Entrepreneurship in the territories: is it the right time?
Background of the project
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides essential services to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces. Assistance programs encompass health, education, institutional capacity building, gender-based violence prevention, water and sanitation, income generation, advocacy, protection, legal assistance, and resettlement.
IRC Thailand has prioritized expanding its advocacy efforts to enhance the acceptance and integration of refugees within host communities. This initiative specifically targets local authorities and representatives of the business sector to promote refugees’ access to employment opportunities, healthcare, and legal services. Thailand’s advocacy includes advocate for national policy changes to grant refugees the right to work, integrate refugee services into national healthcare policy, and establish an administrative system for refugees and migrants.
This consultancy focuses on exploring the modalities and potential impacts of allowing refugees to safely access employment in the host country. The objective of the research is to assess the feasibility of refugee employment from an economic perspective and to propose a suitable employment model for camp-based refugees, in consultation with key stakeholders, including the National Security Council (NSC).
The outcome of this research will include a detailed analysis of:
- The current status of refugees’ income-generating activities,
- The local context in which refugees can contribute positively,
- The characteristics of an enabling environment that supports safe local economic growth for both refugees and host communities, and
- Potential advantages and disadvantages on host communities result from expanded refugee employment opportunities.
- Potential employment opportunities accepting refugees as the workforce
The research will also provide recommendations to the Thai government on how to develop and
Implement policies that benefit both refugees and host communities, with the intention of integrating these findings into national policy.
**Main Research Question: “**How does refugee employment contribute to the economy and strengthen labor market in Thailand
Other questions include:
- Employment feasibility: What are the current employment opportunities for camp-based refugees in Thailand? (What is demanded by the private sector and what is currently supplied by the workforce: economic sectors, occupational profiles, employer-offered benefits,)
- Qualification and skills of workforce: Currently, what are the occupations in which refugees can quickly seek employment.
- Law and regulations: How can the authorization of refugee employment be enacted by the Thai Government.
- Employment model for camp-based refugees: What is the employment model for camp-based refugees in Thailand? (the proposed sandbox of refugee employment, the criteria or requirements for work, the recruitment and employment system including job offer or quota for working positions, protection system, monitoring, remedy and complaints system, risk assessment).
- Risk mitigation of refugee employment: What are significant concerns or challenges occurred from the camp-based refugee employment in Thailand?
- Financial Access to Refugees: accessibility for refugees to financial institution in Thailand
Scope of work
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of Programs, and direct supervision of National Advocacy Focal, the researcher will focus on the analysis of the feasibility of camp-based refugee employment in two camps namely Tham Hin camp in Ratchaburi province and Mae La in Tak Province. The consultant will be responsible for designing research methodologies, developing research toots for data collection, analysis, consultation with the research committee, key stakeholders and report presentation. Main findings of the research will be presented to the research committee before writing the final report.
Deliverables
Deliverable 1: Desk review, methodology and tools designs, implementation workplan, stakeholder mapping
- Conduct desk review
- Design research methodology and tools and workplan and stakeholder mapping
- Submit a report on desk review, research methodology and tools, implementation workplan and stakeholder mapping
Deliverable 2: Consultation meeting with key stakeholders and field visit (if any)
- Conduct consultation meeting with key stakeholders
- Field visit (if any)
Deliverable 3: Draft Report and presentation to the research committee, the IRC and key stakeholders
- Submit draft report to the research committee
- Present preliminary findings, recommendations and the proposed employment model to the research committee, the IRC and key stakeholders and incorporate the feedback to the report
Deliverable 4: Final report and conference with the research committee, the IRC and key stakeholders
- Submit final report in English
The consultant will manage the transportation and accommodation on their own, IRC will not cover transportation and accommodation.
The assignment shall commence and shall conclude no later than 30th September, after which this contract will expire.
The payment will be made as follows:
- 25% after submission and approval of the first deliverable.
- 25% after submission and approval of the second deliverable.
- 25% after submission and approval of the third deliverable.
- 25% after submission and approval of the fourth deliverable.
IRC may withhold for taxes 3% as required by law and shall provide withholding certificates to the contractor
