REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - Consultancy Services to Provide Technical Assistance on Concessions Monitoring, Evaluation and Compliance

Assignment Title : Consultancy Services to Provide Technical Assistance on Concessions Monitoring, Evaluation and Compliance (Re. No.: LR-MOCI-361326-CS-INDV)

Procurement Method: Individual Consultant Selection

Duration: 12months

Background 

The Republic of Liberia through the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has received Financing from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of implementing the Liberia Investment, Trade & Finance Project (LIFT-P) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of the Financing towards payments under the contract for Hiring of Consultant to Provide Technical Assistance on Concessions Monitoring, Evaluation and Compliance, for the National Bureau of Concessions, under the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project (LIFT-P).

The overall objective of the LIFT-P is to improve the investment climate, expand sustainable access to finance, and increase the efficiency of trade in Liberia and help formal MSMEs recover from the impact of the COVID-19. The LIFT-P is an explicit contributor to the FY19-FY24 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found below. 

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“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 shortlisting criteria are listed as per the Terms of Reference attached. 

The Individual Consultants must have minimum qualifications and experience as per the Terms of Reference.
The Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016 as Revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020). 
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 0900 to 1600 hours GMT, Monday to Friday. 
Expressions of Interest must be delivered in written forms to the address below (in person, or by
mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) on or before Monday July 3, 2023. Please indicate the assignment of your interest in your submission with subject: 
“Re: Hiring of SME Advisor for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ref. No.: LR-MOCI-363913-CS-INDV”. or “Consultancy Services to Provide Technical Assistance on Concessions Monitoring, Evaluation and Compliance, Ref. No.: LR-MOCI-361326-CS-INDV”.

Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project (LIFT-P)
Attn: Mr. James Gayflor Quiqui 
Project Coordinator
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Ministerial Complex 
Congo Town
Monrovia, Liberia
Tel: +231 777 240 201/775 654 713 
E-mail: jamesquiqui@gmail.com 
Cc: vanyanbah.julius@yahoo.com

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background and General Description
The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) is implementing the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade (LIFT) Project (P171997) with financing from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group ($40 million). This project was developed to support the government’s strategic objectives to promote private sector development. Accordingly, the project development objective is to improve the investment climate, expand sustainable access to finance, and increase the efficiency of trade in Liberia. Achieving this objective requires technical support to government institutions including the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC) by building staffers’ capacity such that they are in position to carry out concessions monitoring and evaluation, including the monitoring of compliance. Capacity enhancement as such will contribute to economic growth and hold companies/concessionaires accountable to remain committed to agreements signed with the Government of Liberia. 
 

Description of the Liberia’s Assignment 
Component I of the LIFT-Project focuses on improving the Liberia’s Investment Climate by strengthening institutions providing Government to Business (G2B) services covering investment support, business entry and international trade.
The Government of Liberia has begun the early implementation of a new spatial strategy to accelerate large and potentially transformative private sector investments. A spatial approach (including a focus on new growth corridors, industrial parks, and special economic zones) should allow for better coordination within government and with the private sector, which will further allow proper monitoring to making sure that investors are in compliant. Spatial tools enable bundling for cost-effective delivery of support to industries and promote specific reforms to streamline regulatory processes and procedures. This approach usually involves shared infrastructure and services geared towards specific industries, the coordination of reforms, and readily available convening power to bring together public and private sector actors. Sector and spatial factors can also affect incentives for firm entry and growth. With this approach, investors see the advantages in cost and efficiency of firms working in proximity. Strengthening the capacity of key entities of government involved in carrying out these functions is a key part of these calculations. When implemented correctly, spatial tools generally lead to increased private sector investment directed to areas of excellence and higher productivity in select industries that, with proper linkages, will result in positive spillovers to the broader economy and significant sustainable job growth.
The Government of Liberia has recognized the capacity gap that exists at the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), the state entity responsible for the monitoring of large investments post-commissioning, and know that there is a need for significant capacity-building and training, especially in their work with investors and achieving strong investment impact across agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). 
 

Scope of the consultancy 
The National Bureau of Concessions is seeking a consultant to assist the Concession Sector in enhancing Liberia’s macro and socio-economic development, a major contributor to the national budget through tax and royalty payments; improving the balance of payments position of the country through exports and export earnings.  The consultant is expected to identify existing weaknesses and strengths of staff performance, build on their overall capacity in concession compliance monitoring; improve skills of staff for generating concession related data and making analysis for reliable compliance report writing.  The consultant shall develop indicators (employment, environment, social corporate responsibilities, etc.); and as well design on introduce new monitoring templates in line with the terms of (i) Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs) for mining concessions, (ii) Concession Agreements (CAs) for agriculture concessions, (iii) Forest Management Contracts (FMCs) for forest concessions and Partnership Agreements for the Public private Partnership (PPP) Sectors.   
The Consultant is therefore expected to undertake the following roles and responsibilities:

⦁    Inception, Management, Administration and Monitoring and Evaluation

⦁    Hold consultation/discussion with NBC, other GoL agencies (if necessary), concession-holders, IDH and other donor funded programs working with NBC on concession related issues; GROW and other stakeholders (CSOs, NGOs, community representatives) to understand constraints/key issues relating to concession monitoring at the NBC;

⦁    Review, revise and strengthen existing tools, systems and templates, including the Concession Information Management System (CIMS) and concession reporting template (CRT) of the NBC to ensure proper monitoring (including coordination and feedback mechanisms);
⦁    Train relevant staff of the NBC and concession-holders on the usage of tools, templates and systems;

⦁    Pilot the tools, templates and systems for efficiency and effectiveness with the trained staff;

⦁    Revise tools, templates and systems if necessary/where applicable based on outcomes of pilot testing;

⦁    Work with the NBC to launch a bi-monthly technical monitoring forum that will bring together technicians and practitioners responsible for Natural Resources Management; Government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the concessionaires to deliberate on monitoring parameters, challenges and strategies for effective monitoring, problem solving, and conflict prevention or resolution.  This will enable NBC to be proactive in helping to resolve and or prevent some of the emerging issues in the Natural Resources Sector.

⦁    Technical delivery of Consultancy 

Provide general capacity building support to the NBC in the technical areas of:

⦁    Economic analysis and forecasting – as it relate to concession production, associated revenue, jobs, and other social benefits;
⦁    Database management – on the areas planted, seedling varieties, etc. – indirect implications to conservation protocols and on the Concession Information Management System (CIMS);
⦁    Natural resource management and natural resource law – more regulatory but for all sectors; 
⦁    Evaluation and appraisal of concessions proposals and
⦁    Concession Contract management and evaluation
 

Expected Outcomes

A successful delivery of the assignment will produce the following outcomes:

⦁    Efficient staff performance on concession compliance monitoring and evaluation intended to produce social and economic benefit to the concession sectors;
⦁    Help concession stakeholders and policy makers derive appropriate decisions for the management of concession contracts, etc.;
⦁    Concession compliance monitoring conducted and results achieved to amend existing legislation related to the concession during awarding and review processes; and 
⦁    Review coordinating mechanisms related to the concession awarding process and determine challenges faced by relevant concession granting entities (CGEs) and for appropriate recommendations and improvement in the concession sectors.

Specific deliverables for the assignment include the following: 

 Staff capacities building through trainings, workshops and presentations for drafting monthly, quarterly and annual concession monitoring work plans; 

⦁    Knowledge transferred to prepare concession monitoring reports as required with each concession agreements;

⦁    Concession monitoring templates and issues papers developed for generating concession reports; and

⦁    Enhanced capacity of staff to provide technical support to the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee during the review of concessions and negotiation of new concessions

⦁     Approach and Implementation Arrangements

The assignment will be executed by the consultant and will be monitored by the NBC’s focal person and the Project Implementation Unit, as the implementing body for the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project will play a key coordinating and leadership role in ensuring that these concessions deliver as per the agreements. The Consultant will work closely with the National Bureau of Concessions or its focal person to deliver on this assignment.  

Qualification and Experience

In order to be selected for this assignment, the Consultant must possess the following among other Academic and Professional qualifications:

⦁    A minimum of a post graduate qualification in the field of Concession management and governance and organizational Development;
⦁    Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic planning; 
⦁    Minimum of 5 years of experience in concessions compliance Monitoring and Evaluation;
⦁    Experience in organizational and change management 
⦁    Excellent communication and facilitation skills 
⦁    Highly motivated and committed to MUA values of Professionalism, accountability, courage in action, integrity and team work, Organizational Development / or management or in a related field.
⦁    Excellent knowledge of M & E, the use of advance computer software such as SPSS, STATA, EPI DATA, are added advantages. 
⦁    Good knowledge of the policy/ legislative advocacy field; 

Duration of Consultancy

The duration of the assignment is 12 months 

Reporting Arrangements

The Consultant will provide updates and/or reports to the NBC and the PIU through the NBC Focal Person and the SME Specialist of the LIFT-P.

Selection Criteria 

The shortlisting criteria are: 
⦁    Consultant’s Experience relevant to the Assignment 
⦁    Competency/Qualification of the consultant relevant to the Assignment 
⦁    Consultant’s regional experience in similar context as Liberia.