Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Republic of Fiji

Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-73690

Assignment Title:      Tourism Specialist

Reference No.:           FJ-MTCA-362576-CS-INDV

The Government of Fiji, through the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu or ‘Na Vualiku’ and intends to apply part of the proceeds for individual consulting services.  

The consulting services (“the Services”) includes supporting the Central Project Management Unit (“C-PMU”) established under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (“MTCA”) to serve as the chief liaison for tourism development between the MCTA and stakeholder agencies and coordinating all tourism-related activities of the Project.

The Services shall be for an initial period of two years and may be extended for the life of the Project and the longer-term Program with an expected start date of October 2024.

The Terms of Reference (“TOR”) for the assignment is below.

The MTCA now invites eligible individuals (“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 (curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such a situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are in the TOR.

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated November 2020 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below.

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 23 August 2024.

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation

Attn: Jacinta Lal (Ms)

Director of Tourism

Level 4, Civic Tower

Victoria Parade, Suva

Tel:   +679 3315577

E-mail: jacinta.lal.fj@gmail.com

 

____________________________________________________________

 

 

FIJI TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN VANUA LEVU

P178694

 

CENTRAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT: TOURISM SPECIALIST 

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Assignment	Tourism Specialist
Implementing Agency	Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA)
Project	Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu
Location	Suva, Fiji
Reports to	Project Manager
Level of input and duration of the assignment	Full-time basis for the duration of the project (5 years). The initial contract will be for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension subject to performance.

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

The Government of Fiji (GoF) aims to advance the economic, social, and cultural development of the northern island of Vanua Levu by realizing the full potential of its sustainable tourism assets in an integrated and climate-resilient way while protecting the health and biodiversity of its terrestrial and marine spaces. On its pathway towards sustainable growth, the GoF, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the World Bank are launching the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu (TDPVL) or ‘Na Vualiku.’

The TDPLV aims to support resilient and sustainable tourism development in Vanua Levu and Taveuni through coordinated destination development, critical infrastructure and essential services investments, and emergency preparedness.

The TDPVL will be implemented through a multiphase programmatic approach (MPA) that allows for a long-term and phased engagement. The MPA is a comprehensive overlapping 3-phase tourism development program in Vanua Levu and Taveuni that will support the realization of Fiji’s national development, private sector growth, and green growth plans. The project has two main aims: a) to improve the resilience and sustainability of the tourism industry, including short-term recovery and longer-term diversification and high-value growth; and b) to facilitate the execution of existing Government plans. More information about the TDPVL can be found here.

Phase I of the program (the Project) will focus on setting the foundational framework for sustainable tourism in Vanua Levu and Taveuni (the North) and implementing selective demonstration programs. It will include three integrated components, each of which targets a key constraint to unlocking tourism potential in the North. It will support resilient and sustainable tourism development in the North through integrated destination development, enhanced connectivity and essential services infrastructure, and improved biodiversity and natural resource management.

The Tourism Specialist will be a critical team member of the Project Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for assisting and collaborating closely with stakeholders involved with the Project. These stakeholders include the future contractors responsible for activities such as the development of an Integrated Tourism Master Plan (ITMP). The PMU is based in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism as the entity responsible for implementing the NaVualiku project activities and coordinating with multiple ministries and agencies.

 

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Tourism Specialist (TS) position will be full-time and based at the C-PMU Office in Suva.

Responsibilities, tasks, and functions include:

• Coordinating tourism-related activities of the project in close collaboration with the PMU, relevant MTCA staff, and tourism industry stakeholders, especially operators, managers, and investors. 
• Serving as a technical resource on tourism development initiatives.
• Serving as the chief liaison for tourism development between the MTCA and stakeholder agencies and private sector associations and operators. 
• Updating the Project Operations Manual after each procured project team is mobilized.

• Leading the development of work plans for the tourism components of the Project, providing technical and policy inputs as required.
• Supporting the PMU in drafting, reviewing and finalizing technical Terms of Reference for the implementation of the tourism activities, integrating the advice of technical evaluation committees and other stakeholders, including the World Bank.
• Participating as a technical evaluator in the selection process of consultants and firms related to tourism activities.
• Supervising the technical deliverables of consultants and firms employed by the project to ensure high quality studies, reports, activities and deliverables.
• Preparing monthly tourism activity reports to capture project progress, status, challenges, and results to support operational, financial and results-based monitoring for the project; and make recommendations on actions to address challenges and weaknesses.  
• Producing quarterly reports on implementation of tourism activities.
• Coordinating workshops, meetings, and training activities to support workplan implementation in collaboration with the PMU, the MCTA and other stakeholders and contribute to the preparation of reports, or other relevant documentation from these events.
• Documenting the outputs and outcomes of implementation and ensuring timely submission to the Project Manager for review and onward action and inclusion into the projects files database.

• Working closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the PMU to ensure timely submission of tourism project performance indicator data and information to populate relevant templates to update the overall Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan in compliance with World Bank requirements.
• Coordinating with the Finance Manager at the PMU to ensure the timely preparation and submission of relevant documentation to support budget forecasts and withdrawals for procurement of goods and services in relation to the tourism activities.
• Coordinating with the Procurement Manager at the PMU to ensure that the Procurement Plan is aligned with the timelines for implementation of tourism activities and undertake updates and revisions as required to eliminate delays. 
• Working closely with the Communications Specialist for online and offline visibility of the project and its outcomes and to ensure support for community engagement activities.
• Working closely with the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists at critical stages of project implementation to support compliance with national and World Bank standards and procedures and to negate/mitigate any negative social or environmental impacts from tourism development activities.
• Documenting lessons learned and best practices to improve efficiency throughout project implementation, and to support visibility of project outputs led by the Communications Specialist.
• Any other related duties as assigned by the Project Manager, PMU.

 

DURATION

 

The Tourism Specialist will be engaged on a full-time basis beginning for two years with annual renewals subject to satisfactory performance. The recruitment of the Tourism Specialist follows the WB’s procurement guidelines.

 

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

 

The Contract inclusive of the Terms of Reference, project implementation manual, detailed work plan with agreed targets will be used as the basis to evaluate performance.

 

OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

• Monthly progress reports on the status, challenges, indicators, ongoing contracts and the level of implementation tourism project activities.
• Quarterly reports on tourism project activities.
• Reports to meet the General and Specific Responsibilities of the assignment.

All Reports and documents prepared for the assignment is the property of the Government of Fiji.

 

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of all applicants will be evaluated as follows: all CVs will be scrutinized against the assignment’s minimum requirements. The CVs of candidates who meet the minimum requirements will then be scored according to the set scoring criteria. The candidate with the highest score may be interviewed before being invited to negotiate contract. The selected candidate may be interviewed before appointment.  Referees of the selected candidate may be contacted to verify prior experience, performance, and character traits.

Minimum required education and experience

Academic:

A master’s degree in Tourism, a Tourism-related field or related social science with at least five (5) years of relevant professional tourism experience that includes:

1. Tourism sector development, planning, and/or policy;
2. Tourism strategy development and implementation at the regional, national and/or subnational level;
3. Advising or working directly with the public and private sector in tourism development and/or investments; and
4. Proven track record of project management and project team experience working with government.
5. Demonstrated experience in travel and tourism operations, business and/or related planning.

 

Specific knowledge required to start:

1. Sound policy understanding of the tourism industry and national development strategic plans for Fiji and/or other small island states, ideally in the region.
2. Practical experience and knowledge of the travel and tourism industry, especially operations and business.
3. Report preparation
4. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Power Point and, ideally, Microsoft Project.
5. Excellent knowledge of English with fluency in reading, preparation of technical reports and general writing. 

 

Required competencies:

1. Collaboration: Ability to collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders.  Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
2. Drive for Results and Solutions: Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon targets/ results and has the personal organization to do so.
3. Culturally sensitive and diplomatic:  Sensitive to the needs and protocols of local communities when introducing new activities.
4. Tourism industry understanding and experience.
5. Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion:
   • Demonstrated ability to work with teams and communicate effectively.
   • Ability to handle stakeholders tactfully, courteously, and diplomatically;
   • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant Ministry and World Bank staff, vendors, private operators and the public.

SCORING CRITERIA

Candidates that meet the above minimum requirements will be scored in accordance with the following criteria.

 

Criterion	Maximum Points
General Qualifications (general education, training, and experience)	30
Adequacy for the assignment (relevant education, training, experience in the sector/similar assignments) The following aspects will be favorably considered: Experience in sustainable tourism development, planning, management, and marketing. Knowledge and experience working with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels on sustainable tourism issues with public and private sector stakeholders. Ground level experience as a traveler and tourist visiting emerging destinations. Understanding of tourism industry operations especially among tour operators. Experience working in tourism industry operations and/or in a business is a plus.	70

 

CONTRACT DURATION AND CONDITIONS

 

1. Full-time basis for the duration of the project (5 years). The initial contract will be for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension subject to performance.
2. The contract is subject to a probationary period of six months and may be subject to satisfactory achievement of initial training goals.
3. Performance will initially be reviewed at one month, three months, and six months, and thereafter to six monthly and annual reviews.
4. This is a full-time position based in Suva, Fiji, and will involve travel to outer Islands, including Vanua Levu.
5. The position is open to citizens of Fiji or those eligible for a work permit in Fiji.