IAGCI Opens Tender Process for Syria and Bangladesh Reviews

The Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) has officially launched a competitive tender process seeking qualified evaluators to assess Home Office country information products focusing on two critically important nations: Syria and Bangladesh. This significant initiative represents a comprehensive effort to ensure that the information used in immigration and asylum decision-making processes maintains the highest standards of accuracy, objectivity, and relevance.

Organizations and individual experts interested in participating in this important review process are being urged to submit their expressions of interest before the deadline of June 8, 2026. This timeline provides potential applicants with a reasonable window to prepare comprehensive submissions that demonstrate their qualifications, experience, and understanding of the specialized requirements involved in evaluating country of origin information. The tender process is designed to identify the most capable and impartial assessors available in the field.

The IAGCI serves as an independent body responsible for maintaining the integrity and reliability of the information that the Home Office relies upon when making crucial decisions affecting asylum seekers and immigration applicants. The organization recognizes that accurate, up-to-date, and contextually appropriate country information is fundamental to fair and just immigration procedures. Syria and Bangladesh have been identified as priority countries requiring thorough evaluation of existing information products.

Syria represents a particularly complex case given the ongoing humanitarian crisis, conflict dynamics, and rapidly changing circumstances that have characterized the nation for over a decade. The country information on Syria maintained by the Home Office must reflect the nuanced realities of different regions within the country, the experiences of various demographic groups, and the evolving security and humanitarian landscape. Reviewers will need to assess whether current information products adequately capture these complexities and provide decision-makers with sufficient context for evaluating asylum claims.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, presents distinct challenges related to political stability, governance, labor rights, minority protections, and environmental factors that influence migration decisions and asylum claims. The Bangladesh country information assessment will require evaluators to examine whether existing Home Office products accurately reflect the current political environment, economic conditions, and social dynamics that affect vulnerable populations. This evaluation is crucial for ensuring that asylum decisions are based on current and reliable intelligence.

The tender process seeks reviewers with demonstrated expertise in regional affairs, human rights assessment, information analysis, and understanding of how country information products are utilized within immigration and asylum frameworks. Candidates may include academic experts, human rights organizations, journalists with regional experience, and professional researchers who have established credibility in evaluating sensitive country-specific information.

Qualified applicants will be expected to conduct thorough reviews examining multiple dimensions of the existing country information. This includes assessing the accuracy of factual claims, evaluating the currency and relevance of information provided, examining whether all significant country-specific issues are adequately addressed, and considering whether the information is presented in an appropriately balanced manner. Reviewers must also consider whether the information products meet international standards for country of origin information assessments.

The significance of this tender cannot be overstated, as country of origin information assessment directly impacts the outcomes of countless asylum cases and immigration proceedings. When Home Office country information is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, it can result in unfair decisions that either deny protection to vulnerable individuals who genuinely require it or grant status to applicants based on incomplete understanding of country conditions. The IAGCI's commitment to periodic independent review helps maintain the integrity of the entire system.

Organizations submitting expressions of interest should provide detailed information about their relevant qualifications, previous experience in country information assessment or regional expertise, their capacity to conduct comprehensive evaluations within agreed timelines, and their understanding of the particular complexities associated with Syria and Bangladesh. The IAGCI will evaluate submissions based on technical competence, demonstrated expertise, independence from potential conflicts of interest, and overall suitability for the assignment.

The independent evaluation process reflects best practices in government information management and demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in the information products used by decision-makers. By inviting external expert review, the IAGCI ensures that country information remains subject to professional scrutiny and that any gaps or deficiencies are identified and addressed promptly. This approach helps maintain public confidence in the immigration system's reliance on objective, verified information.

Interested reviewers should carefully examine the tender specifications and submission requirements before preparing their expressions of interest. The IAGCI typically provides detailed guidance about evaluation criteria, project scope, timeline expectations, and resource requirements. Prospective evaluators are encouraged to seek clarification on any aspects of the tender before submitting their applications to ensure they fully understand what the assignment will entail.

The selection of evaluators will be based on competitive assessment of all submissions received before the June 8, 2026 deadline. The IAGCI will conduct a rigorous evaluation process to identify the most suitable candidates whose expertise and approach will deliver the highest-quality independent assessment of the Home Office's country information products on Syria and Bangladesh. Selected reviewers will be expected to work according to established professional standards and to deliver findings that contribute meaningfully to information quality improvement.