Project ID: P177179

Project Title: Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia

Borrower Bid Reference: GM-MOTC-348289-CS-QBS

Published Date: 15-Mar-2023

Details:

                 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

Country: The Gambia

Project: Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDR)

Project ID No.: P177179

Grant No.:  IDA-V4190

Assignment Title: Recruitment of consultant firm Consultant (Management Company) to Support the Increase Participation of Tourism-Related Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Within the Selected Destinations.

Reference No.:  GM-MOTC-334473-CS-QBS
Duration:  4 (Four) years

Background

The Government of the Gambia (hereinafter called “Borrower”) has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) (hereinafter called “Grant”) towards the cost of funding Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services; Recruitment of consultant firm Consultant (Management Company) to Support the Increase Participation of Tourism-Related Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Within the Selected Destinations.

The services required of the Management Company (which may be a consortium) under this TOR entails implementing activities for subcomponent 1b. The consultant will be responsible for capacity building aspects of component delivery including (i) business development (bringing both MSMEs and Lead Firms into the program), (ii) marketing and awareness raising, (iii) sourcing and managing the cohort of Business Advisors used in the initiative, (iv) providing the initial diagnostic service to SMEs, (v) providing coaching to assist SMEs with implementing the recommendations of the diagnostic, (vi) developing action plan for the financial support to clients via matching grants, and (vii) establishing a database of SME advisory firms

1. 1. Objectives of the assignment

1. The objective of this assignment is to implement the activities designed in the project’s subcomponent 1b – that is , to strengthen contractual relationships between tourism lead firms and MSMEs by upgrading domestic MSMEs; facilitating the transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills; improving business and management practices; and facilitating access to markets through the provision of funding support. This will be achieved by enabling more targeted capacity-building services to wider segment of tourism-related businesses that are suppliers of goods and services for lead firms such as hotels, tour operators, and digital platforms.

These activities include the following:

• Identification: build partnerships with lead firms in tourism sector that have proximity to market and are innovators in the sector and allow them to identify existing and potential MSME suppliers.
• Designing: diagnostic tools for growth-oriented MSMEs serving tourism value chains
• Upgrading:  deliver capacity building services to MSMEs, with clear objectives and measures to fulfill the lead firms’ requirements. Identify investment needs of supported MSMEs and build capacity on “investment readiness” for the project supported matching grant scheme.
• Foster linkages: between key MSME suppliers and key buyers leading to the establishment of contractual agreements.

• Feedback and reporting: continuous feedback from MSMEs and lead firms on the capacity building services to ensure the programs meet market requirements, and to document learnings and report lessons learnt, including process refinement, as well as dissemination of ecosystem-level data.

Scope of Work

The role of the consultant (Management Company) will be to execute activities as follows:

3.2.1 Project Implementation:

• Prepare documentation, supervision, follow-up and quarterly reporting of the project’s on-ground activities and progress, including data collection and reporting as per templates agreed by PIU.
• Ensure timely flow of information on all project-related issues. Recommend any changes to the program and refine design in collaboration with the PIU, based on lessons learned during the first cohort of beneficiaries.
• Prepare activity-wise project implementation timelines for every quarter and share project milestones achieved.
• Prepare and submit detailed financial accounting and management reports, per templates approved by PIU, showing budget spent (activity-wise) for every quarter (3 months) of project implementation activities and plans for disbursement for subsequent quarters.
• Timely and transparent delivery of services to MSMEs.
• Complete handover efforts throughout the duration of the assignment to ensure that PIU staff are fully capable of facilitating the project moving forward. This includes handover manuals and materials to manage the project, as well as training workshops.
• Exercise caution and care in spending funds assigned for the project activities and maintaining all records for money spent.
• All other activities, as deemed required, for smooth implementation of the overall project and achievement of the set targets to the mutual satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Interested consultant firms who has experience in performing similar assignment Multi-Development Banks or any international organizations 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.).

A Consultants will be selected in accordance with the QBS (Quality Based Selection) method set out in the Procurement Regulations; World Bank Procurement Regulations (PR) for IPE Borrowers, dated November 2020.

Qualifications and Experience of the Firm

Consultants Firm will be shortlisted based on their experience in doing similar assignment and qualification and experience of key staff of the firm based on the following.

Minimum Requirements of the TA Firm/Consultant                       

1. The consultant (Management Company) is expected to exhibit experience in managing or working with growth-oriented MSMEs and other actors of the tourism ecosystem in the past.
2. Relevant experience including work with tourism related MSMEs will be taken into account. The consultant that have worked with and as incubators, accelerators will need to elaborate on the nature of works conducted.
3. While the nature of work can include examples of business development services or technical assistance being provided, the consultant  need to show relevant past experience, including carrying out diagnostic assessments and performance monitoring and management.
4. Experience in entrepreneurship ecosystems, preferably locally, is highly relevant.
5. The consultant shall have minimum five (5) years of experience of which 3 years in related field, on building capacity of MSMEs through business coaching, incubation and acceleration as the central expertise.
6. The consultant should be familiar with World Bank project implementation procedures.
7. The consultant must demonstrate strong responsiveness to the approach to the assignment described in this ToR.

 The Team

The broad role and expertise required thereof is outlined below. However, the consultant shall propose its team and expert composition as it deems appropriate to its proposed methodology and work plan.

Interested consultant firm may obtain further information (e.g the detailed TOR) at the address below during office hours 0800hrs to 1600hrs from Monday to Thursday and Friday 0800hrs to 11:00hrs or sending an email requesting for detailed ToR to the following e-mail address: [email protected].

Expressions of interest must be delivered to either the address below (in person /by mail ) or by email to the email addresses given below. Deadline for submission of expression of interest is Tuesday 4th April  2023 at 16:00pm Gambian Time.

Attn: Mr. Momodou Ceesay

Project Director

Project Implementation Unit

Plot No. 49 Kotu East Estate

Off Bertil Harding Highway

Tel: 220 9825949 /3971747

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected];  [email protected]  [email protected]   

Organization/Department: Ministry Of Tourism and Culture

Name: Momodou Ceesey

Address: New Administrative Building The Quadrangle, Banjul

City:

Province/State:

Postal Code:

Country: Gambia, The

Phone: +220 9825949

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.motc.gov.gm