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The Refugee Council is inviting bids from interested parties to carry out a research project investigating the decision-making of asylum seekers. The research will focus upon the extent to which asylum seekers exert choice and the reasons why the UK becomes their destination and the influence of 'push' and 'pull' factors on decision-making. Please find below the project specification which details the scope of the research and the tendering process. Please note that the deadline for tenders is 1 pm on Friday 6th February. Regards Lisa Doyle Dr Lisa Doyle Research Manager Research Unit, Refugee Council http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Asylum is a human right. Refugee Council Conference: Integration - Building a Life in the UK, 25th March 2009, London, speakers include Phil Woolas, Minister of State for borders and immigration, Trevor Phillips Chair, Equalities and Human Rights Commission and Donna Covey, Chief Executive, Refugee Council. Book now http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/Resources/Refugee%20Council/downloads/eventsAndtraining/Conference%20booking%20form%20v5.pdf or click here for more information http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/eventsandtraining/conferences/conference2009/conference_2009.htm For details of sponsorship opportunities at the conference please email: [log in to unmask] ======== *Invitation to Tender* *Research investigating the decision-making of asylum seekers* *Project specification* The Refugee Council is an independent human rights charity that both delivers support to asylum seekers and refugees and campaigns on their behalf. The Refugee Council is inviting bids from interested parties to carry out a research project investigating the decision-making of asylum seekers. The research will focus upon the extent to which asylum seekers exert choice, the reasons why the UK becomes their destination and the influence of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors on decision-making. The project will involve a literature review, qualitative fieldwork, the production of a report and the identification of key policy recommendations. *Research questions* 1. How much choice do asylum seekers exert in terms of their destination? 2. What are the factors that result in the UK being a destination for asylum seekers? 3. Have the reasons for choosing the UK changed over time? 4. If the reasons have changed, to what can we owe these changes? The questions aim to broadly define the reasons why UK is chosen as an asylum destination, if people are able to exert choice. The primary and secondary research will investigate the main factors that affected the decision-making of asylum seekers, as well as exploring the potential influences of family and community links, language, employment and welfare entitlements, healthcare, housing and education. This data will allow an assessment of the key factors that influence decision-making. It will also help to identify how much choice asylum seekers have relating to their destination. *Project tasks* Literature review The purpose of the literature review is to collect existing information and literature on the reasons why asylum seekers chose UK and other countries as an asylum destination. The literature review will also locate any ‘pull factors’ within more general reasons why people seek asylum, such as the importance of ‘push factors’ in individual decision making. It will also include the Home Office’s analysis of the impact of policies on application numbers, and a brief exploration of the information that exists to inform people in their countries of origin about the asylum and support systems in the UK. Finally, the review will include literature that analyses the impact of border controls on the routes that refugees use and their impact on the ability to isolate ‘pull factors’ for different groups of migrants. Qualitative data collection It is anticipated that that qualitative interviews will be used to ascertain people’s choices and to investigate the influence of ‘pull factors’ that have been identified by researchers and policy makers. The Refugee Council would like tenderers to indicate the number of interviews being proposed. This sample must include some respondents who were unaccompanied children when they arrived in the UK. The sample will reflect asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK over the last eight years in order to be able to see if there were changes in perception etc. due to changes in the asylum process and support system. Reporting The literature review and findings of the primary research will form the basis of a written report. The Refugee Council will also require contractors to identify key policy recommendations that emerge as a result of the findings. The Refugee Council’s Research Manager will oversee delivery of the literature review. Informal discussion will be maintained with the Research Manager throughout the project. *Timescale, fees and terms* It is anticipated that the contractors will be appointed in early February and all work needs to be invoiced by March 31st 2009. All tenders should include a workplan and budget to include all expenses including any VAT due, all travel, documentation, administrative and office costs. The maximum budget for this piece of work is £20,000. The tender proposal must specify the relevant experience of the tenderer as well as details of any other person or persons to be involved in the contract. Factors to be taken into account in the assessment of the tenders include: Experience of conducting primary and secondary research Experience of writing for publication Knowledge of asylum issues Understanding and interpretation of the brief and its objectives Value for money Tenderers may be invited to make a short presentation where there will be an opportunity to discuss tenders in greater detail before a final decision is made. Tenderers are asked to provide details of two referees. If you are interested in tendering for this work and would like more information, please contact Lisa Doyle by e-mail. Tender proposals should arrive no later than 1 p.m. on Friday 6th February 2009 and be submitted by e-mail to [log in to unmask] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Note: The material contained in this communication comes to you from the Forced Migration Discussion List which is moderated by the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC), Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the RSC or the University. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this message please retain this disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. List Archives: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/forced-migration.html RSS: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?RSS&L=forced-migration Subscribe/unsubscribe: http://tinyurl.com/fmlist-join-leave