Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Republic of Fiji

Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-73690

Assignment Title:      Project Manager - Central Project Management Unit

Reference No.:           FJ-MTCA-412376-CS-INDV

The Government of Fiji through the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu or ‘Na Vualiku’ and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include overseeing the Central Project Management Unit (“C-PMU”) established under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (“MTCA”), as the Lead Implementing Agency. The Project Manager will have day-to-day leadership, management and coordination of activities of the Project, including but not limited to the management of C-PMU and the provision of technical, operational and administrative support, activity implementation and capacity building, and the project budget and finances.

The Services will include provision of technical, programming and strategic direction, to help ensure the anticipated goal and outcomes of the Project are achieved. The role will do so in coordination with stakeholders and be responsible for ensuring that implementation, planning and reporting are in accordance with the agreements between the Fiji Government and the World Bank and all relevant procedures. 

The Services shall be for 3 months, with an expected start date of March 2024.

 

 

The detailed Terms of Reference (“TOR”) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.

The MTCA now invites eligible individuals (“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 (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are in the TOR.

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated November 2020 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours of 0800 to 1630 hours.

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 19 March 2024.

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation

Attn: Jacinta Lal (Ms)

Director of Tourism

Level 4, Civic Tower

Victoria Parade, Suva

Tel:   +679 3315577

E-mail: jacinta.lal.fj@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIJI TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN VANUA LEVU

P178694

 

CENTRAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT: PROJECT MANAGER

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Assignment	Project Manager (International)
Implementing Agency	Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA)
Project	Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu
Location	Suva, Fiji
Reports to	Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Civil Aviation
Level of input and duration of the assignment	Full-time basis for the duration of the 3 months

 

 

DESCRIPTION

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA) is a newly established Ministry of the Government of Fiji, responsible for formulating policies to promote a sustainable and resilient tourism industry. The MTCA also oversees the development of civil aviation laws and policies to promote safe, reliable, and affordable air services to and within Fiji.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Government of Fiji is seeking US$61.5 million in project financing from the World Bank (WB) for Phase I of the Fiji Tourism Development Program (Program) in Vanua Levu or ‘Na Vualiku’ (the Project).

 

The Program will be implemented over a multiphase programmatic approach (MPA). The MPA is a comprehensive over-lapping 3-phase tourism development program in Vanua Levu and Taveuni that will support the realization of Fiji’s national development, private sector growth, and green growth plans. The program has two main aims: a) to improve the resilience and sustainability of the tourism industry, including short-term recovery and longer-term diversification and high-value growth; and b) to facilitate the execution of existing Government plans.

 

The Project is the first phase that will support the realization of Fiji’s national development, private sector growth, and green growth plans. The Project aims to set the foundations for sustainable tourism in Vanua Levu.

 

The MTCA will be the Lead Implementing Agency along with two other Project Implementing Units (PIU), including the Fiji Roads Authority and Fiji Airports.

 

In preparation for the Project implementation, a Central Project Management Unit (C-PMU) will be established under the MTCA, staffed with consultants and personnel with key project management skills (procurement, financial management, environment and social risk management, and monitoring and evaluation) and technical expertise (tourism, gender) to manage the Project.  The C-PMU will be supported with technical backstopping in specialized areas from various technical agencies as required.

 

The C-PMU will be a fully integrated part of the MTCA’s structure that provides services to the other divisions, as well as providing planning, monitoring and evaluation, safeguards evaluation and monitoring, progress reports, and financial reporting, in accordance with both the Government of Fiji and World Bank’s requirements.

 

The C-PMU will include resources to deliver the Project services and activities, including work planning, reporting, budgeting and financial management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, safeguards, training and capacity building, and communication.

 

To support the implementation phases, the MTCA is seeking a short-term consultancy for the Project Manager to lead the establishment of the C-PMU and the launch of critical project activities. While the role will report directly to the Permanent Secretary, it is not directly affiliated with the Government of Fiji.

 

 

SCOPE OF SERVICES

 

The Project Manager, based in Suva, Fiji, will lead the implementation of the ‘Na Vualiku’ Project, in accordance with the relevant Government of Fiji (GoF) and World Bank (WB) project design requirements and procedures.

 

The Project Manager will be responsible for the Financial Management Officer, Procurement Officer, Environment and Social Risk Management Specialists, and other positions including but not limited to consultants on demand. The Project Manager will be responsible for leading the hiring process and onboarding of other critical positions such as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Tourism Specialist, and Project Coordination Officer. The role will be equivalent to a Head of Department or Director-level appointment of the Fiji Civil Service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The role will have day-to-day leadership, management and coordination of activities of the Project, including but not limited to the management and staffing of the C-PMU and the provision of technical, operational and administrative support, activity implementation, and the project budget and finances.

 

The role provides technical, programming and strategic direction, to help ensure the anticipated goal and outcomes of the Project are achieved. The role will do so in coordination with stakeholders and be responsible for ensuring that implementation, planning and reporting are in accordance with the agreements between the GoF and the WB and all relevant PIUs. The role must also ensure the Project is implemented in accordance with the WB Environmental and Social Framework and associated environmental and social instruments. The Project Manager will also support MTCA to fully establish and launch the cross-government Project Steering Committee.

 

The Project Manager will have the following specific responsibilities:

 

Leading

• Coordinate the delivery of all activities.
• Lead and supervise the C-PMU.
• Provide high-level strategic and operational level advice to the Permanent Secretary, Ministers and Government.
• Attend Senior Executive Team meetings and lead discussions on Project activities and progress.
• Represent the C-PMU at the Project Steering Committee.
• Coordinate with other Ministries and PIUs working in areas relevant to the Project implementation.
• Lead the development of the Project risk management plan and ensure all risks are appropriately managed and mitigated.
• Manage internal and external communications with respect to the Project activities in close coordination with MTCA and World Bank.

 

Project Establishment

• Lead the establishment of the C-PMU during its initial stages including the recruitment of project staff, the establishment of policies, procedures, manuals, systems, and the development of relationships with key internal, government, and external stakeholders.
• Ensuring strategic engagement of consultants as and when needed.

• Support MTCA is fully establishing and launching the Project Steering Committee (PSC) including hosting the first meeting and providing secretariat support to the committee.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement around the Project including establishing two stakeholder coordination platforms for private sector and civil society.

 

Planning and Management

• Lead the development of the Project Annual Work Plan and Procurement Plan.

• Provide feedback on the Project Operations Manual based on project implementation.
• Ensure the Project activities are aligned with the GoF’s national policies.
• Manage the performance of the C-PMU staff in line with the GoF’s performance management system.
• Effective management and supervision of individual consultants and consulting firms engaged under the Project to achieve high quality deliverables.
• Ensure C-PMU compliance with the GoF’s administrative policies and procedures, and contribute to reviews of these as required.
• Liaise and coordinate with other ministries and agencies as required to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the Project.
• Take leadership in addressing any conflicts in Project prioritization, resourcing and staffing.
• Provide timely communications to MTCA, PSC and other implementing agencies on project progress and implementation challenges.
• Perform any other duties reasonably requested by the Permanent Secretary and/or the Project Steering Committee.

 

Budget and Finance

• Lead the development of the Project Annual Budget.
• Report on the progress of Project budget utilization and forecast expenditure to the Permanent Secretary (monthly or as required).
• Oversee the preparation of quarterly financial reports to the WB.

 

Procurement

• Manage the procurement of required immediate inputs for the Project in line with WB and GoF policies.
• Lead procurement and implementation of critical project activities including the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), MSME Firm Mapping and Pilot Program Design, the Integrated Tourism Master Plan (ITMP), and the monitoring and evaluation baseline assessment and others as determined in the annual work plan.
• Oversee all contracts and ensure all relevant documents are uploaded onto the World Bank’s procurement system Systemic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP).

 

 

Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting

• Ensuring the collection of all data required to track progress towards achieving the development of the Project.
• Supervising the Project’s reporting and monitoring system.
• Ensure the delivery of a quarterly monitoring and evaluation report to the Permanent Secretary.
• Oversee reporting against the Results Framework.
• Coordinate the preparation of the six-monthly Project Progress Report, for submission to the World Bank and the Project Steering Committee.
• Provide details on Project progress for the Annual Report.

 

Organizing

• Coordinating stakeholder engagement around the Project.
• Oversee training and capacity development through a robust capacity building programme.
• Act as Secretariat to the Project Steering Committee.
• Manage internal and external communications with respect to the Project activities.

 

Advice

• Provide high-level strategic and operational level advice to the Permanent Secretary, Ministers and Government.

 

Reporting

• The Project Manager will report to the Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Civil Aviation.

 

KEY DELIVERABLES

 

The Project Manager will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the Project including the following specific deliverables, with the support of the C-PMU and PIU:

 

Key Deliverables	Timing
Delivery of a final Project Operations Manual (draft already created)	1 month after commencement
Monitoring and Evaluation System Development	Upon commencement
Launch of the baseline assessment	As and when required
Annual Work Plan, Procurement Plan and Budget	Upon commencement
Progress Report	Monthly
Financial Reports to the MTCA	Monthly
Financial Reports to World Bank	Quarterly
Successful launch of the SESA, MSME Firm Mapping and Pilot Program Design, and the Integrated Tourism Master Plan (ITMP)	Upon commencement

 

 

WORK COMPLEXITY

 

The most challenging duties typically include:

1. Refining activity proposals, resolving issues and reporting to monitoring and evaluation principles and contributing substantively to the GoF and World Bank requirements.
2. Coordinating and monitoring progress across all proposed Project components and activities.
3. Complying with the administrative requirements of Fiji Government and World Bank.
4. Ensuring correct financial documentation, reporting and information management procedures are followed.
5. Managing multiple contracts involving firms/consortiums/consultants nationally and internationally.
6. Managing relationships between the C-PMU, PIUs, consultants, the World Bank, and others including the provision of advice on differing institutional requirements.

 

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS

 

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications Master’s or Postgraduate in a relevant discipline (project management, business, or other field relevant to this assignment).   Experience At least 7 years of experience in management and administration of large public sector projects with proven ability to successfully coordinate and manage project work. Demonstrated understanding of the tourism sector and its specific development challenges. Extensive experience in managing projects and project staff and resources, and in roles with similar responsibilities. Experience in managing project budgets, with financial systems, and in financial reporting. Experience in managing environment, social and health and safety risks during project implementation. Experience with preparing project documentation including policies and procedures. Experience with working in Pacific or developing countries. Experience in recruiting, managing, motivating and monitoring staff members and/or consultants. Training and/or relevant experience in project monitoring and evaluation. Strong report writing and analytical skills, with a demonstrable record of delivery on time. Experience in using technological solutions and computer programmes.

Experience Experience in managing projects of large, complex scale. Experience in tourism development and/or industry including destination development, policy, and/or community tourism development. Experience with relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and processes of government. Experience in working with World Bank or other International Development Partner funded (foreign aid) projects.

 

This section is designed to capture the expertise required for the role at a 100% fully effective level. (This does not necessarily reflect what the current jobholder has). This may be a combination of knowledge/experience, qualifications or equivalent level of learning through experience or key skills, attributes or specific competencies.

Key Skills/Attributes/Job Specific Competencies

 

The following levels would typically be expected for the 100% fully effective level:

 

Proficient Level	Project management and coordination Project monitoring and evaluation Project planning and reporting
Advanced Level	World Bank administrative and financial procedures Record keeping and document management
Working Knowledge Level	World Bank procurement rules and processes World Bank safeguards Policies and laws of the Government of Fiji
Awareness	Roles and mandates of other organisations and agencies

 

Key Behaviours

 

All candidates are measured against the following Key Behaviours as part of Performance Development

• Commitment/ personal accountability
• Professional/ technical expertise
• Teamwork
• Customer focus
• Effective communication & relationships
• Leadership
• Coaching and development
• Strategic perspective

 

Personal Attributes

• Relevant qualifications
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Results orientation
• Ability to manage and work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams
• Ability to work in an organized and systematic manner
• Ability to transfer information/knowledge to a non-technical audience
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others
• Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behaviour
• Respects individual/cultural differences
• Utilizes diversity to foster teamwork
• Ensures others understanding of, involvement in, adaptation to a change process

 

 

CONTRACT DURATION AND CONDITIONS

 

1. The contract will be for 3 months.
2. This is a full-time position based in Suva, Fiji, and will involve travel to outer Islands, including Vanua Levu.
3. The position is advertised as an international position. It is open to citizens of Fiji or those eligible for a work permit in Fiji. The GoF will support the selected candidate in obtaining a work permit. Travel expenses to and within Fiji shall be covered by the GoF.