Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Study — Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project

Kingdom of Lesotho GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE COUNTRY : Kingdom of Lesotho PROJECT : Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project CREDIT No. : 7169-LS PROJECT ID No. : P175783 The Kingdom of Lesotho has received financing in the amount of US$ 45 million equivalent from the World Bank toward the cost of the Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, works, non-consulting services and consulting services to be procured under this project.

The project includes the following components: Component 1: Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Resilience of MSMEs (Total: US$ 20 million from IDA) Project activities under this component support increasing access to finance through three sub-components: i) Enhancing Government to Business Digital Services; ii) Improving Access to Financial Services and iii) Strengthening the Resilience of MSMEs to Climatic Shocks. These activities include procurement of applicable goods, consulting services and non-consulting services to enable achievement of the Component goals.

Component 2: Scaling support for Entrepreneurship and MSMEs (Total: US$ 29.5 million from IDA) Project activities under this component continue to support Entrepreneurship and MSMEs through three sub-components: i) Establishing an Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility; ii) Scaling Up of the Lesotho Enterprise Assistance Program; and iii) Expanding SME participation in High Potential Value Chains. The activities under this Component include procurement of applicable goods, minor works, consulting services and non-consulting services.

Component 3: Project Management and Implementation Support (Total: US$ 3 million from IDA) This component supports implementation costs of the PSC Project II by supporting the Project Management Unit (PMU) in the key areas of project coordination, management, fiduciary functions (procurement and finance management, monitoring and evaluation, environmental and social safeguards, project communications, and citizen engagement. The activities under this Component include procurement of modest goods, minor works, consulting services and non-consulting services.

Procurement of contracts financed by the World Bank will be conducted through the procedures as specified in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (September 2023) (Procurement Regulations) and is open to all eligible firms and individuals as defined in the Procurement Regulations. The project is being implemented, and the World Bank arranges for the publication, on its external website, of the agreed procurement plan and all subsequent updates once it has provided a no objection.

Specific procurement notices for contracts subject to open international competitive procurement will be announced, as they become available, in UN Development Business online, on the World Bank’s external website, and Local Newspapers. Interested eligible firms and individuals who would wish to be considered for the provision of goods, works, non-consulting services and consulting services for the above-mentioned project, or those requiring additional information, should contact the Borrower at the address below: The Project Manager Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project 1st Floor Matanki House Corner Balfour and Kingsway Road P O Box 747 Maseru 100 Lesotho Telephone : (+266) 22 315 100 Fax Number : (+266) 22 315 099 Email Address : cmokuku@cafi.org.ls