ThaiNGO

Request for Proposal

Consultancy for the Endline Study On the Prevalence & Patterns of Labour Abuse Across Thailand’s Diverse Fishing Industry

1. Summary

2. Background

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects the people living in poverty from violence throughout the developing world.  IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems. IJM combats forced labor/labor trafficking (FL/LT), sex trafficking, and gender-based violence, working through programs across South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. To measurably protect people living in poverty from violence, IJM has developed a protection measurement framework encompassing four protection domains, i.e. protection can be said to have been achieved when there is decreased Prevalence of crime, improved Performance of the justice system, increased Confidence of the stakeholders, and increased victim Reliance on the justice system.

IJM Thailand focuses on protecting vulnerable migrant workers from forced labor and labor trafficking (FL/LT). From 2017-2021, IJM Thailand worked on FL/LT casework with government partners across Southern Thailand and national-level capacity development, with a heavy focus on the Thai fishing industry and Thai-Cambodian cross-border casework. Additionally, in 2021, the project expanded to address FL/LT in all sectors.  In 2016, IJM Thailand commissioned a baseline study entitled Prevalence & Patterns of Labour Abuse Across Thailand’s Diverse Fishing Industry, which can be accessed at Not In The Same Boat | International Justice Mission.  Over the past decade, the prevalence and patterns of labor abuse may have evolved in response to changes in laws, regulations, enforcement practices, stakeholder efforts, and market dynamics, including pressures from international buyers and global supply chain requirements, since the completion of the 2016 baseline study. To better understand these changes, it is therefore necessary to commission an endline study on the prevalence and patterns of labor abuse in Thailand’s commercial marine fishing industry, with particular emphasis on labor trafficking and broader forms of labor exploitation. This endline study will enable IJM and IJM partners to document impacts in the prevalence of FL/LT and related labor exploitation/abuses experienced by migrant workers in fishing industry in Thailand compared with a decade ago. In addition, the study will provide evidence to support other development partners in designing and implementing interventions to address labor abuse in this sector.  

3. Study's Objective

The endline study aims to measure the proportion (prevalence) and patterns of labor trafficking and labor exploitation among the migrant target population. The endline study attempts to apply the same methodology and cover the same provinces as the baseline study to ensure comparability. This endline study will enable a systematic comparison of findings with the 2016 baseline study to assess changes over time. Key research questions for this endline study are listed below.

Key Research Questions:

1. What is the current prevalence of labor abuse—including labor trafficking and labor exploitation—among Myanmar and Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand’s commercial marine fishing industry? 
2. What patterns of labor abuse are currently experienced, and how do these vary across relevant dimensions of work and employment conditions?
3. Compared to the 2016 baseline study, how have the prevalence and patterns of labor abuse changed, including the direction and extent of change?
4. What factors are associated with variations in the risk of labor abuse among migrant workers in Thailand’s commercial marine fishing industry?
5. What learning and programmatic and policy implications emerge from the endline findings for IJM and its partners’ future efforts to combat labor abuse?

4. Study's Methodology

To ensure trend analysis between the 2016 baseline and the forthcoming endline study, the endline will be anchored in the core framework, while incorporating methodological refinements necessary to address limitations and contextual changes to Thailand’s commercial fishing sector. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative surveys with the target migrant worker population, as well as focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders to generate contextual insights and support data validation. The baseline study used a sampling frame based on constructed polygons of geographic areas where migrant workers reside, followed by random selection of polygons and labor surveys within those areas. Proposals should demonstrate strong technical expertise in replicating this approach for hidden and hard-to-reach populations, including clear strategies for randomization, representation, and weighting, particularly in areas with limited accessibility. While maintaining fidelity to the baseline methodology is essential to ensure valid comparisons over time, proposals are encouraged to suggest thoughtful methodological enhancements that do not compromise comparability. Applicants should clearly describe any proposed adaptations, outline relevant ethical considerations, and explain how these adjustments preserve alignment with the baseline study design.     

5. Consultancy Scope of Work 

The consultant(s)/firm is expected to undertake the following tasks. While IJM's coordination and collaboration are key, the consultant(s)/firm is expected to drive the research process.  

1. Technical Assessment & Study Feasibility

The consultant(s)/firm will assess the baseline study to determine its comparability with the proposed endline study and the overall feasibility of conducting the endline prevalence study. This includes:

• • Reviewing the baseline study design, sampling approach, polygon construction, and data quality assurance procedures;
  • Developing a clear baseline–endline comparability framework, identifying indicators that are strictly comparable, comparable with caveats, and non-comparable; and
  • Providing an initial feasibility assessment with conclusions and recommendations for endline study design. Together with IJM, determine the feasibility of conducting the endline prevalence study.

2. Study Design, Safeguards & Ethical Approval

If the endline study is deemed feasible, the consultant(s)/firm will lead the development of the endline study design and ethical framework. This includes: 

• Conducting a formative/scoping assessment through desk review of the baseline study and other relevant IJM and external documents, as well as consultations with IJM staff and relevant partners;
• Facilitating an in-person co-creation workshop with IJM and relevant stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, NGOs, the private sector) to jointly review and refine the endline study methodology and to gather stakeholder inputs on potential risks and contextual considerations for field data collection; 
• Ensuring that stakeholders’ inputs meaningfully inform the study design, implementation, and interpretation of findings, and practical recommendations; 
• Drafting and finalizing a Research Protocol covering the study background, objectives, methodology, sampling strategy, data collection and analysis methods and tools, anticipated limitations, roles and responsibilities, and detailed ethical safeguarding measures; and
• Managing and securing all required ethical approvals, including an IRB and/or any applicable ethical approval in Thailand. 

3. Data Quality Assurance (DQA) & Filed Preparation

The consultant(s)/firm will ensure robust data quality systems throughout the study, including:

• Developing training materials and delivering training for enumerator and supervisor; 
• Piloting and validating data collection tools;
• Establishing and implementing ongoing data quality monitoring and checks during fieldwork; and 
• Regularly coordinating with IJM to discuss progress, risks, and proposed solutions.  

4. Data Collection & Analysis

The consultant(s)/firm will oversee and conduct data collection and analysis activities, including:

• Quantitative survey data collection and qualitative data collection with migrant fishermen, and other relevant stakeholders; and
• Data cleaning, coding, and analysis in line with the agreed methodology.

5. Reporting

The consultant(s)/firm will be responsible for reporting and dissemination, including:

• Presenting preliminary findings to IJM and selected partners;
• Facilitating a hybrid/in-person validation workshop with IJM and relevant stakeholders to review and refine findings and recommendations;
• Ensuring that stakeholder inputs are meaningfully incorporated into the research report; and
• Preparing draft and final endline study reports in agreed outline and formats.

6. Workshop Organization

The consultant(s)/firm will be responsible for organizing two workshops for this study:

• Co-creation workshop: organize a two-day workshop for approx. 30 persons. 
• Validation workshop: organize a one-day workshop for approx. 40 persons. This can be conducted in a hybrid style (online and in-person). 
• Each workshop will cover venue arrangements; participant invitations, follow-up, and registration; overall event coordination; and the provision of Thai–English and English–Thai simultaneous interpretation services and equipment. All logistical, travel, and accommodation costs for participants will be covered under the consultancy.

The consultant(s)/firm will work under the day-to-day management of the IJM Research Manager, with overall oversight from the IJM Asia Pacific Office’s MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning) Specialist. The consultant(s)/firm will conduct the study in a timely manner, within budget, and under the supervision of the IJM Research Steering Committee established for this study. The study will be undertaken in accordance with IJM’s protocols and guidelines. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, will be strictly observed to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of all participants.

6. Deliverables and Timeline 

The timeline and deliverables for the consultancy are to be consistent with the Consultancy Scope of Work and are as follows. A more detailed timeline will be shared and agreed with the consultant(s)/firm during the contract negotiation process. 

All products arising from this study will be owned by the International Justice Mission. The consultant(s)/firm will not be allowed, without prior authorization in writing, to present any of the analytical results as their own work or to make use of the study results for private publication purposes. 

7. Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated against the following selection criteria. 

8. Required Consultancy Skills and Experience

Proposal must clearly demonstrate the consultants’ qualifications and experience, addressing the following areas: 

• Experience of working on similar research initiatives having demonstrated credibility withthe government or international stakeholders (or experience or proven ability to engage with stakeholders including government agencies, NGOs and local communities to collect data);
• Proven experience in designing and implementing large-scale quantitative endline studies, including survey design, data collection and statistical analysis;
• Familiarity with methods (qualitative and quantitative) for measuring prevalence and patterns, including working with indicators of forced labor, labor trafficking, or similar; 
• In-depth understanding of forced labor, labor trafficking, or related field, particularly in Thailand; 
• Knowledge of migration and forced labor, human trafficking issues in fishing industry. Working knowledge of those in the Thai commercial marine fishing industry; 
• Demonstrated experience in conducting field data collection with migrant workers and both Thai and non-Thai stakeholders within the Thai context; where such experience is not held by the lead consultant, the proposed team must include members with demonstrated relevant field experience; 
• Capacity to access to marine fishing worker communities in Thailand for field data collection purposes; 
• Have published works on their research in reputed peer-reviewed academic journals or produced technical reports on labor migration issues for international organizations; 
• Preferably PhDs in Statistics, Demography/Population Studies, or methodologists on staff; and
• Have submitted research protocols through institutional review boards or ethics committees

9. Request for Proposal Timeline and Application Process

The application should contain:

A. Cover letter explaining qualifications, relevant experience, and competence of the consultant or each consultancy team member, including the local research partner team responsible for facilitating field access, supporting data collection, and providing local contextual knowledge, for this endline study. The cover letter should also clearly state the consultant’s complete home or mailing address, email address, and contact number.

B. Technical proposal (e.g., including background, objectives, research questions, scope of work, deliverables, an initial proposed methodology – such as study design, initial approaches to assess baseline-endline comparability, sampling strategy, sampling frame and zone construction, data collection and analysis methods, data quality assurance, anticipated limitations, a work plan and timeline – as well as team composition and roles). The technical proposal will be discussed and finalized between IJM and the selected consultant(s)/firm, no more than ten pages. 

C. Resume package, containing resumes for all team members (including a local research team) if applying as a team/firm (no more than four pages per resume)

D.  Financial proposal, including a budget narrative (no more than one page) and a detailed cost breakdown covering consultancy's level of efforts and fees for the consultant team, ethical research approval fees, logistical arrangements for data collection (e.g. travel, accommodation, per diems, and other related operational costs), costs for co-creation and validation workshops, trips to the country for international members as applicable, and other costs. The consultants’ consultancy fees will be subject to all applicable taxes in accordance with Thai law. The total proposed cost must be tax/VAT inclusive, and IJM will apply the relevant tax deductions in accordance with Thai law. Payments will be made in installments based on agreed milestones and corresponding percentages, to be agreed between IJM and the selected consultant. It is anticipated that four installments will be made, upon submission and approval of key deliverables, subject to discussion and final agreement with the selected consultant, as follows:

• 1st installment: initial feasibility report (10% of the total cost)
• 2nd installment: co-creation workshop organized and research protocol submitted to IJM  (30% of the total cost)
• 3^rd Installment: first draft of the endline study report submitted to IJM (40% of the total cost)
• 4th Installment: final draft of the endline study report submitted to IJM (20% of the total cost)

E. Sample work (2–3 examples) demonstrating strong technical research expertise and substantive knowledge of migration and labor issues in Thailand’s commercial sea fishing industry, or closely related sectors, preferably including studies comparable to the baseline study. 

The completed applications should be submitted in PDF format with “Endline Study – Prevalence & Patterns of Labour Abuse” – [Last Name/Firm Name]” in the subject line and emailed to ktankulratana@ijm.org and cc pros@ijm.org  Interested candidates or candidate teams must submit their application before 11.59 PM on 8 March 2026(GMT 7/ Bangkok time). Interested candidates or candidate teams may submit any questions via email by 22 February 2026 and IJM will provide responses within 7 calendar days of receipt of the email. Shortlisted candidates will be informed and interviewed, during which a Q&A session will be provided for additional details of the baseline study. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and comply with IJM’s procurement standards.

IJM has established terms and standards to be used specifically for research studies including this study. If interested in reviewing the terms and standards, please email to request a copy.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.  

For more details : https://www.ijm.org/careers/field-partner-office-job-openings/request-for-proposal-consultancy-for-the-endline-study-on-the-prevalence-patterns-of-labour-abuse-across-thailands-diverse-fishing-industry