GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PROJECT (SLIMP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO CONDUCT A MID-TERM REVIEW FOR THE SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PROJECT (SLIMP) (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT).

SECTOR: AGRICULTURE

LOAN NO. : 2100150042147

PROJECT ID NO.:  P-ZM-AAE-003

COUNTRY : ZAMBIA

Date: 14th December, 2023

1.   Background

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has received financing from the African Development Bank and the Government of the Republic of Zambia towards the cost of the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this funds to payments for the contract for the provision of consultancy service to conduct a Mid-Term Review for the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP).

2. The objectives of this assignment is to:

• To assess overall performance against the Project objectives and targets as set out in the
• Project Document and other related documents;
• To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Project implementation;
• To critically analyze the implementation and management arrangements of the Project;
• To list and document initial lessons concerning Project design, implementation and management;
• To assess Project outputs and outcomes to date and review planned targets, strategies and plans for achieving the overall objectives of the Project within the planned timeframe;
• To assess the relevance of the project planning to national priorities, in general, and to the project areas development priorities;
• To provide guidance for the ongoing Project activities, the implementation and management arrangements where necessary;
• To assess the effectiveness of mainstreaming crosscutting issues of gender and women empowerment
• To assess project initiatives to promote sustainability of potential Project Impacts;
• Assess the level of community participation in sustainable livestock management initiatives and effectiveness of the structures established for sustainability of these initiatives.
• To recommend measures to ensure implementation of all planned activities and achievement of planned results (outputs, outcomes, impact and sustainability) within the project timeframe and/or recommend a realistic timeframe ideal for project end dates;
• To recommend maintenance or exclusion of planned activities based on their relevance and feasibility and/or potential to contribute to achievement of project objectives and targets;
• To recommend reallocation of resources within and across Project components based on achievements and savings made to date.

3. Scope of the Assignment

The scope of services of the mid-term review consultant will include, but not limited to the following:

• Familiarise with project documents to understand the rationale and background of the Project and its vision and planned results
• Understand the performance of the project, its stakeholders and beneficiaries and the operational mechanisms and strategies;
• Facilitate a review process by the project team in assessing the performance of the Project along the five evaluation criteria of relevance of project planning and or planned activities, efficiency and effectiveness of implementation, and potential for impact and sustainability of project results. Emphasis will be on the first three criteria (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness) while the other two will be assessed according to possibility and considerations being put in place to ensure their attainment;
• Along the five evaluation criteria mentioned above, interview implementing partners, i.e., government departments and assess, among others, the i) pace of implementation ii) strategies used iii) cost effectiveness iv) adequacy of the Project planning and input resources v) value for money vi) feasibility and viability of investments, vii) level of community participation and acceptability of project activities, viii) with respect to infrastructure being constructed, estimate the scale of direct and indirect beneficiaries once the infrastructures are completed;
• Identify factors contributing to, or hindering project success;
• Identify lessons of experience that should be taken into account to enhance the potential for project success;
• Identify any outputs or outcome results that potentially cannot be realised during the life of the Project;
• Draw a clear conclusion on whether or not the performance of the Project is on track, if not, recommend what must be done;
• Make clear recommendations for enhancing the potential for the Project to achieve planned results. These must be specific in terms of what actions key stakeholders (Executing Agency, PIU, Funder, Community, etc.) must undertake; and
• Make suggestions on project design modifications.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Individuals should provide detailed curriculum vitae demonstrating that they have the required qualifications, competence and relevant experience to undertake this assignment.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Framework for Bank Group Funded Operations” dated 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at: https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy. A shortlist of three to six individual consultants will be established after the deadline of the request for expressions of interest. The consultants on the shortlist will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Level of education in general
10%

Educational level compared to the field of assignment
30%
Years of experience in general
20%

Number of years of experience relevant to the assignment
40%

4. Required Qualifications, Experience and Technical Competencies

The candidate shall have the following minimum qualifications, experience and technical competencies:

Qualifications

The minimum educational qualifications required for the consultant is a Degree in any of the following or similar fields:

• Livestock Development
• Development Studies
• Rural Development
• Economics
• Agricultural Economics
• Natural Resources Management.
• A Master’s Degree in a Social Science or any of the above relevant fields will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Prospective consultants must have a minimum of 15 years’ field experience, 10 years of which should be related to Monitoring and Evaluation of development programmes.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of rural development programmes in various sectors such as forestry, fisheries, livestock, agriculture, infrastructure development, sustainable natural resources management, etc., is a definite advantage.
• Demonstrated experience working with the African Development Bank’s Procedures or those of other Multilateral Development Banks;
• Knowledge of the institutional, technical and commercial aspects of public sector;
• Organizing, work planning and scheduling skills; and
• Excellent report writing skills with a good command of spoken and written English.

5.   The duration of the assignment is expected to be as follows:

The maximum duration of the Assignment is six (06) weeks and minimum of four (04) weeks.

The assignment will be divided as follows:

a)      Phase I – Preparation of the Assignment – Duration 1 Week

b)      Phase II – Actual Midterm Review Execution – Duration 2 Weeks

c)      Phase III – Drafting the Final MTR Report – Duration 3 weeks

Interested Consultants may obtain further information including detailed Terms of Reference at the address below during the official working hours from 08.00 to 17.00 hours.

The Expressions of Interest clearly marked as “Expressions of Interest for Provision of Consultancy Services to conduct a Midterm Review for the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP)”, together with education certificates must be online on the electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP) on or before Thursday, 11th January 2024 at 16:00 hours, following this link.

The Expressions of Interest will be opened electronically on the same date immediately after opening in the presence of consultants or their representatives who choose to attend.

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock

Att: Head Procurement and Supplies Unit

Mulungushi House 3rd Floor, Room 310

Independence Avenue,

P.O. Box 50060, Ridgeway,

Lusaka.

Permanent Secretary                                                                                                              MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK