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Gender and Social Inclusion Consultancy Country Program Coordinator: Women Data Lab and Network (WDLN) in Cote d’Ivoire

STATEMENT OF WORK (SoW)

A. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens. Key MCC operating principles relating to the award of country grants include emphasis on economic impact, country-led solutions and implementation, and focus on results. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

The Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) unit at MCC seeks an experienced project coordinator to help to oversee a new program, the Women’s Data Lab and Network (WDLN), which will be located in Cote d’Ivoire. The specific skillsets, required experience, and anticipated tasks and deliverables are detailed in subsequent sections. The range of tasks and deliverables will require a talented, experienced, motivated, and adaptive Ivorian consultant that is well networked and thrives working is cross sectoral teams.

As part of the WDLN program, MCC may establish a physical and/or virtual Lab which will serve as a center of activity, bringing together women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (W-SMEs) and business associations to share experiences and lessons learned; develop essential business, data and digital technology skills; and to network to further expand their businesses. This project will also help connect local W-SMEs to international mentors and business networks to further deepen their digital and business skills and opportunities. WDLN aims to:

· Provide a centrally accessible, welcoming, and safe space for W-SMEs, while also supplying entrepreneurs access to business development training, data and digital training, resources, mentors and role models they need to succeed.

· Build the capacity of women-owned businesses and associations to generate user-friendly data and business intelligence information and develop delivery methods for use by women-owned businesses, business associations, cooperatives, etc.

· Deliver in-demand data analytics, visualization, machine learning, and other data science skills, which will enhance the ability of W-SMEs and businesses to make use of available market data and business data, and to develop technology services.

· Build a digital network and strengthen the community of women-owned businesses and associations to access online tools, knowledge, resources and solutions.

This program is funded by USAID through their Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Fund. Thus it will be implemented separately from other MCC investments in Cote d’Ivoire (Appendix A). However, the WDLN team within MCC will be coordinating with the Resident Country Mission within Abidjan, as well as with relevant USAID programs in the country.

Timeframe: To optimize WDLN design, MCC launched an assessment of W-SMEs in Cote d’Ivoire in October 2020 to better understand their business, digital literacy, and data skill needs and capacities. In the first quarter 2021, MCC also expects to launch a process for identifying a local partner organization (or consortium) that will host the Lab and its programs for W-SMEs.

B. Scope

The Country Program Coordinator (CPC) shall be based in Cote d’Ivoire for the WDLN effort and will contribute to local program oversight as described below. The CPC will be part of the “MCC WDLN Core Team” – and will report to the COR/WDLN Program Lead in the Gender and Social Inclusion Practice Group at MCC headquarters and will work in close coordination with the entire MCC WDLN team, which also includes representatives from the Data Collaboration for Local Impact (DCLI) and the Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP). The CPC’s role will become particularly important once the local implementation partner(s) have been identified.

The CPC shall perform the following:

B.1. Local Program Oversight, Coordination and Monitoring (50%): The CPC shall oversee and provide regular updates on in-country program activities and operations to the broader MCC WDLN team. She/he will facilitate effective coordination between the local implementor and other MCC (or related USAID) investments and ensure regular communications with the members of the MCC WDLN Core team. This may include tracking the implementation of the activities and reporting on their progress, monitoring the use of partners funds, contributing to the review of the partner’s monthly financial and narrative reports.

B.2. Local Technical Perspective and Input (30%): The CPC shall as part of its role within the MCC WDLN Team, provide important input at each stage of the design and implementation of the WDLN, with particular emphasis on the local feasibility, local acceptance and local sustainability of proposed focus and activities. He/she will review draft design deliverables – and implementation technical progress reports.

B.3 Representation (20%): The CPC shall serve as the first in-line MCC in-country representative of the WDLN. The CPC may be asked to coordinate political and institutional outreach for the program and to advise on proper and customary protocol for working in the country. The CPC may also be asked to advance the program’s reach and effectiveness through utilizing new or existing connections within government, non-government, donor and/or private sector organizations.

C. Country

Cote d’Ivoire and other eligible MCC Countries. The majority of the current anticipated WDLN activities will take place in Cote d’Ivoire. However, the CPC may need to travel regionally in order to learn from and/or coordinate with other connected initiatives (other labs and/or partners), events and/or outreach program. Occasional trips to work with the MCC WDLN team in Washington D.C are also possible.

D. Tasks and Deliverables

Based on the three categories of tasks described in the section B, the CPC shall undertake the following tasks and deliverables working in close collaboration with the MCC WDLN Team.

D.1. Local Program Oversight, Coordination and Monitoring:

a. Monitors all program activities and provides real-time programmatic oversight and guidance to accomplish the WDLN objectives.

b. Coordinates with the MCC WDLN core team, as well as contracted personnel and consultants, grantees or implementing partners, to obtain input on country-specific status and progress related to the WDLN program.

c. Contributes to the review of technical and financial reports and other deliverables in coordination with MCC GSI Program Lead and other members of the WDLN team.

d. Participates in meetings with Program stakeholders, including: MCC staff, USAID representatives, consultants, grantees, and implementing partners.

e. Actively tracks progress towards agreed-upon deliverables, schedules and budget.

f. Contributes to overall budget tracking and reporting, working to ensure timely preparation of monthly reports for MCC and USAID.

g. Participates in WDLN Core Team meetings and provide regular (at least biweekly) verbal or short digital updates on key areas of activities and progress according to the project requirements.

h. Performs other related duties as assigned.

D.2 Local Technical Perspective and Input:

a. Collaborates with the MCC core WDLN team to provide (or seek out) local perspective and input on the appropriateness of the program focus, activities and strategies to achieve sustainability so that WDLN program will have the greatest impact in the immediate, medium, and long-term.

b. Coordinates with the WDLN Team, technical assistance partners, and potential program advisors –(who may be subcontracted) to guide the local implementation partner in its design of an advocacy strategy for the growth and outreach to W-SMEs and pertinent associations.

c. Coordinates with the WDLN Team, technical assistance partners and potential program advisors to guide the local implementation partner in its efforts to sustain, adapt and expand (sustainability plan) support to W-SMEs through digital skills and data use and core business fundamentals.

d. Performs other related duties as assigned.

D.3 Representation:

a. Provide MCC representation and support to the local implementation partner during critical national and sub-national level outreach activities.

b. Working with the WDLN Communication Specialist, conduct outreach activities to publicize the broader MCC, USAID and partner-related program and activities.

c. Advance the program’s reach and effectiveness through utilizing new or existing connections within government, non-government, donor and/or private sector organizations, including as-needed coordination with additional local advisors

d. Performs other related duties as assigned.

E. Place and Period of Performance

All work shall be completed between the dates of the award for a two-year period of performance.

The estimated level of effort is 1,650 hours per year for a total of 3,300 hours with an estimated 3 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

The Consultant shall perform the tasks under this contract from his/her home office in Cote d’Ivoire. The CPC may need to travel regionally in order to learn from and/or coordinate with other connected initiatives (other labs and/or partners), events and/or outreach programs. Occasional trips to work with the MCC WDLN team in Washington D.C. are also possible.

F. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant would be precluded from bidding on work involving the implementation and evaluation of the WDLN program, which will be procured by MCC following the foundational assessment.

G. Subcontracting

The Consultant is authorized to subcontract specialized advisory services, translation and other related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

H. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the MCC WDLN core team and Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR) for the contract, and other designated MCC personnel. The COR for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance and will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance.

Any changes in the terms of the SoW 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 SoW or of the terms and conditions of the SoW 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.

I. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory:

· Minimum seven years of project / program management experience working in Africa for major international development donors, such as World Bank, African Development Bank, USAID, MCC etc., including technical and financial oversight, monitoring and reporting on work plans and implementation activities of international development projects.

· Demonstrated experience managing positive and constructive multi-stakeholder relationships, especially in the context of grants management, business development, or international development.

· Demonstrated experience promoting the goals of gender equality and opportunity in the context of international development projects

· Must be a resident in Côte D’Ivoire – and with a permit to work in Cote d’Ivoire.

· Must have excellent written and verbal proficiency in English and in French.

· A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in international relations, development, gender and social studies, business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field; or four years of equivalent experience.

Preferred:

· Prior technical experience on programs involving assistance to SMEs, W-SMEs in particular, and/or awareness / training in programs that enable better SME business performance, innovation or scaling.

· Knowledge of international best practices and ability to apply data and open data skills to international development projects, including capacity building (data literacy) in developing countries.

· Knowledge of strategic and operational planning processes and techniques and the ability to manage for results, problem-solve and identify innovative solutions.

· Experience working with United States government entities.

J. Other requirements:

Travel within the designated country is required. The Consultant may be requested to mobilize on a short notice and will be expected to deliver high quality finished products in a timely manner.