SOW.docx

Statement of Work

Community Development and Participatory Approaches Consultant in Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia, Sierra Leone and other MCC countries

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 as they oversee and assess various projects across their portfolio, including the Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire and El Salvador education projects, the Mongolia and Sierra Leone water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects, the Philippines agriculture project, the Indonesia community-driven development (CDD) project, and other MCC projects as assigned. The consultant will also advise the practice group on matters related to community development and participatory approaches to development.

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 January 2013, refer to http://www.mcc.gov/pages/countrytools/tools/compact-development.]

Startup and 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

Project Definition

· Consults stakeholders on potential projects

· Provides a Project Concept Note for each potential project

· On the basis of MCC technical guidance, develops more detailed Concept Papers

· Reviews Concept Notes, provides initial technical assessment

· Conducts peer review of Concept Papers

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

· Supports project development

Project Development and Appraisal

· Prepares detailed project proposals

· Consults stakeholders on project design and sustainability

· Assists with feasibility 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

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

B. Scope and Objectives

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 across the HCD portfolio, including but not limited to secondary education, WASH, agriculture, and CDD.

C. 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:

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

Project Assessment and Development

· Assess and make recommendations on the design approach proposed by MCA, including from document review and observations/interviews in the field.

· 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.

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

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

Project Oversight

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

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

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

· Review MCA contractor deliverables.

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

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

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

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

D. Deliverables

· Prior to executing a specific technical directive, the consultant will develop with MCC a work plan that include 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 of Performance

The base period is 5 years.

The level of effort is estimated at up to 1400 hours per year and up to 10 trips per year to various locations where the projects take place.

MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

F. Performance Location

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.

G. Qualifications

The Consultant shall possess the following qualifications:

· 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.