REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION- INTERNATIONAL)

Sustainable and Integrated Labor Services (SAILS)  

(P177240)  

Republic of Maldives

Maldives: Sustainable and Integrated Labor Service (SAILS) Project

 Assignment Title: Consultancy Services to Develop Employment Scheme

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): MV-MOED-353691-CS-INDV

The Government of the Maldives has received financing from the the World Bank toward the cost of the Maldives: Sustainable and Integrated Labor Market Service (SAILS) Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Government of the Maldives (GoM) is planning to introduce an unemployment insurance (UI) scheme for formal sector workers. In relation to the UI scheme the government is also planning to reform and extend its Job Center (JC), at the Ministry of Economic Development (MoED), as a means of supporting unemployed UI beneficiaries to regain productive employment, but also to extend access to active labor market programs (ALMPs) to all unemployed Maldivians regardless of their eligibility for UI benefits; this is referred to as the Employment Services (ES) scheme going forward.  At the request of the GoM the World Bank is providing development financing towards these objectives through the Sustainable and Integrated Labor Services (SAILS) Project.

Ministry of Economic Development is planning to hire an international consultant supporting the introduction of the ES scheme. The international consultant is expected to collaborate with the GoM to develop a proposal for: 

1.  The conceptual ‘jobseeker journey’ to be supported by the ES scheme,  
2.  The design of the ES scheme, including governance and management structure, 
3.  The implementation plan and implementation support to GoM 

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expression of interest.

The Ministry of Economic Development now invites eligible individual (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide a CV including information that demonstrates that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• The consultant is expected to possess at least minimum 10 years hands-on experience with the operations and the management of employment services and broader set of employability enhancing interventions in environments governed by performance management mechanisms that drive employment outcomes. 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” Fourth Edition November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment:

3.17 Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Borrower. Without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, Consultants shall not be hired under the circumstances set forth below:

d. Consultants (including their experts and other personnel, and sub-consultants), that have a close business or family relationship with a professional staff of the Borrower, or of the project implementing agency, or of a recipient of a part of the Bank’s financing, or any other party representing or acting on behalf of the Borrower, that is directly or indirectly involved in any part of:

1. The preparation of the TOR for the assignment;
2. The selection process for the contract; or
3. The supervision of the contract, may not be awarded a contract, unless the conflict stemming from this relationship has been resolved in a manner acceptable to the Bank throughout the selection process and the execution of the contract.

The individual will be selected based on the qualification and experience, in accordance with the procedures set out in the 'The World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers- Procurement in Investment Project Financing- Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, November 2020’ and as per the Financing Agreement of the project.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1300 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by e-mail by 30^th April 2023 (Sunday) 1300 hours (local Time)

Project Management Unit

Ministry of Economic Development

Attn: Mr. Shuhad Ibrahim

Project Director

Sustainable and Integrated Labor Service (SAILS) Project

Velaanaage 11^th Floor,

Male’, Maldives

Tel: +960 332 3668

E-mail: [email protected]