Inactive

STATEMENT OF WORK Involuntary Resettlement, Stakeholder Engagement, and Social Due Diligence and Oversight Consultant Introduction The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corpo... STATEMENT OF WORK Involuntary Resettlement, Stakeholder Engagement, and Social Due Diligence and Oversight Consultant Introduction The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov. 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 is based on the principle that aid is most effective in countries that promote good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people. Key MCC operating principles relating to the award of grants include emphasis on economic impact, reward for performance, partnership with recipient countries, and focus on results. Eligible countries are invited to develop and submit grant proposals to MCC for consideration. MCC will seek to enter into a Compact for assistance with those countries that submit quality proposals for poverty reduction through economic growth. All proposed projects and activities are subjected to MCC’s comprehensive project appraisal process prior to approval of a Compact, including the requirement for an environmental and social review. Once a Compact is signed and has entered into force, MCC continues to conduct reviews, analyses and assessments in consultation with the host country accountable entity and it’s implementing partners on an as-needed basis to carry out post-Compact oversight responsibilities. MCC recognizes that the pursuit of sustainable economic growth and healthy environments and communities are related. Economic growth that doesn’t adequately address the associated risks of environmental degradation can leave the poor particularly vulnerable. MCC’s Environmental and Social Performance (ESP) team works with partner countries to integrate internationally-accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of compacts. In collaboration with MCC, partner countries are striving to achieve sustainable economic development through their compact-funded activities while at the same time minimizing environmental and social risks and enhancing environmental and social benefits. MCC requires consultant services to support MCC’s ESP team to assess resettlement, social, and stakeholder engagement impacts, risks, and opportunities associated with the development, implementation, and closure of several MCC programs. The portfolio is global in scale and nature, but immediate needs include MCC’s Compact in Lesotho, MCC’s Compact in Sierra Leone, MCC’s Compact in Ghana, and others as identified. Scope The Consultant shall support MCC’s ESP team members in their efforts to assess resettlement, social, and stakeholder engagement impacts, risks, and opportunities associated with development, implementation, and closure of MCC’s compacts and threshold programs around the world. Specifically, the Consultant will be asked to provide technical review, guidance, oversight, and monitoring of social impacts, assessing involuntary resettlement and compensation of project affected peoples, evaluating land acquisition and titling issues, and providing guidance on stakeholder engagement, consultation, and inclusion, in particular for vulnerable groups. MCC may award multiple contracts through this solicitation. Country MCC requires consultant services specifically in Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, but the Consultant is eligible to work in any MCC country. D. Tasks The Consultant may be asked to do any or all of the following tasks: Due Diligence: The Consultant shall identify major resettlement, social, and stakeholder engagement risks and opportunities associated with the investments being considered by MCC. The Consultant shall propose mitigation measures for any resettlement and social risks/impacts identified, along with recommendations for enhancing project design and/or benefit streams from a social perspective. The Consultant will be requested to conduct site visits to proposed project areas and carry out a review of existing documentation to identify the range of relevant environmental and social issues potentially associated with the project. The Consultant will be expected to advise MCC on any additional resettlement and social studies that may be required as a part of MCC’s due diligence and/or cost implications for assuming any of the Consultant’s proposed mitigation or enhancement measures. Threshold/Compact Oversight: The Consultant shall assist MCC in conducting oversight of project implementation and performance from a resettlement, social, and stakeholder engagement perspective. The Consultant shall advise MCC by conducting periodic (typically quarterly) visits to project sites and carry out desk reviews to provide assurance that funding should be continued and that projects are on track to meet agreed-upon specifications, schedules, milestones, and budgets related. Additionally, the Consultant shall assist in identifying potential unforeseen impacts of implementation and provide recommendations for resolution. General Technical Advisory Support: In addition to above, the Consultant may be asked to provide general technical advisory support, including: Assist MCC in determining requirements and scope for Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS); Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs); other environmental analyses; Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs); Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs); and/or Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) under MCC Environmental Guidelines, MCC Gender Policy and international best practices; Review technical documents (e.g., preliminary design documents, feasibility and design studies, ESIAs, RAPs, Livelihood Restoration Plans, SEPs, etc.) for compliance with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and provide recommendations as necessary; Assess the coverage or consistency of local environmental, resettlement, land acquisition, and stakeholder engagement laws and regulations as compared to MCC Environmental Guidelines and international best practices; Provide guidance and oversight to MCA counterparts in environmental, resettlement, and social Program Management, QA/QC, construction works, FIDIC contracting and other similar topics; Provide appropriate guidance, tools, and assistance and, where necessary, help to strengthen institutional capacity and policies to integrate internationally accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability and social equity into the design and implementation of MCC-funded projects; Draft terms of reference (TOR) for ESIAs/ESMPs and RPFs/RAPs where such studies are required by MCC; Provide technical input and support (1) in the development of a stakeholder engagement process that ensures that project design and mitigation programs incorporate stakeholder priorities and concerns, and (2) that facilitates the development of a stakeholder engagement plan; Review implementation plans and work plans developed by Country Teams and related implementing entities as they pertain to environmental, social, stakeholder engagement, and resettlement activities, providing advice to MCC in terms of their appropriateness of from a technical perspective. This advice will provide MCC with the information needed to make a decision on whether or not to approve the implementation plans for their subsequent execution; Review draft tender documents and contracts for consistency with MCC Environmental Guidelines and international best practices; Review proposal evaluation reports from technical panel and procurement agent; Review proposed implementing entity arrangements and cooperation agreements between the Core Team and other entities as they pertain to the projects; Review safety design features, recommendations and applicable programs; Review qualifications of key Core Team technical staff prior to their engagement; Provide general technical advice and assistance to MCC related to the proposed Compact; Perform evaluations on capacity of the Core Team, its implementing entities, and other stakeholders involved in Compact implementation and provide recommendations for capacity building and improvements where applicable; Provide general technical advice and assistance on the development and implementation of training programs on environmental and social management and IFC Performance Standards for Core Team, implementing entities, and others as necessary; and Other requirements specific to environment, resettlement, and social activities of the Compact as necessary. Technical Directive: To support MCC in the flexible and timely manner needed to meet the evolving needs of Threshold/Compact development and implementation, tasks under this statement of work will be communicated in writing to the Consultant by the Contracting Officer’s Representative and/or Project Monitor (COR/PM) each time the consultant’s services are needed over the course of this contract. The technical directive will, in one paragraph to two pages, provide clear and concise instructions on tasks and deliverables requested of the consultant, as well as the expected level of effort. Should the Consultant be expected to travel to an MCC partner country, a detailed scope of work will be provided at least two weeks prior to travel and include specified deliverables. The Consultant shall acknowledge acceptance of the technical directive in writing (email is acceptable) to the COR/PM. The consultant shall not conduct any specific work under this contract unless such a technical directive is issued and acknowledged in writing. The consultant will notify the PM/COR if the tasks appear to fall outside the scope given herein. The consultant is expected to submit electronic copies of all written deliverables in English and to brief MCC staff verbally upon request. No technical directive shall imply any additional costs to the United States Government (USG) beyond the amount allowed for in the initial statement of work; however, this statement of work may be amended to reflect additional costs associated with appraisal and/or oversight requirements in additional countries. Deliverables The Consultant shall assist MCC in conducting project due diligence, appraisal and implementation oversight activities in any MCC eligible country as needed. The consultant shall provide services to MCC on a regular but intermittent basis, as required. Acceptance Criteria 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 at MCC, MCA, and other relevant organizations. All reports are to be submitted in English in hard and electronic copy (in MS Word), with tables, data and calculations in MS Excel. Period and Place of Performance All work shall be completed between the dates of the award through a one year base period of performance, with four additional one-year options. The estimated level of effort is up to 2,180 hours for the first year and 1,500 hours per year for the option years with an estimated 12 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease. The Consultant shall perform the tasks under this contract at his/her own facilities with occasional travel to MCC offices in Washington DC and eligible countries as requested. Subcontracting Experts are authorized to subcontract data collection, data preparation, data or economic analysis, and related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the expert’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost. Conflict of Interest The expert will be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction, and supervision) to be procured by the local accountable entity or using funds advanced under MCC work in the relevant country. Timing and Reporting All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the COR/PM. 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 Call Order 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 Call Order or of the terms and conditions of the Call Order 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. The designated Expert would be expected to coordinate with local authorities responsible for MCC Compact implementation as well as other donors, where relevant. However, designated Expert would report directly to the designated COR/PM. Evaluation Factors The Consultant shall have a background appropriate to the tasks and output set out above should at least have: Mandatory: Minimum Requirements: Fifteen (15) years of demonstrated expertise and experience in involuntary resettlement: Application of good international industry practice (with preference for the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement). Managing resettlement risks on a range of infrastructure projects from planning through implementation, including budgeting, developing resettlement policy frameworks, and infrastructure design to minimize resettlement, developing and implementing resettlement actions plans and livelihood restoration plans, and resettlement audits. International experience in developing countries, with a preference for Africa. Fifteen (15) years of demonstrated expertise and experience in stakeholder engagement: Application of good international best practice (with preference for the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 1). Managing stakeholder engagement and grievance mechanism programs on infrastructure projects from planning through implementation, including developing stakeholder engagement plans. International experience in developing countries, with a preference for Africa. Ability to travel to developing countries to guide project development and implementation. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. This includes ability to engage constructively and diplomatically with members of MCC’s country teams, host country counterparts, and other local organizations. Experience working with MCC or similar international organizations a plus. University degree in social sciences or other relevant field. Excellent English oral and written communication skills. Preferred: Previous experience in with MCC project development and implementation Previous experience working in MCC eligible countries, in particular Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Ghana Advanced postgraduate degree (Masters or Ph. D) a plus. Other requirements: International travel is required. The Consultant may be requested to mobilize on a short notice and will be expected to deliver high quality finished products in a timely manner.