Assignment Name:  Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Baseline Study on Response to Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling, and Migration in Four Districts of Bangladesh

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Baseline Study was commissioned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assess the baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices of communities in Dhaka, Jashore, Satkhira, and Cox’s Bazar (IOM’s project area for a five-year project) regarding human trafficking, smuggling, and irregular migration. IOM’s project objective was to strengthen migration governance, improve law enforcement, and raise public awareness about human trafficking and irregular migration. The project was particularly focused on addressing the vulnerabilities of communities in high-risk areas where migration, both regular and irregular, is prevalent.

The KAP study aimed to explore the level of awareness among communities about the risks associated with trafficking, the effectiveness of existing governmental policies, and the practices of aspiring migrants, as well as their interaction with government and non-government services related to migration. The study formed an essential part of IOM’s broader efforts to support migrants and counter human trafficking in Bangladesh, contributing valuable insights for future intervention strategies, including policy improvements, awareness campaigns, and service delivery mechanisms.

The overall objective of the study was to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practices of people in IOM’s project areas to support the IOM’s five-year project on capacity building and awareness-raising to combat human trafficking in Bangladesh, including the risks of smuggling and human trafficking.

The specific objectives of the study included:

• To identify a baseline on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities on trafficking and smuggling, including the risks associated with irregular migration.
• To assess the extent to which people and aspiring migrants are utilizing and benefiting from government policy on countertrafficking, including interaction with Counter Trafficking Committees, Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard, other law enforcement agencies (i.e. Special Branch, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) etc.), judiciary including assigned Anti-Trafficking Tribunals, and NGOs working on counter trafficking.
• To assess to what extent these services offered by government agencies are effective, operational, accountable and activated for the community people.
• To identify the effective awareness-raising campaign tools on human trafficking, smuggling and safe migration.
• To measure the indicators to update the project log frame.

The study’s outcomes were intended to assist IOM in identifying gaps and customizing the project’s interventions according to the specific context. The study assessed the extent to which people utilized and benefited from government policies, analyzed the services offered by government agencies, identified effective awareness-raising campaign tools, and measured indicators to update the project log frame.

Our team provided the following services during the KAP baseline study:

Inception phase:

• Conducted a series of inception meetings with the project team to clarify the scope, objectives, and methodology of the study.
• Reviewed relevant project documents, including the project proposal, budget, guidelines, flash updates, and reports, to inform the study design.
• Engaged with IOM and key stakeholders to finalize the study design, methodology, and sampling strategy for the KAP survey, ensuring that the study addressed the specific needs of the four targeted districts: Dhaka, Jashore, Satkhira, and Cox’s Bazar.
• Consulted with local government representatives, law enforcement agencies, and NGOs working in the area of human trafficking and irregular migration to align the study objectives with existing community needs and challenges.

Data Collection and Fieldwork:

• Designed and pre-tested the data collection tools, including quantitative surveys, focus group discussion (FGD) guidelines, key informant interview (KII) templates, and in-depth interview (IDI) protocols.
• Conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with community members, migrants, and victims of trafficking, as well as law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and local government officials.
• Held Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in the selected districts to explore local attitudes and practices regarding trafficking and smuggling.
• Interviewed community leaders, Counter-Trafficking Committees (CTCs), and officials from Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, RAB, and other key agencies involved in migration and trafficking control.

Data Management and Quality Assurance:

• Managed and supervised the data collection process, ensuring high-quality data collection through appropriate training of enumerators and regular field monitoring.
• Implemented quality control measures such as spot-checking, real-time data validation, and ensuring the integrity of the collected data.
• Used digital data collection methods to ensure accuracy and efficiency in data entry and management.

Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data to identify knowledge gaps, attitude trends, and community practices regarding trafficking, smuggling, and migration.
• Produced a baseline report highlighting key findings, such as community awareness of government policies, effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and the impact of migration on individuals and families.
• Developed an analysis-based report with actionable recommendations for improving awareness campaigns, strengthening services, and addressing policy gaps.

Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Organized a consultation workshop with IOM and key stakeholders to present the preliminary findings, discuss the challenges identified during the fieldwork, and validate the study’s conclusions.
• Delivered powerpoint presentations summarizing the findings to stakeholders and incorporated their feedback into the final report.
• Shared the study’s findings through detailed reports, executive summaries, and two-page briefs for quick dissemination of key insights.

These services contributed to providing a comprehensive baseline analysis on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding human trafficking, smuggling, and irregular migration, as well as the effectiveness of current government and NGO interventions. This data is critical for informing future programming and policy changes to combat trafficking and improve migrant protection.