Job Description

Posted on March 25, 2022

RUFEP/CS/ONS/002/2022: REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONDUCTING AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT SURVEY – FIRMS
1. The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have jointly designed and established a Rural Finance Expansion Programme (RUFEP) that is managed by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MoFNP). RUFEP is a follow up of the Rural Finance Programme (RFP) that completed its implementation on 30th September 2013 and closed on 31st March 2014. The Financing Agreement for RUFEP between the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the IFAD and the Spanish Food Security Facility Trust Fund (SFSFTF) was signed on 22nd July 2014. The Programme was declared effective on 22nd July 2014 upon signing of the Financing Agreement and its development goal and objective is to improve rural livelihoods through increased access to, and use of, sustainable financial services by rural men, women and youth. The Programme implementation period comes to an end in September, 2022.
2. The Development Goal of the RUFEP is to improve livelihoods of the rural poor through sustainable economic growth. The Programme will contribute to this end by achieving its programme purpose which is to increase access to and use of sustainable financial services to the rural communities. The Programme outcomes are:

Increased outreach of rural financial services offered by Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and other Financial Service Providers (FSPs) to enhance capacity of Financial Service Providers (FSPs) to deliver demand driven services in rural areas and
Improved performance of MFIs and other FSPs efficiency and sustainability of rural financial services.
Improved service delivery by Community Based Financial Institutions (CBFIs); and
New financial products, services, models adopted by the target group.

3. MoFNP through the Investment and Debt Management Department is the Lead Programme Agency and has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Programme. The Programme intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultancy services for the purposes of carrying out an Impact Assessment Survey.
4. MoFNP intends to hire a consultant for Consulting Services for conducting an Impact Assessment Survey under RUFEP. The impact assessment shall aim to identify any changes resulting from Programme’s interventions, establish contribution/and or causality between the changes and the magnitude of the observed changes. Specifically, the impact survey will validate the Theory of Change and will examine the effects of the Programme on Rural Financial Services (FSPs) focusing on access to rural financial services; uptake and use of financial services; development and availability of appropriate financial products/services; adoption of the financial products and services and will compare the situation with and without the project. The survey will also assess the quality of service offered by the FSPs and customer satisfaction of these products; and services; assess livelihood strategies, household assets, improved food security and dietary diversity in addition to specific Programme indicators. The final impact assessment report must systematically address the Programme’s impact, including outreach, offering factual support, analysis of activities and related results observed, and synthesis of all information captured for purposes of making reasonable conclusions and recommendations to enhance learning.
5. MoFNP now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications. The short-listing criteria are: (a) having experience in the project area; (b) the similar nature of work experience required; (c) adequacy for the assignment and (d) Qualifications and Experience of Principals.
6. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Zambia Public Procurement Act, 2020 and in the Zambia Public Procurement Regulations, 2011 and in compliance with the IFAD Project Procurement Guidelines, 2019.
7.The potential bidders may obtain further information by contacting the address below during the official hours from 08.00 to 17.00 hours (Monday to Friday).
8. Expressions of Interest, in sealed envelopes, clearly marked, “REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONDUCTING AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT SURVEY – FIRMS must be deposited in the Tender Box at the address below not later than Friday, 1st April 2022 at 10:00 hours, local time. LATE OR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. NO PUBLIC TENDER OPENING SHALL TAKE PLACE.
9. The Planned Procurement schedule (subject to changes) is as follows:

No
Activity
Date

a
Publication Date
17th March 2022

b
Closing Date for submission of EOI
1st April 2022

c
Short listing process and Approvals
7th April 2022

d
Issue of RFP document
14th April 2022

e
Closing Date for submission of proposals and Opening of Technical proposal
14th May 2022

f
Evaluation of Technical and Financial Proposals
   14th July 2022

g
Approvals, Negotiations and Contracting
14th August 2022

The address(es) referred to above are:

(i) For Clarification/Queries
(ii) For Submission

Procurement Specialist
Rural Finance Expansion Programme
Unit 2, Ground Floor, Mount Building Thabo Mbeki Road, P.O. Box 51061, Lusaka
Tel: +260 211 254 613
Email: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Head – Procurement and Supplies Unit
2nd Floor, Room 105
Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Chimanga Road, Ridgeway,
P.O. Box 50062,
Lusaka
Tel: +260 211 252 653,
Fax: +260 211 252 653

Charles Mayaka (Mr.)
Head – Procurement and Supplies Unit
For/The Permanent Secretary
MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING
1st date of Issue 17th March 2022