Background
The problem of human trafficking, or Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP), in Bangladesh, takes three main forms: Internal, Cross-Border, and Transnational. Many Bangladeshis face vulnerability due to poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, early marriages, and displacement from climate change and natural disasters. Traffickers exploit the country’s porous borders shared with India. Bangladesh is also a major migrant-sending country, with men comprising the majority of migrant workers in construction, textiles, manufacturing, and agriculture, while women increasingly travel for domestic and textile-related work. Over 12.5 million Bangladeshi migrant workers are engaged in employment opportunities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Traffickers also exploit Bangladeshi women and girls in forced labor and sex trafficking abroad. They recruit and coerce people through online platforms, making it difficult to identify and prosecute them due to the anonymity of these criminal networks and the use of fake online identities.

Key Deliverables
1.    Submission of an inception report within 10 days of signing the contract detailing the comprehensive methodology, data collection instruments, final schedule, and research protocol.

2.    Development and delivery of final qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments.

3.    Provision of a thorough and investigative research report based on secondary literature and primary research findings, including specific recommendations as outlined in the scope of work.

4.    Delivery of all cleaned quantitative datasets and qualitative transcripts, including interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), consultations, and review logs.

5.    Preparation and submission of a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the methodology, key research findings, and actionable recommendations.

6.    Presentation of research findings at a national-level event, engaging relevant stakeholders.

Required Skills and Experience(s):

• Advanced degree in criminology, law, social sciences, or a related field; with a minimum of 5 years of experience in research related to human trafficking, cybercrime, or online exploitation in the local and global spheres.
• Strong knowledge of the legal and policy framework on human trafficking and cybercrime in Bangladesh; and experience in working with vulnerable groups and handling sensitive information.
• Extensive experience with conducting desk and field-based research on crosscutting issues (to TIP) or human trafficking subject matters using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Extensive experience with the production of analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research documents on crosscutting issues (to TIP) or human trafficking subject matters, in multiple formats including social as well as ICT technical aspects.
• Extensive experience in conducting field-based in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and open discussions with grassroots communities.
• Extensive experience with the development of Keynote Research Papers of international standards.
• Excellent command of both English and Bengali (written and verbal communications).

General Terms and Conditions:

Winrock International reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to monitor the quality and progress of the work conducted by the incumbent during the research-phase.

Payment: 

The total payment will be disbursed upon achieving the listed milestones (Deliverables). The total payment amount will be based on an agreed-upon budget that will be submitted by the incumbent.

Mode of Payment: 

Winrock International will pay by an ‘Account Payee’ cheque / via Online Transfer to the respective service provider. For Bangladeshi consultants, VAT & Tax will be deducted at source, as per the Government of Bangladesh policy.

For international consultants, payment will be made from Winrock HQ based in the United States of America, in USD. Taxes will be deducted as per the laws of USA.

Please download the full Terms of Reference here:
Full TOR: Terms of Reference For Engaging a consultant to Conduct Research on the Trends of Cyber-trafficking in Bangladesh

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 PM Bangladesh time on 10 November 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. Telephone requests will not be honored. Winrock International may request additional documentation after the bid deadline.

Submission Delivery (soft copy)

The soft copy proposal is requested to be submitted in the following email id.

Email: wi.ashshash@winrock.org