Technical consultancy for mapping the MSME ecosystem in tourism — Tourism Recovery, Diversification & Resilience Project in The Gambia

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Country: The Gambia

Project: Tourism Recovery, Diversification & Resilience in the Gambia Project

Loan No.: IDA-V4190

Assignment Title: Consultancy to conduct Data collection and ecosystem analysis on tourism MSMEs in The Gambia.

Reference No. : GM-MOEA-275725-CS-CQS

The Projects Coordination Unit (PCU), Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs has received funding from the World Bank towards the cost of the Tourism Recovery, Diversification & Resilience in the Gambia Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include:

Data collection on MSMEs in the target locations where there is geographical concentration of tourism related MSMEs. The data collection will be based on the tools and approaches that are commonly used by the WBG (Enterprise Survey, SME Ecosystem diagnostics). The data collection activities will include:

• Mapping of MSMEs in each location based on existing data available in the country office (e.g. enterprise surveys for formal and informal enterprises; work conducted by other relevant projects). The deliverable will include a database of MSMEs with basic information (name, sector, owner name and sex, and contact information, additional data will be included if available)

• Survey of the MSMEs from the mapping data base (at least 100 respondents). The methodology will be defined based on the size of the database and contact information available (e.g. e-mail availability, phone numbers). The data collection instrument will be based on structured interviews. The instrument will be aligned, to the extent possible, with the Enterprise Survey (possibly, with reduced number of sections and questions to focus only on areas relevant for the project design). Examples of questionnaires from other MSME surveys will be provided and customized to local context and project design as needed.

• Consultations with individual entrepreneurs (e.g. through focus groups, public forums, etc.), larger tourism firms and financiers to identify potential demand for the planned project activities and help tailor the components design to their needs and capacity level.

• Capture information to design the matching grant (MG) scheme based on the financing needs (e.g. working capital) and appetite for investment on climate smart and digital technologies of the potential universe of beneficiary MSMEs in the tourism sector. The information should provide an idea of the number, size, proportion per subsector, main business development needs and financing needs (working capital, investment appetite for technology and climate smart investments) and clarity as to whether there will be uptake for matching grants (roughly 70:30) for investments on energy and resource efficiency, sustainability, circular economy, renewable energy and resilience as well as promote innovation through the acquisition of digital technologies.

The firm shall put together the following:

• SME Expert – Technical Assistance

• Tourism & Hospitality Expert

• SME Finance Expert

• Entrepreneurship Specialist

• Local Stakeholder Facilitator

The expected start date of assignment is 31st March 2022.

The implementation period shall be for 6 weeks from contract signature.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.

The Projects Coordination Unit (PCU), Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs (MoFEA) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) 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. The shortlisting criteria are:

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• The Firm shall have an experience of 5 years in conducting similar assignments preferably in the sub-region.

• The firm must have conducted at least 2 similar assignments in the last 5 years.

• The firm must have knowledge of the MSME policy and other relevant MSME studies of the Gambia.

• The firm must have Technical and Managerial capacity to conduct the assignment

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” November 2020 (“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 liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification Services (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below or by email(see below) during office hours from Monday-Thursday 09:00am to 1600 pm, Friday 09:00 to 12:00pm Gambian time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 16th March, 2022 @15:00pm, Gambian Time.

Projects Coordination Unit (PCU)

Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs (MoFEA)

Attn: Mr. Saffie Dambelleh, Project Coordinator

C/o MOTIE Building M, Independence Drive, Banjul.

Tel: +220 4223301 (Office) +220 4223304 (fax)

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] ; [email protected]