Data collection services in Turin, Italy, for the Come Home research project on access to housing for people with a migratory background (MMC) At Danish Refugee Council

1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

The Danish Refugee Council

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

The Mixed Migration Centre

Part of DRC, the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) is a leading source for independent and high-quality data, research, analysis and expertise on mixed migration. The MMC aims to increase understanding of mixed migration, to positively impact global and regional migration policies, to inform evidence-based protection responses for people on the move and to stimulate forward thinking in public and policy debates on mixed migration. The MMC’s overarching focus is on human rights and protection for all people on the move. The three overall objectives of the MMC are:

• To contribute to a better, more nuanced and balanced understanding of mixed migration (knowledge)
• To contribute to evidence-based and better-informed migration policies and debates (policy)
• To contribute to effective evidence-based protection responses for people on the move (programming)

The MMC is a global network, with regional hubs in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America hosted in DRC regional offices, and a small central team in Geneva. The MMC is part of, and governed by, DRC. While its institutional link to DRC ensures MMC’s work is grounded in operational reality, it acts as an independent source of data, research, analysis and policy development on mixed migration for policy makers, practitioners, journalists, and the broader humanitarian sector. The position of the MMC does not necessarily reflect the position of DRC. For more information on MMC visit our website here: www.mixedmigration.org

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The Danish Refugee Council based in Geneva seeks proposals from a consultant to conduct quantitative data collection (survey administration) and qualitative data collection (organization of focus group discussions) in Turin, Italy.

1. Background

Access to housing for people with a migratory background for people with a migratory background

Italy, Greece and Malta are the main countries of first arrival into the EU for asylum seekers and refugees reaching Europe via the Mediterranean and from Asia. EU countries of arrival often excel in providing temporary assistance solutions to asylum seekers and refugees but, in the long term, they fail in guaranteeing their effective inclusion and integration, as well as basic rights and needs such as the right to accommodation.

Housing discrimination is often read and labelled as racism, but this is only partially true. Understanding the real grounds for discrimination behind it may allow to adopt better tools and strategies and even solve other types of discrimination. Despite the tremendous need for a better understanding of housing discrimination, European-wide data are not available to analyse how many people experience discriminatory treatment based on their ethnic or racial origin. While sex and age are systematically recorded, data on ethnicity, nationality, disability, employment or immigration status are rarely collected in national surveys or their samples are not large enough to allow for further breaking down of the data. However, intersectionality studies suggest that discrimination often happens based on more than one ground or as a barrier to accessing services and rights – including housing.

Even less data is available regarding landlords’ perspectives and the motivations behind their decisions.

1. Objective of the consultancy

Research objectives

MMC will conduct a research project focused on Understanding and combatting intersectional discrimination in housing for people with a migratory background in Italy, in order to provide evidence-based and up-to-date analysis on this topic. The research project aims to support key stakeholders (NGOs, CSOs, policymakers) in the region to improve the local integration of people with a migratory background, and better protect their rights, by strengthening their access to housing.

In order to support policymakers and service providers, this project seeks to better understand the obstacles that people with a migratory background face when searching for housing, with a focus on discrimination, and the resilience factors and mechanisms that they use to overcome such obstacles. Additionally, considering that private landlords and rental agencies are gatekeepers in the access to housing, it is fundamental to understand the reasons that bring them to discriminatory actions.

The research design will focus on a city-based approach and will target urban areas where a high number of people with a migratory background reside. Data collection is set to take place in Turin (Italy). The methodology will follow a mixed method approach (convergent design) involving at least 300 quantitative surveys and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs).

Target population

Potential survey respondents will be approached by enumerators based on the following criteria:

• • Refugees, regular migrants and second-generation migrants
    • Coming from Europe, Asia or Africa
    • 18+ years old
    • Settled in the city since a minimum of six months.

The target population for FGDs will be the same as for the quantitative survey.

Sample size

The target for quantitative data collection will be 300 surveys with refugees, regular migrants and second-generation migrants. As for qualitative data collection, the target will be 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with the same target population as the surveys.

Interview questions

The questionnaire will cover the following topics:

• • Profiles of respondents (main demographics, sex, age, education, area of origin, legal status).
    • Current housing situation (area where they live, renting vs owning, formal vs informal arrangements, overcrowding, building antiquity, access to services and utilities).
    • Mechanisms / channels used to find housing (formal housing agencies, private/informal real estate agents, NGOs, word of mouth, advertisement websites) and reasons for choosing them.
    • Barriers faced while searching for housing (forms of discrimination, legal obstacles, economic obstacles, guarantees required) and who creates these obstacles (landlords, housing agencies, public authorities).
    • Potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to housing (increase in price, lower/higher availability).
    • Resilience factors or mechanisms employed to overcome barriers (measures and strategies adopted to overcome such barriers).

FGDs will cover the same topics.

Surveys are planned to be conducted face-to-face through electronic data collection (text-based survey solution on phones/tablets). The survey will be administered in English, Italian or potentially other relevant languages such as French or Arabic. Enumerators shall all have a good command of English to receive training in this language.

As for FGDs, they will be conducted face-to-face using the interview guide provided by MMC.

The purpose of this consultancy is to MMC Europe is looking for a consultant or consultancy firm to conduct quantitative data collection (administration of surveys) in Turin (Italy). The consultant will also have to organize the FGDs, which will then be co-facilitated with MMC.

1. Scope of work and Methodology

Specifically, the consultant is expected to:

• Recruit, contract and supervise a network of enumerators in line with MMC SOPs;
• Organize a training for enumerators (that will be facilitated by MMC), providing an adequate room for this;
• Collect 300 surveys in Turin in electronic format (ODK), according to the workplan agreed upon in advance with MMC;
• Cover potential phone credit and transportation prices for the enumerators;
• Provide phones or tablet (hardware) to the enumerators for electronic data collection;
• Support in identifying respondents;
• Ensure methodological guidelines are applied for the survey;
• Validate and clean the data collected before submitting it;
• Organize and co-facilitate 4 FGDs;
• Designate a focal point and set up regular reporting and discussion with MMC, especially during the data collection phase to ensure efficient data collection and high-quality standards.

MMC will provide:

• Methodology and research tools for quantitative data collection, already coded in ODK format and translated in the relevant languages;
• Research tools for qualitative data collection (FGDs);
• Training for enumerators on relevant concepts, methodology, the questionnaire, principles and ethics of research in the field, Code of Conduct;
• Context analysis, including an initial information to be used as a basis for identification of the respondents;
• The backend infrastructure (server, ONA administration) for electronic data collection on the phones provided by the consultant.
• Guidelines for data validation and cleaning.

General requirements:

• The consultant is responsible for all aspects of data security and data protection for the duration of the contract.
• The consultant is responsible for frequently reporting to MMC on progress and any issues regarding deliverables, the timeline, and data quality. When designating a focal point for this project, the consultant should:
  • Ensure that the focal point has direct supervision over the enumerators in order to secure a direct line of communication and reactivity between both parties;
  • Ensure that, if the consultant decides to subcontract a part of the tasks to a local partner, such approach will not contradict the former point, and direct line of communication between the consultant’s enumerators team and MMC will be respected.
• The consultant is responsible for adhering to ethical guidelines detailed in the research protocol.
• The consultant is responsible for providing insurance and ensuring compliance regarding human resources.

1. Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

Phase

Expected deliverables

Indicative description tasks

Maximum expected timeframe

Phase 1

Inception

Data collection field pilot report

Short report on the field pilot for potential methodological/technical adjustments to be discussed with MMC before data collection.

3 working days

Phase 2

Quantitative data collection

Survey dataset

Collection of 300 high-quality quantitative interviews in Turin in electronic format. Surveys are expected to be collected from the beginning of the data collection period and consistently throughout it, with a weekly quota to be established.

27 working days

Phase 3

Qualitative data collection

FGD transcripts

Organization of 4 FGDs, which will then be co-facilitated with MMC.

7 working days

Phase 4

Wrap up

All data collection documentation

Full documentation regarding data collection, including notes and observations on any changes or modifications.

3 working days

The Consultant will provide the documentation by email in Excel format (database of quantitative surveys) and Word format (field pilot report, FGD transcripts, final notes and observations).

1. Duration, timeline, and payment

Activities

Period envisaged

Methodological & operational design (data collection sites, respondent recruitment criteria, etc.) (by MMC)

May-June 2023

Survey coding and translation (by MMC)

July 2023

Contractualisation between consultant and MMC

July 2023

Trainings of enumerators (organised by consultant, content by MMC)

First half of September 2023

Field pilot (3 days)

First half of September 2023

Data collection of 300 surveys in Turin.

Surveys are expected to be collected from the beginning of the data collection period and consistently throughout it, with a weekly quota to be established

Mid-September to end of November 2023

Organization and co-facilitation of 4 FGDs

Mid-September to end of November 2023

Validation and cleaning of quantitative data

Weekly

Estimated start date of consultancy: 15th August 2023

Date of submission of the finalized dataset and final report: 20th December 2023

MMC estimates that the above activities will require approximately 40 days of work over the indicated period.

Payment plan

20% upon signature of the contract

20% upon submission of the data collection field report

30% upon satisfactory receipt of the first round of 150 surveys

30% upon receipt of the second and final round of 150 surveys, FGD transcripts and final data collection documentation.

1. Proposed Composition of Team

• Project Manager
• Field coordinator (number to be proposed by the consultant)
• Enumerators (number to be proposed by the consultant)

1. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

• Research organization, university, think tank, NGO, CSO, or consultancy company with extensive track record in conducting surveys in Turin;
• Legal and operational ability to independently carry out data collection in Turin and expertise with data collection specifically using an electronic survey tool and respecting the highest research standards;
• Proven expertise in researching / implementing projects on human rights, discrimination, migration and/or housing;
• A proven experience in engaging with people with a migratory background;
• Languages: English and Italian are essential, other languages such as French and Arabic would be a plus;
• The selected organization will have to sign and comply with DRC’s code of conduct.

1. Technical supervision

The assessment shall be completed in close cooperation with MMC Europe. The selected consultant will work under the supervision of Giulia Testa, 4Mi Project Coordinator for Southern Europe, email address: giulia.testa@mixedmigration.org.

1. Location and support

The assignment will take place in Turin, Italy.All interviews are to be conducted face-to-face.

The Consultant will be expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, adequate equipment (including data collection devices such as tablets or phones), phone credit, insurance, food for its team, and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal.

1. Travel

No travel besides commute in the areas of research is expected for this consultancy. In case the consultant expects team members to come from abroad, it is responsible for all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements, and make adequate provision in the Financial proposal.

1. Submission process

Please see Request for Proposal (RFP) section III, clause A.

Candidates should submit an application including:

• Documents requested in the Request for Proposal (RFP), section III, clause A
• Cover Letter
• CV including references of previous relevant publications (max. 4 pages)
• Example of written work
• Technical proposal (max 10 pages) including: proposed approach and workplan, proposed profiles for the team (team leader, enumerators…)
• Financial proposal: budget (in EUR), which shall cover all costs over the course of the consultancy. The budget should be broken down as described below:

A. Consultancy fees – daily and total

B. Technical costs – tool development, analysis, etc.

C. Travel costs, if applicable

D. Miscellaneous (e.g. printing, insurance, etc. – please specify in the financial proposal)

1. Evaluation of bids

The evaluation process consists of three stages: 1) Administrative, 2) Technical and 3) Financial. This process is explained in the Request for Proposal (RFP), section III.

Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview with the panel to ensure their understanding of the consultancy services.

1. Terms and Conditions

• The consultant will report directly to Giulia Testa, 4Mi Project Coordinator for Southern Europe, with regular updates (at least weekly) and sharing of partial data and feedback and observations at intervals before the final deadlines for deliverables. They are also likely to interact with other MMC Europe staff, and partners to the project.
• Payment for the consultancy will be made as follows: 20% upon signature of the contract, 20% upon completion of the training, 30% upon satisfactory receipt of the first round of 150 surveys, 30% upon receipt of the second and final round of 150 surveys and final data collection documentation.
• DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)
• All information presented, obtained and produced is to be treated as the client’s property and is considered as confidential for all purposes other than what is outlined in these ToR. Upon signing the consultancy contract, the selected consultant will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. The material prepared by the consultant cannot be sold, used or reproduced in any manner (partially or in full) by the consultant without prior permission from MMC/DRC.