Skills For A Vibrant Economy (SAVE) Project
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
SAVE PROJECT
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES- INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)
NAME OF COUNTRY: Malawi
NAME OF PROJECT: Skills For A Vibrant Economy (SAVE) Project
PROJECT ID/ LOAN NO: P172627
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Project Officer for the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB)
REFERENCE NO.: MW-MOE-459996-CS-INDV
DATE OF ISSUE: 29th November, 2024
1. Introduction
The Government of Malawi through Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, with funding from World Bank is implementing the Skills for a Vibrant Economy Project (SAVE). The project aims to improve access to market-relevant skills programs in priority areas of the economy, ensuring equity in skills training with empowerment of women and girls and vulnerable youth through targeted skills in priority areas of the economy and creating a conducive policy environment & strengthening systems and institutional capacity for skills development, which will center on: Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) and Higher Education Reforms, Student loans, Industrial links, Digital technology and Safeguards, Capacity Building, and Technical Assistance among other systemic issues.
The expected duration for implementation of the Skills for A Vibrant Economy (SAVE) project is 5 years (from 2021 to 2026). The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access, particularly for females, to labor market relevant skills development programs, in participating institutions, targeting priority areas of the economy.
SAVE project will finance 9 public universities, 7 national technical colleges and up to a maximum of 30 other TEVET institutions competitively selected from Community Technical Colleges (CTCs), Private Technical Colleges (PTs), and Community Skills Development Centers (CSDCs). The project also supports and finances construction of office building for Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) in Area 20 in Lilongwe. For HESLGB, the project also provides loans and grants to needy students that meet the selection criteria.
Therefore, to enhance the effective implementation of the project activities, HESLGB intends to use part of the project funds to recruit one (1) Project Officer to be based at its office in Lilongwe. This position is a consultancy position for an initial one year term, renewable for a further term based on performance and funding availability. Based on the existing procurement arrangements, the SAVE Project’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) intends to recruit the Project Assistant for HESLGB. The HESLGB shall act as the client on behalf of the PIU for the consultancy and manage the execution of the assignment under the general guidance of the SAVE Project PIU.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The primary objective of the consultancy is to lead in HESLG’s implementation of SAVE Project activities including liaison between HESLGB and all consultants engaged to perform various tasks such as construction, environmental and social safeguards management, HESLGB law review.
3. Scope of the Services
Supporting the HESLGB’s SAVE Project Coordinator, the scope of the tasks to be performed by the Project Assistant consultant shall be, but not limited to the following:
- Oversee implementation of HESLGB’S activities as informed by the institution’s approved annual work plans and budgets under the SAVE Project,
- Support the implementation of HESLGB’s proposed office construction activities;
- Support loan disbursement processes for ODeL and generic students under the SAVE project;
- Prepare monthly activity plans and project progress reports;
- Facilitating publicity of the project activities through publications, demonstrations, and social media in liaison with the Communication Division;
- Working with all partners for smooth implementation of project activities;
- Any other duties that the SAVE Project Coordinator may assign from time to time.
4. Deliverables
The consultant shall achieve the following deliverables and outputs:
- Monthly activity implementation reports;
- Preparing Annual work plans and budgets.
5. Reporting
The overall assignment shall be overseen by the Ministry of Education (MoE) through the SAVE Project PIU. For day-to-day execution of the assignment, the Consultant shall work under the direct supervision of the HESLGB’s Chief Executive Officer through their SAVE Project Coordinator.
6. Duration of the assignment
The consultancy is for a period of 12 months, subject to renewal based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Among others, the following criteria shall be used during Annual Performance Appraisal:
- Achievement of Project level requirements according to timelines required by the SAVE PIU
- Achievement of Work Plans and Budgets
- Project Activities Implementation and Monitoring system
- Performance Factors (Factors from Work Plan)
7. Professional Qualifications and Experience
The desired candidate shall be a proactive/self-starter of good planning attributes and a team player with the following qualifications:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Economics, Civil Engineering, or any relevant qualification. Those with relevant Masters degrees will have an added advantage;
- Three (3) years of Experience in Project Management, report writing, and data management;
- Well conversant with MS Office applications and other packages;
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section Ill, paragraphs,3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (INDV) selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.
8. Submission of Expressions of Interest
Updated detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) and copies of professional certificates should be submitted under a cover letter of expression of interest for the assignment to the address below preferably by e-mail by Friday, 13th December, 2024 by 16:00 hours, local time.
The Project Manager
SAVE Project
Paul Kagame Road
P. O. Box 328
Lilongwe, Malawi
Phone: +265 1 789422
EMail: ebwjeke@gmail.com
Copy: Grenardmkwende@gmail.com
and ellin_rambiki@yahoo.com