طلب خدمات مستشارين تقنيين في مجالات تطوير الأعمال والسياحة و...

Terms of reference (ToR) for provision of technical assistance services

1. MA’AN Development Center

MA’AN Development Center is an independent Palestinian development and training institution established in January 1989 and registered as a non-profit organization. The main office is located in Ramallah with branch offices in Gaza, and Jenin. MA’AN's work is informed by the necessity of creating independent, self-reliant initiatives that lead to the development of human resources for sustainable development, which incorporate values of self-sufficiency and self-empowerment.

1. Project profile

Project nameTowards sustainable livelihoods for area C Bedouin communities

Locations West Bank, Area C, with focus on Bedouin communities

Targeted beneficiaries  West Bank, Area C, with focus on Bedouin communities

1. Project background

Area C Bedouin communities are exceptionally vulnerable and disenfranchised in the given context. Here, there are some serious concerns towards ability to safeguard their livelihoods and steadfastness on their lands. Since 1948, the very nature of the Bedouin, herding and farming communities and their continuing ability to adapt to changing conditions under occupation and environmental change, demonstrates an acquired resilience. However, in light of the aforementioned restrictions, many Palestinian communities in Area C lack the capacity to facilitate the sustainability of their livelihoods and remain resilient in the face of external and internal social, economic and political shocks to the community.

In addition, due to economic control of Area C, many of the Palestinian females and youth are forced to either be unemployed or work in Israeli settlements for a pittance, which negatively impacts their psyche. Considering children and youth make up the majority of Palestinians in the occupied territories, this also means they are disproportionately impacted by the short and long term effects of the occupation on their lives.

MA’AN is implementing a project that supports economic livelihood sustainability strategies for Bedouin herding communities in Area C through a thematic economic empowerment intervention that will contribute to income increase, strengthening the overall resilience, and steadfastness of targeted communities.

The program will respond  strategically to the identified needs of communities on the i) micro individual establishment and ii) macro community needs levels through supporting existing livelihoods capacities to increase income, cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future while not undermining the natural resource base.  

The project intends to achieve the above through implementing the following:

• Supporting existing livelihood sources (including existing and newly established female-led businesses) to increase income generation capacity with technical and financial input& support.
• Support the establishment of new feasible female-led businesses to become sustainable sources of livelihoods through provision of technical and financial input support.

Specifically, the program will work to support/create business/establishments, particular focus on female-led businesses, in becoming sustainable and economically active and that fall and address one or more of the following categories:

• Existing traditional and successful businesses that are main sources of livelihoods (Dairy production, experiential tourism …etc) but require support to increase production and income generation.
• Newly established/ emerging businesses with high growth and sustainability potential and market demand and ability to employ
• Feasible skill-based income generating projects possessing potential and resources to become economically active.
• Feasible income generating projects that address a service gap and need in the community and demonstrate high potential and demand to the local community and potentially surrounding communities.
• Feasible income generating projects that demonstrate potential for expansion and growth to hire local residents, especially youth.

The proposed intervention aims to support the steadfastness and resilience of Area C Bedouin communities covering the entirety of the Jordan Valley, Bethlehem and Hebron. Communities included: (Al Rashaydah/Bethlehem, Al Jahaleen/NabiMoussa, Al Ka’abneh/Jericho, Abu Kharbeesh/Ras Al Ouja, Al Ghawanmeh/Ras Al Ouja, Al Trifat/ Ras Al Ouja, Al Zubeidat, Jiftlik, Marj Ghazal, MarjNa’ajeh, Al Hema/Northern JV, Cluster of Hamamat Al Maleh, Ein Al Hilweh/Northern JV, 16 communities MasaferYatta /Hebron on their land through supporting their capacities to safeguard and strengthen their sources of livelihoods as a main mean to steadfastness, resilience and enhanced self-reliance.

1. Scope of work

The contractor is expected to deliver TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE in ONE or MORE of the following:

1. Mini-business plan development,
2. Business development,
3. Financial and accounting guidance,
4. Market development,
5. Marketing and promotion,
6. Product development and packaging,
7. Community and alternative tourism,
8. Food production for area C and Bedouin communities,
9. Procurement documents and BoQ’s preparations,
10. Other types of technical assistance based on individual needs.

Contractor’s qualifications

The contractor should possess, and is able to demonstrate progressive prior work experience in the technical areas above, AND in the targeted areas.

Deliverables

1. Work plan for the implementation of the assignment for MA’AN’s approval before commencement. To be delivered no later than three days after the kick-off meeting,
2. For Mini-business plan assignments, the contractor shall provide initial assessment of the whole business including current income, with recommendations to feed into the business the plan, taking into consideration the grant size to be provided per business,
3. Final report for each assignment with challenges and recommendations for future work that is beyond the scope of the current project,
4. Pictures of the targeted businesses before, during, and after the implementation,
5. Field visits reports per each visit.

Implementation timeframe

Implementation will be based on specific needs of the targeted beneficiaries, and will be between May 1, 2019 – Sep 30, 2019.

1. Selection criteria

Offers will be first assessed on their technical merits using the evaluation criteria below. Only offers with technical scores of at least 70 points will qualify for the financial review. The financial offer weight is 40% from the total weight of the evaluation while the technical offer is 60%.

Application requirements

Applications MUST include:

1. Technical offer:
   1. The contractor’s legal name and official registration documents/if a registered company, (Individual consultants  are also encouraged to apply),
   2. The contractor’s CV, that includes technical work history in accordance with the requested areas of expertise,
   3. Demonstration of previous examples of similar work.

1. Financial offer:  Should be submitted in $USD using the BoQ form in annex 1.

Proposals should be submitted to the following address in a two separate sealed and stamped envelopes; one for the technical offer and the other for the financial offer.

Deadline for submission is 16:00, Monday, May 13, 2019.
 

Special terms

1. The contractor should get MA’AN Development Center approval on all work plans, methodologies, and any other tool prior to commencement,
2. The contractorshall not subcontract in whole or in part any of this assignment’s tasks without the explicit, written approval of MA’AN Development Center,
3. The contractorshall provide MA’AN Development Center with full names, positions, and dates of birth for its key staff and if applicable, for any subcontract related to this assignment,
4. The contractorshall handle all logistics in terms of transportation, communication, coordination, and permits to West Bank and Gaza if needed,
5. The contractorshould be able to provide official VAT invoices, noncompliance, will result in deduction of %5 - %10 of the contract’s value to the benefit of Ministry of Finance,
6. The project is VAT exempted, financial offers must be in USD, excluding VAT, and adhere to VAT exemption procedures applied by Ministry of Finance in the West Bank.
7. The contractorshould be able to provide deduction at source (if a company).

Payment schedule

Payment will be made according to the following schedule, subject to certification of satisfactory completion by MA’AN technical team:

***Attachments: ANNEX 1: Financial offer