Assignment Title: Consultancy to Support the Development of The Gambia Preparedness Plan for Food and Nutrition Security Crises
Reference No. GM-PPPPE-449533-CS-INDV
- Project Background information
The Gambia, with its vibrant youth population and commitment to development, is poised for a promising future, yet faces several challenges. In the realm of basic education, the focus is on improving learning outcomes, particularly in the early grades, to ensure every child acquires necessary foundational skills. Especially for the youth, technical and vocational education, and training (TVET) must be of higher quality and relevance to meet labor market demands, a challenge recognized and prioritized by the Government of The Gambia. For the large population living in poverty, the goal is to provide a second chance through access to social protection measures, skills training, and income-generating opportunities. These challenges, while significant, are being addressed with determination and a vision for a resilient, inclusive, skilled, and equitable Gambia.
To address these challenges, The Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity Project (The Gambia RISE Project – P197233) is a multi-sectoral, five-year initiative of The Government of The Gambia, funded by the World Bank. The project aims to increase the foundational skills of students in early grades (Component 1), provide job-relevant training to youth (Component 2), and boost income-generating opportunities, including for the poor and vulnerable (Component 3), in The Gambia. The planned activities are closely aligned with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2016-2030 and The Gambia National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) 2015-2025. The project will be implemented by multiple Implementing Entities (IEs): the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), and the National Nutrition Agency/National Social Protection Secretariat (NaNA/NSPS). Each of these IEs will lead technical activities within their respective domains. The RISE Project is coordinated and managed by a Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
To address these challenges, the Government is implementing The Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity Project (The Gambia RISE Project) with funding from the World Bank. Among other things, the project aims to increase the foundational skills of children in early grades in The Gambia. The planned activities are closely aligned with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2016-2030. The Gambia’s National Development Plan 2023-27 prioritizes Human Capital Development (Pillar IV) and Empowerment, Social Inclusion and Leaving No One Behind (Pillar VI).
- CONTEXT AND Objectives
Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) crises have devastating impacts on affected populations and threaten to reverse years of development gains, particularly in terms of human capital. Almost half of global child deaths in the 20th century have been associated with undernutrition and severe acute food insecurity—a figure equal to the number of deaths from World Wars I and II combined. Food crises result in inter-generational consequences on broad health outcomes including diabetes and hypertension, stunting in future generations, behavioral outcomes, social unrest, and education effects which rapidly alter the long-term development prospects of affected countries. In 2024, countries across the globe have been facing FNS crises of unprecedented proportions. FNS is reaching new highs—intensified by the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change as well as by the more recent war in Ukraine and the middle east crisis—and projections indicate that conditions will remain elevated through 2030. Millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger unless action is taken now to respond at scale to the drivers of these crisis conditions. Projections are that nearly 670 million people will still be facing hunger in 2030—8 percent of the world population which is the same as in 2015 when the 2030 Agenda was originally launched. The trends have raised concerns that the international community is no longer on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger by 2030.
While the devastating effects of sudden onset crises like earthquakes can be observed more quickly and often galvanize timely resource mobilization, the impetus to react to slower-onset crises, such as FNS crises, may not be as apparent, especially during the early stages of such events. Governments can take several decisions and actions ahead of time to enhance their ability to respond when crisis risks emerge. Early action to slow-onset food security crises has been shown to save more lives and reduce the total cost of responses, generating average benefits of US$2.8 for every US$1 invested.
The mandate of the World Bank’s Crisis Response Window (CRW) was extended in IDA19 to support earlier responses to slow onset crises, specifically disease outbreaks and food and nutrition insecurity events that are at early stages of progression and have the potential to escalate into major crises. The CRW Early Response Financing (ERF) modality provides up to US$50 million per country per IDA cycle on IDA country terms. CRW early response financing is intended to support and incentivize resilience-building as the provision of such resources will be linked to crisis preparedness efforts. Operations financed by the CRW are also expected to include, where feasible, components or features designed to help prevent future crises or mitigate their economic and social impact. The Gambia received approval from the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors US$20 million from the CRW ERF to respond to worsening acute food security conditions as part of The Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project.
Scope of Work
The Government of The Gambia is seeking a consultancy to support in developing its Preparedness Plan for Food and Nutrition Security Crises. A Consultant is being sought to support technical collaborations with Government, external food security partners, and various World Bank teams (country unit, sectoral and thematic teams, corporate units, etc.). The Consultant will be guided by the Technical Taskforce led by NaNA with support from the CPCU, in close collaboration with the World Bank Team. The Consultant will guide, provide engagement, and submit written inputs and deliverables in the development of The Gambia’s Plan as well as its integration into the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard. The Consultant will also facilitate and support strategic engagements with humanitarian, donor and development partners with regard to the Plan.
The Consultant will be hired for a period of 66 days starting from the date of signing. Additional days may be added depending on needs and justification. Detailed ToR will be made available upon request.
- Desired Skills and Qualifications:
- Education: A master’s degree in agricultural economics, (international) economics, or a related field of expertise, a PhD will be an advantage
- At least 15-years of experience working with key FNS-relevant agencies, humanitarian and development FNS partners, including bilateral donors, UN agencies, the NGO/CSO community and data analytics systems
- Contextual knowledge and analytical awareness of The Gambia and the country’s FNS-related risks
- Strong grasp of FNS-related institutional architecture in The Gambia (i.e., relevant ministries and agencies, and FNS partners)
- In-country presence strongly preferred
- In depth experience with programming, project planning, and implementation of FNS responses
- Experience conducting multi-stakeholder consultations such as organizing country level policy dialogue and/or technical (virtual) workshops
- Experience in disaster risk financing, disaster response and risk profiling preferred
- Creative thinker with the proven ability to think conceptually and accurately analyze diverse information from varied sources
- Sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to convey complex messages succinctly;
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work well under minimum supervision and in close consultation with government officials
- Excellent organizational skills, proven ability to perform multiple tasks, prioritize deliverables and work under pressure and tight deadlines with accuracy and professionalism
- Excellent communication skills, including written and verbal skills in English, and experience producing high quality written outputs
Submission of Expressions of Interest:
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) through the Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity Project, now invites eligible individual consultants to express 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.
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” dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection Method (IC) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 12h30 on Friday.
Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by electronic mail) on or before 18th October 2024 at 12h30 GMT
Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity Project, RISE
Royal Insurance Building
2nd Floor, Kotu Bertil Harding Highway
The Gambia
Email: nsosseh@cpcumof.gm, ygassama@cpcumof.gm and mktouray@cpcumof.gm