Consulting Services for Establishment and Management of the Somali Business Catalytic Fund

Request for expression of interest for selection # 1204011

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: 1204011 - Consulting Services for Establishment and Management of the Somali Business Catalytic Fund

Assignment Countries:
- Somalia

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

The World Bank intends to finance consultancy services under the Somali Core Economic Institutions and Opportunities Program (SCORE) Program. The Program follows on from the previous Somalia Private Sector Re-engagement Project (Phase I and II), which focused on the recovery of the private sector after the civil conflict of the previous two decades. The services of the consultancy consist of establishing and managing a Matching Grant Fund (provisionally termed Somalia Business Catalytic Fund or SBCF).

The services of the consultancy consist of establishing and managing a Matching Grant Fund (provisionally termed Somalia Business Catalytic Fund or SBCF). The initial funding of the SBCF is about US$12.5 million to include grants and fund management costs. The approximate budget envelope for management costs would be about $2.5 million.

The Fund will focus on all regions of Somalia (including Puntland) and Somaliland that are sufficiently secure to support investors. The build-up of private sector capacity through the SBCF would in turn serve to signal the restoration of a measure of stability which would be critical to bolster investor confidence. The fund management will be headquartered in one of the three main regional cities Mogadishu, Hargeisa or Garowe/Bosaso, with satellite offices in the other cities. The SBCF will be complemented by a) an independent third-party Inspection Unit whose role will be to work with SBCF management to safeguard the integrity of the Grant program and address governance and grievance issues, and, b) a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Facility which will, inter alia, provide technical assistance to SBF-supported projects.

The SBF Fund Managements responsibilities would, inter alia, include:

1. Fund Policy and Strategy:

energizing private sector development through building extensive contacts within the SME production and services sectors in Somalia;
strategic coordination with the SME Facility and the Inspection Unit to ensure effective project implementation and a high standard of integrity
developing constructive relations with a Government led Public/Private Fund Advisory Committee to ensure the effectiveness and direction of Fund policy and strategy;
development of an outreach and communications strategy;
carrying out limited-mandate enterprise surveys and market assessments of potential grant beneficiaries ;
establishing grant and copayment policies, procedures and structures based on financing needs;
Coordinating with other donor programs with matching grants or similar mechanisms in the Somali peninsula.
development of a Grant Policy/Procedures Manual covering key issues such as applicant eligibility, governance, copayment, grievance procedures, risks and mitigants, monitoring and evaluation;

2. Fund Operations
maintaining an entrepreneurial outlook to proactively identify potential SME grant opportunities;
conducting an ongoing public relations, outreach and communications program through multiple media channels throughout the peninsula;
maintaining high quality records and reports on application processing and project implementation, financial management, management information and control systems;
recruiting and maintaining appropriately qualified staff (international and/or local) with extremely high levels of professionalism, integrity, honesty and cultural sensitivity;
assisting applicants (through business plan training and preparation) in developing the capacity to meet application requirements for accessing the Funds, subject to eligibility and other conditions;
evaluating and approving project proposals and concluding grant agreements;
Developing appropriate databases of business partners (suppliers, vendors etc.), trainers and specialized service firms (e.g. accounting, engineering, technical and vocational skills, etc.);
identifying and establishing links with appropriate local and international business development service and equipment providers
disbursing grants in accordance with Grant Agreements and established procedures;
conducting verification of prices, quality and completion of services provided to grantee enterprises;
putting in place an effective Monitoring and Evaluation system;
Arranging regular evaluations, reporting and audits as required, and devising and maintaining a tracking system for the performance of a group of Grant non-recipients (counterfactual).

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following trust fund(s):

- SCORE Preparation/Supervision Grant

INDIVIDUAL / FIRM PROFILE
The consultant will be a firm.

RISKS OF ASSIGNMENT

The contractor hereby certifies that it has full knowledge and accepts the potential risks in performing work under this assignment in Somalia and that, if invited to prepare a full proposal, it will inform each member of its team assigned to this assignment of those risks. The contractor acknowledges that the location where the work is to be performed is unstable and dangerous and understands and accepts the inherent risk for its business and assets (personnel and material) with working in this environment

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The World Bank 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.

While all eligible grantee projects will be required to be located in relatively secure areas, it is advisable for interested firms to either partner with an appropriate local firm or to include on their team local Somali professionals able to travel to relatively less secure areas of the Somali peninsula. Firms should include a budget item for security costs relating to travel (and residence as appropriate) in the three Regions (Southern Somalia, Puntland, Somaliland).

Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

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

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Banks Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers January 1997 (revised September 1997, January 1999 and May 2002).

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.

 

Qualification Criteria

    1. Provide information showing that they are qualified in the field of the assignment. *
    2. Provide information on the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm. *
    3. Provide information on their core business and years in business. *
    4. Provide information on the qualifications of key staff. *

* - Mandatory