Procurement Notice

The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to US$4,762,000.00 million towards the cost of Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) 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 GOSL 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 purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to knowledge of the CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.  No party other than GOSL shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, the Executing Agency, now wishes to procure consultancy services for Development of a Project Operations Manual, Community Participation Plan and Gender Equality Guidance - Youth Empowerment Project.

The objective of the consultancy is to assist Saint Lucia in improving social service delivery outcomes through mechanisms of community participation and the effective integration of gender equality considerations.  Further details can be found in the attached Terms of Reference.  The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of four (4) months.

Develop a Project Operations Manual (OM):

The POM will include inter alia:

• the mission statement for the programme;
• documentation and guidance on best practice required to implement the Youth Recidivism Reduction (YRRP) and Out-of-School Suspension (OSSP) programmes;
• policy and procedures  for the programme to include screening, training, confidentiality, unacceptable behaviour; 
• the participants selection process;
• a detailed description of the programme execution and coordination schemes;
• detailed description of Programme Administration and Management;
• functions of the staff of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU);
• responsibilities of each Participating Agency (PA) required to support the operations of the programme;
• the standard agreements that the executing agency will sign with the PAs;
• templates or the preparation of memoranda of understanding and annual operating plans and budgets;
• the frequency of meetings of the PIUs and PAs;
• approval authorities for disbursement of funds and related matters;
• the specifications for the preparation of the monitoring and evaluation reports; and
• the levels of approval authority for the PIU, Project Steering Committee and PAs.  

The POM will incorporate a Community Participation Plan (CPP).  The CPP will consider or support:

• robust outreach to communities who are often under-represented in civic processes, recognising that they may have specific participation needs;
• new tools and technologies to promote broader general awareness of (and participation in) the Project (for example, social media, web-based engagement, blogs/vlogs, etc);
• providing opportunities for participation through the inclusion of innovative or creative ways to explore issues (for example, using alternative venues, collaborating with arts organisations, use of sports, etc.);
• ensuring traditional techniques like workshops are made dynamic and compelling (for example, through use of video, visualisation, etc.);
• introduction of participatory community environmental awareness, disaster preparedness and risk reduction activities in the programmes being supported under the project, in order to reduce potential impacts of localised hazards and attendant environment, health and safety concerns in Castries Basin Communities;
• providing a safe and respectful engagement environment such that people will be able to participate in a way that is comfortable; and
• straight-forward means for community members to see how their input feeds into the implementation process.

Preparation of the Gender Equality Guidance Note (GEGN) will involve inter alia:

• consulting with key stakeholders to identify gender-specific issues or options to be addressed in the design and delivery of project activities;
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• identifying mechanisms for further refinement of component activities to strengthen gender equality in the delivery of project activities;
• conducting a gender audit of the implementing and participating agencies and assessing their capabilities for gender equality monitoring and reporting;
• elaborating the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders for gender equality monitoring;
• providing recommendations to support the effective integration of GE in project activities; and
• identifying gender outcomes, through a harmonised approach with stakeholders and PAs.  

The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, the Executing Agency, now invites interested eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of these consultancy services.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.