Provision of Consultancy Services as an Environmental and Social Third-Party Monitor for DMAP Sub-Components

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

COUNTRY: MALAWI

NAME OF PROJECT: DIGITAL MALAWI ACCELERATION PROJECT

GRANT NO: IDA-E338-MW

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL THIRD-PARTY MONITOR FOR DMAP SUB-COMPONENTS

REFERENCE NO.: MW-PPPC-499944-CS-QCBS

The Government of Malawi (GoM) has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP) to increase access to, and inclusive use of, the internet and improve the Government's capacity to deliver digitally enabled services. The DMAP component 1 subcomponent 1.1 on rural connectivity and subcomponent 1.2 on education sector connectivity, by their nature, pose potential environmental and social risks. Under the rural connectivity subcomponent, DMAP targets among other objectives, to close last-mile connectivity gaps for 500 government institutions (offices, hospitals, and post offices) in rural areas and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) will strengthen the environmental and social capacity of the Project by providing third-party environmental and social safeguards monitoring services during the construction phase of the Rural Connectivity sub-components (last mile and education connectivity) of the DMAP. The Consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Conduct desk-based data and documentation review.

• Designing monitoring tools.

• Monitoring Visit Preparations

• Conducting monitoring visits to the project Sites

• Preparing monthly, quarterly, and close-out monitoring reports

The assignment is for a period of twenty four (24) months with an estimated level of input of 300-man days for Key Experts The detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) can be obtained at the following address https://www.pppc.mw/procurement; or can also be obtained upon request at the address given below.

The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) now invites eligible qualifying Consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consulting Firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Core business of the firm(s) and years in business

• Relevant similar experience, which should specifically include the below:

• The firm should demonstrate having experience in providing environmental and social management services to donor-funded development projects with at least 5 years of working for World Bank projects.

• The firm should demonstrate having solid proficiency in conducting environmental and social monitoring and assisting implementers achieve or re-establish compliance with environmental and social safeguards regulations and other requirements.

• The firm should demonstrate having a track record of undertaking assignments of similar nature through the submission of at least six environmental and social safeguards monitoring reports, GRM reports, and project close-out reports to project developers over the recent past.

• The firm should demonstrate having a solid team of professionals in relevant areas as indicated in the TORs. (Provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications and experience, and number of key staff. Do not provide detailed CV of the staff. Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated February2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally be liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant(s) will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 16:30 hours, local time. Detailed terms of reference (ToRs) are available on the PPPC Website, www.pppc.mw/procurement. The ToRs can also be sent to interested consultants by e-mail upon request from the e-mail address indicated below.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 14th August 2025 at 4:00pm Local Time.

The Chairperson,

Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee,

Public Private Partnership Commission

2nd Floor, Livingstone Towers

Glyn Jones Road

P.O. Box 937

Blantyre

MALAWI

Tel: +265 1 823 655; Fax : +265 1 821 248 ; E-mail : [email protected]