REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
The Gambia
Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP)
Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-V1120
Assignment Title: Developing a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Implementation Support for the Backbone Phase II
Reference No.: GM-NAWEC-291211-CS-CQS
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study has identified potential impacts of loss of land and trees or both and temporary loss of revenue because of the Project. The study has also considered alternative choices for the transmission line trajectories as well as the various design options with the aim of identifying options with the least environmental and social impacts. These include avoidance of built-up areas, forests, fruit trees and environmentally and socially sensitive sites as much as possible.
A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) was prepared because the World Bank’s Operational Policy, OP/BP 4.12 requires that when peoples’ assets (including land, livelihood, or access to livelihood) are negatively impacted by a Bank financed project, a RAP should be developed and implement to minimize and compensate for the losses incurred by project affected persons.
Similarly, The Gambia’s Land Acquisition and Compensation Act, 1991, also provides for compensation in cases of involuntary resettlement although it does not specifically require the preparation of a RAP. As this project is receiving funding from the World Bank, a RAP was prepared in accordance with OP/BP 4.12 and national laws.
In this regard, the RAP identified the social impacts of the Project, assessed their scale, and identified the affected persons who will need to be compensated in conformity with the World Bank’s Operational Procedures (OP 4.12), and Gambia’s Land Acquisition and Compensation Act (LACA), 1991.
It concluded that the Project led to temporary economic displacement of people along the various transmission corridors potentially leading to loss of income, sources of income, and access to natural resources that constitute their livelihoods.
Since this project is funded by the WB, and its implementation will result in involuntary resettlement, it is a requirement that a RAP be developed according to the Involuntary Resettlement Policy of the World Bank (OP 4.12). This is because when involuntary resettlement takes place, people lose their land, assets and access to assets, their income, and livelihoods, with or without physical relocation. The effect of these losses on the persons living in the project zone would increase poverty, unless measures are put in place to compensate them for the losses incurred so that the living conditions of pre-project PAPs are recovered or even improved.
The objective of the prepared and approved RAP, therefore, was to provide guidelines for compensation of land and associated asset loss.
The aims of the RAP were to:
- Reduce the risks of deepening poverty, exclusion, inequitable access to benefits especially for vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups such as women, women head of households, elderly, children, persons with disabilities, etc.
- Mitigate adverse impacts including those relating to loss of livelihood from the reduced opportunity of collecting plant resources, and this will consequently prevent competition and conflict
- Minimize, as much as possible, involuntary physical and economic displacement
- Ensure that the affected populations that must leave their living environment and/or lose part of their property or assets following the completion of the project, are:
- Compensated for these losses at full replacement cost
- That affected livelihoods are restored or improved
- Sensitize the PAP of the positive impacts of the Project
The timeline for initiating the RAP implementation will be provided by the PIU. From initiation, the duration of the services will be for six (6) months. The consultant shall help NAWEC PIU in all other matters deemed necessary to implement the RAP in its spirit and entirety.
National Water and Electricity Company Limited (NAWEC) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
The shortlisting criteria are:
Team for the Assignment:
The NGO/consultant firm shall dedicate a team of professionals to the site. The constitution of the Core Team and their required qualification and experience shall be as follows.
| Position | Number required | Qualification/Experience |
| Project Manager / Team Leader
|
1 | Project Manager/Team Leader should be a post-graduate, preferably in social sciences with financial management background. S/he should have 10 years’ experience in implementation of resettlement plans and development of reports with good knowledge on GIS and mapping of Project affected area and PAP plots of land. S/he should have held responsible position in the previous assignments and should possess participatory management skills. Knowledge of local language (Mandinka) will be a good asset. |
| Social Specialists as Community Facilitators
|
2 | The social specialists should have a graduate or post- graduate or equivalent in social sciences with at least five years field experience. They shall have experience in implementation of resettlement in project development works with knowledge of prevailing resettlement policies including WB policies, and knowledge of social inclusion/working with vulnerable groups, and gender-based violence. They Should have at least five years of experience in community consultation (including one with demonstrated experience with gender-sensitive consultation approaches and working with women community members to create safe-spaces for discussion). Knowledge of the local language and experience of working in The Gambia are desired.
At least one of the social specialists will be an experienced woman-consultation facilitator to be able to conduct meetings with women and also attend all consultations and participate/help facilitate. At least one of the two social specialists shall have knowledge about good financial and administrative management practices. |
| Land Acquisition Specialist
|
1 | Should be a graduate or equivalent in the social sciences with five years field experience in Land Acquisition, using maps to identify PAP assets, should have knowledge of prevailing land acquisition and compensation Act and WB policies. |
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 and revised November 2017 and August 2018 and November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualification-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below or downloaded from this link:
GERMP_Backbone_Phase_II_TORs_RAP_Implementation
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours:
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 21st June 2022.
Attention: Mrs. Haddy Njie – Project Coordinator
Address: National Water & Electricity Company Limited,
Project Implementation Unit
Emporium III Building, Fajara
114 Kairaba Avenue
Floor/ Room number: Conference Room, 1st Floor
City: Banjul
Country: The Gambia
Telephone: +220 996 1301/ 9967791/ 7009342
Electronic mail address: hnjie@nawec.gm, (and copy to mfsanyang@nawec.gm)