Further developing the Netherlands-World Bank Group relationship

The World Bank is a global entity known for its proactive development efforts. In order to reach its goal of ‘ending poverty’ worldwide, the World Bank needs all the help it can get. The World Bank, primarily a financial institution and secondarily a knowledge institution, therefore relies on local government, civil society, companies and donors to provide the   means, experience, knowledge and capacity to end poverty.

Since the inception of the World BankWB, the Netherlands has been a contributor to the Bank’s cause. The Netherlands was one of the first recipients of a World Bank loan, aimed to modernize and expand the fleet of the Royal Dutch Airlines, and has been a staunch supporter ever since. Today, we are ranked 7th among the development partners in terms of contributions to the WBG Trust Funds between 2009-2014, and are one of the largest contributors to IDA.

Given fiscal restraints in recent years, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought to ensure an even bigger development bang for each buck. Over the last few years we have refocused our development coordination strategy to several core fields. In early February, policy meetings were held between the Netherlands and the World Bank in which this renewed focus was agreed upon: “[The World Bank Group and the Netherlands] agreed on strengthening their partnership in strategic priorities, finding new ways of working together, and exploring the implications of our partnership in light of the recent organizational changes within the World Bank Group”. The shining example of these partnerships is our cooperation in the field of water.

Continue reading

World Bank course – Agriculture Innovation Systems

New Agriculture Innovation Systems course available: http://bit.ly/1BPCXh4.

Meeting rising global demand for food and responding to changes such as climate change, globalization, and urbanization will thus require good policy, sustained investments, and innovation – not business as usual. Agricultural innovation enables the agriculture sector, farmers and rural entrepreneurs to adapt rapidly when challenges occur and to respond readily when new opportunities arise – for example in the fields of technology and markets.

Continue reading

Inland Water Terminals – Technical Consultant, India

As a part of its overall objective of developing the inland water transport sector in India, IWAI intends to develop terminals located across all the waterways of the country. IWAI has also adopted a policy of developing these terminals, to the extent possible, on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. In this regard, IFC is seeking to hire a Technical Consultant for screening the terminals and help in understanding the business case for each of these terminals. This would entail a broad assessment of the cargo potential, type of cargo and identification of potential cargo owners for each terminal. The consultant will be expected to take into consideration the work of an ongoing World Bank funded study which is similar.

See full tender here: Inland Water Terminals – Technical Consultant, India

Expression of Interest Deadline: 09 March 2015

Lighting Africa, Kenya – Consumer Education

Lighting Kenya II is targeting deeper penetration in the remote, last mile market segment by engaging MFIs among other partners as a channel to reach unelectrified communities. Consumer education and specifically, below-the-line engagements such as consumer activations, stakeholder events and forums etc, designed to reach rural consumers and create behavioral change is a critical component for the program to achieve its objectives.

The scope of work will include to:

– Develop a clear BTL strategy and implementation plan for Lighting Africas experiential-driven consumer education campaign in Kenya;
– Provide recommendations for specific activities;
– Execute the plan and undertake regular reviews to align the plan with the dynamic environment.

See full tender here: Lighting Africa, Kenya – Consumer Education.

Expression of Interest Deadline: 12 March 2015.

Renewable Energy Self-Supply and Energy Efficiency Program – Chile

In May 2012, the Clean Tech Fund (CTF) Trust Fund Committee endorsed the Chile Investment Plan including Renewable Energy Self-Supply and Energy Efficiency Program (RESSEE), which IFC is under development with IDB. The objective of this consultancy is to identify and develop pilot projects so that local FIs could finance under the RESSEE program. Identification/development of pilot projects should be focused on one of target market segments; corporate segment targeting EE and self–supply RE for all kinds of business entities.

See full tender here:Renewable Energy Self-Supply and Energy Efficiency Program – Chile

Expression of Interest Deadline: 12 March 2015

Climate Risk Management: Ports and Water Transport

IFCs Climate Business Department would like to invite interested Consultant firms to indicate their interest to carry out an assignment that will produce methodological approaches and quantitative tools for assessment of financial, environmental and social risks and opportunities resulting from the impacts of climate change (climate risks) that may affect private sector investments and companies in sectors defined below, and to evaluate appropriate adaptation responses.

This assignment will consider the following sectors: Ports and harbors, and water transport.

See full tender here: Climate Risk Management; Ports and Water Transport.

Expression of Interest Deadline: 19 March 2015

Baseline Data Collection for Cereals Projects

IFC is conducting an evaluation of two projects supporting smallholder cereals farmers in Rwanda. IFC would like to collect baseline data about the farmers who will benefit from the planned projects, as well as similar famers who are outside of the current scope of the projects. IFC plans to track changes over time between the two groups of farmers (expected beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries).

The assignment is to help IFC staff finalize the baseline survey instrument and other data collection tools, collect baseline data, complete data entry, and provide baseline cleaned data files.

Ideally, the selected firm should have expertise/experience in: quantative and qualitative data collection methods for agriculture, rural development, and agribusiness supply chains; administering surveys, interviews and Focus Group Discussions in rural communities; and, East Africa and particularly Rwanda.
See full tender here: Baseline Data Collection for Cereals Projects – Rwanda

Expression of Interest Deadline: 04 March 2015

Guinea PPP support tender

The Government of Guinea (GoG) has expressed interest that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) support the development of an enabling environment for PPPs and to assist in strengthening GoGs capacity to identify and implement PPPs. Initial efforts in this area would be geared to, with assistance of the IFC PPP Advisory services, in: 1) identifying and assessing a pipeline of infrastructure projects to determine which projects can potentially be developed into PPPs, 2) supporting the Direction Nationale du Patrimoine de l’Etat et des Investissements (DNPEIP) before a new PPP Unit is in place and the new PPP law passed, 3) advising and supporting the new PPP Unit to carry out its mandate, and 4) organising a Stakeholder consultation workshop to present the findings from the Study.

For the purposes of this assignment, IFC will be requiring the services of a qualified Consultant (technical, financial, legal expertise) and invites consultancy firms to indicate their interest.

See full tender here: Guinea PPP support

Expression of Interest Deadline: 09 March 2015

Framework Agreements for WBG Management Consulting Services

The World Bank Group intends to identify a group of qualified management consulting firms to deliver specific assignments over the course of a three year period under Framework Agreements. These specific assignments will be defined as the need arises. Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals at which stage the comprehensive Terms of References (TOR) will be distributed.

The World Bank Group is likely to require the support of management consulting firms in the following broad areas:
– Business process improvement,
– Strategy development and implementation,
– Change management and organizational transformation,
– Knowledge assessment and management.
See full tender here: Framework Agreements for World Bank Group Management Consulting Services

Expression of Interest Deadline: 04 March 2015

Lighting Kenya – Market Research on the off-grid lighting market in Kenya

In Kenya, it is estimated that 15% of the rural population is now connected to the grid. The off-grid sector has also registered impressive growth with market penetration of 10-12% achieved through a sustainable, commercial private-sector model.

The program is undertaking market research to assess the development of the off-grid lighting market in Kenya. The scope of work will include but not be limited to:
– the supply chain in terms of retailers carrying the products;
– the extent to which they have penetrated the rural market;
– the estimated market share of products that have passed LA standards vs the rest;
– and an overview of the after sales service structure.

See full tender here: Market Research on the off-grid lighting market – Kenya

Expression of Interest Deadline: 05 March 2015