SOW.docx

Statement of Work

Community Development and Participatory Approaches Consultant

A. Background

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 a community development and participatory approaches to development expert to provide technical support and advice to the MCC HCD practice group and to the Morocco, Niger, and other MCC Country Teams as they oversee activities requiring a participatory approach to implementation.

The Morocco Compact is investing in Education for Employability, including through a Secondary Education activity that combines one major investment – piloting a new Integrated School Improvement Model in 90 schools in three regions of the country – with two policy components--improving the Ministry of Education’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems through an enhanced management information system (MIS) and better national learning assessments, and developing and testing a new system for school operations and maintenance (O&M).

The objective of the Integrated School Improvement Model sub-activity is to demonstrate a feasible model of school modernization that can be scaled up nationally after compact completion. Through a School Improvement Plan that is developed by members of the school community using a participatory approach, the model aims to improve education quality and thus increase the employability of Moroccan youth through a participatory reform process that will encourage students, teachers, parents, and administrators to take greater responsibility for conceiving and executing local solutions to the challenges of equitable access, dropout and educational achievement. The pilot consists of 90 middle and/or high schools in three regions (Tanger-Tetouan-Al Houceima; Fes-Meknes; and Marrakech-Safi) that were picked through a randomized lottery selection process.

The Niger Compact is investing in improved water and land uses for agricultural production. This includes working closely with farmers’ cooperatives, women’s associations, and water users’ associations in crop selection and production, as well as irrigation methods and processes in two target regions of the country. MCC seeks a francophone expert in participatory approaches to assist with the establishment and training of members of these cooperatives and associations, and to help the Government of Niger plan for scaling up and sustainability of these efforts in years 2-5 of the compact.

B. Scope

The objective of this call order is to select a consultant to provide on-going, intermittent advisory technical support to MCC’s HCD Practice Group regarding community development and participatory approaches to development in Morocco, Niger and other francophone countries as need arises.

MCC seeks a francophone expert in participatory approaches to assist in oversight of the process of developing integrated School Improvement Plans in 90 schools, and overseeing their implementation in years 3, 4, and 5 of the Compact.

The consultant may also advise the practice group on matters related to community development and participatory approaches to development, and may be called on to provide similar expertise in other MCC countries.

C. Countries

Morocco, Niger, and other eligible MCC countries

D. Tasks and Deliverables

Tasks:

Specific tasks and/or technical directives will be defined by MCC on a regular basis, with the timing of travel and due dates for deliverables to be agreed upon with MCC periodically through tasking orders as needed to implement this Statement of Work. This may include, but is not limited to:

Project Oversight: Using the lens of community development and participatory approaches to development in all of the following:

· Become intimately familiar with the Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities including budgets, schedules, implementers, beneficiaries and related parties.

· Review Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) contractor deliverables and provide comments and assessment to MCC

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

· Conduct a literature review of best practices in participatory approaches to development, focusing on trends in the assigned country and similar resource contexts.

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

· Coordinate with the relevant government agency, civil society, private sector, donor, and Project Management Unit staff to facilitate Activity Oversight operations.

· Conduct risk assessments, as requested, on specific Project Activities or Sub-Activities.

· Provide detailed and comprehensive written 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.

· Make public presentations on participatory approach strategies and recommendations as requested.

The consultant shall carry out his/her tasks and activities in collaboration with the relevant members of the MCC HCD Team, other MCC staff, MCA-Morocco and Niger Project Directors and staff of relevant government agencies and others as necessary. Additional MCA countries may be added as needed. The consultant is expected to work effectively with MCC staff, the MCA, other consultants, and government counterparts.

Deliverables:

· Prior to executing a specific technical directive, the consultant will develop with MCC a work plan that includes specific activities, site visits, time frame and estimated duration of each activity.

· Written reviews/comments of due diligence and design documents

· Periodic written and verbal reports on findings and recommendations resulting from meetings, discussions, and field/site visits.

· Presentations to MCC staff and Government counterparts of key findings and issues for further examination.

· Additional communications, memos and briefs as required.

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.

E. Period and Place of Performance

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

The level of effort is estimated at up to 300 hours for the first year, including up to 4 trips to Morocco or Niger, for up to two weeks each. The level of effort for the second year is up to 500 hours per year, with a total of up to 6 trips.

The consultant shall perform the services and tasks generally identified above at the consultant’s home facilities, periodically in MCC’s DC offices, and in the assigned country.

F. Subcontracting

The consultant is authorized to subcontract data collection, environmental and social analysis, translation services, and related services. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost. All subcontracts will be contingent on MCC’s approval.

G. Time 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 ToR 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 ToR or of the terms and conditions of the ToR 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.

H. Conflict of Interest

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

I. Evaluation Criteria

· University degree in international project management, economics, social science, public administration, communications or other relevant field.

· Minimum 10 years of professional experience advising on community development and participatory approaches to development in CDD, education, agriculture, WASH and/or other related sectors.

· Ability and experience interacting with high-level government officials.

· Fluency in English and French. Arabic desirable.

· Prior work experience in Morocco or the MENA region and francophone West Africa highly desirable