Request for Expressions of Interest For Selection of Consultants

Transcription

1 Request for Expressions of Interest For Selection of Consultants Name of Country: Islamic Republic of Pakistan Name of Project: Sindh Enhancing Response to Reduce Stunting Project (SERRSP) Project ID: P Loan / Credit No: IDA / Plan published date: Assignment Title: COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND BENEFICIARY OUTREACH DESIGN FOR CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER SOCIAL PROTECTION UNIT The Government of Sindh has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of Sindh Enhancing Response to reduce Stunting Project SERRSP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.. The consulting services ( the Services ) include services for communications and social mobilization for Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) to the utilization of specific services by Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW)/mothers ensuring positive impact on both poverty and human development outcomes. To this end, the Government of Sindh through the platform of Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) with multisectorial approach is collaborating with the World Bank in the piloting of a Health and Nutrition Conditional Cash Transfer (H&N CCT) program in the districts of Tharparkar and Umarkot. The Social Protection Unit, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sindh now invites 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. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section-3.17 of the World Bank s Procurement Regulations for Borrowers for Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services dated July 1, 2016 Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant s Qualification Based Selection (CQS) method set out in the World Bank s Procurement Regulations Interested firms are requested to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the standardized form, which can be collected at the address mentioned below or can be downloaded from SPU s website. The firm should have at least five (05) years of experience in advisory services. The applicant firm(s) must provide specific details of projects conducted by them. Should have documented experience of completing at least three assignments of comparable scale and complexity. They should have adequate human resources and logistical arrangements. The Detailed TORs and standard form for the assignment are also available on SPU s website (Form label Expression of Interest for Communication Strategy and Beneficiary Outreach Design ). Further information can be obtained at the address mentioned below during office hours. Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address mentioned below by 8 th June PROGRAM COORDINATOR Social Protection Unit, Accelerated Action Plan for Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition Social Welfare Department, Government of Sindh 5 th Floor, State Life Building No.11, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi. Tel: Website: spu.procurement@gmail.com

2 Terms of Reference Communication Strategy and Beneficiary Outreach Design for Conditional Cash Transfer Social Protection Unit 1. Introduction Government of Sindh has recently adopted an Accelerated Action Plan for Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition (AAP). The AAP aims to reduce stunting in Sindh by at least 1 percentage point per year, or from 48% to 43% by 2021 and to 30% by 2026 by increasing and expanding coverage of multi-sectoral interventions proven to reduce stunting in the first five years of children s lives. It comprises objectives and expected outcomes related to the underlying causes (by sectors) of stunting: health, population, sanitation and hygiene, agriculture, social protection and education. Nutrition centric social protection component of AAP Sindh, for reduction of stunting and malnutrition envisages a pilot Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to create demand for health and nutrition (H&N) services, promote behavioural change, and increase uptake of these services focused on the first 1000 days of life by incentivizing health check-ups of pregnant and lactating mothers, growth monitoring and immunization of children under 2 years of age through provision of a regular and predictable cash transfer within the targeted poor and vulnerable households. A Social Protection Unit (SPU) within the Social Welfare Department has been established with a mandate to perform key functions such as, social mobilization, communication, enrolment, compliance verification, payment, grievance redress and monitoring and evaluation for the H&NCCT design and implementation. The SPU is headed by a Program Coordinator and comprise of suitably qualified and experienced staff. 2. Background Pakistan presents a dismal scenario with respect to health and nutrition statistics. According to the National Nutrition Survey 2011, more than 29.7 per cent of children under-5 are underweight for their age, 43.7 per cent are affected by stunting and around 15.1 per cent by wasting. In addition, 62.1 per cent of children and 26.1 per cent of pregnant women have anemia. Pakistan is at the brink of witnessing the double burden of under nutrition and declining reproductive health of women. Sindh which is home to more than 50 million people in Pakistan, holds the key in the achievement towards the health-related SDGs. However, despite ongoing efforts, the health sector performance and pace of change in Sindh is slow and uneven, particularly with respect to maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) outcomes. The infant mortality rate in Sindh is 80 per 1000 live births. Malnutrition has been found to reduce the likelihood that children will be enrolled in school and reduces the learning capacity of those who are enrolled, putting constraints on social, economic and long-term human development, particularly, with respect to the marginalized and disadvantaged communities.

3 3. Health and Nutrition Conditional Cash Transfer (H&N CCT) The evidence on maternal and newborn health suggests that the first 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child s 2 nd birthday sets the foundation for the life-long cycle for human capital. Further, the international evidence supports the positive outcomes of linking demand side interventions such as Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) to the utilization of specific services by pregnant women and mothers, ensuring positive impact on both poverty and human development outcomes. To this end, Government of the Sindh through the platforms of Accelerated Action Plan with multi-sectorial approach is collaborating with the World Bank in piloting a Health and Nutrition Conditional Cash Transfer (H&N CCT) program in the districts of Tharparkar and Umarkot. The primary objectiveof the CCT pilot is to create demand for nutrition services, promote behavioral change and increase uptake of health and nutrition services focused on the first 1000 days of life by incentivizing health check-ups of pregnant and lactating mothers, growth monitoring and immunization of children under 2 years of age through a regular and predictable cash transfer within targeted poor and vulnerable households. The complementary objective is to contribute towards promoting investment in human capital by encouraging desirable behaviors from pregnant and lactating mothers to ensure safe birth and healthy children. Initially, the program will be piloted in two selected districts of Sindh province. As part of the implementation of H&N CCT initiative, one of the important activity requiring technical support relates to outreach and communication activities. The overarching goal of communications and outreach is to support and facilitate the effective implementation of the CCT program by clearly communicating program eligibility criteria; important milestones and timelines; and other key program design parameters. To this end, the SPU intends to develop a comprehensive communication strategy in collaboration with all the concerned departments, particularly, the Health Department. This communication strategy will be based on the analysis of communications needs of the H&N CCT program and will translate them into the vision of SPU communications and outreach, its objectives, key messages, and appropriate channels for each objective. The communications strategy will be complemented by a well-designed action plan that will include a series of key actions along with required activities and products to accomplish objectives for each group of target audience. The impact of the strategy will be monitored through a monitoring framework. SPU s overall communications framework will rest on a three-pronged communications platform aimed at internal and external communications. These include: i. Strategic Communication: Strategic communication aims at branding of the SPU by reaching out to stakeholders for constituency building. It is an important institutional activity to generate acceptance and cooperation of stakeholders, including government agencies, departments, development partners, non-governmental entities and community structures with an interest and role in SP. ii. Public Outreach: Public outreach targets general public to create awareness about SP as a right of the people and the various programs that are available for the poor and vulnerable. This also includes targeted communication that will provide information about key H&N CCT program features, objectives, eligibility criteria, and coresponsibilities etc. to potential beneficiaries, stakeholders and the general public. Such beneficiary outreach strategy will specifically focus on mobilizing the potential beneficiaries and to motivate them for enrolment into CCT program.

4 iii. Internal Communication: This relates to communication within SWD/SPU staff, including collaboration with key implementation stakeholders that enable SPU to fulfil its functions. These stakeholders may include local implementation partner, Social Mobilisers, Lady Health Workers, District Administration officials, Local Government, etc. 4. Objective and scope of services: The overall objective of the proposed consultancy is to support the SPU towards the development, implementation and monitoring of a Beneficiary Outreach and program communication Strategy for Sindh H&N CCT pilot. Working in close collaboration with the SPU and the Communications Team/Focal Person of the H&N CCT, the Communications and Outreach consulting firm will support the design and delivery of a time-bound Communications Strategy and Beneficiary Outreach Plan. Salient tasks include: 1. The design and execution of Strategic Communication activities in collaboration with the SPU communications personnel and the senior management team. For national and regional level audiences, these activities may include seminars, workshops, meetings, orientation sessions and sharing of relevant briefs and documents. 2. H&N CCT beneficiary communications and outreach strategy and action plan aligned with the program s operational manual, particularly: a. Beneficiary outreach and awareness campaign for the roll-out of H&N CCT pilot sensitizing the target audience about enrolment, compliance, payments and grievance redress; b. Defining communication measures that are achievable in the short (within 6 months), medium (within 12 months) and long (within 18 months) terms; c. Design of key messages, tools and activities in the beneficiary outreach action plan which would be prioritized and used to complement the objectives of the H&N CCT pilot; d. A monitoring plan to gauge the relevance and efficacy of the communications strategy, tools and implementation arrangements; and e. Support the development of behavioural change communications tools and activities. f. The Firm shall develop liaison and operational linkages with main social behavioural change communication strategy would be implemented by the Task Force Secretariat for all secotral components under AAP. 5. Key outputs expected from the firm: Sindh H&N CCT communication and beneficiary outreach strategy with action plan, particularly focusing on CCT pilot rollout. Development of key messages and tools for beneficiary outreach and program communication for H&N CCT pilot. Development of communication monitoring plan and support SPU in executing same. Produce an inception report, envisaging overall communication and outreach work plan and all the phases of communication during the implementation of the H&N CCT program.

5 Travel to the project area, visit potential audiences (stakeholders, field staff and potential beneficiaries) and sites to capture linkages and habits of audiences to support design of information materials and outreach campaign. Support implementation of standardized branding guidelines to deliver consistent communications across all activities, through design and production of pilot related FAQs, standard information kit/pack for beneficiary orientation, verification and enrolment process, pregnant and lactating mothers awareness sessions, payment modalities and grievance redress. Support the SPU in carrying out communications training of all implementing partners during inception to identify and clarify key roles and responsibilities in mobilization, gender-sensitive rules of beneficiary engagement and feedback, beneficiary outreach and communications at various touch points. Prepare key messages and oversee dissemination of information through an effective media/information campaign (to be hired separately by SPU) with all potential beneficiaries, stakeholders and implementing partners so that consistency in communications is maintained through the entire project cycle. Design and oversee implementation of an outreach campaign (to be hired separately by SPU) to mobilize local public opinion, motivate beneficiaries to avail services, educate them about their rights and responsibilities for accessing the cash benefits. Prepare relevant material for print, electronic and social media (wherever necessary), which may include but will not be limited to public service announcements, banners, posters, and campaigns for broadcast media and related material for communication with all stakeholders required from time to time during the entire cycle of implementation. This would also include sharing of results with stakeholders through video documentaries, case studies, etc. Work in close coordination with the Communications Lead at the SPU to deliver and administer required tasks, including quarterly work plans and progress reports. 6. Selection Method: The selection process will be carried out following World Bank's Procurement Procedures for Hiring of Consultancy Services under Consultant s Qualification Based Selection (CQS) for a period of 18 Months in accordance with Paragraph 7.11 of World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

6 GOVERNMENT OF SINDH SOCIAL PROTECTION UNIT (ACCELERATED ACTION PLAN) Expression of Interest (EOI) Consulting Firms Project Number Project Name Project Country Consulting Firm Information Country of Incorporation: Name of Consulting Firm: Acronym: Associations (Joint Venture or Sub consultancy) Consultant Acronym Country *Joint Venture EOI Submission Authorized By Position I confirm that: Documentation regarding our corporate structure including beneficial ownership has been attached. Documentation regarding our Board of Directors has been attached. A written agreement to associate for the purpose of this Expression of Interest has been signed between the consortium partners. Procuring Agency reserves the right to reject the proposal of an association if member(s) of the association is changed/dropped without valid reason after the association has been shortlisted. *In case of Joint Venture please present the rationale for and benefits of working in association with others rather than undertaking the assignment independently (as appropriate). Describe the proposed management and coordination approach of the association and the role of each firm. 1. Expertise of firms/organizations submitting proposal. Your EOI shall demonstrate technical competence and geographical experience based on previously projects history.

7 A. Technical Competence Highlight the technical qualifications of your entity/consortium in undertaking similar assignments. Provide details of past experience with financial worth. B. Geographical Experience Experience in similar geographic areas with financial worth. C. Management Competence (Please answer each question in one paragraph of 3-5 sentences) 1. Describe standard policies, procedures and practices that your entity has to assure quality interaction with clients and outputs. Please state if your company is ISO certified. 2. How will your firm/ consortium handle complaints concerning the performance of experts or quality of the reports submitted for this assignment? What internal controls are in place to address and resolve complaints? 3. How will your firm ensure the quality of your firm s/ consortium s performance over the life of this assignment? 4. Describe standard policies, procedures and practices that your firm has put in place to avoid changes/ replacements of personnel and to ensure the continuity of professional services once contracted. 5. Describe what social protection practices you have in place to safeguard the well-being of your proposed experts? Specifically describe arrangements you have in place for medical, accident and life insurance coverage during the assignment. D. Other Information (maximum of 500 words) E. Project details Please select most relevant projects to demonstrate the firm s technical qualifications and geographical experience. Period Client Project Country Firm

8 F. Firm s History of Litigation and arbitration G. Experience with Government / Donor Agencies in execution of such work 2. Proposed work plan and approach. A. Comments on Terms of Reference B. Key Considerations in approaching this assignment in logical order (no more than 9,000 characters summarizing approach and methodology) C. Key Experts List experts that you propose to deploy for this assignment, attach their CVs to EOI attachment. Name Consultant Status Affiliation Type Affiliation Status Firm D. Additional Questions

9 E. Eligibility Declaration We, the undersigned, certify to the best of our knowledge and belief: We have read the advertisement, including the terms of reference (TOR), for this assignment. Neither the consulting firm nor its associate or any of its experts prepared the TOR for this activity. We confirm that the project references submitted as part of this EOI accurately reflect the experience of the specified firm/ consortium. We further confirm that, if any of our experts is engaged to prepare the TOR for any ensuing assignment resulting from our work product under this assignment, our firm and the expert(s) will be disqualified from short-listing and participation in the assignment. All consulting entities and experts proposed in this EOI are eligible to participate in World Bank-funded, -supported and administered activities. The lead entity and associates are NOT currently sanctioned by the World Bank. Neither the consulting firm nor the associates has ever been convicted of an integrity-related offense or crime related to theft, corruption, fraud, collusion or coercion. We understand that it is our obligation to notify World Bank should any member of the consortium become ineligible to work with World Bank or other MDB or be convicted of an integrity-related offense or crime as described above. Associate/s, including all proposed consultants named in this EOI, have confirmed their interest in this activity in writing. Associate/s, including all proposed consultants named in this EOI, have confirmed their eligibility to participate in this activity in writing. Associate/s, including all proposed consultants named in this EOI, have authorized us in writing to represent them in expressing interest in this activity. None of the proposed consortium are subsidiaries of and/or dependent on the Executing or the Implementing Agency or individuals related to them. We understand that any misrepresentations that knowingly or recklessly mislead, or attempt to mislead may lead to the automatic rejection of the proposal or cancellation of the contract, if awarded, and may result in further remedial action, in accordance with World Bank s Anticorruption Policy.