ocds-bidanga-ZM-OP00363139
Consultancy Services for Audit of the Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan on the Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) — Zambia Road Developm…
Titre original : CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR AUDIT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARAP ON THE IRCP
Deadline
June 20, 2025
Key information
- Type
- Construction
- Deadline
- June 20, 2025 at 12:00 AMClosed
- Estimated Value
- Not disclosed
- Language of Notice
- English
Description
ROAD DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
TERMS OF REFERENCE
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR AUDIT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABBREVIATED RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN ON THE IMPROVED RURAL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT (IRCP) - ZM-RDA-493208-CS-LCS
- Introduction
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the World Bank (WB) to implement the Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) across all ten provinces of Zambia. The project, spanning from 2018 to 2025, employs the Output and Performance Road Contract (OPRC) approach.
The Public Roads Act of 2002, amended in 2006 and 2022, mandates the Road Development Agency (RDA) to maintain the Public Road Network, which spans 67,671Km. For sustainability and efficient public expenditure, the RDA focuses on a Core Road Network (CNR) of 40,454Km, including Trunk, Main, District, Primary, Feeder, and Urban Roads. The OPRC emphasizes the rehabilitation and maintenance of gravel roads, which remain unpaved due to low traffic volumes and funding constraints. These roads, currently in use, suffer from potholes, eroded embankments, rutting, and blocked drainages, making them inaccessible in some areas.
During the construction phase, the focus is on rehabilitation, while the operational phase places emphasis on maintenance. Rehabilitation involves significant material loosening and geometric changes to the roadway, including fore-slopes and ditches. Maintenance involves routine work to keep the road smooth, remove slight defects, and maintain the crown for water flow.
The Government of Zambia has implemented the Output and Performance Based Road Contracting system on a significant portion of the Primary Feeder Roads network. The project's overall objective is to improve rural accessibility for communities in the selected areas.
- Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP)
The IRCP has both positive and negative environmental and social impacts. In addition to provincial Environmental Project Briefs (EPB), Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plans (ARAP) were prepared for each package in accordance with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards guidelines to address the social impacts.
ARAP implementation for some packages is complete and ready for audit, while on others it is ongoing. The initial ARAP reports were based on conceptual road designs. However, approved road designs led to the inclusion of new Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and the exclusion of some initial PAPs due to road realignments. This ensured all PAPs were relocated before civil works commenced. Table 1 below shows the status of ARAP implementation per package.
Table 1: ARAP Implementation Status
| Package No. | Length (Km) | Province | District | Status of ARAP Implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 254 | Central | Mkushi | ARAP implementation completed on all roads. |
| 2 | 249.9 | Central | Chibombo & Mumbwa | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 3 | 354 | Eastern | Petauke & Nyimba | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 4 | 181 | Eastern | Petauke, Sinda & Katete | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 5 | 254 | North Western | Kasempa & Mufumbwe | Works not yet procured |
| 6 | 262 | North Western | Kabompo & Manyinga | ARAP implementation completed on 228 km, ongoing on 34 km |
| 7 | 203.8 | Northern | Senga Hill & Mbala | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 8 | 198.8 | Northern | Luwingu & Lupososhi | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 9 | 204.2 | Luapula | Chipili, Kawambwa, Mwense, Mwansdabombwe | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 10 | 186.9 | Luapula | Samfya and Chifunabuli | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 11 | 283.8 | Southern | Mazabuka and Chikankata | ARAP implementation completed on 88 km, ongoing on 196 km |
| 12 | 155 | Southern | Zimba, Kalomo, Kazungula | Contract terminated, new procurement in progress |
| 13 | 255 | Copperbelt | Chililabombwe, Chingola, Kalulushi, Lufwanyama | ARAP not completed |
| 14 | 187 | Muchinga | Chinsali and Shiwang’andu | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 15 | 178.4 | Muchinga | Isoka & Mafinga | ARAP implementation completed on all roads |
| 16 | 251 | Western | Kaoma and Lukulu | ARAP implementation in progress |
| 17 | 156.8 | Western | Mongu and Senanga | ARAP implementation completed on 55 km |
| 19 | 284 | Lusaka | Chongwe, Rufunsa, Luangwa | ARAP implementation completed on 32 km |
| Total | 4,1003. ObjectiveThe RDA seeks a consultancy firm to:• Review the land acquisition process to date per package.• Identify any gaps regarding the World Bank’s Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12).• Formulate a Corrective Action Plan to address any identified gaps.The audit aims to understand and identify key issues and possible non-compliances with the World Bank’s Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement. The Action Plan will provide a realistic process for addressing outstanding compensation issues.4. Scope of ServicesThe consultancy shall document and assess the land acquisition process under the IRCP and determine compliance with the World Bank resettlement policy. The Consultant shall identify and summarize key gaps and formulate an Action Plan to address them. Existing information, including Valuation and Compensation reports, will be utilized. Specific corrective actions will be proposed in an Action Plan if non-compliances or gaps are identified.4.1 Key IssuesKey issues to be documented and assessed include:• Information on the number, types, and names of PAPs, including heads of households and other household members already compensated or awaiting compensation.• Whether the methods used for calculating and delivering compensation were in compliance with Zambian national law and the World Bank’s Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (e.g., whether market value or replacement value were used, estimation of lost crops and income, national standards for valuation, etc.), including whether livelihood restoration measures were carried out.• Types and amounts of monetary and non-monetary compensation measures for each PAP (and, in the case of monetary or land-for-land compensation, whether it met the criteria of replacement value), with reference to the valuation methods used under the current national procedure, and any gaps in relation to the World Bank’s Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement.• Whether there were any delays with regard to compensation and if so, the reasons for those delays, both in general (e.g., institutional issues), and with specific regard to each PAP (e.g., lack of legal title, delays in identifying the owner, person’s absence at the time of the census, existing legal dispute, opposition of the owner to the land acquisition, failure to satisfactorily notify the owner, etc.), and whether any amount remains in escrow for the owner to access without conditions;• In case of any amounts held in escrow, the measures taken to notify the owners of the existence of the funds and the procedures for accessing them.• The extent to which the needs and interests of members of vulnerable groups (including persons with disabilities, illiterate persons, poorest of the poor, persons with serious illnesses, the elderly, women, etc.) were taken into consideration in the resettlement process, including in the calculation of compensation.• The extent to which any host communities were consulted and any potential socio-economic impacts on them taken into consideration.• Any outstanding grievances, including those associated with the relocation of graves, and how they were resolved by IRCP.4.2 TasksIt is envisaged that tasks that will be undertaken for the review and audit will include:i) Meeting with Relevant Officials• Obtain a project background and an outline of the resettlement process;• Visit all specified sites to provide introductions to all relevant officials;• Gain an overall understanding of the client’s resettlement policy, principles, and objectives;• Clarify compensation methodology and the process of land acquisition, including the provision of alternate housing opportunities and livelihood restoration; and• Discuss overall aspects of household resettlement and ascertain any key issues.iii) Meeting with PAPs• Obtain PAPs' perspectives on compensation and other assistance received;• Assess whether PAPs were paid in accordance with the signed Compensation Agreements/Signed Acquittal and Consent forms;• Assess the quality of reinstatements;• Assess PAPs' ability to maintain their former livelihood standards in new situations;• Understand changes in livelihoods from farming to other occupations (if applicable); and• Discuss any grievances, how they were resolved by IRCP, and if there are any outstanding grievances.4.3 Products/DeliverablesThe following products/Deliverables are required:i) Inception ReportThe Inception Report will summarize the Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and methodology for fulfilling its requirements. It should include an updated work plan and schedule, reporting mechanisms, list of stakeholders to be consulted, a strategy for communicating with relevant project stakeholders, as well as the tools and methodology to be used for data collection and analysis.ii) Draft Audit Report and Corrective Action Plan• The report should overview the client’s resettlement procedures and assess compliance with OP 4.12, especially regarding resettlement (refer to ANNEX 1 for the report outline);• For any cases of non-compliance, a description of the severity of the non-compliance and recommendations for resolving it presented in a practical and time-bound Corrective Action Plan, with a proposed budget and time frame for each activity; an |
Tender Timeline
Publication
June 11, 2025
Bid Submission Deadline
June 20, 2025
Evaluation & Award
Pending
Contract Signature
Pending