Consultancy services for Management of the work placement program

Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development

Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project

Grant No. 0920-UG

Request for Expressions of Interest

(Consulting Services– Firms Selection)

Uganda

Management of the Women's Entrepreneurship Work Placement Program

Reference No.: UG-MOGLSD-375815-CS-QCBS

The Government of the Republic of Uganda has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for Consulting Services.

The Project Development Objective is to increase access to entrepreneurial services that enable women entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises in targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. The Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) jointly with Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).

The Women's Entrepreneurship Work Placement/Apprenticeship Program is one of the key interventions under the Project, and will focus on expanding women entrepreneurs’ access to work placement/apprenticeship opportunities in high-demand careers across a range of industries, including fields where women are traditionally under-represented. Under this intervention, women entrepreneurs and employees will be supported through the apprenticeship scheme to work while learning better business and operational practices.

A total of 5,000 women are expected to benefit from the nationwide work placement program, including at least 950 from refugee-hosting districts. The Program will have the following beneficiaries:

• Women entrepreneurs and their employees in micro and small businesses who want to acquire the skills to operate in higher-growth sectors or trades

• Women who wish to start a business but require business and operational skills

• Women who want to acquire skills to work for profitable and growing firms

The consulting services ("the Services") include facilitating the expansion of women entrepreneurs’ access to work placement opportunities. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at https://mglsd.go.ug/

The Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development 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 : (1) At least 5 years’ experience in undertaking related assignments; (2) Evidence of having implemented at least 3 similar/ related assignments, one of which should have been undertaken in a Sub-Saharan country, or country with similar economic conditions to Uganda; (3) Comprehension of Environmental, Gender and Inclusion policies of the World Bank; (4) Submit the firm’s organogram to demonstrate the firm’s technical and managerial capability (5) Availability of appropriate skills/expertise among the consultant's team including expertise in Work-based Learning Expert/Team Leader; Skills Development Officers; Management Information Systems (MIS)/ Information Technology Officer among others. Individual experts' bio-data is not required at this stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) Borrowers dated November 2020 (Procurement Regulations).

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 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 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 (0800 to 1700 hrs.)

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the Procurement and Disposal Unit, 7th Floor on the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) not later than Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Consultants may make arrangements to have their Expressions of interest delivered by courier services. However, no liability will be accepted for loss or late delivery.

The address referred to above is:

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.

Gender and Labour House, Plot 2, George Street,

P.O. Box 7136

KAMPALA

Tel: +256 414 347 854

Email: [email protected]