Overview
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of RRL –Hurricane Irma and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOAB and upon approval by CDB and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purposes of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than of GOAB shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.
Infrastructure Projects can have both positive and negative impacts upon women and men, particularly those most vulnerable. Improved road networks, reliable water services and enhanced waste management services for example can reduce the time burden of women and men in accessing markets and other public services, in addressing household and individual health and sanitary needs, and improving overall living conditions. In the context of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Barbuda, this infrastructure can facilitate a sustainable return to life on Barbuda and support the reestablishment of tourism services and economic activities for all residents. In order to maximise the potential benefits of the proposed infrastructure investments, it would be critical that the women and men, girls and boys, youth, elderly and people with disabilities on Barbuda actively participate in the design, implementation and monitoring activities of all recovery efforts.
A Social and Gender Specialist (SGS) would ensure that a best practice approach is employed to support stakeholder participation in decision-making regarding issues that affect them as the project progresses. SGS would be a member of the Project Implementation Management Unit (PIMU) and would substantively report to the Project Coordinator (PC).
This Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Works (MOW), through the establishment of a PIMU. A PC within PIMU shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of project activities. Engineering Consultants shall be retained by MOW to assist with the supervision of the various contracts.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The services included in the current assignment are to be conducted in accordance with generally accepted international standards and professional practices acceptable to GOAB. A participatory and consultative approach is to be encouraged in the conduct of the services, which will contribute to their completion in as timely a manner as possible.
The main responsibility of SGS is to develop, validate and/or implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Gender Action Plan (GAP) reflecting the needs and opportunities for socially-inclusive and gender-responsive actions across all proposed Project components. However, SGS would provide Project management advice and support beyond the ESMP and GAP as appropriate and in response to the individual Project components. Therefore, responsibilities would include, but not be limited to:
(a) Developing one SEP to coordinate all activities under the Project and a draft ESMP to be tested, validated and finalised through consultation with both Project Consultants and PIMU.
(b) Validating and implementing GAP.
(c) Supporting Project management and implementation.
(d) Delivering specialist support in specific areas of intervention.
Eligiblity
This assignment is a full-time contract for a period of 21 months.
MOW now invites interested eligible individual consultants to submit Expressions of Interest indicating qualifications and experience required to provide these consultancy services. Individual Consultants shall be eligible to participate if:
(a) The persons are citizen or bona fide residents of an eligible country and;
(b) In all cases, the consultants have no arrangement and undertake not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to any person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.
Eligible countries are member countries of CDB.
In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to qualifications and experience on similar assignments. Specifically the SGS must possess the following:
(a) Masters’ level or Bachelor degree with equivalent experience, in social work, social psychology, women’s studies, sociology, international development, facilitation and negotiation, community economic development, anthropology, public policy or other related field.
(b) Minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant practical experience encompassing stakeholder engagement practice, gender assessment, community development, livelihoods programming and/or social/gender research using participatory approaches including qualitative research techniques (surveys, focus groups, workshops, mediation, facilitation, etc.).
(c) Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in community research and participatory community development.
(d) Strong demonstrated ability in conducting evidence-based research.
(e) Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
(f) Proven capacity to work as part of a team.
All information must be submitted in English. Further information can be obtained from the third address below between 0800 and 1600 hours, Mondays to Fridays.
Instructions
Four (4) hard copies of the Expressions of Interest must be received at the first address no later than 1500 hours on December 17, 2018, and one electronic copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the second address below. The sealed envelope containing each submission should include the name and address of the consulting team and shall be clearly marked “Expression of Interest – Social and Gender Specialist Consultancy Re: Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan –Hurricane Irma (RRL)”.
Following the assessment of submissions, the most technically capable and appropriately experienced individual will be invited to negotiate a contract to provide the consultancy services. GOAB reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not selecting any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.
Contact
Chairman, Tenders Board
Government Office Complex
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St. John’s
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Procurement Officer
P.O.Box 408
Wildey, St. Michael
BARBADOS
Project Coordinator
St. John’s Street
St. John’s
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA