REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATION-based SELECTION)

Project name: STRENGTHENING FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STABILITY PROJECT

IDA CREDIT#6084-MN; IDA CREDIT#6085-MN

Assignment name: Consulting service to develop a handbook of a modified the Ultra-Poor Graduation Model for supporting the sustainable livelihood  of the poorest (ref no. D1/CS/038)

A. BACKGROUND

Mongolia received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project (SFFSP). The Objective of the SFFS Project is designed to improve fiscal policy and sustainability in a mineral-based economy, protect the poor and vulnerable, and restore confidence in the financial sector. The project is designed into five components: (I) Strengthening Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management; (II) Improving the Efficiency of Public Financial Management; (III) Enhancing Financial Sector Stability; (IV) Strengthening the Social Protection System; (V) Project Management and Monitoring. The objectives are to Strengthening fiscal responsibility and implementing relevant policy measures, improving fiscal discipline, strengthening the resiliency of the banking system, improving public expenditure quality in social protection, providing support for Project implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation, including, inter alia, audit arrangements, reporting requirements, procurement, and financial management activities respectively. For more details, please refer to the Project Appraisal Document Report No. PAD2269. 

The first Social Welfare Law was introduced in 1995 laying the foundation of the current social assistance system in Mongolia, and the law has been updated several times since then. Presently, most social welfare programs are categorically targeted to different population groups (for example, children, the disabled, the elderly, and single mothers) that are traditionally seen as vulnerable. There is only one poverty-targeted program (food stamp program) and most other programs are cash transfers. There is a lack of well developed non-cash programs such as community-based services that target the poor. 

From 2012, The Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor (MSWL) started to provide a grant of MNT 1.0 million to people who want to join a group (2-3 family members) and start an income generation activity, as provided in the Social Welfare Law. The local organizations that monitor the program and the local livelihood support councils say that the program helps household livelihood. However, people who are eligible for this program are not selected on the basis of poverty targeting. There is also a lack of training and support for implementation and a decent monitoring system.

Furthermore, the Government of Mongolia implemented the “National Program to Support Household Development” during 2012-2015; and it also the government approved the "National Program to Improve the Development and Protection of Target Households" by its resolution No. 16 of 2016. The goal of the program is to improve the living standards of poor household members through a package of services such as education, health, psychology, social protection, employment, and finance, based on their needs, initiatives, and opportunities. The MLSP and local governors of all stages were responsible for implementing the program. The authorities have concluded that the programs produced some results in improving the livelihoods of a certain number of households. However, the most challenging aspect was that there is no specific funding for this program, and it is not being implemented successfully enough due to issues such as management, implementing methods, training, and lack of human resources.

The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals sets the goal of global poverty alleviation by 2030, with each country aiming to increase its level of development by reducing poverty and improving the well-being of its citizens. Poverty in Mongolia remains relatively high, and the overall poverty reduction has stagnated despite robust macroeconomic growth between 2016 and 2018. The national poverty headcount ratio fell slightly from 29.6 percent in 2016 to 28.4 percent in 2018.

The Government of Mongolia intended to reforms to increase the impact of social welfare programs and benefits on reducing poverty.  The Government Action Plan  for 2020-2024 includes the following goals:

    i. Improve the methodology for determining the living standards of households, target social welfare services, support employment and consistently reduce poverty;

    ii. Adults who are not employed in low-income households will be provided with professional development and skills training, and employment will be supported;

    iii. Introduce community-based livelihood support services to improve the social protection and livelihoods of low-income households;

    iv. Social welfare services will be reached target groups and will be transparent, open, and without delays.

Therefore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare intends to include new services to support the livelihoods of the poor in the new draft Social Welfare Law. This includes improving existing programs and implementing livelihood support programs based on international and Mongolian experience. It is also considered that the new services will be implemented in collaboration with the participation of non-governmental organizations. In the case of Mongolia, experience has shown that experience and methodologies for staff are very important in implementing household livelihood improvement programs and legislation.

In 2002, a Bangladeshi NGO called BRAC launched a multidisciplinary livelihood support program called Poverty Alleviation, which aims to lift the country's poorest people out of poverty. The program helps the poorest households out of poverty by providing them with productive assets, training, development, guidance, savings, and support for consumption expenditures. Since its inception, the program has been implemented in more than 40 countries and covers 14 million people. 

In Mongolia, World Vision International has been implementing a program based on so-called graduation method since 2015, covering a total of more than 4,000 households. In 2015-2017, 93 percent of 1,500 households covered by the program were lifted out of poverty, and the average household income increased sevenfold. During 2018-2020, the World Vision is implementing the program for additional 2,500 households; and the program will phase out in 2020. 

Therefore, the MLSP keen to hire a professional entity to design a Graduation Model for Improving the Livelihoods of Poor Households in Mongolia (referred to as Graduation Project) and to develop a handbook for implementing the project by relevant agencies and NGOs. The Graduation Model will provide key concept, principle, framework and design features of interventions needed to support poor household’s livelihood. The implementation handbook will guide Local Labor and Welfare Service Offices (LWSO) and NGOs on how to plan and implement the Graduation Project targeting the poorest of the poor families as the social welfare clients. 

The model will be built on the core principles of the graduation approach and will draw upon the existing best experiences tested in Mongolia,  and will need to consider specific dimensions of the existing business processes of the government. 

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to design the graduation project for the poor as an integrated livelihood interventions under the social welfare system and to develop its implementation guidance and training tools. The proposed graduation project and related guidelines are expected to be tested by the MLSP in cooperation with local NGOs.  It is also expected the MLSP will adopt the Graduation Project and implement as a new social welfare services/program targeting the poor. 

C. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The professional entity will perform the following tasks:

Task I. Assess existing experiences of NGOs and lessons from the past and existing experiences of the MLSP, including the delivery mechanisms through a desk review of legal and policy documents, relevant reports, interview with staff of MLSP, GOLWS and relevant NGOs.

Task II.  Design the Graduation Project Model based on international best practices and building upon existing good practices of NGOs and learning from past and existing experiences of the MLSP.

The design of the Graduation Model, shall consider the following aspects into account:

    i. Rationale: strategic alignment with government social and poverty alleviation policies, expected impacts; 

    ii. Framework, key principles, type of interventions and design features (program design that take both rural and urban contexts of Mongolia) with a focus on ensuring an integrated approach and   linkage.

    a. Project log frame as reflecting urban and rural contexts shall be provided;

    b. A set of social protection, livelihoods promotion, financial inclusion, empowerment interventions shall be considered)

    iii. Targeting: criteria and targeting methodology, including the processes for verification of selection and role of key stakeholders in improved targeting;

    iv. Minimum requirements of graduation and indicators to be used, and how and by whom these indicators will be measured and verified, 

    v. Feasibility and operational implications: implementation period, delivery modality, financial costs, financing, implementation capacity of NGOs and issues for consideration for in contracting of service providers.

Task III. Develop the Graduation Model’s Implementation Handbook which can be tested and implemented by the MLSP in partnership with local NGOs.

In developing the implementation handbook, the following aspects shall be taken into account:

    i. Description of implementation processes and roles assigned for government agency, local authorities and NGOs with a particular attention paid to urban and rural contexts;

    ii. Requirements for NGOs and selection criteria and processes;

    iii. Requirements for interventions, topics of the training for staff and participant households, key role and responsibilities of staff such as the government and NGOs, etc.      

    iv. Monitoring and evaluation of interventions;

    v. Other issues deemed as necessary.

Task IV. Develop a training of trainers’ guide that aim to support capacity building of staff and service providers who will closely work with the poor families. This guide outlines generic guidance for program management and delivering household training and counseling and  livelihood interventions.

The detailed design of the graduation model, graduation model’s handbook, a training of trainers’ guide shall be discussed and agreed upon in consultation with the MLSP. 

C. DELIVERABLES 

Аll deliverables should be discussed with relevant officials of MLSP and GOLWS with the incorporation of comments in order to ensure the quality of the deliverables:

Deliverable 1. A report assessing international best practices, existing good practices of NGOs and experiences and lessons learnt from MLSP interventions under a number of government and MLSP programs (referring to Task I)

Deliverable 2. A Graduation Project designed for supporting the sustainable livelihood of the poorest (referring to Task II)

Deliverable 3. A handbook for implementing the Graduation Project for government staff and local NGOs (referring to Task III)

Deliverable 4. Guidelines for training of trainers (referring to Task IV).

D. QUALIFICATION D. QUALIFICATION :

Organization experience: The entity should have at least 3 years of relevant experience in designing and implementing development projects especially livelihood development for low-income people, and conducting training in basic health and education, financial literacy, livelihood development, and access to market and social empowerment efficiently and effectively. The organization shall meet the following criteria: 

    •  Be a registered professional association or society

    •  Have at least 3 years’ experience in designing and implementing development programs on social protection, financial inclusion, livelihood promotion, and social empowerment. 

    •  Have at least 3 years’ experience in organizing training in the fields of community group organizing and livelihood improvements. 

    •  Training in community group organizing, and on livelihood improvements. 

    •  Have a competent team including coordinator, training instructor, and technical expert.

Required qualification for team members:

Team Coordinator & Technical Consultant shall have: 

Education: At least a master's degree in business administration or an advanced degree in economic development or other relevant fields such as micro-entrepreneurship development and human development. 

Professional Qualifications and experience: Technical experts shall have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience; and shall have experience in management, project design, and implementation, developing training in related fields. 

Other: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment. Have the ability to perform and manage high-quality work in a relatively short period. Should have proven skills in planning, budgeting, and research and proven track record and experience in the development of new projects. 

Business Development Consultant/Training Instructor shall have: 

Education: at least a bachelor’s degree in economic development, social science, or other relevant fields such as marketing, micro-entrepreneurship development, and teaching method.  

Experience:  Shall have at least 10 years of relevant professional experience. Furthermore, having an ability and teaching experience in the field of community group formation or adult training,  having teaching methods for training centers dedicated to adults especially low-income people. 

Other: Excellent teaching skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment. Have the ability to perform and manage high-quality work in a relatively short period. 

E. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING 

The professional entity will report directly to the Director of Policy, Planning Department (PPD) of the MLSP. The professional entity will work on a day-to-day basis under the guidance of the Director of PPD on technical matters related to the assignment. Work progress will be presented during the working group meeting or other meetings as needed.   

The Director of PPD shall evaluate the performance on the agreed deliverables and approve the invoices for the delivered outputs. 

The professional entity will prepare a 3-5 pages summary report detailing the achievements and impediments in executing the entire assignment effectively, at the completion of the consultancy assignment.  The MLSP and SFFS PIU will provide input to the evaluation of the consultant’s performance. 

F. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT CONDITION 

The expected commencement date of the contract is  January 2021 and a duration of 5 months through May 2021. 

Based on the evolving needs of the Client and the performance of the professional entity, the contract may be extended if needed. If any task is not finished and approved by the Client within the agreed-upon timeline, the professional entity should complete the task/s without additional cost. 

Payments will be released upon satisfactory completion of all deliverables due for each task, according to the following schedule:

    •  Submission of Deliverable 1 stated in the ToR conditional on the Client’s approval: 20 % of the total contract amount 

    •  Submission of Deliverable 2 & 3 stated in the ToR conditional on the Client’s approval: 50 % of the total contract amount 

    •  Submission of Deliverable 4 stated in the ToR conditional on the Client’s approval: 30 % of the total contract amount 

G. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The professional entity will work from their own office and can connect with MLSP remotely.

Please submit the following documents in sealed envelope no later than 17:00, January 18, 2021. Please submit the documents in English:

1. Expression of Interest Letter;

2. Company introduction/profile along with a copy of state registration certificate;

3. Evidence of specific experience and qualification information of the firm relevant to the assignment (please provide relevant information in the table in Annex I);

4. Implementation Plan and Schedule;

5. Proposed consultants’ photo copy of educational diplomas, certificates, and CVs.

Expressions of Interest should be clearly marked “A professional entity to develop a handbook of a modified the Ultra-Poor Graduation Model for supporting the sustainable livelihood  of the poorest, Reference number: D1/CS/038”.

Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification-based Selection Method set out in the Procurement Regulations: The following is the link to the World Bank’s website: https://policies.worldbank.org/sites/ppf3/PPFDocuments/Forms/DispPage.aspx?docid=083b3f94-a932-4395-a410-834f8bc14f8c

Any clarification regarding the REOI shall be in a written form and to be sent to the below address or email to procurement@sffs.mn no later than 7 calendar days prior to the submission deadline. 

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please be noted that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidate will be contacted. 

Address for submission of Expression of Interest: Attention to Ms.Ariunaa.G, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project, Address: Room #204, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tel: 70120582.

70120582