TERMS OF REFERENCE
MAPPING OF ETHIOPIAN DIASPORAS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- Background and Rationale:
IOM Special Liaison Office in Addis Ababa is implementing a project: “Mapping of Ethiopian Diasporas Residing in the United States of America,” funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF).
The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has now recognized more than ever the need for a structured mechanism on profiling and engaging members of the diaspora. It is estimated that more than two and a half million Ethiopian diaspora members are residing in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia and within Africa. As an initial step, the Government has prioritized mapping the Ethiopian diaspora and accordingly requested IOM to provide technical support in formulating and conducting extensive mapping studies. This project will serve as a knowledge base and complement the GoE’s efforts towards effective implementation of the diaspora policy, which was officially launched in 2013. The introduction of the policy has created an opportunity to initiate and implement such diaspora engagement initiatives, which can enhance the contribution of the Ethiopian diaspora towards the Growth and Transformation Plan-II, the national development plan.
As one component of the GoE’s diaspora engagement policy, IOM, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and other stakeholders in and out of Ethiopia, is planning to conduct a mapping of the Ethiopian Diaspora residing in selected parts of the United States of America. The mapping exercise will cover two states and one district: Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.), on the U.S. East Coast, where significant concentrations of Ethiopians reside.
The scope of the study will expand, via the use of online surveys, to other states with a large concentration of Ethiopian Diaspora engaged in high-skilled labour. The mapping will be conducted by an international consultant with close support from IOM Ethiopia, IOM Washington, D.C., Diaspora Engagement Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and relevant Ethiopian diaspora associations.
The tasks, deliverables and the timeframe for the mapping exercise are indicated in each section of this ToR.
- Overall Objectives of the Mapping
The overall objective is to carry out a comprehensive mapping of the Ethiopian diaspora living in the major destination states of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and other states in order to identify the high- skilled diasporas for investment and knowledge/skill transfer and to enhance the contribution of Ethiopian diasporas for the national development plan.
Specific objectives and required elements of the Mapping exercise/research
To gather detailed information on the demographic and socio-economic profile (including length of stay, educational background, work experience, professional capacity, income bracket, savings and remittance sending patterns, etc…) of the Ethiopian diasporas residing in the states of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
To gather detailed information on the socio-cultural profiles (including participation in formal and informal social networks, frequency of interaction with family and friends, patterns of communication with Ethiopian society and development, etc.) of Ethiopian diasporas in the aforementioned states.
To gather detailed information on the level of interest and areas as well as willingness among the diaspora to participate in the national development initiatives.
To gather detailed information on their needs (demands) to participate in the identified areas or issues pertaining to the diaspora.
To gather detailed information on their reflections to the existing situations for their future deliberations.
To gather detailed information on potential challenges or conditions for diaspora participation in Ethiopian developmental efforts.
Tasks to be performed under this Contract:
3.1. Conducting the mapping exercise: – in order to reach the overall objective, the resulting study is expected to offer an overview of the socio-economic and needs profile of the Ethiopian diaspora in the abovementioned states where highly skilled diasporas reside, and include, but not be limited to, the following factual and analytical elements:
Establishing a comprehensive demographic and sociological profile of the Ethiopian diaspora, in a synthesized overview of the findings as well as disaggregated by states;
Establishing a comprehensive economic profile of the Ethiopian diaspora;
Establishing a comprehensive socio-cultural profile of the Ethiopian diaspora;
Examining the Ethiopian diaspora’s development, cohesion and level of self-management and eventually provide the Ethiopian Government with recommendations on ways to effectively engage with its diaspora;
3.2. Prepare a mapping report addressing issues stipulated under 3.1**, as per the IOM house style and other relevant internal guidelines as necessary**
Desired technical aspects of the research
It is strongly desired that the international consultant proposes additional methodological approaches for the report on Ethiopian diaspora. However, the following methods are expected to be included in the research activities:
Develop an inception report inclusive of a communication strategy consisting of a program introduction and diaspora mobilization workshops/campaigns, targeting diaspora members and associations, Ethiopian embassies and consulates, community media, relevant US organizations or authorities like immigration office.
Coordinate with IOM office in Washington to promote data collection through embassies and diaspora associations in the U.S.
Identify main Ethiopian diaspora associations and community structures for accessing information, in close collaboration with IOM office and Ethiopian embassies
Develop an on-line survey tool to be used to gather data from the diaspora both in the selected states and additional states where significant and highly skilled diasporas reside
Conduct program introduction and diaspora mobilization workshops with embassies and diaspora associations in the selected states in the U.S., depending available on time and resources, to promote the objective of the project and the use of the web tools to encourage the diaspora members in the target states with knowledge and skills or financial resources to register in the online database
Distribution and collection of questionnaires among diaspora members in the selected destination states, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland states
Mapping of the additional knowledge diasporas in the additional states through the distribution and collection of an online survey uploaded in the MoFA website
No fewer than three focus group discussions with members of the diaspora in the selected states. Focus group participants should include: household heads, businesspersons, community leaders, intellectuals, women, youth and spiritual leaders/church representatives; media people and renaissance councils
In-depth interviews with officials at relevant Ethiopian and host country/states institutions in the US and diaspora representatives/associations;
Validation workshop with the already contacted groups or stakeholders including the Ethiopian Missions
Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment:
As a result of the mapping exercise the consultant should deliver the following;
5.1. Inception report inclusive of a communication strategy
5.2. Final Mapping report with recommendations
6. Proposed time frame –
The consultancy is expected to last for 6 months from May to November 2016, with the final report submitted by November 2016. Ideally, the consultant would also assist the second phase of this exercise (not covered by these ToRs) which will take place over the course of 1 month between February and August 2017, and which will entail the matching of the identified diaspora resources with the skills/knowledge gaps identified by the national consultant in Ethiopia (IOM office in Addis), and advise on possible interventions/road map based on the findings from the matching exercise. This second phase will also include stakeholder consultations and validation workshops.
Indicative Time
Activity/deliverable
Deliverable 1: Final inception report inclusive of a communication strategy
May 2016- June 2016
Carrying out of a desk-review of relevant literature relating to:
o Mobilization of diaspora resources for homeland development in general
o Ethiopian communities abroad and specifically in the selected destination states
Analysis of relevant Ethiopian government policies, research on diaspora and remittances, and the outcomes of previous relevant programs and Government action plans
Preparation and submission of inception report:- Elaboration of research methodology and communication strategy including, but not limited to:
o geographical scope (localities to be visited in the indicated states)
o type of focus groups and interview methodology as well as topics to be covered, in order to ensure the most optimal relevance of the results of the study
o type of sample and the sampling methods to be used
o proposed stratification criteria and stages of randomization
o measures to be taken to ensure the representativeness of the results of the study, per each method
o modalities to be employed to reach to Ethiopians in the selected states
Delivery of 1st draft inception report inclusive of communication strategy and preliminary research methodology, including a draft questionnaire, questions/guidelines for in-depth interviews and plan for focus group interviews, and detailed research action plan/strategy for review by IOM and MoFA
Incorporate IOM and MoFA feedbacks into the inception report and submit the final version
Delivery 2: Final Mapping report
June 2016 – November2016
Execution of the mapping study in the selected states, which includes:
o coordinating with IOM offices in the US and the Ethiopian embassy, identifying main Ethiopia diaspora associations and community structures, and relevant organizations
o conducting program introduction and diaspora mobilization workshops with embassies, diaspora associations, encouraging diaspora members to register online, guiding the ICT consultant on preparation of online registration formats before hand, distributing the information communication materials
o the distribution and collection of questionnaires/data’s using different tools, conducting interviews and FDGs, reviewing secondary resources, conducting data analysis, reviewing documents and writing and submitting the final mapping report with recommendations
7. Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies
Advanced degree in social sciences, international relations/affairs, statistics, ICT, or relevant social development studies.
Minimum of six years professional work experience in programming, with at least three of these spent designing and conducting diaspora related research and assessments including diaspora mapping, researches and policy analysis.
Previous work experience conducting research, mapping studies or working on migration and/or development issues.
Previous experience working in Ethiopia and familiarity with Ethiopian diaspora context is an advantage.
Strong writing and analytical skills, strong interpersonal and communication skills
f. Fully proficient in MS Office, with capacity desired in quantitative and qualitative data collection
and analysis
g. Fluency in English (both oral and written)
8**. Reporting**
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission of the IOM Special Liaison Office in Ethiopia, the consultant will report directly to the Migration Management Programme Coordinator based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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