Consultant: Investor Perception Survey Consultancy

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

ISSUE DATE 12th JULY, 2019.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Agro-Processing Competitiveness Project

Loan No. P160295

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services to Undertake an Investor Perception Survey

Reference No. SL-MOFED-121180-CS-INDV

The Government of Sierra Leone has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Sierra Leone Agro-Processing Competitiveness Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), is implementing the Sierra Leone Agro-processing Competitiveness Project with financing from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. This project was developed to support the government’s strategic objectives to promote private sector development, achieve economic diversification, and boost agricultural productivity. The project development objective is to improve the business environment in agribusiness sector and increase productivity of targeted agro-processing firms in Sierra Leone. Achieving the project objective contributes directly to strengthening agro processing competitiveness, which is defined as the ability of agro-processing firms to generate new investments and increase market share in goods and services through improved productivity. Productivity depends on improving the quality of the business environment and capability of the economy, including skills and capacity of institutions that provide services to local and foreign investors. As its main implementing partners, he project will work closely with government ministries and agencies to include the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Sierra Leone Import & Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB), Small and

Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDA), Employment Promotion Agency (EPA), Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA), complementary projects to include Smallholder Commercialization and Agricultural Development Program (SCADeP) and Sierra Leone Agricultural Development Fund (SLADF), and other ecosystem players and implementing partners. The project will run for five years starting 2018, with a possibility for extension.

The Sierra Leone Agro-Processing Competitiveness Project will focus on providing solutions to key market failures inhibiting competitiveness of the agro-processing sector and limiting firm and SME productivity. These market failures are as follows: (i) policy, institutional, and coordination failures that raise the cost of doing business for agribusiness and agro-processing investors; (ii) information asymmetries and failures on the demand and supply sides limiting SME market opportunities and links with larger domestic and foreign agro-processors; (iii) weak supply chain links; (iv) lack of access to finance and technology; and (v) skills gap at the firm and SME levels. Project components are designed to address these specific market failures and are meant to complement other World Bank–supported initiatives that address other market failures holding back the development of agriculture and agribusiness value chains in Sierra Leone.

The project consists of three components:

Component 1: Promote enabling environment for agro-processing sector competitiveness and growth of agribusiness firms (US$2 million)

• Component 2: Firm-level support to increase productivity and strengthen competitiveness of agro-processing firms and SMEs in selected value chains (US$6 million)

Component 3: Project implementation, coordination, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) (US$2 million) which is managed by the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

B. Scope of the consultancy to undertake the Investment Perception Survey

The investor perception survey is expected to be conducted nationwide and will seek to receive inputs and feedback from existing and potential foreign and domestic investors and other key stakeholders in the investment promotion and retention process. The survey will focus on investors but will collect additional information from other stakeholders; such as: importers/exporters, industry and trade associations, think tanks, development partners, selected MDAs/GoSL officials, and non-state actors. Survey instruments will be designed to differentiate between different respondents as needed. Through the survey investors and stakeholders in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors will share their experiences on investment facilitation and post facilitation functions. The overall objectives of the investor perception survey are: (i) to understand why companies are choosing to invest/not invest in

Sierra Leone in general and in agribusiness in particular; and (ii) identify how best SLIEPA can attract and retain investors in Sierra Leone’s agriculture/agribusiness sector and boost agriculture-based export from Sierra Leone;

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. Understand investors’ perceptions of the investment climate in Sierra Leone generally and the agribusiness sector in particular
2. Understand whether Sierra Leone’s business environment is aligned with investor goals in the agribusiness sector
3. Understand how investors’ perception about Sierra Leone compares to other investment destinations particularly in Africa
4. Assess the current level of investment value of surveyed companies and their future plans
5. Identify and understand the obstacles/issues that agribusiness investors are facing during establishment and in operation; and what is required to address the obstacles/issues to make Sierra Leone a more competitive investment destination for agribusinesses
6. Ascertain the Foreign Capital Flows in Sierra Leone by the Agribusinesses surveyed from 2012 – 2018
7. Ascertain social projects/Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities undertaken by agribusiness companies in their areas of operation
8. To assess SLIEPA’s services to investors, including promotion, facilitation, aftercare and advocacy
9. To assess SLIEPA’s messages, media mix and how it appeals to investors; and
10. To get an overall impression of SLIEPA as an agency.

C. Expected Outcomes

The survey will produce the following outcomes:

1. The level of support services provided by SLIEPA to agribusinesses; including: processing of inquiries, identifying/promoting investment opportunities, handholding services, investor aftercare services, etc.
2. Identify sub-sectors in agribusiness with potential for investment and suggest interventions to attract investments into those subsectors identified;
3. Key drivers to improve the country’s attractiveness as an investment location;
4. Document issues/obstacles facing investors and recommendations to overcome those issues/obstacles
5. Indicate Foreign Capital Flows by the agribusiness sector from 2012 – 2018 and possible future investment plans for the companies surveyed
6. Identify social projects/CSR implemented by the agribusiness companies surveyed
7. Gauge local community relationships with agribusiness investors and their readiness to work with potential investors
8. Provide a picture of labor availability, skills requirement and indicative costs for the agribusiness companies surveyed
9. Evaluate the granting and implementation of tax exemptions and incentives to agribusiness companies
10. An assessment of infrastructure to support the operations of agribusinesses; and

The consultant will be required to develop a detailed scope of work in line with the objectives of the survey and its expected outcomes including but not limited to:

Policy and Quality of Investor Services

• SLIEPA keeping with its mandate
• Perceived areas/issues addressed or not addressed by the Agency
• Awareness of SLIEPA’s services and opinions about their effectiveness/match with investor needs
• Current levels of investment and future investment plans for companies

Marketing and Communication

• Recognition of the acronym and Logo
• Effectiveness of SLIEPA’s marketing and communication programmes;
• Sufficiency and efficiency of investment information;
• Choice of communication modalities
• Appropriateness of the awareness messages and targeted campaigns

Investment Climate

• Identify the sector/sub-sectors offering the best investment opportunities;
• Strength of regulatory and institutional environment;
• What are the key drivers to invest in Sierra Leone?

D. Deliverables

First Month

• A survey Plan
• A detailed budget and work plan (complete with human resource specifications)
• A qualified survey sample based on SLIEPA’s and other sources
• Draft Survey Instrument
• Final Version of the survey instrument(s)
• An inception report

Second Month

• Present and discuss Draft Report with selected stakeholders
• Final Draft Report presented to SLIEPA and other stakeholders;
• Launch and dissemination of final Report

E. Approach and Implementation Arrangements

1. The survey will be designed and administered by the consultant and will be carried out nationwide using a mix of instruments; such as questionnaires (hardcopy and online), email, face-to-face interviews, phone calls and online platforms. SLIEPA, as an implementing agency for the Sierra Leone Competitive Agro-processing project will play a key coordinating and leadership role in ensuring stakeholder entities are engaged in the investor perception survey. The assignment will be delivered by a Lead Consultant through a stakeholder driven approach. SLIEPA will facilitate smaller meetings at key stages of the assignment and the Consultant will provide updates and/or reports to SLIEPA through the Chief Executive Officer.

F. Qualification and Experience

The Project is seeking to hire the services of a consultant that possess the following attributes:

• At least 10 years’ experience in policy, marketing and trade development;

• Proven record in conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys;

• Knowledge in project management;

• Good understanding of investment and export policy issues;

• Good understanding of the policy and business environment of Sierra Leone will be an added advantage;

• Provide three (3) references of similar work done in the past

G. Duration of Consultancy

The Consultancy shall be for a maximum period of two (2) months from the signing of the contract.

H. Reporting Arrangements

The successful consultant will sign a contract with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Project Fiduciary and Management Unit (PFMU). The Project Coordination Unit will provide technical oversight for the implementation of the assignment. The consultant will provide updates and/or reports to SLIEPA through the Chief Executive Officer.

Expressions of interest for this assignment should include:

• The methodology to collect, analyze and present findings;

• A standardized questionnaire/data collection instrument for gathering survey results;

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of the proposed team members; and

• Breakdown of the tasks and responsibilities between the members of the team.

The Project Fiduciary Management Unit of Ministry of Finance now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required relevant experience and qualifications to perform the Services. The evaluation shall be based on the relevant qualifications and experience of the individual Consultant

.

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 Revised

November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. (The Bank requires that firms involved in Bank IPF procurement shall not have a 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.

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

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

Project Fiduciary Management Unit

13a Howe Street Freetown

9:00am to 5:00pm Monday -Friday

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by email not later than Friday 26th July, 2019 at 4:00pm.

Project Fiduciary Management Unit

Ministry of Finance

Attn: Head of Procurement

13A Howe Street Freetown

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Tel: +23276672186

E-mail: pfmu2018@gmail.com

Tagged as: Consultancy, Investor perception, Sierra Leone, Survey, World Bank