1A Statement of Work.doc

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES

Director, Grants Administration I. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to aid to foreign partner countries, for supporting economic growth and poverty reduction. The countries have to qualify for MCC assistance through meeting independent criteria that focus a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

In this effort, MCC provides five-year time-limited Grant Programs referred to as Compacts between the two countries. MCC administers these Compacts through the partner country entities especially set up to manage MCC funds, called Millennium Challenge Accounts (MCAs).

Since its inception in 2004, MCC has granted over $12 Billion to partner countries that support projects in sectors such as:

· agriculture and irrigation,

· transportation (roads, bridges, ports),

· water supply and sanitation,

· energy generation, distribution, and transmission

· hospitals and clinics,

· information Technology implementation

· finance and enterprise development,

· anticorruption initiatives,

· land rights and access,

· schools and universities.

MCC funds are primarily spent through open competitive processes where contractors are hired by the MCAs following MCC Program Procurement Guidelines (PPG), which are based on the World Bank procurement guidelines. The PPG is designed and managed by the Procurement Practice Group (Proc PG), a unit within the MCC’s Department of Compact Operations (DCO). In addition to procurements, a smaller portion of MCC funds are also spent through Grants given from MCA to largely competitively selected grantees to design and manage program activities through Grant Agreements and Cooperative Agreements. The Proc PG manages these Grants programs through MCC Program Grants Guidelines or PGG. The PGG is currently under development.

II. Scope

The Proc PG seeks to hire an experienced Grants Manager to assist MCC’s partner countries in the piloting and implementing the PGG, develop and modify related templates and training manuals, and help MCAs supervise their implementation in select countries.

III. Tasks The consultant will report to the Proc PG’s Practice Group Lead/Contract Officer’s Representative (COR) and provide the following advisory services:

Review the newly developed PGG to incorporate best practices in grant making and other assistance instruments in the marketplace, comparing it with international donors such as USAID, World Bank, DFID.

Develop tools and guidance documents for grants and cooperative agreements monitoring and implementation in MCA countries.

Develop and undertake grants training for MCAs and their grantees

Develop tools and assist MCAs in undertaking market outreach and analysis for MCA grant programs

Review implementation in MCA countries of the following grant policies and tools for MCC (list is indicative), and advise improvements:

Guidance notes on various grants topics;

Template Grant Agreements and other related documents;

Budget preparation template for grantees;

Revisions to MCA’s operations procedures to include Grants processes;

Grants implementation monitoring and close out processes;

Grants Operation Manual for MCAs;

Training programs, and support MCAs to implement grant processes;

Perform any other Grants related activity as instructed by the COR/PM.

IV. Deliverables Deliverable: The Consultant shall respond to report to MCC COR/PM on a variety of activities and deliverables related to grant activities, and other such matters that may be needed for any specific task.

V. Target Countries for work program Multiple countries, including, but not limited to Burkina Faso, Morocco, Tunisia, Lesotho, East Timor, Indonesia, and Mongolia.

VI. Period and Place of Performance Base period of twelve (12) months, starting October 2020, which may be extended for four (4) additional years—12 months at a time--on the same terms and conditions. Travel may be required from time to time to international destinations in the countries where MCC is working, as requested by the COR/PM.

The Consultant will work from MCC headquarters in Washington DC, USA. Relocation allowance will not be provided. The position required work permit in the United States, preferably US citizenship.

VII. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree related to economic development and/or international development.

2. Minimum 10 years, preferable 15-20 years, of Grants related experience in policy and implementation of multi-million-dollar grants.

3. International experience of over 10 years is mandatory, working with organizations that support Grants program in developing countries, including organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, Peace Corp.

4. Hands-on experience in developing and implementing grants programs and delivering training the counterparts from different cultures.

5. Experience in working in more than one country in Asia, Africa, and/or Latin America.

MCC will interview the candidates, which can be done virtually—travel to DC is not required.

VIII. Other requirements:

International travel will be required. MCC estimates the consultant to travel at least two to three (2-3) times during the base period of performance. Each travel is expected to have a duration of six (6) to ten (10) working days. The class of travel (economy or business) will depend upon MCC’s travel policies.