IGPA/TAKAMUL
Introduction
The purpose of the Iraq Governance and Performance Accountability (IGPA) project is to advance effective, accountable, and transparent governance in Iraq. This USAID effort, implemented by DAI, will work with the Government of Iraq (GOI) at all levels to better respond to citizen needs by supporting reform initiatives and Iraqi change agents on inclusive governance and public sector transparency, accountability, and economy. “Reform initiatives” include support to improve service delivery functions, public financial management, and open government initiatives. IGPA will support the GOI and the citizens of Iraq in forming partnerships and collaborative efforts to solve problems jointly.
IGPA has four (4) objectives:
1. Enhance GOI service delivery capacity
2. Improve public financial management
3. Strengthen monitoring and oversight of service delivery and public expenditure
4. Support Iraqi change agents (cross-cutting objective)
Background
The KRG Ministry of Planning (MOP) and Federal Ministry of Planning is responsible for reviewing capital investment projects proposed by line ministries and provinces based on specific economic, financial, social, and environmental criteria. As such, line ministries and provinces should propose investment projects that meet the specific requirements for MOP approval and financing. The Federal and KRG MOP requires a feasibility study analysis for large capital project proposals for review and consideration.
Currently, the MOP lacks comprehensive, best practice guidelines for line ministries to use to prepare feasibility studies that consider the economic, financial, social, and environmental impacts of the proposed projects. Under a previous scope of work, IGPA/Takamul developed these comprehensive guidelines and templates for KRG and Federal MOP and line ministries to use to prepare comprehensive feasibility studies or to review complex feasibility studies that have been
prepared by technical consultants engaged by the line ministry. These guidelines and templates have been adapted for use by the Federal MOP, line ministries and provinces. IGPA/Takamul is engaging a local feasibility study expert to conduct training and capacity building of select Federal and KRG line ministries and provinces to use the guidelines and templates to prepare comprehensive feasibility studies. The consultant will be hired on a short-term basis with 70 LOE days to accomplish the tasks under this scope of work.
Objectives:
The main objective for recruiting the local Feasibility Training Consultant is to train and build the capacity of select sector line ministry planning staff on how to use the feasibility study guidelines and templates for preparing the feasibility studies for proposed capital projects. Specific objectives include:
1. Prepare training materials to train the select KRG and Federal service delivery ministries and KRI and Federal provincial staff on using the guidelines and templates to prepare feasibility studies for small and large capital projects.
2. Provide training and follow-up capacity-building sessions for national, regional, and provincial government staff responsible for conducting and/or reviewing feasibility studies to use the guidelines and templates for public investment project proposals.
II. Specific Tasks of the Consultancy
Under this Scope of Work, the consultant will perform, but not be limited to, the following specific tasks:
Task 1: Develop training design/curriculum and training materials. Under this task, the consultant will prepare a training design/curriculum that will be shared with and approved by IGPA/Takamul prior to the design of any training materials. Once the design is approved, the consultant will begin the preparation of training materials designed for a three-day workshop. The training materials would be prepared in the Arabic language. The training materials will be based on the final feasibility study guidelines and templates that have been developed by IGPA/Takamul and reviewed by the MOP. Upon approval, training materials including pre-and post-tests, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and exercises on conducting a feasibility study will be finalized. The training materials will be submitted to IGPA/Takamul for approval prior to any training sessions being conducted.
Task 2: Deliver training and capacity building program for planning staff of GOI and KRI MOP, line ministries, and provinces. Under this scope of work, the consultant, after developing the training materials, will deliver the workshops for staff from the Ministry of Planning, line ministries, other governmental entities, and provincial government units involved in planning and developing capital project proposals. The consultant will deliver four three-day workshops with up to 25 participants per workshop with the same training materials delivered for all four workshops. All workshops will utilize the same materials but will be limited in size to accommodate COVID-19 capacity restrictions. Three of the workshops will be for Federal MOP, line ministry, and provincial planning staff and the training materials will be in Arabic. The fourth workshop will target KRG line ministry planning staff with 1 – 2 MOP staff in attendance and will target the priority sector ministries – Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Housing and Construction, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism – General Directorate of Water and Sewerage. The training materials for the fourth workshop will be in Kurdish. These ministries have the largest number of ongoing and new
projects funded under the approved 2021 investment budget. The consultant will prepare a workshop report (1-2 pages) for each workshop delivered. These reports must be completed in English.
Task 3: Conduct follow-up capacity-building sessions for targeted entities identified by the Federal and KRG Ministries of Planning. The sessions can be virtual or in-person and the purpose of these sessions is to ensure the practical application of the guidelines and templates for new projects proposed for upcoming budgets for financing and approval. The consultant will tailor the follow-up capacity building sessions based on the needs identified by the GOI and KRG MOP, line ministries, and provincial planning staff and based on the related issues identified during the workshop that require follow-up. The consultant should provide at least a total of four follow up capacity building sessions for the KRG line ministries (one each per ministry) and nine follow up capacity building sessions for the Federal MOP (one for select MOP staff), line ministries (3 key ministries) and provinces (five target provinces).
Task 4: Draft final report. The consultant will prepare and submit a final progress report (7- 10 pages) highlighting the achievements accomplished for each task, recommendations, and lessons learned. The local feasibility study training consultant should submit weekly reports to the IGPA/Takamul PFM Component Lead/Regional Technical Coordinator detailing which governmental entities the consultant met with n the previous week and when and provide a brief description of the support provided and what is planned for technical support for the next week/coming weeks. The consultant should attach the training and capacity building plan and schedule updated each week to the weekly report to show progress with the completion of deliverables.
III. Deliverables
1. Training design/curriculum and materials (PowerPoint presentations, handouts, practical exercises, pre and post-test). The consultant will submit a training design that includes training topics and an agenda.
2. Four three-day workshops in coordination with the GOI (3 workshops) and KRG (1 workshop) Ministries of Planning. The consultant must submit documents to meet MEL requirements including sign-in sheets and photos.
3. Follow-up capacity building sessions for the targeted line ministries and provinces in coordination with the Ministry of Planning staff
4. Four workshop reports (1-2 pages)
5. Final report (7-10 pages)
Estimated timeframes and deadlines for completing tasks and deliverables under this scope of work will be updated once the consultant is hired in consultation with the DCOP, IGPA/Takamul, and the Ministry of Planning at both KRI and Federal Government of Iraq. All deliverables are to be prepared in English and Arabic.
Required Qualification
• At least a Master’s degree in engineering, economics, project management.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience preparing feasibility studies, engineering reports and designs and in project management
• Proven technical knowledge on specific aspects of a feasibility study including (financial, social, and environmental studies) for the public sector
• Ability to provide on the job training for governmental staff and conduct training workshops
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills with persuasion abilities
Skills
• Writing skills with the ability to prepare project economic feasibility and engineering review and analysis reports
• Training and capacity building skills
• Computer skills in MS office package
• Required native Arabic speaker with excellent English language and writing skills
VI. General Statement
The Feasibility Study Training Consultant will be based in Baghdad/or home with trips to Erbil. All deliverables should be prepared in English and Arabic.
