REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FOR

CONSULTANCY FIRM FOR AGRI- BUSINESS CONSULTANT (73673)

International competitive Bidding (ICB)

1. Background

Loan No. 90170

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) was established in 1996 as a component of the Government of Jamaica’s strategy to reduce poverty.  The Fund promotes, appraises, finances and supervises social and economic infrastructure projects, including schools, roads, agro-processing, water, sanitation, health centres, community centres, homes for children and the elderly, as well as, vocational skills training, counselling, parenting, life education and organizational strengthening.

The Government of Jamaica has received a loan from the World Bank towards the cost of the SECOND rural economic development intitiative (REDI II) project.  The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to cover payments under the following contract via International Competitive Bidding:

1. Scope of Work

Under the overall supervision of the JSIF’s Senior Manager with oversight for REDI II, and the direct day to day supervision of the REDI II Project Manager, the Agri-Business Consultant will lead the designing and implementation of a business development approach and the requisite strategies for REDI II and its subprojects.  The firm or consortium will work in close cooperation with (1) other REDI II technical and social safeguards staff, (2) the Enterprise Assessment Committee (EAC), (3) Business Development Facilitators, and (4) other key stakeholders’ (e.g. staff from JSIF, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry of Tourism (MOT).

1. Objective of the Project    

The overall objective of the consultancy is to ensure that REDI II develops and incorporates a sound business development approach and strategies for the implementation of Project and its subprojects, while keeping to its Project Development Objective.

1. Qualifications and Experience

Interested Consultancy Firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualification and relevant experience to perform the services.  The shortlisting criteria are as follows:

1. Post-graduate Degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Business Administration (MBA), Management, Education, Learning, Training and Development or a related discipline.

1. Eight (8) years of relevant experience related to rural business development, agriculture and development, micro finance, competitiveness, agricultural value chain analysis and other experience as relevant to the assignment in developing countries. 

1. Demonstrated experience working with women, youth/young entrepreneurs and modern technologies is a desirable requirement.

1. Show evidence of at least six (6) similar assignments of preparing, formulating, evaluating (including conducting economic and financial analysis) business plans, preferably for the agricultural or agri-food sector and other relevant assignments within the last five (5) years.

1. Five (5) years’ experience working with micro-to-small scale businesses, preferably in rural areas, providing business development services, training and/or technical assistance and other experience as relevant to the assignment.

1. Demonstrated ability to conduct economic and financial analysis of agricultural projects and other experience as relevant to the assignment.

1. Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including demonstrated advanced ICT skillst.

Experience

1. Eight (8) years’ experience in Rural Business Development, Micro Finance, Competitiveness, Agricultural Value Chain Analysis and other experience as relevant to the assignment in developing countries.

1. 3-7 years’ experience in Rural Business Development, Micro Finance, Competitiveness, Agricultural Value Chain Analysis and other experience as relevant to the assignment in developing countries.

1. Five (5) years’ experience working with micro-to-small scale businesses in agriculture, providing either business development services, training and/or technical assistance and other experience as relevant to the assignment.

1. 3-4 years’ experience working with micro-to-small scale businesses in agriculture, providing either business development services, training and/or technical assistance and other experience as relevant to the assignment.

1. Duration of Contract

The duration of this contract is twelve (12) months with possibility of renewal. 

1. Selection Method

Consultancy Firm will be selected using the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank Guidelines for the Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers for Goods, Works, and Non-Consulting Services:(July 2016 Revised November 2017)

Please visit the JSIF website, http://www.jsif.org to view the detailed Terms of Reference and the EOI Submission Standard Forms. 

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) should be submitted in the format provided on the EOI Submission - Standard Forms and must be delivered to the address above or emailed to contracting@jsif.org before 5:00 p.m. on  Tuesday, May 31, 2022. 

Procurement Manager

Jamaica Social Investment Fund

Ground Floor, The Dorchester

11 Oxford Road (Entrance on Norwood Road)

Kingston 5, Jamaica

Tel: (876) 968-4545/ Fax: (876) 929-3784

E-mail: contracting@jsif.org

Website:  http://www.jsif.org