Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) for Consultancy service to develop and implement a pilot Business Development Services (BDS) program across the selected locations in Somalia

Job Description

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

Ministry of Finance

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

Country: Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)

Name of the Project: Somalia Capacity Advancement, Livelihood and Entrepreneurship, through Digital Uplift Project (SCALED-UP),

Assignment Title: Consultancy service to develop and implement a pilot Business Development Services (BDS) program across the selected locations in Somalia

Project ID: P168115

Individual/Firm: firm Selection

Deadline for submission of EOI: 27th July 2024 4:00pm

Ref No: SO-MOF-425072-CS-QCBS

1. Background: Somalia’s private sector lacks a strong middle ground, with small businesses struggling to grow and generate jobs. Access to finance is also limited, while 94 percent of firms in the country are estimated to have a bank account, only 4 percent are estimated to have a bank loan or a line of credit – with most financial institutions considering the risk profile of most firms to be very high. The Federal Government aims to address this through the SCALED-UP project, which provides digital financial services and promotes entrepreneurship, especially for women. A subcomponent, the MSME Financing Facility (Gargaara), offers loans to participating financial institutions (PFIs) who then lend to Somali micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in specific sectors.

2. Responsibilities: The consulting firm will design and implement the program, partnering with local service providers to deliver training and advisory services across the selected locations in Somalia; Develop a structured approach and a detailed Implementation Plan for the BDS pilot; Developing a structured approach and a detailed implementation plan outlining participant selection, program management, and fraud mitigation strategies; Develop a detailed Implementation Manual; BDS pilot implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; The Consultant will collect data on project outputs, MSME practices, and performance from all applicants and selected participants for BDS training and advisory services – including attendance/completion data. Gender inclusivity should be ensured in all phases of project implementation. In this context, the selected firm should utilize innovative approaches aimed at reaching

MSEs managed and owned by women that take into account the particularities of Somalia’s social context.

All other specific tasks detailed in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment that can be found at the following website: https://mof.gov.so/publications/terms-reference-tor-business-development-services-somali-msmes

3. Duration: The firm is expected to complete the proposed assignment within one year.

Skills and Qualifications
4. The Ministry of Finance 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 (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). The shortlisting criteria are as follows:

a. Core business of the firm: A minimum of 5 years of in Business (General experience in providing Business Development Service)

b. Specific experience in successfully implementing similar assignments. (Track record delivering high-quality work on BDS project assignments. The Consultant shall provide the name and contact address of the Client (office and e-mail address and telephone number), date(s) of execution, name (s) of lead and associate firms, contract amount and financing sources.

c. Experience of relevant services in an environment similar to that of Somalia and

d. Technical and managerial organization of the firm (provide only the structure of the organization). Do not provide CVs of key staff. Key experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage

5. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services dated in September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

6. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

7. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

How to apply
5. Interested consultant may obtain further information (in person or by e-mail) at the address below during office hours from 8.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Saturday to Thursday except on public holidays.

6. Deadline for submission: Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 27th July 2024 4:00pm Somalia Time

Attention; Project Coordinator

SCALED-UP Project

Ministry of Finance

Federal Government of Somalia

Shangani District, Mogadishu, Somalia

Email Address: bid.scaledup@piu.mof.gov.so

Cc: info@gargaara.com