SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Senior Stakeholder Engagement Specialist – Tunisia Compact

A. Introduction

On January 23, 2003, the United States established the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an innovative foreign assistance program designed to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic growth. MCC, a U.S. government corporation, is based on the principle that aid is most effective in countries that promote good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people. In collaboration with MCC, partner countries are striving to achieve sustainable economic development through their MCC-funded activities (implemented through ‘Compacts’) while at the same time minimizing environmental and social risks and enhancing environmental and social benefits. MCC policies follow IFC Performance guidelines on stakeholder engagement and consultation for all MCC-funded activities and require that social and gender analysis inform the country’s involvement of stakeholders in consultative processes.

After Tunisia qualified for MCC assistance in December 2016, the Government of Tunisia (GoT) and MCC have been in the process of developing a Compact program that addressed the following identified constraints to economic growth: (i) excessive state control of markets for goods and services, and (ii) water scarcity in the interior regions, which was found to be a constraint to regional equity and sustainability. The GoT has submitted two projects for funding consideration:

1. Improvements in the Business Climate. This project would involve the creation of a rationalized, transparent, accessible and equitably administered business environment that encourages growth, job creation, investment, and efficient allocation of economic resources. The project aims to address market distortions, minimize the role of the state in the economy, reinforce the role of the private sector, and reduce bureaucracy in Tunisian ports.

2. Alleviating Water Scarcity to Promote More Consistent Agricultural Production in the Interior Regions of Tunisia. This project aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers and households in four regional governorates by providing an adequate, consistent, and sustainable supply of water. The project supports four goals: increasing water supply, reducing negative impacts of variable water supply, addressing problems stemming from poor water quality, and improving the governance and management of water resources.

To address constraints in business climate, the Transport and Trade Project has been designed to increase throughput (volume of cargo) at the Port of Rades, while also reducing the administrative formalities compliance times and other transport and logistics investment barriers. To address water constraints, the Water Demand and Productivity Project aims to support the reform of local and regional water management bodies consistent with Tunisia’s decentralization and water codes; rehabilitate approximately 40-50 public irrigation perimeters across four target governorates (Kairouan, Sidi Bouzid, Kebili, and Tozeur); and create cooperatives focused on supporting farm access to private sector investment in on-farm equipment and extension services, focused on selected irrigated perimeters in the four target governorates.

To overcome the binding constraints, projects will require instituting specific political and institutional reforms. Instituting these reforms requires a robust stakeholder engagement process that involves all relevant stakeholders in a timely, transparent, open and engaging process. This stakeholder engagement process must promote the necessary dialog and an understanding among stakeholders. The objective is to achieve stakeholder buy-in to the reforms. Stakeholder engagement is considered a significant and cross-cutting activity to the success of the Compact. It will also serve to facilitate understanding of the role of MCC’s Environmental Guidelines and the IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards in project implementation, as well as compliance with MCC’s Gender Policy.

The GoT Core Team, which was formed to support the development of the proposed MCC Compact, has recently developed a Compact-level Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) which serves as an important first step in the stakeholder engagement process. The Tunisia Compact SEP describes the legal and regulatory framework for stakeholder engagement. It presents an analysis of gaps between Tunisian requirements and MCC guidelines (including Environmental Guidelines and the Gender Policy). The SEP also identifies and maps stakeholders associated with the two projects, presents prioritized stakeholder engagement approaches for each phase of the Compact, identifies key environmental and social issues, describes key risks and opportunities, and presents a grievance mechanism and management approach.

B. Scope and Objectives

A primary objective of this consultancy is to support the GoT through advancement of the Compact-level SEP through the development of Activity-level SEPs for each project, as well as support of SEP implementation in compliance with MCC requirements.

The Activity-level SEPs will capture and reflect the current design of the projects as well as the relevant reforms that need to be advanced and agreed upon for their success. It will detail and include specific measures and strategies for ensuring an inclusive consultation process, with a particular focus on gender and women’s inclusion, in light of socio-cultural obstacles that restrict women’s voice and agency in Tunisia.

For each of the two projects the Consultant will support the GoT Core Team/Millennium Challenge Account-Tunisia[footnoteRef:1] to develop a detailed two year execution work plan. The execution work plan will set forth how to best optimize the activity-level stakeholder engagement needs and identify the resource requirements across the projects taking into account project critical path timelines for key decisions, the geographic diversity in the location of stakeholders, and the socio-economic diversity of stakeholders impacted by the project. [1: Note that the GoT Core Team will transition to the Millennium Challenge Account Tunisia (MCA Tunisia) once the Tunisia Compact is ratified between MCC and the GoT (anticipated late 2020). MCA Tunisia will be the legal entity responsible for the implementation of the Tunisia Compact. ]

In supporting the GoT Core Team/Millennium Challenge Account-Tunisia in the implementation of the execution work plans, it is anticipated that the Consultant shall be required to participate in meetings in the geographic areas of interest. Technical, outreach or facilitation support is also anticipated. Finally, advisory services to MCC may be required as needs or as issues emerge regarding stakeholder engagement.

The GoT Core Team/Millennium Challenge Account-Tunisia are the owners of the Compact-level SEP and of the activity-level SEPs envisioned for this consultancy. They are responsible for the plan’s implementation as well as oversight of all stakeholder engagement efforts funded by the Compact. As such, this consultancy is designed to provide the technical expertise and capacity required to support the Core Team in following MCC requirements. During the development of the SEPs the Consultant will be required to work in close coordination with the Core Team. It is anticipated that the Consultant will be co-located with the Core Team in Tunis during the majority of the period of performance.

The consultant shall work collaboratively with the GoT Core Team or MCA-Tunisia and MCC in supporting GoT lead Stakeholder Engagement for the development and implementation of the Tunisia Compact.

C. Countries

Tunisia and any other eligible MCC country.

D. Tasks

The Consultant shall support the GoT Core Team/Millennium Challenge Account-Tunisia with the following tasks:

1. Review existing information on Tunisia project objectives and activities and update the Compact-level SEP (if necessary).

a. Review of existing information on Tunisia project objectives and activities intended for consultant to understand project logic and stakeholder engagement needs and efforts to date. This is expected to primarily include detailed review of project and activity descriptions and the Compact-level SEP.

b. Provide recommendations to the Core Team on any required updates that may be needed for the Compact-level SEP—to address any major gaps or issues identified by the consultant during the review process and to ensure compliance with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines and MCC Gender Policy. Provide suggested updates of the SEP for consideration by the Core Team and in coordination with MCC.

c. Develop specific measures to ensure compliance with MCC requirements, including inclusive stakeholder engagement, which takes into account the specific cultural and socio-economic context and has a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups in the context of each project.

2. Develop a database management system of stakeholder engagement efforts conducted to date (note that documentation of meetings and participants exists but is not standardized and has not been compiled into a database/spreadsheet; information primarily in word documents) that will allow for compliance with MCC policies.

a. Develop a proposed framework for a database that can be updated throughout the life of the compact

b. Populate database with information once framework is approved (to capture activities to date); maintain and update database throughout period of performance.

3. Support the Core Team in the development of Activity-level Stakeholder Engagement Plans: The Transport and Trade Project includes two activities while the Water Demand and Productivity Project includes three activities. Development of the Activity-level Stakeholder Engagement Plans is anticipated to include the following:

a. Build-off analysis and information contained in the Compact-level SEP to develop a targeted Activity-level SEP. The Activity-level SEP will capture and reflect the current design of the projects as well as the relevant reforms that need to be advanced and agreed upon for their success in accordance with MCC’s policies.

b. Develop strategic execution work plans for each Activity-level SEP that will set forth how to best optimize the activity-level stakeholder engagement needs and identify the resources requirements across the projects taking into account project critical path timelines for key decisions, income, education and gender based diversity of stakeholders, as well as the geographic diversity in the location of stakeholders. Note that a comprehensive strategic execution work plan (based on the activity-level plans) is a required deliverable.

4. Support to the Core Team or MCA-Tunisia for Public Outreach and Engagement Efforts

a. Provide support to public outreach and engagement efforts, as agreed with the Core Team or MCA-Tunisia and MCC, and as based on the outreach and engagement priorities detailed in the work plans. Support could include facilitation/participation in meetings in the geographic areas of interest, technical assessment (e.g., of key themes, risks and opportunities, outcomes), public outreach or facilitation support. It is anticipated that at least one meeting will occur in each of the geographic areas of interest (Tunis, Kairouan, Sidi Bouzid, Kebili, and Tozeur).

b. Consultant may be responsible for supporting the Core Team/MCA-Tunisia in the development of materials to support the stakeholder engagement process such as handouts, presentations, etc. to ensure compliance with MCC policies.

5. Support to the Core Team or MCA-Tunisia for Stakeholder Engagement Oversight Provide support to the Core Team’s oversight efforts related to stakeholder engagement, as agreed with the Core Team or MCA-Tunisia and MCC, and as based on the priorities detailed in the work plans.

6. Support for the Establishment and Transition to MCA-Tunisia Provide support to the Core Team and MCC during the establishment and transitioning to the MCA-Tunisia, as agreed with MCA-Tunisia and MCC. Support could include training and capacity building efforts on stakeholder engagement products and activities conducted up to that point, updating or finalizing documents with MCA-Tunisia input, among others.

E. Deliverables

It is currently anticipated that the Consultant shall provide the following deliverables:

F. Period and Place of Performance

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

The estimated level of effort is up to 960 hours for the first year and 640 hours for the second year per year for a total of 1,600 hours with an estimated 6 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

During the period of the contract, it is expected that the Consultant will work, on average 50% time, however the weekly commitment will vary, depending on the needs of advisory services on stakeholder engagement for each project.

Consultant shall perform the tasks under this contract in Tunisia at Core Team offices as well as various project related locations throughout Tunisia and at Consultant’s own facilities, as necessary. Consultant is expected to execute a significant portion of this work in Tunisia. Preference is for consultants based in Tunisia or surrounding region.

G. 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.

H. 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.

I. 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.

J. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory:

· A degree in social sciences (communications and outreach, planning, geography, anthropology, or related), natural sciences, or similar, including equivalent coursework

· Demonstrated experience with stakeholder engagement and consultation, public outreach, and social assessment

· Demonstrated experience with designing and supporting inclusive stakeholder engagement and consultation, including women and vulnerable groups.

· Demonstrated experience with the IFC Performance Standards and/or similar international standards; IFC Performance Standards preferred.

· Language requirement: French (spoken, written and reading proficiency), Arabic (spoken proficiency)

Preferred:

· Residence or base of operations in Tunisia or surrounding region.

· Demonstrated experience with stakeholder engagement in Tunisia

· Demonstrated experience in the sectors of interest; water resources and/or development of industrial infrastructure or transportation.

· English (spoken highly desired; written preferred)

· Previous experience working with MCC and MCC country partners.