Consulting Services for Establishing and Managing the Lesotho Entrepreneurshi…

Government of Lesotho

COMPETITIVENESS And Financial Inclusion project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

“RE-ADVERTISEMENT’’

(CONSULTING SERVICES- FIRM SELECTION)

Country : Lesotho

Project Name : Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project

Credit No. : 7169-LS

Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Support Setup, Management, and Provide Capacity Building and Ongoing Support for Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility (LEHSFF)

RFP Number : CAFI-WB-0053

Reference No. : LS-MTI-498529-CS-QCBS

CONSULTING SERVICES TO SUPPORT SETUP, MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR LESOTHO ENTREPRENEURSHIP HUB AND SEED FINANCING FACILITY (LEHSFF)

(CAFI-WB-0053)

The Government of Lesotho has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank to implement the Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the services to support setup, management, and provide capacity building and ongoing support for Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility (LEHSFF), and the assignment is to be implemented over a period of twenty-four (24) months which may be followed by a one-year of mixed remote and in-person support to the LEHSFF Management Team.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development through CAFI Project Management Unit (PMU) 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 (brochures including the name of the country in which the firm is registered; experience of projects related to the assignment, including brief descriptions of most recent relevant assignments showing location, client, costs and staff involved, etc.).

The short-listing criteria are: (a) quality of submission; (b) core business and years in business; (c) experience of a firm on similar assignments (relevant experience); (d) technical and managerial capability of the firm; (e) firm’s experience working in developing countries especially in the SADC region; and (f) international, potential association with local consulting firms.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below and at the following website: www.cafi.org.ls .

The attention of interested Candidates is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers “February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy 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.

The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [08h00 to 16h30 hours local time].

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form, in sealed envelopes labelled "CONSULTING SERVICES TO SUPPORT SETUP, MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR LEHSFF (RPF NO: CAFI-WB-0053)" with the name of the firm on the reverse side of the envelope, to the address below in person or by mail on or before Friday, July 18, 2025 at 14h00. E-mail submissions should be sent to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] and [email protected].

The Managing Director

Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project

1st Floor ‘Matanki House

P.O. Box 747,

Maseru 100

Lesotho

Tel.: (+266) 22 315 100