Project ID: P117617
Borrower/Bid No: 021/IPC/SB/15/09/02

Shire River Basin Management Program Government of the Republic of Malawi
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, IRRIGATION AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase 1) Project
SHIRE RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (PHASE I) PROJECT ID.: P117617
CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL FOR NATURE-BASED TOURISM IN THE SHIRE RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PROJECT
Expression of Interest
Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA 5125-MW, H775, GEF TF012920, LDCF TF012921
Procurement Method is QCBS
Assignment Title: Consultancy Services to conduct a study to enhance the potential for Nature-Based Tourism in the Shire River Basin Management Project
 
Reference No. : 021/IPC/SB/15/09/02

The Government of Malawi has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase-I) Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
 
1. Objective of the assignment

The Overall Objective is to develop an integrated tourism strategy for the Shire River Basin which links attractions inside and outside selected Protected Areas that can be marketed as a (series of) package(s) towards the sustainable management of these sites. This consultancy has the following specific objectives: undertake a thorough review and assessment of existing and potential nature, cultural, and heritage based tourism attractions of the Shire River Basin: and develop practical resources that could be used to promote and improve access to information on these resources.
 
2. Scope of Work:
 
This consultancy will investigate the potential for the development of tourism initiatives across the whole of the SRBMP landscape, not only focusing on selected Protected Areas (Lengwe NP, Liwonde NP, Mwabvi WR, Elephant Marshes, and Mangochi FR), but also on the wider shire catchment landscape and how tourist attractions can be connected between sites in order to create a 'package' that can be effectively marketed both nationally and internationally.
 
The consultancy firm will help the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to formulate a tourism strategy that will be developed and delivered through a series of workshops and in-country consultations, which will encompass culture, heritage, industrial, and nature-based tourism elements.
The consultancy will deliver this study in a two phase approach in which Phase 1 will undertake an assessment of nature-based, cultural, and heritage assets that could be of interest within selected Protected Areas (PAs) and wider SRBMP catchment landscape. This part of the study is estimated to take 4 months of inputs with deliverables as outlined in the detailed Terms of Reference.
In Phase 2 the consultant firm will develop materials and resources that can be used to promote tourism at the protected area sites, the Shire River basin, and Malawi in general. These materials will be led by the results of phase 1 and guided by the joint marketing recommendations between the private and public sectors as a result of the phase 1 surveys. This part of the study is expected to take another 4 months of input. Details for this phase are also outlined in the TORs.
 
4.0 Deliverables:

The assignment has the following two main deliverables:
 
4.1 The consultant will present a nature-based tourism technical report to promote visitor use of protected areas and the wider Shire River landscape through the SRBMP following (although not limited to) the format outlined in the TOR:
4.2 The consultant will also deliver a series of practical outputs that can be used to promote the tourism of the Shire Basin and the Protected Areas found within based on the attractions and the tourism market. The consultant is expected to develop a range of products such as: mobile phone Apps, electronic and paper Maps of tourist destinations, Posters advertising tourist attractions, Brochures and Leaflets, and a Shire Basin Tourism Guide also as detailed in the TOR.

The Ministry of Water Development and Irrigation, on behalf of the implementing agencies, now invites eligible consulting firms ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
 
The short- listing criteria shall be as follows:
 
The consulting firm must have significant relevant experience in carrying out studies of similar nature to be able to investigate the potential for the development of tourism initiatives across the whole of the SRBMP landscape, not only focusing on selected Protected Areas (Lengwe NP, Liwonde NP, Mwabvi WR, Elephant Marshes, and Mangochi FR), but also on the wider shire catchment landscape and how tourist attractions can be connected between sites in order to create a 'package' that can be effectively marketed both nationally and internationally.
 
The consultancy firm shall have demonstrable skills and evidence of having formulated and developed a tourism strategy that encompassed culture, heritage, industrial, and nature-based tourism elements.
 
Evidence of having available key staff to carry out the assignment including (i)Team leader with multi-skills and a post-graduate degree either in Economics, Tourism, Natural Resource Planning and Management, and a first degree in any natural resource related subject, to be able to coordinate both phase 1 and 2; and also additional staff with adequate skills and expertise qualified up to the first degree in relevant subjects with no less than 5 years experience of producing nature-based tourism knowledge products such as: mobile phone Apps, electronic and paper Guide Maps of tourist destinations, Posters advertising tourist attractions, Brochures and Leaflets, Tourism Guides etc to be able to deliver phase
 
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers [January 2011] ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained from the Procurement Specialist of the Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase-I) Project during office hours (07.30-17.00 Monday to Friday) at the offices at ADL House.

Tel: +265-1 774 252 | Fax: +265-1 774 253
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Expressions of interest clearly marked 'Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services to conduct a study to enhance the potential for Nature-Based Tourism in the Shire River Basin Management Project must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person/ by courier) by 1400hours local time on 6th October 2015.
 
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development
Attn.: Chairman of the Internal Procurement Committee
Shire River Basin Management Program (Phase-I) Project
P/B 390
Tikwere House
Capital City
Lilongwe, Malawi
E-mail: [email protected]