BARBADOS. RG-X1044 Compete Caribbean Program. Consultancy to Develop and Provide Training to the Officers of the Barbados Immigration Department

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1 IDBDocs# BARBADOS RG-X1044 Compete Caribbean Program Supporting the Implementation of Immigration Reform in Barbados (BA-CC2079) Consultancy to Develop and Provide Training to the Officers of the Barbados Immigration Department TERMS OF REFERENCE Background Compete Caribbean is a private sector development program that provides technical assistance grants and investment funding to support productive development policies, business climate reforms, clustering initiatives and Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) development activities in the Caribbean region. The program, jointly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Canada (DFTAD), supports projects in 15 Caribbean countries. Projects in the OECS countries are implemented in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank. The ultimate goal of this Program is to contribute to the increase in the standard of the living and quality of life, and the enhancement of the competitiveness of the 15 independent CARIFORUM countries. The proposed consultancy is funded under BA-CC2079, a project that was designed by the Government of Barbados and Compete Caribbean to support immigration reform in Barbados. A key policy objective of the Government of Barbados is to stimulate economic growth by attracting high-end foreign investment and a skilled workforce to Barbados, while being mindful of the need to address challenges to national security. Central to this objective is the need to have an efficient means of processing applications for Work Permits which are submitted by private businesses on behalf of qualified non-nationals intending to take up positions at these businesses; CARICOM Skilled National Status Student Visas, Immigrant Status and all other forms of status Thus the role of the Immigration Department is critical to facilitating foreign investment, business expansion, competitiveness and productivity. During the Caribbean Growth Forum exercise in 2013/2014, the Government specifically identified that the Immigration Department which is considered as an entity that could help drive the economic expansion if its operations could be made more efficient. The effective functioning of the Department has implications not only for the main export earning sectors of tourism, but for international financial services and the wider business community. 1

2 Barbados promotes itself as a premier tourism destination as well as a centre for international business. It depends on these two sectors for foreign exchange earnings, jobs and the largest contribution to GDP. Both sectors face increasing competition internationally. The private businesses in both sectors experience delays in labour productivity due to inefficient processing systems at the Immigration Department which affects their ability to compete internationally, thereby affecting national growth and development. Border Control Management impacts the tourism and investor experience at the ports of entry. If lengthy processes and which create delays in decision making have a negative impact on these two components. As part of the Caribbean Growth Forum Facility, the Government requested support from Compete Caribbean for a diagnosis of the Immigration Department and the preparation of an Action Plan to improve the efficiency of its operations. An immigration expert, Rick Norton was engaged as a Consultant to undertake an on-site assessment of the Immigration Department. The findings were documented in a Diagnostic Report dated July 7, (See IDBDocs # for the full report). The Report noted that the a significant proportion of the time spent by the Immigration Officer while processing arriving passengers is devoted to reviewing landing card information and examining travel documents. Therefore, the actual interaction with the traveller is limited. This interaction creates the first impression that any visitor has to the island. The training of Immigration Officers in Public Relations techniques will equip them with the skills required to engage the traveller on a personal level. It is envisioned that this training will promote the achievement of better enforcement results, raise the level of professionalism of the Officers, and create a positive image of Barbados. The findings were validated at a subsequent workshop and incorporated into a broad action plan that consists of several major activities, one of which is to develop a training module (including public relations) that is to be taken by all officers assigned to border control (airport and seaport) Immigration Officers have already undergone training in both security and inter-personal relations. Therefore, a capacity needs assessment is required to ascertain the training gaps in order develop training to specifically fill the gaps which have been identified, prior to the development and delivery of the training module. Consultancy Objectives The primary objective of this consultancy is to build the capacity of the Barbados Immigration Department by the training and development of its immigration officers. The training will seek to increase efficiency and improve the execution of immigration services at Border Control, while at the same time enhancing the image of Barbados as an international travel and business destination. 2

3 Scope of Works/Main Activities The scope of works includes the following activities:- 1. Capacity Needs Assessment- Under the supervision of Chief Immigration Officer or Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, the contractual will assess the existing training capacity of the Immigration Department and identify training gaps. The assessment should take into consideration the Report of the Consultant, Rick Norton, the existing organisational structure of the Immigration Department, the content of existing training modules for Immigration Officers, as well as relevant information gleaned from interviews with Immigration Officers and stakeholders. 2. Development of a Training Module Based on the Capacity Needs Assessment, the contractual will develop a one-day training module that emphasizes techniques in engaging travellers for the purpose creating a positive impression of Barbados, as well as ensuring the safety and security of Barbados borders. The Training Module should include observational techniques which will enable officers to uncover irregularities that may require additional screening to determine the admissibility of a traveller. Other components of the module should include: Techniques for conveying a welcoming demeanour during the processing of the traveller. Observational techniques for determining if an individual seeking to be landed may be a potential violator. Participation and presentation by key members of the Barbados Tourism Industry including ministries with responsibility for tourism activities to gain perspective on the impact of Tourism on Barbados economy. Role playing exercises that will reinforce the significance of interview and observational techniques and how they may be applied to the operational environment. 3. Delivery of Training: The contractual will deliver training to immigration officers. The one-day module should be delivered in a minimum of four (4) one-day workshops in order to cover all the immigration officers in the Department over a series of days. (Do we mean the Department or Border control. Deliverables The main deliverables for this activity will be: 1. A Capacity Needs Assessment Report 2. A one-day training module for Immigration Officers 3. Delivery of training to all Immigration Officers assigned to ports of entry in a minimum of four (4) one-day workshops 3

4 Schedule of Payment The contractual will be paid in four (4) lump sum payments as follows: 1. 10% upon the submission and approval of a consultancy work plan once an inception meeting with the Immigration Department has taken place 2. 20% upon the submission and approval of the final version of the Capacity Needs Assessment Report % upon design and approval of the one-day training module 4. 35% upon delivery of the training module to all immigration officers. Payments will be made upon presentation of signed invoice duly certified of satisfactory receipt and acceptance of deliverables listed above. Characteristics of the Consultancy Consultancy Category & Modality: Individual consultant, Product and Services (PEC) Lump Sum Time Frame: The consultancy should be conducted between March 2016 to May Work Location: Contractual s place of residence and Barbados. If the contractual is not resident in Barbados, two missions of 6 days will be included in the contract. Qualifications and Experience: The consultant should possess: A minimum of a Bachelor s degree in management, organisational development, business administration or any other related social sciences. At least ten years demonstrated experience in public relations and immigration interview techniques Experience in developing and delivering training in public and client relations for public officers Experience in the area of immigration or border security Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Coordination The technical responsibilities of this consultancy will be coordinated by Mario Umana, Integration and Trade Lead Specialist (INT/TIU). Administrative responsibility of this consultancy will be 4

5 coordinated by Michael P. Hennessey, Operations Senior Associate (IFD/CTI and Compete Caribbean s Operations Coordinator). The Day-to-day management of the contractual will be the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary, Defence, Office of the Prime Minister or her delegate. The contractual will work closely with the Chief Immigration Officer and her team at the Immigration Department. Payment and Conditions: Compensation will be determined in accordance with Bank s policies and procedures. In addition, candidates must be citizens of an IDB member country. Consanguinity: Pursuant to applicable Bank policy, candidates with relatives (including the fourth degree of consanguinity and the second degree of affinity, including spouse) working for the Bank as staff members or Complementary Workforce contractuals, will not be eligible to provide services for the Bank. Diversity: The Bank is committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. We embrace diversity on the basis of gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and HIV/AIDs status. We encourage women, Afro-descendants and persons of indigenous origins to apply. 5