ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference (TORs)

Short-Term Consultant

for Landscaping Assessment – Cambodian Labor Migration to Thailand

USAID Cambodia Counter Trafficking in Persons Activity

Background

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the five-year Cambodia CTIP Activity seeks to strengthen civil society ’s and the government’s response to the evolving human trafficking problems facing Cambodia through a wide variety of partnerships with local and international actors. The new Cambodia CTIP activity operates across the country with particular emphasis in eight provinces: Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Koh Kong, and Sihanoukville, to address the root causes of trafficking, advocate and protect vulnerable populations from trafficking and abuse, prevent at-risk populations from risky migration, and assist the Cambodian government in reforms needed to effectively combat trafficking and support victims.  Key to preventing unsafe migration, labor exploitation and trafficking among Cambodians seeking employment opportunities in other countries are strong networks among migrant workers and prospective migrant workers that disseminate accurate information on elements of migration and employment and either refer workers securely to sources of remedy for complaints or providing them directly under the network’s resources.  The purpose of the activity is to provide an evidence base on which a future activity focused on supporting Cambodian migrant worker networks can be based.

Thailand is the leading destination for Cambodians who migrate abroad for work and currently the vast majority of these migrants use informal channels to do so.  Existing research and anecdotal reporting suggest that Cambodian migrant workers are highly vulnerable to labor exploitation and forced labor or human trafficking in part because of their lack of formal legal status in Thailand and in part because the lack of strong networks and attendant services to protect them.  The International Justice Mission commissioned research in 2022 that found that among over 1,000 interviewed Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, 40% displayed indicators of forced labor or human trafficking.

II. PURPOSE

With USAID funding, the Cambodia CTIP activity plans to start a project to strengthen networks of Cambodian migrant workers on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border with the resulting goal of increasing the access of these migrant workers to services that will help them confront conditions of labor exploitation, including forced labor.  This landscaping assessment is a valuable precursor to the project’s start, giving Winrock and the ultimate implementing partner a base of evidence on which to make key planning decisions. 

III. SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant will be engaged to develop and deliver for Winrock International and its donor a report reflecting an assessment of the landscape of Cambodian migrant workers who have migrated to Thailand for work, with a focus on four particular areas:

1. Identify the geographic areas of concentration of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, particularly on the eastern seaboard, and the sectors in which these workers are employed. 
2. Identify the gaps in services available for Cambodian migrant workers in these geographic areas, and the current consequences of those gaps.
3. Identify potential Thailand-based organizations that could fill those gaps, either through an existing presence in those geographic areas or through an extension.
4. Assess the capacity of the Cambodian Migrant Workers Network – current and potential – for delivery of reliable information to migrant workers and for referrals and direct provisions of services such as legal aid and counseling.  Also assess the capacity of the CMWN, and any other possible networks, in working with Thai NGOs, including in the format of support platforms. 

IV. SUBMISSION OF CONCEPT NOTE

Interested individual consultants or groups of consultants should submit a concept note, no longer than two A4 pages, containing the following:

A:  The Consultant’s methodology for developing this landscape and satisfying the aforementioned four areas of focus.

B.  The identification and brief relevant skills and experience of the consultant(s) – CVs can be attached and are outside the two-page limit for the concept note. 

C.  Description of the time required, and number of consultant days or hours required for this task, along with an estimated cost.

D. identification of any additional parties, such as team members or assistants who might contribute to this work.

Please submit concept note with CV(s) to:  cambodiactipjobs@winrock.org by 5:00pm Cambodia time on Monday, March 4 2024.

V.QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in labor, migration, human trafficking, and experience working in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia.
• Considerable knowledge and experience in designing tools for data collection.
• Familiarity with forced labor and human trafficking issues related to migrant worker conditions in Thailand.
• Familiarity with migration routes between Cambodia and Thailand and researching on-the-ground migration practices.
• Proficient in English verbal communication and report writing.
• Proficiency in Thai and/or Khmer or access to an assistant or team member who has these language skills and can serve as an interpreter for interviews; and
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to demonstrate respect for people with diverse ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds, and beliefs.