Facilitating Partners for Local Governance and Service Delivery Project (LGSDP) — Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Western Bahr El Ghazal and Central Equat…

Local Governance and Service Delivery Project (LGSDP)

Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)

COUNTRY: Republic of South Sudan

NAME OF PROJECT: Local Governance and Service Delivery Project

CONSULTING SERVICE: Facilitating Partners for Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Western Bahr El

Ghazal and Central Equatoria States in South Sudan.

IDA Credit No: 5213-SD

Project ID No.: P127079

Ref No: MoFEP/LGSD/PMU/CS/2.4/15

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) is implementing the Local Governance and Service Delivery Project (LGSDP) financed by the International Development Association (IDA) as well as the bi-lateral donor Denmark. The LGSDP is implemented on behalf of GRSS by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP) and the Local Government Board (LGB).

The Project Development Objective of LGSDP is "to improve local governance and service delivery in participatingcounties in South Sudan." Key results include: (a) more inclusiveand participatory local planning, implementation and accountability processes that also address local drivers of conflict; (b) improved county government functionality and capacities through 'learning by doing'; (c) a more predictable and transparent system of transfers to country governments; and (d) expanded access to services in counties covered by the Project.

The Project comprises of four components: (i) block grants to counties for Payam Development; (ii) community engagement; (iii) institutional strengthening; and (iv) Project management support.

A Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) financed Fast TrackInitiative (FTI) was set up in 2012 to pilot the LGSDP in eight counties in four states namely Lakes, Western Equatoria, Upper Nile andJonglei. The main objective of the FTI was to support the achievementof early results in governance and service delivery in these initial states and counties and to field test the Community Engagement Methodology of the LGSDP prior to finalizing the Project's Operation Manual. The community engagement activities were carried out by a contracted Coordinating Agency (CA) and four experienced NGO Facilitating Partners(FPs). The FTI of the LGSDP ended in September 2013. Community projects identified and emerging from thelocal planning process during the FTI are financed by the Payam Development Grant (PDG) under LGSDP and were implemented in the dry season starting November 2014.

Following the December 2013 crisis, Project implementation has been temporarily deferred in Jonglei and Upper Nile. However field level implementation – including community engagement - has resumed in the existing Project states of Lakes and Western Equatoria as well as in the newly selected states of Eastern Equatoria and Warrap. During the Fiscal Years 2015/16 and 2016/17, LGSDP intends to roll out activities to all states of South Sudan depending on the security situation.

During the Fiscal Year 2015/16 three new states have been selected to enter the Project: Northern Bahr El Ghazal, WesternBahr El Ghazal and Central Equatoria. In order to facilitate community engagement in selected counties and payams in these new states, the Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning and Local Government Boardintends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to contract Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Consulting Firms as Facilitating Partners directly through a competitive bidding process. NGO/Consulting Firm may apply for one or all States depending on its comparative advantages and experience in the targeted States. Expression of interest will be evaluated separately for each state and the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued separately.

The Ministry of Finance and Local Government Board will directly contract the Facilitating Partners. The LGSDP Project Management Unit (PMU) will directly coordinate and oversee the assignment to be undertaken by the selected FPs. The FP will be "the Consultant" for the assignment and solely responsible for all deliverables and successful completion.

Duration of the assignment is two years from start date.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Local Governance and Service Delivery Project in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning now invites eligible NGOs/Consulting Firms ("Consultant") 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, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). The short listing criteria are as follows:

a) Specific experience with extensive experiencefrom the relevant states as well as experience from governance related projects or programs.

b) Experience of relevant services in an environment similar to that of South Sudan; and

c) The technical and managerial organization of the Consultant. (Provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications and number of key staff (Do not provide CV of staff)

Attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employmentof Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by WorldBank Borrowers dated January 2011 ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's Policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other consultants in the form of a joint venture ora sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications. The nature of association, whether it is a joint venture or a sub consultancy, should clearly be stated. In case of joint venture the Consultant leading the joint venture should be mentioned.

A Consultantwill be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Interested Consultant may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from 10:00 to 16:00 hours East African Time (GMT + 3) on all working days.

Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below(in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 19th May 2015 at 5.00 P.M. East African Time.

Project Coordinator

Project Management Unit

Local Governance and Service Delivery Project,

Location: Local Government Board (West of Bank of South Sudan)

Juba, South Sudan

Tel No. +211 955 487 459 E-mail: [email protected]