Recruitment of Service Provider to Support Youth-led Household Enterprises

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL ACTION (NaCSA)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES)- RELAUNCH

COUNTRY: Sierra Leone

NAME OF PROJECT: Sierra Leone Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment Project (PSSNYE)

Project Code: P176789

Assignment Title: Service Provider for Employment and Entrepreneurship Support for Youth

Reference No. SL-NACSA-437262-CS-QCBS

The Government of Sierra Leone has received financing from the World Bank for the Social Safety Net and Youth Employment Project (PSSNYE). The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), the project implementing agency, now intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for employment and entrepreneurship support.

Purpose of the assignment

The Service Provider (SP) will support budding and fledgling entrepreneurs in the economy (young individuals aged 18-35 and youth groups) who either have established businesses or are interested in opening new businesses in urban areas. The goal is to increase the productivity of youth working in existing household enterprises and facilitate the entry of youth into household enterprises. The SP will provide urban youth with effective interventions to improve mental health, social behaviour, and thus readiness for employability. Services will be rendered to both new and growing businesses, as well as disadvantaged groups such as new graduates, the unemployed, and women, among others. The SP shall work in close consultation with NAYCOM Project staff to establish a learning and work-enabling environment, targeting individuals who can demonstrate a need for skill development and funding support for their business.

Scope of Work

The Service Provider will be the day-to-day direct interface with youth enrolled in the program. They will be responsible for establishing a learning and work-enabling environment to target, according to specific criteria, individuals who need skills and funding support for their businesses. They shall be responsible for:

(a) recruitment of youth/youth groups.

(b) training of youth/youth groups in 1. business development and management. 2. priority sectors earmarked for job creation potential as well as activities that promote climate-sensitive and responsible business plans.

(c) Facilitate the provision of business grants to youth/youth groups

(d) provide psycho-social training and pre-employment readiness to youth/youth groups, including:

(i) improve interpersonal and community relationships through work with youth and community members.

(ii) to help vulnerable youth develop skills in emotional regulation, problem-solving, and interpersonal interactions necessary to be successful members of their communities.

(e) provision of post-training support to youth/youth groups.

The services will be required to be provided to the youth in the urban towns of Freetown, Makeni, Bo, Kenema and Port Loko to motivate them to take up employment and self-employment in their various fields of training. Implementation will start in Freetown, where the Service Provider will begin with a first batch of 600 youth to allow for lessons learned.

Duration of Assignment:

The total duration will be four years. The pilot phase of the project will start in Freetown targeting 600 trainees. This will be done to learn lessons for subsequent interventions in the other regions.

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

The National Youth Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) 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 qualifications and experience of the firm in executing similar assignments, core business and years in business, relevant experience, and technical and managerial capability of the firm.

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 September 2023. (“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 by the Quality Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2023.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below or by e-mail by the 5th of August 2024 at 1600 hours.

Senior Director, Support Services

National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA)

5th Floor, Room Number 5F7

NaCSA House14 -16 Charlotte Street

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Mobile No: +232-76-638-396

E-Mail: [email protected]

Copy: [email protected]