REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(Consulting Services – Firms Selection)
Grant No.: TF 098045
Project ID No.: P110407
Assignment Title: Consulting services for Process Monitoring to strengthen the Program operational procedures, monitoring and evaluation systems, and procedures for enhancing Program effectiveness
Reference No.: AREDP/C27
The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA), and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), and intends to apply part of the proceeds of these grants to payments under the contract for Consulting services for Process Monitoring to strengthen the Program operational procedures, monitoring and evaluation systems, and procedures for enhancing Program effectiveness.
The consulting services ("the Services") include process monitoring in the provinces of Bamyan, Parwan, Nangarhar, Hirat, and Balkh, in Afghanistan. The process monitoring agency will support AREDP team to undertake field-based process monitoring, identify critical deviations, factors affecting project implementation, and recommend actions required according to the situation and project nature for an effective and smooth project implementation leading to achieve expected results and program objectives. It will facilitate related program management in getting appropriate feedback on time to take appropriate actions and decisions for improving program execution. The Program component activities are: Community Enterprise Development (SavingsGroups, Village Savings & Loans Association, Enterprise Groups), Small & Medium Enterprises Development. The process monitoring agency will work closely with M & E Unit at AREDP, PMO, Kabul.
The process monitoring agency shall deliver below stated services to support and strengthen program processes, methodologies, AREDP processmonitoring and evaluation functions:
· Review AREDP project documents, results framework, related reports, component operational guidelines, and other related documents
· Develop action plan to conduct process monitoring assignment across AREDP provinces
· Review AREDP Monitoring and Evaluation tools, methods and suggest ways and means to improve further
· Review and monitor time to time procedures/processes in actual field execution in relation to expected procedures/processes as per AREDP guidelines for each program component activities
· Report the deviations and feedback to AREDP for further improvements based on field realities for program component activities.
The consultancy services are required for period of six months spreadover two years. The consultant firm will undertake the assignment forfirst period of three months and later on for another period of 3 months after an interval of 12 months. However, it may be extended further depending on the need and context.
The AREDP, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development, now 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, Descriptionof similar assignments, experience in the region). The short listing criteria are: 1. The firm should have been in the business of process monitoring and evaluation for the past 5 years, 2. The firm should have handled similar assignments, 3. The firm should have experience of handling similar assignments in the region (Central Asia & South Asia).
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loansand IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers – January 2011 ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [0800 to 1600 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 26 May 2012.
Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Program
Attn: Mohammad Abbass Rahimi, Procurement Manager
Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development, Nilabagh Street, Darulaman, Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: 93 (0) 786 555 994
E-mail: mohammadabbass.rahimi@mrrd.gov.af; copy to sukumar.k@mrrd.gov.af;
Website: www.aredp-mrrd.gov.af