Data collection services in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, Italy, for the 4Mi data collection initiative on mixed migration dynamics at the Italy-S At Danish Refugee Council

Data collection services in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, Italy, for the 4Mi data collection initiative on mixed migration dynamics at the Italy-Slovenia border (MMC)

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) in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, Italy, at the border with Slovenia.

1. Background

The 4Mi data collection initiative

One of MMC’s flagship project is the (4Mi). 4Mi collects data through in-depth structured interviews, focusing on protection risks and the conditions and experiences faced by people on the move, as well as their motivation for migration. 4Mi fills information gaps around protection and vulnerabilities with a view to informing policy and humanitarian programmatic response as well as enhancing sector understanding and knowledge on migration dynamics.

Regional context

In Europe, MMC has carried out 4Mi data collection in Italy and Greece from 2019 to 2021 and has engaged in a number of other research initiatives and projects, all available here. MMC is now starting several new initiatives, focusing on data collection and research on the vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation of people displaced from Ukraine, on experience and access to Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) services for undocumented migrants in Europe, and on urban migration. Other research themes MMC is planning to focus on in the near future include the impact of irregularity, migration decision-making processes and intra-EU mobility, and the shifting nature of mixed migration through the Balkans. In addition, MMC is committed to respond to changing dynamics and pressing needs for evidence-based programming and policy development in the region.

1. Objective of the consultancy

Research objectives

MMC will conduct a new research initiative at the Italy-Slovenia border, in order to provide evidence-based and up-to-date quantitative analysis on ongoing mixed migration trends and dynamics in the Western Balkans, in the context of increased movements through this region. The research design will focus on a hub-based approach and target areas in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of Italy that serve as hubs for migrants that have recently crossed the border with Slovenia. Such areas would include Trieste, Udine, and more specific border locations to be discussed with the selected consultant. The target population includes in priority Pakistanis, Afghans, and Iraqis but is not limited to those three nationalities. MMC is expecting the sample to respect gender balance.

Quantitative survey will serve to identify quantitative (yet non-representative) tendencies among the target population, using the 4Mi survey developed by MMC. The questionnaire will cover the following topics:

• Profile: age, nationality, religion, sex, socio-economic status, etc.
• Route and journey conditions: country of departure, transit countries, number of people travelling together, etc.
• Drivers, aspirations and destination intentions: reasons for leaving, decision-making, determination to reach destination, etc.
• Protection risks: perceived risks and dangerous locations, perpetrators, etc.
• Assistance: type of assistance needed, assistance providers, locations where assistance is most needed, etc.
• Smugglers: services provided by smugglers, contacts with smugglers, payment arrangements, refugees’ and migrants’ perceptions of smugglers, etc.
• Financing the journey: sums paid, access to money while travelling, bribes paid, etc.
• Access to information: sources of information used before and during the journey, phone and internet access, social media use, etc.
• Onward movements and destination intentions: intentions for onward movements in EU and intended destination

Following the 4Mi methodology, potential respondents will be approached by enumerators based on the following criteria:

• 18+ years old.
• Refugees and migrants thathave crossed the border with Slovenia in the last 6 months.
• Key nationalities of interest include Afghans, Pakistani and Iraqis, but the sampling strategy is not limited to those.

Surveys are planned to be conducted face-to-face through electronic data collection (text-based survey solution on phones/tablets). Languages of survey administration considered are Dari, Pashto, Urdu and Arabic. The languages used for survey administration will be refined depending on the selected consultant’s capacities, and on additional desk research about relevant target population. Enumerators shall also have a good command of English to follow the training in English.

Consultancy objectives

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct the quantitative data collection (survey administration) component of this research initiative in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, Italy, at the border with Slovenia. The consultant will be required to conduct and deliver 500 surveys as per MMC’s methodology and research objectives, in close cooperation with the MMC team.

1. Scope of work and Methodology

Specifically, the consultant is expected to:

1. Recruit, contract and supervise a network of enumerators in line with MMC SOPs;
2. Organize and facilitate trainings to enumerators (with support from MMC), providing an adequate room for this;
3. Collect 500 surveys in the defined areas of data collection in electronic format (ODK), according to the workplan agreed upon in advance with MMC;
4. Cover potential phone credit and transportation prices;
5. Provide phones or tablet (hardware) to its enumerators for electronic data collection;
6. Identifying respondents;
7. Conduct data validation and cleaning in accordance with MMC SOPs
8. Ensure methodological guidelines shared by MMC are applied for the survey;
9. Regularly submit clean datasets in the digital format specified by MM
10. Designate a focal point and set up regular reporting and discussion with MMC teams, especially during the data collection phase to ensure efficient data collection and high-quality standards.

MMC will provide:

1. Methodology and research tools for quantitative data collection, already coded in ODK format and translated in the relevant languages (Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Arabic, to be discussed);
2. Training for enumerators and/or training of trainers (on relevant concepts, methodology, the questionnaire, principles and ethics of research in the field, Code of conduct);
3. Context analysis, including initial information to be used as a basis for identification of the respondents;
4. The backend infrastructure (server, ONA administration) for electronic data collection on the phones provided by the consultant.
5. Guidelines for data validation and cleaning / spot checks for quality control. Direct validation and cleaning by MMC to be discussed depending on the consultant’s capacities.

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, the consultant should ensure the focal point has direct supervision of enumerators in order to secure a direct line of communication and reactivity between both parties.
• The consultant is responsible for adhering to ethical guidelines detailed in the research protocol.
• The consultant is responsible for providing insurance and ensuring compliance with regard to human resources.
• The consultant shall adhere to suppliers Code of Conduct

1. Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

Phase

Expected deliverables

Indicative description tasks

Maximum expected timeframe

Phase 1

Inception phase

Inception report

Inception report including a literature review, a clarification of the methodology, a workplan, strategy to access the population of interest

10 working days

Phase 2

Data collection

Short report on the filed pilot

Biweekly reports

Biweekly datasets

Report on survey piloting for potential adaptation by MMC

Biweekly calls with MMC teams to discuss fieldwork

Collection and cleaning of 500 high-quality quantitative interviews in the defined areas of data collection in electronic format.

Biweekly upload of collected and clean data to MMC servers

80 working days

Phase 3

Finalisation of dataset

Final documentation

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

5 working days

The Consultant will provide the documentation

1. Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 100 days.

The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 30th May 2023.

Payment

20% at the signature of the contract

30% at the submission of the inception report

50% at the submission of the final 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

Essential:

• Research organization, university, think tank, NGO, CSO, or consultancy company with extensive track record in conducting surveys in Italy and in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region;
• Legal authorization and operational capacity to independently carry out data collection in Italy; expertise in data collection specifically the use of an electronic survey tool in respect of the highest research standards;
• Proven expertise in researching / implementing projects on mixed migration, smuggling of migrants and with undocumented people on sensitive topics;
• Language: English, Italian, Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Arabic (to be determined);
• The selected organisation 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:

• 4Mi Project Manager Europe, Maxime Giraudet, maxime.giraudet@mixedmigration.org

1. Location and support

The assignment will take place in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of Italy, in hubs to be defined between MMC Europe and the consultant. 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

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.