Project ID: P163088

Project Title: Social Protection and Skills Development Project

Borrower Bid Reference: 50/S/SPS/2021

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES)

COUNTRY: Sao Tome and Principe

 PROJECT: Social Protection and Skills Development Project

 Consulting services, Ref No.: 50/S/SPS/2021: Implementation of the Hotel and Tourism School.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of S. Tomé and Príncipe received financial support from the World Bank to implement the Social Protection and Skills Development Project (P163088) and intends to apply part of this funding to hire a consulting company to manage the Hotel and Tourism School of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Consulting services ("the Services") include:

 (i) Manage the EHT-STP in the operational and pedagogical scopes;

 (ii) Direct, guide, streamline and control the activities of the EHT-STP in accordance with its Statutes, the law and applicable regulations, and in compliance with the recommendations presented in the Tourism Skills Development Plan (PDCT), central strategic document to guide the development of human resources for the tourism sector in São Tomé and Príncipe, for this purpose, the Entity may adhere to the Business Plan tentatively prepared by the General Directorate of Tourism and Hospitality.

(iii) Manage EHT's pedagogical, financial and equity in accordance with the following management instruments: Activity plans and annual budgets; Monthly and annual activity reports; and Annual Management Accounts;

 (iii) Recruit and manage EHT-STP personnel, in compliance with the provisions of the São Tomé Labor Code and other applicable legislation;

(iv) Promote and ensure the scientific, technical, human and cultural training of trainees;

 (v) Organizing studies and applied and adaptive research activities in the areas in which training is carried out;

(vi) Develop complementary training activities and support the training of technicians in the areas of hotels, tourism and restaurants;

 (vii) Promote the creation of a center of excellence to support technical-professional and business training and the development of tourist and hotel activities;

(viii) Develop initiatives aimed at interacting with the labor and employment market from a technical-scientific perspective and adapting to the opportunities for exercising the professional activity.

The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the consultancy are attached to this request for expressions of interest, or can be consulted on the website of Téla Non – Advertising, on the AFAP website, or on the AFAP premises, on weekdays, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, whose address and contact details are below.

The Project Implementation Agency (Agência Fiduciária de Administração de Projetos AFAP) invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to express their interest in providing such services. Interested consultants must provide information that demonstrates that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services. The pre-selection criteria are: company-specific experience in the management of Hospitality and Tourism schools, work carried out in similar or related projects financed by the World Bank or other multilateral agencies (European Union, AFDB, etc.) and technical capacity and company management. Key experts will not be evaluated at shortlisting stage..

Interested consultants should pay attention to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank's “IPF Borrowers Procurement Regulations” dated July 2016, revised in October 2017 and August 2018 (Procurement Regulations) establishing the World Bank Policy on Conflicts of Interest.

Consultants may apply in the form of associations in order to increase their skills, but must clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a subcontracting. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture, shall be joinly and severally liable for the entire contract,if selected

The Consultant will be selected using the Quality and Cost Based Selection method as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Expressions of interest must be delivered by 13:00 local time on November 26th to the address indicated below or sent to the email address: [email protected] or [email protected] the subject indication: Ref . No. 50/S/SPS/2021

The Project Implementation Agency (Agência Fiduciária de Administração de Projetos AFAP)

Attn: Alberto Leal, Director General of AFAP

Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Afriland First Bank Building, 2nd Floor

PO Box No. 1029, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe

Tel: +239 222 52 05

Email: [email protected] , [email protected]

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF SÃO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE

General Directorate of Tourism and Hospitality

Description of OBJECTIVES

Terms of reference for the

Hiring a company/consultant specializing in the implementation and management of hotel and tourism school

Title:                                       Implementation and Management of the São Tomé and Príncipe Hotel and Tourism School (STP)

Contracting Institution:     General Directorate of Tourism and Hospitality of STP

Duration:                              36 months

Index

1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 4

1.1Constraints of the Current Sector Training Framework in STP............................. 6

1.2 Context of the emergence of the STP Hotel and Tourism School........................ 6

1.3 Description of the Project for the creation of the School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHT) of STP       7

1.3.1 - Objectives       8

1.3.2 - EHT-STP institutional structure        8

1.3.3 - Infrastructure  10

2. CONSULTING OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF SERVICES............................... 10

2.1 General and specific responsibilities of the Management Entity........................ 10

2.2 Training requirements.......................................................................................... 13

2.3 Targets to be achieved by activity and respective implementation schedule...... 13

2.3.1 - Course plan to be developed by EHT-STP and respective goals and schedules     15

3. EXPECTED RESULTS.............................................................................................. 25

4. PROFILE OF THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOTEL AND TOURISM SCHOOL OF SÃO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE...................................................................... 25

4.1 Profile of the key team (international consultants).............................................. 26 

1. INTRODUCTION

São Tomé and Príncipe as a whole offers numerous investment opportunities in the various economic sectors, particularly agriculture and tourism which combined can respond positively to the cross-cutting nature of tourism given its diverse potential in terms of cultural and natural heritage, market opportunities and tourism demand.

We also know that new technologies, associated with robotics, artificial intelligence and social policies imposed in today's world are beginning to radically transform the way work is faced and developed, with traditional approaches to the concept of work per se being increasingly questioned.

However, the need for transversal evolution and adaptation of the various sectors of activity - including tourism - to technology and the competitive advantages that come with it, does not foresee a general elimination of traditional jobs. The trends point to an adaptation of more repetitive functions, to functions of greater value, difficult to automate, which presuppose the development of transversal skills (built and innate) of human beings and their culture, such as creativity, thinking systematic, of empathy, acceptance and authenticity.

These skills are still fundamental and, even through artificial intelligence, they cannot be replaced by machines.

In the tourism sector, these skills are even more important, associated with the art of hospitality, which is required in all functions of the tourism operation – from general management to maintenance.

On arrival at a hotel, most of the times, the first contact of the guest/tourist is with the gardener and/or with the staff of the external maintenance of the spaces, and therefore we need to prepare these employees for these situations.

Considering the importance of technical knowledge associated with each operational function of the hotel and tourism industry, a sustainable tourist destination must develop education and training policies that prepare its human resources to respond to local companies that, in turn, have to respond to the increasingly different demands of its customers, who are also increasingly well trained and informed.

In this context, of evolution and consequent competitiveness between tourist destinations, a process of continuous education is required, which, on the one hand, allows for the initial training of professionals and, on the other hand, stimulates a training process of continuous updating and professional development, in a close partnership between the public sector (government) and the private sector (the companies operating in the sector). Only a collaborative work between these parties will make a difference and make the tourism activity and success sustainable.

Despite the recent situation of global stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expected long-term growth of the global tourism market and competition for skilled labor will continue to increase, now more than ever, placing demands on tourism destinations special care in terms of training of its professionals, who, in addition to technical and behavioral skills, now have to be prepared to provide their services in an increasingly professional manner, while at the same time managing to guarantee 'social and health security' for their clients/tourists.

That said, the purpose of this document is to define the terms of contracting consultancy services for the implementation and management of EHT in its dual pedagogical and operational aspects for a period of 36 months.

1.1Constraints of the Current Sector Training Framework in STP

In addition to the fact that there are few institutions offering specialized professional training courses in the hotel and tourism sector in São Tomé and Príncipe, there is a considerable percentage of unemployed young people who will find a real employment opportunity in the hotel and tourism sector.

On the other hand, we are also witnessing a shortage of qualified workers to work in the hotel and tourism sector, resulting in a large number of workers without technical training in the area. The lack of professional service and quality can sometimes leave a negative impression on tourists in relation to the quality of services provided in hotels and restaurants. Among the main areas of training and improvement of skills required by hotel and tourism establishments are: waiters, bartenders, cooks, maids, receptionists, middle managers and intermediate managers, as well as skills such as cordiality, hospitality and professional attitude towards professional performance for all occupations dealing with customer service.

1.2 Context of the emergence of the STP Hotel and Tourism School

Skill-based tourism professions

Competency-based training programs are based on occupational standards, which address the skills needed to perform in a professional manner the functions associated with the wide variety of jobs in the tourism sector. These standards represent an analysis or job profile that contains criteria-based performance statements, job knowledge requirements, and contextual information. These are reference points against which occupations (or skill sets) and people's proficiency in those occupations are assessed. Many of the occupational patterns also contain core competency profiles associated with the specific occupation. Core competencies are “enabling” skills that provide a foundation for occupation-specific technical knowledge.

When viewed from a task perspective, most tourism-related jobs are considered to require technical skills from beginner to advanced level.

As in all other sectors of the economy, technology has also had a significant impact on tourism jobs. On the one hand, technology has replaced a lot of human labor in repetitive jobs (eg airport check-in, hotel check-out); on the other hand, it reduced the workload of certain tasks (eg hotel check-in, food preparation). In addition to these technical or "hard" skills, many of which are learned on the job or in professional programs, "soft" skills are of increasing importance.

Thus, one of the main areas that require attention in the country is the development of its human resources in order to benefit from the growth of the tourism industry, as it is a vital sector for the country's economy and development. Skills to be developed range from customer service, skills improvement for the existing workforce and support the development of innovative initiatives, adapting the size and quality of services to small, medium and large companies in the sector.

Taking into account all existing training initiatives in the country, it is now important to create synergies for professional training aimed at the tourism and hotel industry and to develop the activities of: (i) vocational training for the retraining of workers in the sector, (ii) technical training and vocational training of the youth interested in the hotel and tourism sector and (iii) develop training courses for trainers (pedagogical and technical component in the hotel and tourism sectors) (iv) specialized consultancy and support for companies in the sector.

1.3 Description of the Project for the creation of the School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHT) of STP

1.3.1 - Objectives

The EHT to be implemented will contribute to the training, capacity building and education of young people and adults in Sao Tome, promoted by a differentiated, eminently practical education, oriented towards entering the labor market or for the advancement of studies. However, the infrastructure, being a Hotel and Tourism School par excellence, will have another differentiated offer that will serve the entire local population and will constitute a national reference space in terms of training and events.

This should be ensured through the satisfaction of the Government of STP, funding entities, the EHT management team, customers, students, suppliers, employees and strategic partners, through the services provided, the excellence in the quality of education and training and the establishment of new partnerships that elevate the value of the institution and the hotel and tourism sector in São Tomé and Príncipe.

1.3.2 - EHT-STP institutional structure

The implementation and management, during the first 36 months of the EHT-STP's life, will be carried out by a specialized entity of a non-governmental nature that, for this purpose,  presents due qualifications.

However, the EHT-STP has an Executive Committee, which functions as the EHT-STP's sovereign and supervisory body

ROLE/DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of the EHT-STP - composed of representatives of the private sector of the hotel and tourism sector of STP and the General Directorate of Tourism and Hospitality - assumes the following functions and attributions:

Selection and evaluation committee of the proposals of the international hotel and tourism schools that compete to be the entity that helps to establish and manage the EHT-STP during the first 36 months. In addition, it must carry out quarterly evaluations of the selected international hotel school, in order to monitor and assess the achievement of the objectives.

It should also serve as the selection committee for the EHT-STP management team and instructors.

It must have decision-making power in defining and approving the courses to be offered by the EHT-STP. These include both vocational courses to be offered to young people and short courses that can be offered to industry professionals. Decisions will be related to:

a) the types of courses;

b) duration of courses;

c) specific curriculum for each course;

d) Duration and type of curricular internships for trainees in the private sector;

The Executive Committee should also:

a) Approve the Statutes of the EHT-STP School, as well as its internal regulations;
 

b) Contribute to and, finally, approve the decisions taken regarding the renovation of the building and what equipment should be acquired by the school;

c) Supervise, guide and inspect the operations and facilities of the EHT-STP School;

d) Ratify the EHT-STP's accountability instruments, namely the annual budget proposals, the budget and activity reports (monthly and annual), and the management accounts;

e) Provide guidance on the fees to be charged (when applicable) for each course;

f) Approve the creation, suspension and termination of courses;

g) Controlling and ensuring the legality of the EHT-STP's operations, as well as the quality of the teaching that is being provided;

h) Cooperate with the management entity in order to facilitate the use (free of charge or through payment of a symbolic fee) of the facilities and equipment of private sector establishments for practical classes;

i) Decide on appeals in disciplinary proceedings and others whose interposition is provided for by express legal provision;

j) Ratify the EHT-STP forecast management instruments, namely activity plans and strategic projects;

k) Approve the symbols of the School, as proposed by the respective General Director;

l) Advise on ancillary services to be provided by the EHT-STP (such as a public restaurant, hosting events, and consulting services);

m) Exercising other attributions contained in the applicable law and regulations;

n) Meet monthly to receive progress reports from the managing entity and administrators and make recommendations/decisions as necessary.

1.3.3 - Infrastructure

Taking into account the existing facilities, EHT-STP will be housed in a building provided by the Government/Ministry of Tourism and Culture located in the city of São Tomé, next to São Tomé and Príncipe international airport, in an independent building

The building has only one floor; it should be adapted to include classrooms, workshops/laboratories in order to suit it for the dynamics of practical classes (Kitchen and Pastry; Restaurant and Bar, Reception and Floors), an educational restaurant open to the general public, administrative component, multipurpose room, toilets, circulation areas, meeting room, management office and outdoor porches.

A professional kitchen should lso be added for training in the areas of cooking and pastry.

1. CONSULTING OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Managing Entity shall manage the EHT-STP in the scope of operational and pedagogical activities. The Management Entity will be responsible for implementing the EHT, conducting training during the first 36 months of the EHT-STP's operation and preparing a local team (appointed by the Executive Committee) to take over the technical and pedagogical administration of EHT in subsequent years.

2.1 General and specific responsibilities of the Managing Entity

The Managing Entity shall manage the EHT-STP for 36 months, teach the various training courses agreed with the Executive Committee, as well as train the teaching and administrative staff appointed by the EHT Executive Committee to take over the administration of the EHT and the technical pedagogical coordination from the 4th year of EHT's life. The Managing Entity will report directly to the Executive Committee by submitting periodic implementation reports on the execution of the training plan and related activities supported by documents and financial reporting of expenses incurred in the training process and management of any commercial component, as per acceptable standards applicable to any World Bank financed project.

It will be the responsibility of the Contracted Entity to direct, guide, streamline and control the activities of the EHT-STP in accordance with its Statutes, the law and applicable regulations, and in compliance with the recommendations presented in the Tourism Skills Development Plan (PDCT), which is a strategic document and crucial to capacity building in the the tourism sector in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Thus, the Contracted Entity must present, to the Executive Committee, a technical/pedagogical and financial proposal for the integrated management of the São Tomé and Príncipe Hotel and Tourism School, taking into account the general and specific activities presented below.

The following are, among others, the main general activities:

Carry out management of EHT in terms of pedgogy, financially and assets management in accordance with the following management instruments: Activity plans and annual budgets; Monthly and annual activity reports; and Annual management accounts.

Recruit and manage EHT-STP personnel, in compliance with the provisions of the São Tome and Principe Labor Code and other applicable legislation.

Promote and ensure the scientific, technical, human and cultural training of trainees;

Organize studies and applied and adaptive research activities in the areas in which training is carried out;

Develop complementary training activities and support the training of technicians in the areas of hotels, tourism and restaurants;

Promote the creation of a center of excellence in supporting technical-professional and business training and the development of tourist and hotel activities;

Develop initiatives aimed at interacting with the labor and employment market from a technical-scientific perspective and adapting it to the opportunities for exercising the professional activity.

As specific activities, the Contracted Entity must also:

Support, through the presentation of a proposal to the Executive Committee, in the readaptation of the training spaces (pedagogical and technical) of the EHT-STP;

Support, through the presentation of a proposal to the Executive Committee, in the preparation of the map of specific equipment and utensils to be acquired for EHT-STP, as well as in the procurement and acquisition process of these (according to the defined budget);

Participate, in articulation with the Executive Committee, in the selection process of the national management team that will accompany the team of international consultants during the first 36 months of the EHT-STP implementation;

Train, during the first 36 months, the national management team appointed by the Executive Committee;

Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposal and typology of EHT-STP courses for the first 36 months, as well as the programs and respective syllabus;

Technical, pedagogical, financial and administrative management of EHT-STP;

Oversee the functioning of the EHT-STP and ensure the quality of training actions, as well as discipline in the institution;

Presenting the EHT-STP regulation proposal to the Executive Committee;

Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposed plan of activities, strategic projects and the school's budget;

Put the EHT-STP restaurant and pedagogical bar in operation and open to the general public;

Submit monthly (and annual) activity reports and management accounts to the Executive Committee;

Ensure budget execution (as approved by the Executive Committee);

Ensure compliance with planned activities;

Represent EHT-STP in the acts, contracts and activities for which it is mandated;

Overseeing the management of human resources at EHT-STP, performing all necessary acts, under the terms of applicable law and internal regulations;

Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposal for the internal regulation of the EHT-STP;

Exercising the disciplinary powers assigned to them by the school's internal regulations;

Establish cooperative relationships with other training centers, companies, public and private entities, national, foreign or international, in coordination with the governing body;

Promote the development of research activities and encourage the use of information and communication technologies in school training initiatives; and

Ensure compliance with applicable legal and regulatory standards, especially in terms of professional training.

Meeting monthly, or whenever called to do so, with the Executive Committee, in order to present the monthly activity reports;

Open an EHT-STP bank account for depositing income from commercial activity. The fund from this account will be made available at the end of the project with the aim of constituting EHT-STP's working capital.

Prepare and submit for approval, up to two months before the end of the service provision contract, the sustainability plan for EHT, covering financial, operational, technical, legal and institutional aspects.

The Contracted Entity will carry out its duties under the supervision of the Executive Committee, without prejudice to the powers of the member of government responsible for the area of professional training, under the legal and regulatory terms.

This means that one of the first activities to be developed by the Contracted Entity will be the presentation, to the Executive Committee, of the proposal for courses, programs and syllabus.

After approval of the proposed courses, programs and syllabus by the Executive Committee, the Contracted Entity must submit, for approval, certification and approval, the courses, programs and syllabus to the entity responsible for professional training in São Tomé and Príncipe.

2.2 Training requirements

The requirements to be adopted in the training process are:

The training of candidates must follow the principles of the modular system and competency-based assessment. It must, however, observe at least the requirements established by regulatory bodies.

That when designing the programs, the Hotel and Tourism Professions Qualifier in force in the country should be taken into account.

That young candidates must go through a selection process that includes an analysis of their educational qualifications and a personal interview.

2.3 Targets to be achieved by activity and respective implementation schedule

Activity 1 - Support, by submitting a proposal to the Executive Committee, the readaptation of training spaces (pedagogical and technical) of the EHT-STP;

Schedule: up to 15 days after contracting;

Activity 2 - Support, through the presentation of a proposal to the Executive Committee, in the preparation of the map of specific equipment and utensils to be acquired for EHT-STP, as well as in the procurement and acquisitions process (depending on the defined budget);

Schedule: up to 30 days after contracting;

Activity 3 - Participate, in articulation with the Executive Committee, in the selection process of the national management team that will accompany the team of international consultants during the first 36 months of EHT-STP implementation;

Schedule: up to 30 days after contracting;

Activity 4 - Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposal and typology of EHT-STP courses for the first 36 months, as well as the programs and respective syllabus;

Schedule: up to 30 days after contracting;

Activity 5 - Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposal for EHT-STP regulations;

Schedule: up to 45 days after hiring;

Activity 6 - Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposed plan of activities, strategic projects and the school's budget;

Schedule: up to 45 days after hiring;

Activity 7 - Submit monthly (and annual) activity reports and management accounts to the Executive Committee;

Schedule: Until the 5th of the following month (counting from the first month of activity);

Activity 8 - Present, to the Executive Committee, the proposal for the internal regulation of the EHT-STP;

Schedule: Up to 60 days after hiring;

Activity 9- Open an EHT-STP bank account for the deposit of income from commercial activity. The fund from this account will be made available at the end of the project with the aim of constituting EHT-STP's working capital.

Schedule: Up to 90 days after hiring

Activity 10 - Put the EHT-STP restaurant and pedagogical bar in operation and open to the general public;

Schedule: Up to 150 days/5 months after hiring

2.3.1 - Course plan to be developed by EHT-STP and respective goals and schedules

The EHT-STP must have the following courses available for the three years:

2.3.1.1 – TRAINER TRAINING COURSE – BASED ON SKILLS STANDARDS – TRAINER TRAINING SPECIALISTS

Number of courses to be developed: 3 (one course for each year of contract duration)

Number of trainees to be involved: 45 in total;

Number of hours per course: 116 hours of pedagogical component + 160 hours, per specialization area, of technical component;

Specialization areas: Cooking & Pastry; Restaurant & Bar; Tourist & Hotel Operations.

Schedule:

Year 1: 1st edition completed within 100 days after contracting (this course can be taught in a space rented for this purpose, as the EHT-STP should only be functional 60 days after contracting the Management Entity);

Year 2: 2nd edition completed within 100 days of beginning of year 2;

Year3: 3rd edition completed within 100 days of the beginning of year 3.

2.3.1.2 – DOUBLE CERTIFICATION PROFESSIONAL COURSES INTENDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 15 AND 24 YEARS (EQUIVALENCE TO THE 12th YEAR OF SCHOOL AND TO THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE AT LEVEL IV)

Number of trainees to be reached in the double certification professional courses (duration of 3 years) – Cooking & Pastry

Number of trainees to be reached in the double certification professional courses (duration of 3 years) – Restaurant & Bar

Number of trainees to be reached in the dual certification professional courses (duration of 3 years) – Reception

Number of trainees to be reached in the double certification professional courses (duration of 3 years) – Floors & Laundry

Total number of trainees to be reached in dual certification vocational courses (young people aged 15 to 24): courses lasting 3 years, which lead to an academic certification equivalent to the 12th year and a level IV professional certification.

TOTAL OF YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL COURSES DURING THE THREE YEARS OF OPERATION OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY: 216

TOTAL YOUNG CERTIFICATES (12TH GRADE CERTIFICATE AND LEVEL IV PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE) AT YEAR END 3: 92

2.3.1.3 – SHORT-TERM REQUALIFICATION COURSES FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE SECTOR AND THE POPULATION IN GENERAL;

This typology of courses is part of a modular training logic, lasting from 1 to 3 months. They are aimed at people employed/active in the sector who seek to reinforce certain specific domains related to their professional activity, as well as the population in general, employed and unemployed, who wish to enter the world of hotels and tourism.

TOTAL SECTOR ASSETS/GENERAL POPULATION TO BE INVOLVED IN SHORT-TERM COURSES DURING THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY'S FIRST THREE YEARS: 450

2.3.1.4 - SEMINARS

This typology of seminars is part of a logic of training in tourism, lasting 1-2 days per seminar. It is aimed at employees in the sector (managers, directors, operation personnel, etc.) and at the academic and scientific community – from secondary education to higher education.

TOTAL PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN SEMINARS DURING THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY: 200

GRAND TOTAL OF STUDENTS/TRAINEES INVOLVED AND CERTIFICATES IN TRAINING ACTIONS PROMOTED BY THE MANAGEMENT OF EHT-STP IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS