ThaiNGO

Consultant for Network Enabler and Joint Advocacy on Impact of COVID-19 on migrant children and families and the heightened risks of human trafficking and protection risks

1. Background

Save the Children’s PROMPT (Promoting Safe and Child-Friendly Legal Mechanisms and Pathways for Child Victims of Trafficking) project aims to ensure that child victims of trafficking experience safe, child-friendly, and gender-sensitive legal systems and processes, which will improve their ability to provide compelling testimonies, and assist in the rightful prosecution of perpetrators. It aims to institutionalize child- and gender-sensitive approaches in the training for the Government of Thailand’s social officials (including social workers, psychosocial workers, and shelter workers who care for children), legal officials, and translators for trafficking victims, as well as through advocacy for child- and gender-sensitive legal policy.

The recent 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report shows that Thailand has moved down to tier 2 watch list. The main reason is due to the notably fewer trafficking investigations effort, despite the impact of COVID-19. The identification of trafficking cases was reportedly lower than previous year. The report suggested strengthening victim’s identification procedure. That, the Thai government shall increase the capacity of the multidisciplinary team to efficiently identify victims of trafficking, particularly among migrant workers.

The long-term and escalating situation of pandemic, its disruption effects on the economy and social sectors have not been well mitigated. The impact from government’s strategy to control and reduce the disease transmission, such as lockdown, has caused increasing economic impact as well as social ones. The stress of reducing livelihood and struggling household economic, combined with disrupted protective measures, can contribute to increasing push factors for adult and children to unsafe and risky work. Therefore, it can be said that the number of trafficking victims, including online sexual exploitation of children, child labor, and exploitation, should have increased. The concerns are intensified among migrant and undocumented children who, even prior to the pandemic, are already in vulnerable situation.

2. Purpose and scope of this service:

The PROMPT project is seeking an external consultant who is experience in policy advocacy and demonstrate capacity to engage network of CSOs. The consultant should also demonstrate extensive knowledge on policy and situation related to migrant populations in Thailand. And that, the consultant shall support to enable collaboration among network of practitioners to discuss impact of COVID-19 on the increasing protection risks to migrant children and families. The main purposes of the discussion are: 1) to update situation and impact of COVID-19 on migrant children and families; 2) to synthesize solution and propose strategic recommendations to the relevant Thai government bodies; and 3) to bring issues to the attention of society through media. The consultant will also support the collaboration with CSOs and government network, as well as joint advocacy with Save the Children to advocate with relevant government bodies.

3. Timeframe

The service provider will be required to dedicate 15 working days from 29 July to 31 August 2021.

4. Schedule and deliverables

5. Management of the consultancy:

The consultant(s) will report to PROMPT project coordinator, with support from Child Protection Technical Advisor who will collaborate throughout the consultancy period.

6. Competency

The consultant is expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Extensive experience in advocating of the issues related to migrant populations in Thailand
• Excellent understanding and in-depth knowledge on migrant issues
• Connection with network of CSOs who work to promote the rights of migrants
• Understanding of the power relation, policy-makers interest and factors to migrant policy adoption

Please submit the proposal with detailed schedule and budget by 22 July 2021.

Submissions should be addressed to: THA_Procurement_BKK@savethechildren.org