Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in accordance with laws and international standards At International Organization for Migration

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in accordance with laws and international standards

Background and rationale

Due to its key geographical position, the Republic of Djibouti is positioned as a crucial stopover for the significant migratory flows in the Horn of Africa. The country faces a major challenge related to irregular migration, with thousands of migrants crossing it annually, motivated by various factors such as the search for economic opportunities, climate crises, conflicts and violence. Statistics from the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) [1] of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) [2] reveal a significant increase in the number of people using the eastern migration route, from 258,000 in 2020 to 441,000 [3] in 2022, making it one of the busiest maritime migration routes in the world. Between January and December 2023, the flow monitoring points installed in Djibouti recorded 278,636 migratory movements.

During their journeys, migrants are exposed to protection risks, very harsh climatic hazards, dehydration which often lead to death. Between January and June 2023, 241 deceased migrants were recorded [4] in Djibouti, the main causes of which are dehydration, hunger, accidents along the roads.

Djibouti plays a central role in the complex, two-way migration movements known as the “Eastern Route.”

Most migrants transiting through Djibouti often attempt the sea crossing to the Gulf States. According to IOM DTM data, in 2023, a total of 72,056 migrants from Ethiopia arrived in Yemen via Djibouti, an increase of 81% compared to 2022 when 39,843 were recorded. To reach Yemen, migrants use makeshift boats that are often heavily overloaded and often carry the risk of shipwrecks at sea.

Irregular migration along the coast is costing the lives of many migrants. Several incidents were recorded between 2021 and 2024. Indeed:

In 2021, a boat capsizing in April 2021 left 44 dead, in 2022 a total of 89 migrants missing or dead along the Eastern Route, and many other deaths are not reported, while in 2023, a total of 88 migrants dead at sea were recorded. Finally, in 2024, two shipwrecks were recorded, the first on April 8, 2024, left 38 dead and 5 missing, and the second on April 23, 2024, left 24 migrants dead and 20 missing. All these tragic incidents highlight the urgency of strengthening the search and rescue mechanism at sea.

IOM is working with the Djiboutian authorities and the International Committee of the Red Cross to strengthen the capacities of frontline workers in the management of mortal remains and to revitalize the mortal remains management committee, which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. There is a mortal remains management committee at the national level and at the regional level, IOM and ICRC are supporting the establishment of regional committees.

Several actors are involved in search and rescue operations in the Republic of Djibouti. The Guard, which is the main actor in sea rescue, works with several others involved in the care of survivors and the management of the bodies of those who have lost their lives.

In order to strengthen this collaboration between different actors and provide adequate care to survivors and management of the bodies of those who have lost their lives, it is important to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will ensure that search and rescue operations for migrants at sea are conducted in an orderly, efficient and compliant manner, thus ensuring the best chance of survival for people in distress. They will facilitate effective coordination and communication between the different parties involved, the responsibilities and roles of each actor.

Djibouti has made progress in protection, search and rescue at sea as evidenced by the work carried out by elements of the National Coast Guard in Khor Angar through surveillance to locate makeshift boats carrying migrants, the registration of vulnerable migrants rescued leaving or coming from Yemen, but challenges persist.

In order to support the Djiboutian Coast Guard in the Search and Rescue Operations and with funding from the Japanese government, IOM Djibouti will recruit a national consultant who will support the international consultant in the work of developing the SOPs. The national consultant will also lead training sessions on these SOPs for the various stakeholders in Djibouti and in the regions.

The aim of this project is to provide a clear and structured framework for rescue operations, define roles and responsibilities and facilitate interoperability between the different agencies and organisations involved in search and rescue operations, enabling effective collaboration of each responder, ensuring that all parties know exactly what they need to do during a rescue operation.

1. Main objective

These standard operating procedures should provide institutional partners and civil society and all other actors involved in search and rescue operations at sea with a clear and structured framework for search and rescue operations at sea, define the role and responsibility of each stakeholder and facilitate interoperability between the different agencies and organisations involved in search and rescue operations.

1. Specific objectives

Specifically, this involves supporting the international consultant in:

• List the different actors involved in search and rescue operations for migrants at sea
• Develop in a participatory manner standard operating procedures for search and rescue operations at sea.
• Identify strategies and measures that can promote the implementation of these procedures,
• Define the monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of procedures,
• Train all stakeholders in search and rescue operations in standard operating procedures developed in Djibouti and the regions

1. Geographical scope and target group for the consultation

The national consultant will be under the direct supervision of the international consultant and the overall supervision of IOM. The consultation will be conducted in coordination with the Djibouti Coast Guard and other stakeholders in the following cities: Djibouti city and Obock.

1. Description of expected activities

Activity 1: Support the development of standard operating procedures

1. Contribute to the drafting of the framework note outlining the Methodology used to carry out this consultation and including the mission timetable. The work plan, the stakeholder interview guide and the consultation schedule.
2. Support the international consultant in data collection through primary and secondary sources.
3. Participate in online and face-to-face meetings organized by the international consultant, other stakeholders and the IOM team as part of the SOP development process,
4. Support the work of the international consultant during the mission, including by organizing meetings with necessary stakeholders and collecting local documents.
5. Assist the international consultant in recording reports, comments, suggestions and reactions from partners during the consultation and strategy validation workshops.
6. Support the international consultant in the process of developing SOPs in search and rescue,
7. Coordinate with the international consultant the input of key government and non-government stakeholders to the search and rescue SOPs and ensure that comments are taken into account.
8. Support the mapping and evaluation of institutional and civil society partners at the local level, engaged in the theme of search and rescue.
9. Support the preparation and organization of one (01) participatory workshop for the development of standard operating procedures. The consultancy includes the preparation, organization in programmatic terms and facilitation of the workshops. Logistics will be provided by the IOM.
10. Support the production of a standard operating procedures document integrating operational strategies and measures for implementing the defined procedures and a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of said procedures.
11. Support the organization of a workshop to validate the framework protocol and operational procedures developed,

Activity 2: Train institutional and civil society partners at central and local levels in the standard operating procedures developed and support them in their use

1. The main beneficiaries of these trainings will be: Representatives of the ministerial departments and institutions concerned at central and local level, including civil society
2. Develop training modules covering standard steps of search and rescue operations under the supervision of the international consultant under the supervision of the international consultant
3. Train institutional and civil society partners identified on this module (at least 150 people in particular through practical cases and exchanges of experience.
4. The training courses will be held in person and interactively. They must be adapted to an audience of multi-sector institutional partners and civil society.
5. Expected deliverables and forecast schedule

The implementation period of the mission is 60 working days spread between September 1 and October 24, 2024. Payment for the consultation will be made by partial invoicing after receipt and final validation of the deliverables by the IOM according to the following schedule:

Activities and deliverables

Estimated payment deadlines %

Estimated payment deadlines %

Deliverable 1

• Framework note outlining the methodology used to carry out this consultation and including the mission timetable.

10 days

20%

Deliverable 2

• Standard operating procedures for case management and the mechanism for monitoring and evaluating their implementation, validated.
• Summary report on the consultation and validation phase with stakeholders, incorporating the reports of the various workshops/working groups.

20 days

30%

Deliverable 3.

• Training modules for institutional partners and civil society on standard operating procedures
• General training report and training restitution report produced.

20 days

30%

Deliverable 5

• End of mission report including the supports produced, the challenges and perspectives on the theme

10 days

20%

Total

60 working days

100%

1. Stakeholders and beneficiaries of the consultation

• Stakeholders in the consultation

Role and Responsibility of the Consultant: The consultant will assume overall responsibility for the development of standard operating procedures, training and programmatic content and workshop facilitation, in coordination with the Djibouti Coast Guard and IOM. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring strict confidentiality within the framework of the law and ethics regarding shared records and information.

• Role and responsibilities of the Coast Guard and the IOM:

The Coast Guard and IOM will verify the quality of the deliverables and validate them before proceeding to payment. As part of the consultation, the Guard and IOM will facilitate the link between the partner associations and institutions and the consultant. IOM will be responsible for printing the developed materials and the logistical aspects of organizing the workshops.

• Beneficiaries of the consultation

The direct beneficiaries will be the relevant ministerial departments and institutions at the central level and civil society associations. The indirect beneficiaries will be vulnerable migrants, shipwreck survivors including migrants on the move.

1. Technical and functional qualifications required for the assessor

The national consultant sought for this study must have the following qualifications:

• Have good experience in mixed methods of social science research (qualitative and quantitative approaches) and gender-sensitive participatory approaches;
• Have a good knowledge and experience of issues relating to search and rescue, human rights, migration etc.
• Have a good knowledge of the work of the Coast Guard
• Have a good knowledge of the migratory context in the East and Horn of Africa,
• Have proven experience in writing study reports in French. A good command of English would be an asset;
• Have experience in conducting evaluations/studies
• Be open to changes and able to receive/integrate feedback;
• Have good teamwork and field skills;
• Demonstrate integrity by adhering to the values ​​and ethical standards of the United Nations and IOM;
• Demonstrate high sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age.

1. Submission file

The application file must include:

1. Application letter.
2. The consultant’s CV clearly indicating qualifications and past experience in similar missions
3. Technical proposal (max. 3 pages) taking into consideration the guidelines provided in the Terms of Reference ToRs. Variations may be proposed based on technical reasons.
4. Separate financial proposal (a detailed budget), including fees
5. Procedure for submission of proposals

Bids must be sent exclusively by electronic mail (e-mail) to the following address: iomdjihrd@iom.int which is the only acceptable electronic address. Bids must be sent no later than 10/08/2024, the deadline for receipt of offers, mentioning in the subject of the message SOP- Search and Rescue.

All proposals submitted by email must be submitted as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file.

Any questions regarding this consultation (for information only and not for submissions), should be addressed to Bachard Lamine: lbachard@iom.int

Only the preselected candidates will be contacted.

[1] Displacement tracking matrix

[2] International Organization for Migration

[3] A region on the move, Regional Data Hub, DTM, 2022: https://publications.iom.int/books/region-move-2022-east-and-horn-africa

[4] Half-yearly report on access to care from January – June 2023, Ministry of Health, Djibouti