Organization Background

ACDI/VOCA based in Washington, DC is a nonprofit international development organization that provides technical and administrative assistance in the areas of agribusiness, financial services, business development and food security, with the aim of promoting economic growth and ensuring a vibrant civil society. For more information about ACDI/VOCA, visit the portal www.acdivoca.org .

Program Background

ACDI/VOCA is executing in Honduras the Transforming Market Systems (TMS) program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose of TMS is to promote competitive, resilient and inclusive market systems that provide greater economic opportunities to incorporate vulnerable populations to reduce incentives to migrate.

TMS applies a systems development approach to address the root causes behind vicious cycles that marginalize people and businesses and identifies leverage points that lead to virtuous new ways of doing business and improved economic opportunities. This will result in a sustainable increase in income, through more business, more sales and more jobs for Hondurans, while contributing to the construction of broad-based, long-term economic growth.

Within the framework of the program, activities are carried out in six components:

1. Value Added Agriculture: Boosting the strengths already present in Honduras to generate long-term economic growth in value chains selected for their high potential to generate jobs.
2. Tourism and Creative Industries: Overcome the underlying limitations in the development of the tourism sector in Honduras by taking advantage of the leadership potential of the private sector to become an agent of change in alliance with the public sector at the national, departmental and local destination levels.
3. Entrepreneurship: Contributes to the economic and social growth of Honduras, understanding that MSMEs are the largest generators of employment, expansion of market segments, increased production of goods and services and dynamism in the communities where they operate.
4. Business Environment: Support state modernization strategies and strengthen the capacity of private sector organizations to take a leadership role in evaluating, designing and promoting business-friendly policies.
5. Labor Intermediation: Connect public and private workforce development services with employers to align the services offered with the demand for employment in the formal sector and improve linkage systems between workers and potential employers.
6. Financial Transactions Unit: Promote the collaboration of Financial Institutions with actors that promote business development, to create mechanisms that reduce risk and improve financial services, and increase the inclusion and access to capital of the unbanked population, especially women, young people., farmers and microenterprises that operate in the informal sector of the economy.

Consulting background

In recent years, Honduras and other countries in the region have recorded increases in irregular migration of their citizens, mainly due to the lack of economic opportunities.

Approximately 800,000 Hondurans were found attempting to enter the United States illegally, this growing trend has continued over the last 10 years resulting in 62% of the Honduran-born population residing in the United States being under an irregular immigration status (IOM, 2019). To reverse this trend and within the framework of meeting global development goals, Honduras has encouraged the design and implementation of public policies that stimulate entrepreneurship and the creation of new job opportunities for all Hondurans.

In this sense, the Governments of Honduras and the United States of America have signed a bilateral agreement to improve the implementation of the non-immigrant visa program, specifically for programs aimed at temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers, H-2A (agricultural) and H-2B non-agricultural visas, (reforestation, gardening, construction, cleaning) in the United States. This program is intended for U.S. employers to hire temporary foreign workers in positions where there is a shortage of U.S. workers due to availability, technical qualifications, and or willingness.

The government of Honduras stablished the Temporary Work Abroad Program (PTTE) within the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (SETRASS), which has managed to also expand to Mexico, Spain, and Poland, with the purpose of providing assistance to Honduran citizens residing in national territory, interested in working regularly and temporarily abroad. The program provides support to employers abroad in the recruitment process carried out in the country, however, once the worker is outside the country, they require support and/or accompaniment which can be provided by consular offices. of Honduras in the United States.

Consular offices have the capacity to coordinate the management and promotion of seasonal and temporary work opportunities outside Honduran borders, this will allow the Government of Honduras to inform and assist workers abroad by guaranteeing their labor rights.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras (SRECI) is the entity responsible for managing the country's bilateral, multilateral, economic, cultural, and international cooperation relations; the protection of Hondurans abroad and the reintegration of returned Hondurans. The PTTE can strengthen its actions abroad through the Undersecretariat of State for Consular and Migratory Affairs and its attached Directorates, responsible for directing, coordinating, monitoring, and supervising the Honduran Consular Corps to ensure the efficient performance of activities and attention to Hondurans and the provision of services in a transparent manner.

Additionally, the SRECI has the capacity to provide support for the passport issuance processes through its consulates abroad and the issuance of passports in Honduras for temporary workers and with monitoring via call center to help Hondurans abroad that require any type of assistance.

Purpose of the consultancy

Attract new and improved temporary work opportunities through the promotion of PTTE in the US and Canada, with a strategic focus on active socialization with employers and foreign labor intermediary agencies for the recruitment of Honduran labor abroad.

The promotion of Honduran labor abroad is actively sought, which involves searching for employers and intermediary agencies; both potential and current. The purpose of this strategic collaboration is not only to establish fluid and effective communication with potential employers, but also to foster solid and trusting relationships that allow us to understand labor demand and maximize the possibilities of placing Honduran labor abroad.

To carry out this work effectively, we seek to hire one (1) Promotion and Monitoring Officer of the Temporary Work Abroad Program with the approval of SRECI. This professional will carry out various activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (SRECI), through certain consulates strategically located in the United States. They must adhere to the internal regulations of the Consulates. 

Likewise, they will work in close coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (SETRASS), guaranteeing integrated and effective management in the promotion of Honduran labor.

Three States have been identified that have shown greater interest in hiring Honduran labor, being California, Florida, and Washington. Therefore, this consultancy will initially prioritize California as 1 of these 3 areas or key States.

Specific consulting tasks

• Identify the demand for temporary workers and the largest employers of temporary workers in the assigned geographic area.
• Manage and diligently respond to requests and queries from employers and labor intermediaries, providing appropriate assistance and follow-up to their requirements and requests.
• Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with local businesses and employers with the goal of fostering employment opportunities for the Honduran workforce in their respective geographic area.
• Conduct visits and maintain regular contacts with employers and foreign labor intermediary agencies to promote participation and collaboration in the Honduras Temporary Work Abroad Program.
• Search and participation in specialized events related to temporary employment, such as labor forums and other platforms where temporary work visas are promoted, such as the H-2A, H-2B or seafarer categories.
• Coordinate and promote the Honduran workforce in accordance with relevant jurisdictional regulations and restrictions.
• Provide advice and guidance to workers on their labor rights, as well as provide assistance in the process of filing claims or complaints if necessary.
• Provide detailed monitoring of the working conditions of Honduran workers beneficiaries of the Temporary Work Abroad Program (PTTE).
• Facilitate and promote communication and labor relations between employers and workers, either directly or through the Honduran consulates abroad.
• The Promotion and Monitoring Officer will carry out his/her functions in coordination with the Consular Offices of the Prioritized states in these ToRs, in direct coordination of TMS and under the supervision of the Consul and the General Directorate of Protection of Honduran Migrants of the SRECI.

TMS reserves the right to change or adjust the deliverables during the negotiation stage with the selected candidate.

Required competencies

1. Academic training

• Higher university degree: Law, International Relations, Human Resources, Political Science, International Trade, Marketing, or related careers.
• Specialization in immigration issues, human rights, labor rights, international business management desirable.

Other Specific Aspects

• Advanced English level.
• US resident or citizen and/or authorized to work legally in the United States of America.
• Location: Must reside in areas close o the identified prioritized or key area in this consultancy - (California)) 

Work experience

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in developing and managing strategic partnerships.
• Experience in identifying and mapping potential clients.
• Experience in the management, planning, implementation and monitoring of projects or programs related to this consultancy.

Desirable Knowledge

• Labor Rights: Understanding of local and international labor laws to ensure compliance and ethical treatment of workers.
• Global Workforce Management: Knowledge of immigration processes, visa requirements, and international employment regulations. This is valuable for managing a geographically dispersed workforce.
• Negotiation and Alliance Building: Proven ability to represent organizations in negotiations and partnerships.

Other skills and abilities

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Strategic planning and organization
• Orientation to results
• Technical credibility
• Teamwork
• Writing skills

Documents to submit to apply

Applicants must send the following documents to the email: [email protected]  

1. Updated resume, highlighting work like those required for this consultancy and the evaluation criteria proposed.
2. References from previous jobs, certificates and/or any other that proves your experience.
3. Completed and signed the Consultant Profile found in Annex A of these ToRs.
4. Completed and signed the Contractor Biographical Data Sheet found in Annex B of these ToRs.
5. Copy of an identification document.
6. Legal document that proves your immigration status in the United States and that demonstrates that you are authorized to work legally.
7. A copy of your insurance certificate if you have one.

The subject of the application email must specify “Promotion and Monitoring Officer for the Temporary Work Abroad Program.”