1 - SOW.docx

Statement of Work

Education Management and Policy Consultant in Timor-Leste and Côte d’Ivoire

A. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a Federal Corporation created under Title VI of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004. MCC’s mission is to reduce poverty around the world through the promotion of sustainable economic growth based on the principle that aid is most effective when it strengthens good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Human and Community Development (HCD) practice group is seeking an education management and policy consultant to provide technical support and advice to the MCC country teams for Timor-Leste and Cote d’Ivoire Country as they oversee and assess education sector projects during the implementation and development phases of the Compacts, respectively.

Timor-Leste: MCC is in the process of developing a Compact with the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL). Currently, the team is carrying out Phase Four, identified in the table below. Following the first three phases of development, MCC and GoTL determined to move forward with two potential investments. One investment focuses on improvements in the Water, Sanitation and Drainage systems in Timor-Leste. The second investment focuses on improving the quality of teaching and school leadership in secondary schools in Timor-Leste. It is the latter of these two for which the consultant hired will provide support. At present, the proposed project aims to improve both pre-service and in-service teacher and school leader training by developing a Center of Excellence for pre-service training and providing support to the current in-service training provider in Timor-Leste, INFORDEPE.

The Compact Development Process. To put the planned scope of services into context, a summary of the main activities conducted by both MCC and country counterparts during the compact development process is provided below[footnoteRef:1]. [1: For a complete set of MCC Compact Development Guidelines, updated February 2017, refer to https://www.mcc.gov/resources/pub-full/guidance-compact-development-guidance.]

Phase One: Preliminary Analysis

· Names Compact Development Coordinator

· Establishes Core Team responsible for developing the Compact

· Conducts analyses of:

· Constraints to economic growth

· Social and gender inequality

· Investment Opportunity

· Commences initial public consultations

· Assists with and provides feedback on preliminary analyses

· Provides guidance on public consultations and results-focused project design principles and tools

Phase Two: Problem Diagnosis

· Analyze root causes of binding constraint

· Country identifies one or more potential problems it proposes addressing through the Compact

· Provides a Concept Note that defines each problem

· Reviews Concept Notes, provides initial technical assessment

· Conducts peer review of Concept Papers

· Provides formal approval of Concept Papers, identifying suitable projects and needed studies

· Presents potential investment opportunities to the MCC Senior Management

Phase Three: Project Definition

· Consults stakeholders on potential projects

· Develops a Project Proposal for each potential project or project component

· Reviews Project Proposals, provides initial technical assessment

· Conducts peer review of Concept Papers

· Provides formal approval of Project Proposals, identifying suitable projects and needed studies

· Supports project development

Phase Four: Project Development and Appraisal

· Collaborates with MCC to carry out studies on the potential investments to understand the design, estimated costs and benefit streams

· Consults stakeholders on project design and sustainability

· Assists with feasibility and studies, environmental impact assessments, resettlement plans, preliminary designs, etc.

· Conducts appraisal of developed projects

· Provides recommendations to MCC senior management for projects for approval

· Once agreed, MCC notifies Congress of its intent to enter into Compact negotiations

Phase Five: Compact Negotiations and Signing

· Conduct negotiations on technical and legal content of Compact

· MCC Board considers Compact for approval

· If approved, MCC and country sign the Compact

Pre-Entry Into Force

· Establishes the Millennium Challenge Account Accountable Entity

· Completes Implementing Entity Agreements

· Completes annual budgets and implementation plans

· Completes Terms of Reference and work plans for implementation and procurement

· Pre-qualifies consultants and contractors for early procurements

· Assists with and provides feedback on the process

· Provides guidance on formation of accountable entity, staffing, budgets, and work plans

· Reviews and approves Terms of Reference and pre-qualification documents

Cote d’Ivoire: MCC currently has a Compact with the Government of Cote d’Ivoire (Gucci) that consists of two projects. The project for which the consultant will provide support, is the Skills for Employability and Productivity Project. This project has two main activities, one that focuses on improving access to and quality of lower secondary schools. The second activity focuses on the development of a new approach to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through a public-private partnership. It is anticipated that the consultant will provide support primarily on the first of the two activities, however s/he may be asked to contribute to the TVET activity as well.

The first activity consists of four sub-activities including:

· The development and implementation of a gender action unit within the Ministry of Education (MENET-FP),

· The construction of 74-84 lower secondary schools in the regions of San Pedro and Bouake

· Improving teacher quality and the number of teachers by building two new teacher training satellite campuses in San Pedro and Bouake and improving the teacher training materials use by the Ecole Normale Superieure (national teacher training academy).

· Improving management systems for decision making, including the development of an integrated Education Management Information System (EMIS), the development of a national secondary assessment and the implementation of an international secondary student assessment.

In addition to the two activities under the Skills Project, there is an education and training related Activity under the second major project of the Compact, which focuses on the development and maintenance of roads to facilitated improved transportation. Specifically, the Transport project includes an “in service” graduate program in engineering, environment, and economics that leads to a master’s degree. During the Compact, this program will target professionals currently working for key government agencies responsible for road infrastructure management. After the Compact, the program may expand its target students to include early career students.

B. Scope

MCC seeks a consultant to provide on-going, intermittent advisory technical support to the MCC Timor-Leste and Cote d’Ivoire Country Teams in conducting sector analysis; reviewing project proposals, as well as relevant background information, data, and reports in higher education; and supporting implementation oversight.

C. Country

Timor-Leste, Cote d’Ivoire, and any MCC eligible country.

D. Tasks and Deliverables

Tasks

The Consultant shall assist MCC in reviewing the design and implementation planning and oversight in MCC eligible countries. The Consultant shall provide services to MCC on an as needed basis, as required. To support MCC in the flexible and timely manner needed to meet the evolving needs of Compact development and negotiation, technical directives under this statement of work will be issued and the Consultant deployed each time the Consultant’s services are needed over the course of this contract. No additional tasks shall imply any additional costs to the Government beyond the amount allowed for in the initial call order; however, this call order may be amended to reflect additional costs associated with implementation planning and oversight requirements in additional countries. The consultant’s specific assignments may include the following:

Project Assessment and Development

· Conduct a literature review of best practices in tertiary education programming, focusing on trends in the assigned country and similar resource contexts.

· Conduct feasibility assessments such as skills gap analysis, analysis of quality and quantity of university offerings, of labor market information systems, quality assurance systems, and certification and qualification programs

· Assess barriers to high quality tertiary education which might present a risk to the proposed program, including policy and regulatory environment, and resource allocation.

· Assess project alternatives which might yield a stronger economic return, enhance poverty reduction efforts, and improve project sustainability.

· Ensure a strong program logic underlies the proposed project.

· Identify opportunities to leverage activities of foreign donors and other sponsors in related areas.

· Draft project or project activity descriptions, and financial plans, for inclusion in the Investment Memorandum, Board or Compact documents.

· Collaborate with government counterparts to develop Terms of Reference for in-depth baseline and project design studies, and review subsequent deliverables.

· Conduct institutional capacity assessment, as requested, to contribute to Implementing Partner Agreement development and other government capacity building efforts.

· Evaluate the final project design to ensure it enhances private sector engagement in sector governance and facilitates access to productive opportunities for women and other marginalized groups.

· Review and comment on proposed project evaluation design and M&E plans.

· Work with MCC counterparts and other consultants to prepare the Program Implementation Plan.

· Assist an eligible country in developing appropriate modifications or alternatives to the proposed program should an assessment determine that is required.

· Provide detailed written reports of findings and compilation of documents to MCC.

· Make public presentations on tertiary education development-related issues as requested.

Project Oversight

· Become intimately familiar with the Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities including budgets, schedules, and roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders (e.g. implementing partners, beneficiaries).

· Coordinate with the relevant governmental, civil society, private sector, donor, and project management unit staff to facilitate Project, Activity and Sub-Activity oversight operations.

· Review MCA contractor deliverables and provide feedback as appropriate.

· Identify and assess risks to achieving specific Project, Activity or Sub-Activity outcomes.

· Evaluate progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities.

· Provide detailed and comprehensive written monitoring reports on progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities to the Managing Director or Director of a Country Project.

· Make verbal presentations to local MCC office, Embassy and MCC Washington on project progress as requested.

Provide recommendations on how to increase efficiencies across the Project, Activity and/or Sub-Activity and strengthen post-Compact term sustainability of Project outcomes.

· Contribute to joint sustainability planning efforts.

Specific Tasks Envisioned Include:

· Assess progress of Cote d’Ivoire partner universities against project outcomes and targets, identify emerging needs, opportunities for improvement, and synergies with other Ivoirian stakeholders, including the private sector.

· Analyze institutional structures for teacher training in Timor-Leste as well as systems for accreditation.

· Assess partner institution capacity to deliver proposed project in Timor-Leste.

· Assess detailed project proposals for both the teacher training and masters components as they are developed. Provide suggestions to MCC for the improvement of those designs.

· Assess project early startup and implementation, provide advice to MCC on improving operations, project management, and potential design adaptations to achieve results.

The consultant shall carry out his/her tasks and activities in collaboration with the MCC Education Team, other MCC staff, MCAs or Core Teams, Project Directors and Project Implementation Units (PIUs), and staff of relevant partner country government agencies and others as necessary. The consultant is expected to work effectively with MCC staff, the Core Team, and other consultants.

Deliverables

Specific deliverable shall be agreed upon as tasks are assigned. They may include:

· A work plan that includes specific activities, methodologies, site visits, time frame, and estimated duration of each activity, prior to commencing work

· Periodic written and verbal reports on findings and recommendations resulting from meetings, discussions, and field research in the assigned country.

· Presentations on key findings, issues for further examination, and recommendations for Compact activities to MCC and government/MCA counterparts.

· Inputs to Concept Assessment reviews, Investment Memos, Terms of Reference Program Implementation Plans, Sustainability Plans and other formal project documents, as relevant to the assigned country program.

Acceptance criteria:

· The deliverables will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

· Thoroughness and timeliness in complying with all of the elements in the tasks specified.

· Quality and clarity of analyses and work produced.

· Timeliness and efficacy of communications with relevant counterparts at MCC, MCA, and other relevant organizations.

· All reports are to be submitted in English in hard and electronic copy (in MS Word), with tables, data and calculations in MS Excel.

E. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Monitor (PM), and other designated MCC personnel. 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 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.

F. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant would be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, program implementation) to be procured by the host country’s Compact program management entity or using funds advanced under a Compact or Threshold Program in the country where services are being provided to MCC. The designated Consultant would be expected to coordinate with local authorities responsible for MCC Compact implementation as well as other donors, where relevant. However, designated Consultant would report directly to the designated COR/PM.

G. Subcontracting

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

H. Period and Place of Performance

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

The estimated level of effort is estimated at up to 700 hours per year (350 hours for Timor-Leste and 350 hours for Cote d’Ivoire) 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 consultant shall perform the services and tasks generally identified above, at the consultant’s home facilities or in MCC’s DC offices or any eligible MCC countries.

I. Evaluation Criteria

· Advanced degree in international education, international development, or closely related field

· Minimum 10 years of professional experience in tertiary education related issues in developing countries; specifically, in the design and implementation of tertiary education projects

· In-depth familiarity with universities and academic communities

· Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment

· Experience organizing and facilitating consultations with universities and other education stakeholders.

· Ability and experience interacting with high-level government officials

· Previous work in Timor-Leste and Cote d’Ivoire preferred

· French proficiency preferred.

J. Other Requirements

International travel will be 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.