01 SOW.docx

Statement of Work Gender and Social Inclusion Consultant

A. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government agency whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

MCC recognizes that gender inequality can be a significant constraint to economic growth and poverty reduction. MCC’s gender policy and operational guidance ensure that gender will be considered in the selection of eligible countries and integrated into the development and design of Compact programs, the assessment and implementation of projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), the monitoring of program results, and the evaluation of program impacts. (http://www.mcc.gov/documents/guidance/14-genderpolicy.pdf). The Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Practice Group’s primary goals are to advance gender equity in MCC investments and maximize the extent to which MCC’s investments reach and benefit the poor, within the context of MCC’s model and program development processes. The uneven and uncertain relationship between economic growth and poverty reduction means that MCC needs to develop and implement an explicitly pro-poor approach, or one which seeks significant real income gains for the poor (roughly defined here in line with the World Bank as the bottom 40% of the income distribution). GSI is also driven by a commitment to equity – to ensuring widely shared gains from MCC compacts and threshold programs and from the growth they catalyze in MCC partner countries.

MCC’s Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Practice Group is seeking a gender and social inclusion expert to provide a range of support through MCC program development and implementation phases. MCC programs are developed with partner countries over the course of several years. The Compact development process includes the following phases[footnoteRef:2]: [2: For more on MCC’s approach to compact development, see https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/guidance-compact-development-guidance. MCC uses the same rigorous, evidence-based approach in threshold programs as it does in compacts, leading to high-quality programs that maximize potential systemic impact and lay the foundation for larger investments.]

· Preliminary Analysis. In this phase, the country in partnership with MCC undertakes broad consultations with stakeholders and conducts an analysis of the constraints to economic growth in that country. The phase ends with the development of an internal Constraints Analysis Summary Memo that outlines the binding constraints to growth in the country.

· Problem Diagnosis. In this phase, the country in partnership with MCC defines problems and conducts an analysis of the root causes of the identified binding constraints. The phase produces Concept Notes that identify the core root causes and what opportunities may exist to address the root causes. This phase culminates in an internal Opportunity Memo.

· Project Definition. In this phase, the country in partnership with MCC defines and scopes specific projects, identifies investments and activities, and builds the actual program logic for the proposed compact program. The phase ends with the development of Project Proposals that detail the specific projects that comprise the compact program, and how they might meet MCC’s investment criteria. This phase culminates in an internal Project Proposal Assessment Memo.

· Project Development. In this phase, the country in partnership with MCC launches public procurements, conducts feasibility, environmental and other studies, identifies beneficiaries from the projects and calculate the probable economic impact from the projects. The phase ends with the development of an Investment Memorandum that details the proposed compact program and discusses the manner in which the proposed program accomplishes the overarching objectives in the country while also meeting MCC investment criteria. Following this phase, the compact is negotiated with the partner country’s government, the compact is finalized, and approved and signed by the country and MCC.

· Implementation. After an MCC compact is signed, the country sets up a local accountable entity (the MCA, Millennium Challenge Account) to manage and oversee all aspects of implementation. Formal agreements (Implementing Entity Agreements) are signed with the public bodies (e.g., utilities, Ministries) responsible for features of project implementation. During implementation, MCC’s role is to support MCAs to achieve their implementation objectives, which includes conducting additional, ongoing due diligence.

Mongolia: Government of Mongolia (GoM) Compact for Enhancing Bulk Water Supply to Ulaanbaatar. MCC and Mongolia signed a second Compact in July 2018 and implementation is currently underway. The Compact aims to provide a sustainable supply of water that will stem the impact of an impending water crisis and sustain private sector-led economic growth in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. The MCC compact will increase the available supply of water through infrastructure for development of new wellfields and capacity building. The compact’s Water Supply Project will support the construction of new groundwater wells and a state-of-the-art plant for purifying drinking water, the construction of a new plant for treating wastewater, and the development and implementation of policy, legal, regulatory and institutional reforms that enhance the long-term sustainability of Ulaanbaatar’s water supply. The expert will provide the necessary expertise, research, and analysis to enable MCC to address WASH sector activities and institutional reforms regarding its water-related investments in a manner that helps ensure that benefits of the investment are distributed equitably among UB’s residents.

Timor-Leste. In December of 2017, the Board of Directors selected Timor Leste as eligible for Compact development. On September 11, 2019, the Council of Ministers decided to advance two project proposals to address the human capital constraint. The first project proposal is a water, sanitation, and drainage (WSD) infrastructure project. The second proposal is a secondary education project. The WSD project will remove fecal contamination from the environment and water by modernizing the water, sanitation, and drainage system. To support the sustainability of and enhance the benefits from the infrastructure, MCC also expects to provide policy and institutional support in the water and sanitation sector, as well as help design evidence-based Social and Behavior Change activities. The aim of the secondary education project is to train and educate in-service and pre-service secondary teachers and school leaders in Timor-Leste to improve the quality of secondary education. These projects are still in the due diligence and design phases. The expert will provide the necessary expertise, research, and analysis to enable MCC to address WASH sector activities and institutional reforms regarding its water-related investments in a manner that helps ensure that benefits of the investments are distributed equitably.

B. Scope

MCC’s Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Practice Group requires expertise on gender and social inclusion in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector.

GSI seeks expert support for high-quality analytic expertise and evidence to integrate gender and social inclusion throughout all stages of Compact and Threshold program development. These includes strengthening the integration of gender and social inclusion considerations into MCC’s approach to early analysis, as well as the assessment of potential program impacts and beneficiary analyses to facilitate more informed decision making about where MCC investments can best support inclusive growth in the countries in which we work. Currently support is needed to further GSI practice group’s work on methodology and approaches, as well as work in countries, including Mozambique and new country selects, which currently are Sierra Leone and Kiribati.

The scope of work includes expert support for social and gender integration in MCC’s WASH projects. These currently include projects in Mongolia and in Timor Leste. In both countries, the expert will support tasks related to social inclusion and gender integration in WASH aimed at increasing access, affordability, and sustainability. The expert shall also be available to work on MCC WASH projects in any other eligible country if the need arises.

C. Countries

Mongolia, Mozambique, Timor-Leste, and/or other MCC partner countries and GSI work as requested.

D. Tasks and Deliverables

Tasks and deliverables shall include but are not limited to:

· Support GSI as needed in GSI practice group work and throughout Compact and Threshold program development, through identifying datasets, undertaking data analysis, compiling evidence from MCC and global evaluations and drawing on country-specific and global literature to prepare inputs, documentation and/or presentations to support GSI practice group efforts and inputs to Compact and Threshold design and implementation. Work may relate to any of the sectors MCC works in (e.g., WASH, Land, Energy, Transportation, Education, Health, Agriculture, others). Provide follow-on due diligence inputs during project implementation as requested by GSI country team members.

· Provide technical expertise on WASH sector infrastructure and institutional reform investments to ensure the integration of gender and social inclusion (GSI) with the aim of facilitating equitable and sustainable service access and affordability and mitigating GSI-related risks. This will include support throughout project development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and closeout. Illustrative tasks include analyses and inputs to root cause analyses, beneficiary analyses, Economic Rate of Return calculations, Cost/Benefit Analyses, problem trees and project logics, project concepts and proposals, and monitoring and evaluation indicators and tools; literature reviews; inputs into assessments of the technical, social, legal, policy, regulatory, and institutional barriers to inclusive service delivery and take-up; review of tariff and willingness to pay studies; reviewing strategies, activity designs, TORs, RfPs, feasibility studies, environmental and social assessments, policies, planning documents, training materials, budgets; undertaking interviews, focus group discussions or other quantitative or qualitative research; developing GSI practice group guidance and tools, and other tasks.

· Provide recommendations on how projects may be designed to achieve pro-poor objectives, reach and benefit both women and men, include socially disadvantaged or vulnerable populations in project benefits, and avoid or mitigate harms to vulnerable populations.

· Participate in workshops, meetings, phone calls, and preparation and delivery of presentations to MCC, MCA and other stakeholders as requested.

· Respond to ad hoc email requests for information and support, as needed, in a timely manner.

· Participate in in-country missions to support the above tasks upon request.

· Track compliance with monitoring milestones and keep MCC GSI lead informed of progress and delays.

· Work closely with the MCC GSI lead and country counterparts to achieve shared objectives.

· Provide input and support to the GSI practice group work as requested. This may include inputs to GSI’s tools and knowledge management on GSI approaches to program development and design, GSI in WASH, participation in GSI technical workshops, and other tasks.

E. Period and Place of Performance

All work shall be completed between the dates of the award through a one year base period of performance, with three additional one-year options. The estimated level of effort is up to 1650 hours per year. This includes 450 hours for Mongolia, 300 hours for Mozambique, 450 hours for Timor-Leste, and 450 hours for GSI PG work and other Countries with an estimated 5 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

The expert shall work from his/her home office and/or MCC headquarters or any MCC eligible country, with travel to Mongolia, Mozambique, Timor Leste, MCC Headquarters and elsewhere as requested.

F. Subcontracting

Experts are authorized to subcontract data collection, data preparation, data or economic analysis, and related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the expert’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

G. Conflict of Interest

The expert will be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction, and supervision) to be procured by the local accountable entity or using funds advanced under MCC work in the relevant country.

H. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the COR/PM. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

Any changes in the terms of the Call Order will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this Call Order or of the terms and conditions of the Call Order unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

The designated Expert would be expected to coordinate with local authorities responsible for MCC Compact implementation as well as other donors, where relevant. However, designated Expert would report directly to the designated COR/PM.

I. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory:

· Demonstrated ability to access and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to understand gender, economic and social inequalities and their impact on poverty reduction and economic growth. Experience in econometrics desirable.

· Prior experience and demonstrated familiarity with MCC approach to early analysis.

· Minimum 5 years of experience addressing gender and social inclusion in development projects in middle to low-income countries. Experience in one or more of the following sectors desirable: Agriculture, transport, property and land rights.

· Minimum 10 years of experience in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector projects, minimum 5 of these in low-income countries. Experience in urban and peri-urban areas desirable (but not mandatory).

· Minimum 5 years of experience addressing gender and social equity and inclusion issues in water and sanitation, with demonstrated experience in poverty and gender analyses and social science methods.

· Demonstrated expertise in institutional governance and gender-sensitive and pro-poor reforms in water and sanitation, including work experience with WASH sector national bodies and utilities.

· Experience in analyzing tariff structures and reforms with particular reference to addressing principles of fairness and equity in tariff approaches.

· Experience with economic analysis, beneficiary analyses, project logics, and monitoring and evaluation tools.

· Demonstrated experience with MCC’s approach to program development/implementation and gender and social inclusion.

· Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

· A demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables in a timely fashion.

· Experience in target countries.

Preferred:

· Fluency in English required. Proficiency in Portuguese is required. Proficiency in French desired.

· Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in social sciences required; Bachelor’s or advanced degree in economics desirable.

· Additional degree or training in water or sanitation engineering desirable.

Other requirements:

International travel is required. The expert may be requested to mobilize on a short notice and will be expected to deliver high quality finished products in a timely manner.