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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTANTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)
COUNTRY: RWANDA
NAME OF PROJECT: Governance for Competitiveness Technical Assistance(G4C TA) Project
Credit: 65351 – RW
Assignment Title: CONSULTANT SERVICE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO
FORMULATE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MINISTRY OF TRADE AND
INDUSTRY (MINICOM)
Reference No.: 011/S/SPIU/2012/MINICOM
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) has a wide-reaching mandate that is centralto the Government of Rwanda's economic development agenda as elaborated in national strategies such as Vision 2020, the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) and 7-Year Government Plan. MINICOM leads the Sector Working Group on Private Sector Development under EDPRS and also assumes vice-chairmanship of the Economic Cluster. It is a leading institution in the development of the second five-yearEDPRS, which will come into effect in July 2013.
MINICOM's vision is to achieve accelerated and sustained economic growth led by a dynamic and competitive private sector, and its mission is to facilitate Rwanda's economic transformation through enabling a competitive private sector integrated into regional and global markets, while ensuring a level playing field and the protection of consumers.
The Ministry's keyactivities are clustered into three General Directorates, namely: Planning, Policy and M&E, (2) Trade and Investment and (3) Industry and SME Development. In addition, MINICOM has three affiliated agencies: the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS, established in 2002), the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA, established in 2008) and the National Inspectorate and Competition Authority (NICA, established in 2011).
MINICOM also houses a Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), which coordinates all internally and externally financed projects within the Ministry. MINICOM has also established a decentralization framework with local governments to allow them todeliver on issues regarding trade, industry, tourism and cooperatives. Provincial trade focal points are supplemented by District Cooperative and Business Officers (DCOs) as well as Rural Small and Medium Enterprise facilitators who coordinate the Proximity Business Advisory (PROBA) program in the district.
Under Vision 2020, Rwanda now targets real economic growth of 11.5% per year in order to graduate from a Least Developed Country to Middle Income status by 2020; this will be driven by industrial and service sector growth of 14% and 13.5% respectively. External trade mustincrease from 46% of GDP in 2011 to 60% of GDP by 2020, and gross national investment will reach 30% of GDP (currently 21%). Off-farm employment will reach 3.2 million from the 2010 level of 1.4 million.
The Government of Rwanda has now begun the process of designing EDPRS II, which will run from 2013 to 2018. As part of this process,a PSD Sector Strategy is being developed to detail sector objectives,priority actions and mechanisms for coordination, monitoring and evaluation. The implementing agencies will then design their own strategicplans to achieve these goals.
The overall objective of the consultancy work therefore is to produce a comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the EDPRS-II period (2012/13 - 2017/18) that is fully aligned to the PSD sector strategy.
The Strategic Plan will provide a coherent list of key development priorities and activities within MINICOM's remit to achieve Vision 2020 and EDPRS-II targets:
Economic Growth of 11.5% per annum
Growth in Exports: 28% per annum
Industrial Output: 14% per annum
Growth in Services: 13.5% per annum
Investments to reach 30% of GDP in 2020 with private investment contributing 20% and public investment 10%
Job creation: At least 200 000 jobs created annually
The strategic initiatives that will be identified to be implemented by MINICOM will show a clear link with the targets highlighted above. Particularly highlighting how the private sector will be incentivized and promoted to lead to achieve these goals.
Scope of services
The scope of this consultancy work will entail developing a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The final report should be ready for validation 45 days aftertaking up this assignment.
Key tasks
The specific activities and tasks will include:
§ Desk Research: An in-depth review of all relevant literature, including – but not limited to – Government policies,strategies and legislation, Joint Sector Reviews, analytical studies,Ministry Action Plans and budgets as well as reports, articles and statistics. This should utilise country-specific information and analysis but also draw on experiences and best practices from the region and beyond where pertinent.
National documents to inform the Sector Strategy should include, but notlimited to:
- Vision 2020
- Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2013-18 (draft)
- PSD Sector Strategy 2013-18
- Government of Rwanda 7-Year Plan
- Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
§ Consultations with relevant parties and stakeholders: A detailed list and plan of individuals and organisations to consult will be drawn up at the inception stage of the work and included in the inception report. There will be wide reaching consultations within and external to the Ministry;
§ Analysis of findings and elaboration of detailed Strategy as per the objectives of Section 3;
§ A Stakeholder Validation Workshop after the draft final report is produced. This will bring together the Consultant, MINICOM and all relevant parties from Government Ministries, Agencies, Development Partners, Private Sector organisations and companies, and Civil Society.
§ In the course of the assignment, the consultant are expected to work closely with a staff at MINICOM and ensure that there is effective skills and knowledge transfer including, but not limited to the approaches, methodologiesused, tools and presentation of various reports. In this regard, MINICOM shall designate their representative who shall present the Draft Final Strategy to the stakeholders and be complemented by the consultant.
QUALIFICATION & COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
The expert should possess the following general skills: have good knowledge of the business environment and issues regarding private sector development in Rwanda.
In addition, the Consultant should possess the following portfolio of experience and qualifications:
· At least a Master's degree in Economics, Management, Trade or related field
· Knowledge and experience of current issues relating to private sector development;
· Knowledge and experience in formulation of Action Plans and budgeting frameworks;
· Strong organisation and communications skills;
· Experience of working with local counterparts to ensure skills and knowledge transfer, coaching and mentoring;
· Fluency in English.
Experience in Rwanda - particularly knowledge of the Rwanda private sector issues- will be considered highly advantageous.
DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY
The consultancy input is expected to take an estimated period of 45 days.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers ("Consultant Guidelines" January 2011), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information onconflict of interest related to this assignment.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:00 to 1700 hours.
Expressions of interest including motivation letters and resumes must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 07th January 2013 at 12:00o'clock.
Single Project Implementation Unit - MINICOM
Attn: UWITONZE Jean Louis, Ag. Coordinator
P O. Box 73 Kigali – Rwanda
Tel: +250 788532112 / 0785 491 031
E-mail: uwitonze.jeanlouis@gmail.com