The Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Facilitation Service to Horn of Africa Initiative

Source: World Bank — Road Sector Support Project

ETHIOPIAN ROADS ADMINISTRATION

SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING

(CONSULTANCY SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

for

The Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Facilitation Service to Horn of Africa Initiative

1. Project Background

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Road Sector Support Project (RSSP); and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments to finance the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Facilitation Service to Horn of Africa Initiative: Regional Economic Corridor Project.

The Horn of Africa initiative is part of a global initiative for regional integration in the HoA and The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and Ethiopian Road Administration (ERA) currently developing this project with anticipated financial support from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. Hence, the project requires observance of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) to protect the people and the environment from potential adverse impacts.

As being the case, the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is the requirement of ESS and it is about Sub-Saharan African historically underserved traditional local communities having a specific right that others should respect in case projects adversely affect their land, natural resources, cultural heritage or cause relocation. In such a case, ESS necessitates the engagement of third party with neutral stance—neither for nor against the proposed project. Thus, the engagement of the FPIC Facilitator Organization (FFO) is needed to serve as a broker between the project and its affected parties or in particular, facilitate the FPIC process.

2. Objectives and Duration of the Assignment

The objective of engaging FFO is to facilitate the FPIC process resulting in: (a) free, a consent given voluntarily and without coercion, intimidation or manipulation; (b) informed, clear, consistent, accurate and transparent project information delivered in a culturally appropriate manner; (c) prior, giving time to understand and analyze project information and reach consent in advance; and (d) consent, collective decision reached through the customary decision-making process. To this end, the FFO will work closely with—and under the guidance of—the Bank consultants.

The entire assignment is expected to be completed within a period of 6 (Six) months after contract signing.

3. Required Qualifications

The Ethiopian Roads Administration now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services discussed above. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Service. The following criteria will be used to assess the Expression of Interest documents;

• Eligibility,
• The consultant who conducted earlier environmental and social assessments shall not be eligible for this task (to maintain neutrality),
• Performance record of firms on on-going or completed projects contracted with ERA,
• Company Establishment [Technical and Managerial Capacity of the  Organizations in its Areas of Expertise, Core Business and Year in the Business],
• Number and diversity of permanent personnel related to the service,
• Consultancy Services Turnover in the Last Five Years,
• General Experience (within the last ten years):  A minimum of ten years general experience with valid and strong references of social assessment experience,
• Specific Experience (within the last ten years):

          - Experience on community-based consultations or data gathering exercise Projects,

          - Experience on development of Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)                        reports or review of ESIA and RAP reports,

          - Experience of Technical Assistance on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) facilitation projects, and

• Familiarity, Knowledge and Experience in the region (in Ethiopia and other Sub Sahara Countries).

4. Selection of Applicants

The attention of interested consultant is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World bank Borrowers, (January, 2011) (Revised July 2014) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. Firms are advised to specifically indicate the type of association in their application.

A Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based selection method set out in the above-mentioned Consultants Selection Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 A.M to 12:30 A.M hours and from 2:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M hours, Mondays to Thursdays and 09:00 A.M to 11:30 A.M and 2:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M hours on Fridays.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in three (3) hard copies or electronically to the address below (in person, or by mail) on or before September 5, 2022. Please note that the number of pages of the Expression of Interest document shall not be more than 50 (fifty) pages.

Attn: Mr. Zekaris G/Giorgis

Engineering Procurement Directorate, Director

New Building Block B, 1st Floor

P. O.  Box 1770

Ras Abebe Aregay Street

Email: eraengproceoi@gmail.com  

Tel. +251-115 18-57-74 (Extension-5775)

Fax: +251 11 554 4434

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Roads Administration