Published on 31st March 2017

INTRODUCTION

Association Atina in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Macedonian Lawyers Association started with implementation of the project Building Together: Community Monitoring and Advocacy which is financially supported by the European Union. The overall objective of the project is to improve the position of refugees and other migrants, especially children and women in local communities in Serbia and Macedonia. During the project KAS, ATINA and MLA will develop participatory community-based mechanisms for continuous monitoring and advocating for the implementation of effective integration and protection policies and services for migrants, especially women and children.

The expected outcomes of the projects are that: Local Monitoring and Advocacy Networks are able to monitor local policies and protection practices in regards to integration of migrants; Local policies and services for migrants (especially children and women) are improved; similar initiatives gathering CSOs and institutions are implemented in Macedonia, Serbia and the region.

RATIONALE

The migrant and refuge crises in Europe from 2015 became the worst humanitarian crises since the Second World War. Since the breakout of the crises over 1 million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in search of better opportunities. The main countries of origins of the migrants are: Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. With its central geographical position Macedonia and Serbia played a crucial role within the Balkan Route of movement of migrants toward Western European countries.

The crises posed a serious challenge to both countries in terms of facilitating their journey and accommodating their temporary residence. With this being the case, both countries establish temporary registration centres in August 2015 as entry points where migrants and asylum seekers had their data recorded with the possibility to stay in the country for 72 hours.

However, the situation changed dramatically in October/November 2015 when the main countries of destination (Austria, Germany and Sweden) reversed their welcoming policies for the migrants and began to negotiate with Turkey for stemming the influx of migrants through Greece and the Balkan route further on. Finally, after months of negotiations the EU and Turkey struck a deal for stemming the flow of migrants from Turkey and in early March 2016 the Balkan Route was effectively closed which left the migrants in limbo.

The situation left several thousand of migrants in the temporary centres in Macedonia and Serbia who were left with two options: apply for asylum or head back to Greece and return to their home destination.

As was the case with other countries in the region, the Governments of Serbia and Macedonia were initially overwhelmed with the large influx of new arrivals. While Serbia and Macedonia had recently established reception and asylum systems, the implementation of the asylum law has been deficient and services inadequate, the more so as these systems were designed for much smaller numbers. In an effort to better cope with the situation and prompted by international actors and national NGOs, in the autumn of 2015 both Macedonia and Serbia adopted emergency plans in case of mass influx of migrants, with the support of international actors. However, the plans focuses on the immediate priority of increasing accommodation  capacity and winterizing shelters and, as UN Women observed, while      referring to the need of special assistance for vulnerable groups, they are weak in addressing protection and gender concerns.

Recently, there have been some promising developments at the policy levels in both countries. For instance, in Macedonia, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been developed for processing unaccompanied children (November 2015), and for other categories of vulnerable refugees and migrants, including the elderly, pregnant women, single parents (April/May 2016), while SOP for the prevention and response to SGBV in the refugee crisis are currently under consideration.11 The Serbian government adopted the “National Strategy for Gender Equality for the period 2016-2020”, which includes women refugees as a vulnerable group at risk of discrimination. A new draft Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection is currently being considered, which should improve the asylum procedure.

Migrants’ protection is a complex issue involving a wide range of aspects which need to be addressed by adopting a multidisciplinary and intersectoral approach. Dominant discourse in policy debates emphasises migration aspects, transnational collaboration and national actions, leaving out human rights and protection aspects and the most relevant actors in protection of migrants, especially the most vulnerable ones – local communities.

SCOPE OF WORK

National Expert for development of Comprehensive analysis of the position of migrants in Serbia will be responsible for development of baseline research according to the methodology set out by the lead expert. Specific responsibilities of the National Expert for development of baseline research are:

1. To participate in the work of the Expert team.

As a member of the Expert team (One lead expert and two country experts), the Expert for development of the comprehensive analysis of the position of migrants in Serbia will be responsible for: participation at the Expert team meetings, providing inputs for development of overall methodology and the Study structure.

1. To develop detailed research methodology in cooperation with the Lead expert.

Specific methodology for data gathering, including tools and guidelines for focus group and in-depth interviews should be developed in close cooperation with the Lead expert and the Project Team.

1. To develop desk research.

The desk research should focus on identification of current position of migrants by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the provision of assistance in the area of educational, health, social protection, prevention of human rights violations and violence. The analysis should map the existing assistance available to migrants and difficulties in accessing the assistance. Special focus should be given to women migrants and children as risk groups of gender based violence and human trafficking. Additionally, the analysis should include statistical data and reports from institutions and organizations mandated with migration policy and social protection, including prevention and protection of victims of trafficking, EU standards, best practices and good models that can be applied at the local level.

1. To implement six focus group interviews

In coordination with the Expert team the expert will facilitate six group interviews with professional from four different municipalities in Serbia, as well as representatives of relevant ministries and institutions. Report on the interviews should include transcripts, and the analysis of the interviews. The goal of the focus groups is to properly map and assess the existing assistance and related practices in provision of assistance to migrants, but also weaknesses, discrepancies and obstacles that professionals involved in the area face.

 

1. To conduct six in-depth interviews with migrants, including woman and children.

The goal of the interviews is to obtain understanding on quality of assistance migrants’ receive, level of respect of their human rights and particularly, women’s and child human rights. This will provide an in-depth understanding of the scope of the problem, migrants’ opinion, perspectives and understanding of the reasons for migration, which will contribute to understanding the difficulties they face in accessing their rights. The researcher should develop a report of the in-depth interviews and provide the transcripts from the interviews.

1. To finalize baseline research and case studies.

Upon finalization of all other research activities (desk research development, focus group interviews, in-depth interviews), baseline researcher should propose the Study format to be approved by the Lead expert and the Project team and finalize the Study on the position of migrants in Serbia, including 6 case studies.

 

OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANT:

 

• Get to know all the relevant legal framework and documents related to the research process;
• Coordinate with the Lead Expert and cooperate with the Project team;
• Ensure information sharing and regular communication with the Lead expert and Project team;
• Develop research methodology;
• Develop desk research and submit it for the approval;
• Facilitate four focus group interviews
• Develop report on the focus group interviews
• Conduct four in-depth interviews with migrants, including woman and children
• Develop four case studies
• Develop final version of the Study on the position of migrants in Serbia that should include all gathered data, conclusions and recommendations.

 

The research is to last four months and should take place from 17 April to August 31th, 2017.

 

Timeframe	Activities
17/04-28/04/2017	Developing methodology
28/04/2017	Submitting methodology for approval
21/04-19/05/2017	Developing desk research
19/05/2017	Submitting desk research for approval
22/05-30/06/2017	Conducting focus group interviews and developing report
22/05-30/06/2017	Conducting in-depth interviews and developing case studies
30/06-15/08/2017	Finalizing Study
15/08/2017	Submitting I draft of the Study
25/08/2017	Submitting Final version of the Study

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUDGET:

Atina will negotiate number of days of engagement with the selected consultant on the basis of the financial offer (gross amount) that will classify the following:

	Activity description	Days	Rate per day	Total
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4

*Add columns as needed depending on the number of activities needed to perform the assignment

            Subtotal                                               Euro__________

            Other costs (specify)                             Euro__________

            TOTAL                                                Euro__________

The total costs should cover all preparatory work regarding data collection, communication costs between Project team, consultants and organizations (e-mail, telephone, fax, mail).

 

BIDDING PROCEDURE

Interested consultant should develop and submit the bidding proposal in English language to respond to above mentioned specific tasks no later than April 15th, 2017. The bidding proposal should include:

1. Description and contact details of a consultant applying;

2. A clear description of the methodological approach, including proposal of sampling, methods and techniques to be used and proposal of the format of the analysis;

3. A detailed Budget Proposal (in the required form);

4. CV of expert involved emphasizing relevant experience;

5. Writing samples of the past performance in similar areas.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Project team will make decision on the selection of the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, on the following four criteria:

• University degree in the relevant field
• At least 3 year of relevant experience
• Experience of the candidate in performing similar projects or programs;
• An example of previous work as a reference of previous experience is desirable

 

 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF BID

All bids need to be submitted no later than Friday, April 14, at 17:00h in electronic version, to the email mirko.rudic@atina.org.rs. A selection will be made no later than 17 April, 2017 and the selected consultant will be contracted no later than 17 April, 2017.

Only selected candidate will be informed.