REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
Republic of Tajikistan
Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project
Grant No.: Е1450-TJ
Assignment Title: Terms of Reference for Regional Training Service Providers (RTSP) to conduct training for vulnerable farmers for the regions of Republic of Tajikistan
Reference No. SRASP AF-2023-CS-CQS
A. Introduction.
The Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project is an IDA grant in the amount of US$ 108 million prepared to support Tajikistan for the purpose of foundations for a more resilient agriculture sector referring to the availability of public agricultural services, including improved seeds, seedlings, and planting materials; agri-logistical services; agrometeorological information, soil testing, locust control and crop protection.
The project aims to support the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) in successfully transitioning to a sustainable, more productive, climate resilient, and inclusive model of agricultural sector growth. The proposed project will help to:
1) increase the availability of improved seeds, seedlings, and planting materials that are climate resilient, affordable, farmer-preferred, and well adapted to the different agro-ecological conditions of Tajikistan;
2) improve the access to improved agri-logistic services of farmers and agri-businesses; and
3) strengthen the crisis management, i.e. early warning, preparedness, and response capacity of selected public institutions.
All activities related to human resource development and capacity building will include topics on understanding climate change better and frameworks, tools, and techniques to facilitate designing and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation approaches. The Project is implemented by State Institute “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development” Project Management Unit (SI AED PMU).
B. General scope of the services.
Stage 1:
Under the direct supervision of the AED PMU and in close collaboration with partners, the Regional Service Provider will be responsible for organizing beneficiaries into groups to conduct training and advisory activities for vulnerable farmers who have received seeds and fertilizers in the regions of the Republic of Tajikistan under the additional financing of the project, within the framework of Sub-component 1.3: Multiplication of seeds, seedlings, and planting materials. Also, under stage 1 the service provider will carry out activities on monitoring of the conducted sowing activities and providing short on-site consultations (trainings).
Stage 2:
Conducting research, collection and analysis of data on conducted sowing operations and yields to create a database of project beneficiaries (vulnerable farmers who received seeds and fertilizers under the project by the regions of the RT under additional financing Sub-component 1.3):
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://aedpmu.tj/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tor-rtsp_vf_en.pdf
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST & INFORMATION
The State Institute “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development” Project Management Unit (SI AED PMU) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.
Firm Qualifications
The Consultant shall be a firm or group of firms with following minimum qualifications :
1. The service provider should be an organization with proven experience in the provision of training and monitoring in the field of agriculture and agribusiness for at least 5 years.
2. Experience in the region where the events will be held.
3. Presence in the staff of trainers, who are fluent in Tajik language, as well as with working knowledge of English (for the group leader)
4. The international status of the organization as well as working experience in other Central Asian countries will be seen as an advantage.
The credibility of mentioned experience shall be presented in a list of the required similar project/contracts as required above, including description of services provided (including information on contract value, contracting entity/client, project location/country, duration, assignment budget, percentage carried out by consultant in case of association of firms or subcontracting and main activities) and accompanied by certificates/confirmation of orderly fulfilment of the contracts verified by other party from such contracts.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016; revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualifications Selection (CQS) procedure set out in the Procurement Regulations.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 09:00 to 17:00 hours local time.
Expressions of interest must be submitted to the aedpmu.hr@gmail.com e-mail address by January 22, 2024 at or before 17:00 hours local time.
Attn: Mr. Daler Stori
Director of State Institute “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development”
Project Management Unit (SI AED PMU).
Tel: (44) 6100013; (44) 6100014;
E-mail: aedpmu.hr@gmail.com
