EXTERNAL RESULTS VERIFICATION - IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL

Government of Botswana

National AIDS Coordinating Agency

Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

Project ID: P102299-

"Consultancy to Undertake External Results Verification of the Implementation Level of the Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support Project"

____________________________________________________________________________________

This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in dgMarket on July 6, 2011

The Government of Botswana has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) towards the cost of Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds to engage a consultancy firm toUndertake External Results Verification of the Implementation Level.

Introduction:

The Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support (BNAPS) Project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Botswana and the World Bank/International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The Project focuses on streamlining and strengthening the ability of key HIV and AIDS interventions to deliver important outputs, outcomes and impacts. A key achievement of this Project will be the development of a Performance Based Financing system that enhances the Project's abilityto deliver high volume, high quality, cost-effective (value-for-money) and verifiable HIV and AIDS prevention interventions.

NACA, in collaboration with the World Bank is in the process of identifying potential consulting firms for the "Consultancy to Undertake External Results Verification of the Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support Project at Implementation Level".

Background:

In view of deep-rooted human development challenges associated with the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Botswana, particularly the continued spread of HIV and the costs of preventing and treating the disease, the Government of Botswana requested assistance from the IBRD. This assistance was structured as the BNAPS Project, which was approved on July 10, 2008 and became effective on June 30, 2009. In its current design, theBNAPS Project is scheduled to close on September 30, 2013, with some possibility of an extension beyond 2013.

The Project was conceived with three core components, namely: a) Component One Support to NACA; b) Component Two Public Sector Ministries; and c) Component Three Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/Private Sector. Component three is where the bulk of project implementation takes place. As a result, it was allocated the majority of the Projectfunds, essentially reflecting the importance of the CSOs in HIV and AIDS prevention and ultimately the achievement of Project objectives. In this component, through a Call for Proposal Mechanism, the BNAPS Project makes financial resources available to civil society and the private sector, focusing on initiatives in line with the National Strategic Framework (2010-2016). The resources are provided in exchange for the delivery by CSOs of key HIV and AIDS interventions that have been agreed upon in the Project, namely Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) and Multiple Concurrent [Sexual] Partnerships (MCP), amongst others. Within this setup, the service providers self-report to NACA on their performance in meeting the pre-agreed services delivery targets.

With various systemic time delays since the Project's inception, the project team is now focusing on the urgent need for a stronger and more strategic approach to BNAPS implementation and the programmatic means by which this could be achieved. The Project is keen to build up on the learning from the past years of implementation as well as from experiences from elsewhere. It is envisioned that some catalytic programmatic operations could be added to the Project, towards enhancing in performance in the last 18 months of its current design.

Implementation level of the project, external verification of the self-reported performance of CSOs and the private sector in relation to meeting their agreed services delivery targets has been identified as apossible programmatic catalyst for enhancing performance. External verification will strengthen accountability for financial resources and technical outputs by implementers. In addition, the Government will beassured of value for money through objectively verified evidence of performance and achievement of HIV and AIDS prevention indicators by service providers.

Objectives:

The envisaged consultancy seeks to apply a system of independent or external verification to grand-aided service providers at the implementation level of the BNAPS Project. The verification will seek to:

• Determine the accuracy and completeness of the self-reported performance data of CSOs and the private sector on HIV and AIDS service delivery outputs and outcomes.
• Establish the quality of HIV and AIDS services delivered by the CSOs and the private sector.

External Verification Methodology:

The consultant will be expected to undertake the consultancy in accordance with, but not limited to, a standard external verification framework. The exercise will be expected to be undertaken in at least four separate verification cycles, covering district level coordinators, service providers, beneficiaries and other stakeholders at the district level, as will be further guided by the standard external verificationframework.

Duration of Consultancy:

The performance period of the "Consultancy to Undertake External Verification of the Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support Project at Implementation Level" shall be limited to between 01 July 2012 and September 30, 2013. All technical and administrative undertakingshould therefore be concluded within this time period.

NACA now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultancy firms must provideinformation indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments in HIV and AIDS prevention and impact mitigation and public health programs, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Selection of the Consultants will be done in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, published in May 2004, revised October 2006 and May 2010.

Submission Details:

The expression of interest must include the following documentation:

• availability of appropriate skills among staff.
• Evidence of past successful experiences (names of projects, role in the project, contact persons, country of use) in supplying similar typeof consulting services.
• Evidence of local knowledge, cultural sensitivity and ability to workin Botswana, particularly at the district level with CSOs and local communities.
• Evidence of knowledge about the workings of HIV and AIDS interventions, particularly as elaborated in the Botswana's Second National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS 2009 2016 (NFS II).

Interested organizations may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (i.e.08.00 to 12.45 and 13.45 to 16.30 hours local time, Mondays to Fridays. Excluding Public Holidays.

Submission Deadline:

Clearly marked "Expression of Interest to Undertake External Verification of the Implementation Level of the BNAPS Project" must be delivered to the address indicated below before 16.30 hours, local time, on Friday, 18 th May 2012.These must be deposited in Room no 012, Records Management Unit, at the address below. All Expressions of Interest received after this time will not be considered.

Submission Contact Information:

Interested consulting firms should forward their expression of interest, together with the above documentation to the following address:

The National Coordinator,

National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA),

West Gate Mall, Unit 9,

Private Bag 00463,

Gaborone,

BOTSWANA.

Tel: +276 3710314

Fax: +267 3710312

E-mail:[email protected]

Attention: George Daniel Senior Procurement Consultant