https://devbusiness.un.org/node/787764
  GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION) HIRING OF A RESEARCH INSTITUTION OR FIRM OR A THINK TANK TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH ON THE AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND PETTY TRADING SUB-SECTORS OF THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN SIERRA LEONE. Issue Date: 22nd July 2021. Sector: Research and Capacity Building Grant Number: 5900155015951 Project ID No.: P-SL-KFO-012 1.   The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance, has received funding from the African Development Bank acting as administrators of grant funds under the Transition Support Facility (TSF). The said grant from the TSF Pillar III Window is to assist in the financing of the Enhancing Policy Development: Research and Capacity Building (ENPODEV) Project under the purview of the Research and Delivery Division of the Ministry of Finance, who intends to apply part of the agreed amount for the grants to payments under the contract for Consultancy Services for an investigation into the informal sector in Sierra Leone by deep-diving into key sub-sectors. 2.   The sub-sectors proposed for investigation are: Agriculture, agro-processing, and fisheries. Petty trading. This will cover imported food commodities, imported non-food commodities, and locally produced food commodities. The services to be undertaken include: (i) to conduct detailed analysis to generate deeper insights to inform policies that seek to increase the contribution of the informal sector to national development with an inclusive growth and a gender-sensitive lens. (ii) Using a mix of research methods and in consultation with the Research and Delivery Division, the successful organisation will examine these sub-components of the informal sector in Sierra Leone across various themes including but not limited to: (a) Market entry; (b) Existing operations, including cross-border trade; (c) Supply chain and pricing; (d) Linkages with the formal sector; (e) Financial Inclusion (including digital); (f) Women, children and other vulnerable groups; (g) Potential for value addition across the ecosystem; (h) Labour market dynamics (wages, social security, union activity); (i) Job creation; (j) Potential to leverage innovation and technology; (k) Partnerships; (l) Tax compliance and related issues; (m) Adaptation post-COVID; (n) Potential for formalization; (o) Potential alternative mechanisms for enhancing the contribution of the informal sector to national development; (p) Readiness and Opportunities to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); (q) Produce a detailed/comprehensive report on these key sub-sectors in the informal sector in Sierra Leone with a proposed framework for maximizing the potential of the sector, and policy directives on how to formalise it in the long-run. In addition to this report, the following outputs should be produced for each sub-sector: Detailed sub-sector research report Blog post Academic paper Research uptake sessions/workshops Presentation during the planned Economic Round Table (in-person/virtual) 3.   The Ministry of Finance (MoF) through the Projects Fiduciary Management Unit (PFMU) now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. Core qualifications/expertise required includes organizational existence for at least five years and must be leading in the area of multi-disciplinary social science research; Organizational experience in similar or related work at country and or regional level; Organizational capability of providing enough and qualified manpower with technical expertise to perform the entire assignment as provided for in the detailed Terms of Reference; in case of a partnership or consortium or joint venture, the role and responsibility of each partner should be clearly furnished. The following expertise/experience will be required: Qualitative and quantitative research design and implementation. Development of data collection (including mobile data collection) and application of analytical tools. Data analysis and report writing for both technical and non-technical audiences. Understanding of Sierra Leone’s economy and the Government’s inclusive growth and development agenda. Experience in working with the Sierra Leone Government, and other stakeholders with an understanding of the target groups. 4.   Establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the “ Rules and procedures for the use of consultants” under the African Development Bank’s Procurement Policy dated October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at  http://www.afdb.org. The submission of expression of interest doesn’t oblige the client to shortlist consultants as shortlisting is entirely dependent on the quality of the expression of interest submitted. 5.   Interested consulting firms/research institutions may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 16:00 PM Sierra Leone Time. 6.   Expression of interest including relevant supporting documents must be delivered in hard copy or submitted via email to the addresses below by Thursday 5 th August 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (Sierra Leone time) and must be specifically marked “Research on the Agriculture, Fisheries and Petty Trading Sub-Sectors of the Informal Sector in Sierra Leone”, Addressed To:   Project Fiduciary Management Unit- PFMU Ministry of Finance Attn: The Secretariat, PFMU 13A Howe Street Freetown Freetown, Sierra Leone Tel: +232 76-672-186 E-mail: [email protected]   Enhancing Policy Development: Research and Capacity Building (ENPODEV) Project Sierra Leone Not cancelled Request for Expression of Interest Consulting Services- Firm Friday, July 23, 2021- 17:00 AfDB-P787764-07/21 5900155015951 P-SL-KFO-012 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Miscellaneous Friday, July 23, 2021 English Friday, July 23, 2021- 14:29 African Development Bank