Request for Tenders

Corporate Engagement Strategies to Scale Labour Pathways in Ireland for People in Need of International Protection

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
 
The Skills, Talent and Empowerment through Pathways project (STEP) is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Commission’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), which aims to promote the efficient management of migration flows and the implementation, strengthening and development of a common Union approach to asylum and immigration.
 
STEP will establish and strengthen a supportive ecosystem and policy framework for refugee labour mobility at scale. This will include engagement in Ireland, Italy and Spain; in other EU Member States; in selected countries of first asylum; and at the EU and international levels; (2) give 200 people in need of international protection effective access to labour opportunities in Ireland, Italy and Spain; (3) offer welcome and settlement support to new hires, equipping them to sustainably rebuild their lives in Ireland, Italy and Spain; (4) generate a solid basis of new evidence on LPs that will promote the development of similar programmes in other countries through the exchange of lessons learned and good practices.
 
The project aims to increase the scale, quality and sustainability of Labour Pathways (LPs) for people in need of international protection being piloted in Ireland and Italy in the context of two existing AMIF funded projects, EU-Passworld and Displaced Talent for Europe.
 
STEP will also distil, share and apply lessons learned to establish a new LP programme in Spain. The project will also grow the EU refugee labour mobility ecosystem in partnership with people with lived experience of LPs.
 
A key feature of the STEP project will be to develop and pilot different models of welcome and settlement support to new hires arriving via LPs, equipping them to sustainably rebuild their lives in the new communities. This approach will build upon existing models of community welcome for displaced people.

2. THE OPEN COMMUNITY
 
The Open Community CLG is a not-for-profit organisation that works to support the development, implementation and scaling of community welcome and settlement support initiatives for displaced people arriving in Ireland.
 
3. TENDER OVERVIEW
 
The Open Community wishes to invite tenders from suitably qualified and experienced consultants, to support the project’s engagement with potential corporate partners and prospective employers (including actors already engaged in the labour market integration of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees). 
 
 4. REQUIREMENTS

4.1  The consultant will be expected to:

• Undertake an assessment of labour market conditions in Ireland, including an assessment of potential employers to determine their gaps and needs, their supporting capacity and their levels of commitment and alignment with the project values;
• Develop and implement an engagement strategy to grow and diversify the pool of potential corporate partners and prospective employers (including actors already engaged in the labour market integration of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees);
• Work with key stakeholders to undertake an assessment of wider welcome and settlement framework in Ireland, including available newcomer supports;
• In collaboration with project partners, develop and deliver pre-departure training, orientation, capacity building and other preparation activities for employers (e.g. intercultural competences, etc.)
• Work in partnership with The Open Community communications and project staff to ensure alignment with ongoing strategic communication, outreach, and engagement planning.

5. STRUCTURE OF PROPOSAL

5.1  Proposals must contain all of the following:

•  Name, address, telephone number and email address of consultant(s);
•  A brief CV;
• Details of the background, expertise and previous projects undertaken in this field with reference to the overall criteria outlined above;
• A written proposal that details the approach, including proposed methodology and timeframe for the project; 
• Full breakdown of the proposed fee in Euro (€); indicating VAT and inclusive of expenses, costs, taxes or duties that may be incurred;
• The details of two relevant referees.

6.  EVALUATION CRITERIA

6.1  An assessment panel will examine all tenders received. Proposals will be examined against criteria including:

• The overall quality of written proposal and proposed methodology;
• The proven competency and experience of the consultant(s);
• The proven successful delivery in similar areas of programme development by the consultant(s).
• Cost effectiveness/value for money of the proposal.

6.2  Respondents may be requested to attend an interview or meeting, which if required is likely to take place virtually in late August 2024.

6.3  The Open Community reserves the right to consider any other relevant considerations that, in its absolute discretion, it may deem are appropriate.