Second Competitiveness Enhancement Project: Focus groups with exporters for developing the tailored training program for exporters and implementation of training of trainers concept for the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development’ (ODIMM) staff

Project ID: P144103
Borrower/Bid No: CEP-II/B/CS-39/2-CQS-59

Country: Moldova
Project Id: P144103
Project Name: Second Competitiveness Enhancement Project
Loan Info.: IBRD 84000,IDA 55090,TF 16060

 Detailed Information for Advertisement

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTANT SERVICES)

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Sector: General industry and trade sector
Project ID Number: P144103
Expression of interest: CEP-II/B/CS-39/2-CQS-59

Title of Assignment:   "Focus groups with exporters for developing the tailored training program for exporters and implementation of training of trainers concept for the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development' (ODIMM) staff"

Background

The Government of the Republic of Moldova is pursuing a policy agenda aimed at supporting export-led economic growth. To achieve this goal, the "Moldova 2020" national development strategy focuses on improving the business enabling environment and promoting better access to finance for enterprises, as two of its top priorities. The 2014 Roadmap for Increasing Competitiveness also focuses on the need to improve competitiveness at the enterprise level.

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the implementation of the Second Competitiveness Enhancement Project ("CEP II"). CEP II pursues the objective of helping Moldova's Ministry of Economy to achieve its reform objectives. The Project's Development Objective ("PDO") is to increase the export competitiveness of the Moldovan enterprises and to decrease their regulatory burden. 

The Project consists of the following components:

Regulatory Reform Component

The objective of the Regulatory Reform component is to support the Government of Moldova (GoM) in improving the business enabling environment in Moldova, and specifically in implementing its regulatory reform strategies over the next five years.

Access to Finance Component

The objective of the Access to Finance component is to improve access to medium and long-term finance for export-oriented enterprises, reduce barriers to finance due to perceived high credit risk in SME finance and high collateral requirements, and promote suitable models for value chain financing.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Component

The objective of the SME Development component is to strengthen Moldovan SMEs' linkages to markets and ability to compete in those markets through: 

a) Strengthening the institutional capacity of the SME' Development Organization (ODIMM) and of the Moldovan Investment & Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO) so that they can play a more effective role in facilitating market-based SME growth;

b) Providing matching grants to SMEs to implement business improvement projects focused on export competitiveness.

ODIMM is a non-commercial, non-profit organization governed by public law. Its mission is to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy through support of the SME' sector. ODIMM has a good spread of activity around the country with the existing Business Incubators enjoying a high profile. While the government and some donors have been satisfied with individual programs, ODIMM's role has been quite limited in the overall SME sector. The organization does not have an overall view of the segments of SMEs present in Moldova, their growth and export performance. 

The Government is seeking the services of a consulting firm (Consultant) with relevant experience in the field of SME development, which will identify and analyze the main difficulties encountered by export oriented SMEs in the process of: i) exporting from Moldova, and ii) finding and entering new markets by conducting a series of focus groups with exporters. Based on the results of the focus groups, in collaboration with ODIMM the consultant will have to develop a module-based tailored training program (export readiness program) for firms to address their export needs, and will provide training for ODIMM' and the selected Business Incubators' (BI) staff on export readiness through the training of trainers concept implementation. 

The Project Implementation Unit of the World Bank Competitiveness Enhancement Project now invites eligible Consultants (companies) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested companies must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (description of similar or alike assignments,  experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, CVs of the key staff to be involved in the assignment, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications. This Request for Expression of Interest will lead to the preparation of a Short List of consultants. For evaluation of the expressions of interest for this assignment the following criteria and points will be applied:

The Consultant will be selected on the basis of its qualifications for the assignment (Selection based on Consultants Qualifications) in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, published in January 2011.

The assignment will be implemented in the period from October 2017 to January 2018, requiring a total level effort of app. 150 person/days.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to17:00 hours (Chisinau time).

Expressions of interest must be delivered electronically or on paper to the address below by 16:00 hours (Chisinau time) on September 22, 2017. 

Attn: Project Implementation Unit of the Competitiveness Enhancement Project

180, Stefan cel Mare Ave., office 813, MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Phone. +373-22-296-724

E-mail: piu@mec.gov.md