) against approval of product 2.
Deadline: 16/10/2024
PRODUCT 3: Analysis of current challenges and needs for humanitarian assistance in migration in migratory corridors (Darién, Central America and Mexico)
Single payment corresponding to 30% ($5,100) against approval of product 3.
Deadline: 11/16/2024
PRODUCT 4: Mapping of actors working on the issue of migration and humanitarian assistance.
PRODUCT 5: Development of an infographic summarizing the main findings of the study.
Single payment corresponding to 20% ($3,400) against approval of product 4 and 5.
Deadline: 10/12/2024
How to apply
Those interested in participating must submit the following documentation to the following email address: rh.centroamerica@lutheranworld.org, andrea.rivera@lutheranworld.org
- Technical offer and CV.
- Economic offer.
- Example of a regional study related to migration/displacement.
Please indicate the name of the consultancy you are applying for in the “subject” of your message.
Last date of application: September 21, 2024.
