EXCEED Program: Social and Economic development in Guinea, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Kenya local economic development country diagnostics

Request for expression of interest for selection # 1227794

 

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has recently entered into a partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to support social and economic development in selected communities hosting extractives projects in Guinea, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Kenya. The goal of the Project is to improve social and economic well-being in these host communities. The program will have both a local supplier development component (connected to the extractive company) and a more broad based local economic development (LED) component including entrepreneurship with a gender and youth focus. Implementation of the project is managed by IFC.

The objectives of this assignment are to
1. Carry out a similar diagnostic in each of the four countries to gather initial baseline information essential for program planning and implementation
2. Conduct an initial local economic development strategy analysis in selected communities in the four countries under the program.

The selected firm is expected to partner with local firm(s)/organizations in delivering the diagnostic for each country. The assessment and analysis will be focused on selected geographic communities within each of the four countries.

Proposed components of this assignment:

A. Country Diagnostic - Baseline Assessments:
1. Country/Community Context: (country wide and selected communities in consultation with IFC)- Desktop research and ground validation establishing key country, industry, and demographic information associated with extractive industry and SMEs though not necessarily linked.

2. Potential Partner Identification - Identification of key partners for a Local Working Groups in selected communities and an Implementing agency in the four countries

3. Rapid Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Capacity Assessment by Sector (selected communities)- A rapid assessment of local SME capacity in selected communities as a preliminary scan to inform a local supplier development program to be developed in partnership with the extractive partner. Capacities may include business acumen, proposal writing, E&S standards, quality production, volume of production, access to finance, health and safety, etc

4. Rapid LED Assessment (in selected communities)- An initial LED scan to inform the selection of and LED approach in selected communities.

5. Basic assessment of social and political fabric of communities and the current or future role of extractive industries.

B. Country diagnostic - LED Strategy Analysis
1. Based on the country level data collected from a coherent multi-country Assessment 4, a strategic analysis and recommendation on the best LED opportunities in selected communities will be delivered. The analysis will help determine the selection of approaches (i.e. SME development, Sectorial development, etc) in each community with a gender and youth focus.

ELIGIBILITY

INDIVIDUAL / FIRM PROFILE
The consultant will be a firm.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The World Bank Group now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through World Bank Group eConsultant2 (https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html)

NOTES
Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will receive notification. No debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.

 

Qualification Criteria

1. Provide information showing that they are qualified in the field of the assignment. *
2. Provide information on the qualifications of key staff. *
3. Provide information on potential partnerships with local firm(s)/organizations in delivering the diagnostic for each country *
4. Provide information on the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm. *
5. Provide information on their core business and years in business.

* - Mandatory