Request for Proposals: Development of Guiding Frameworks and Tools for IPB – WRI

Published December 12, 2023 · Updated December 12, 2023

SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT

WRI intends to award a Fixed Price contract for development of a guiding framework and accompanying tools required to facilitate an integrated approach to planning and budgeting in Makueni county. The assignment should be delivered by March 2024. Interested consultants are expected to submit their expression of interest to undertake the assignment by Wednesday, 13th December 2023.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is seeking to award a Fixed Price individual consultancy contract for the development of a comprehensive integrated planning and budgeting framework and tools for Makueni County in Kenya. This assignment is part of the research project titled “Moving to an integrated planning and budgeting approach to unlock domestic public finance for energy access in Makueni County, Kenya.”

The primary objective of the project is to identify strategies and approaches that can facilitate the integration of planning and budgeting across departments in Makueni County, thereby enabling more effective resource allocation for investments in the energy and development sectors, particularly in agriculture, health, Water, Irrigation, as well as in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The consultant will be expected to conduct a thorough assessment of the existing national and County policy and regulatory frameworks related to planning and budgeting. This assessment will encompass a comprehensive review of guidelines, procedures, and other relevant materials such as the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDPs). The aim is to gain a deep understanding of the current frameworks, tools, and procedures in place and identify areas that require improvements towards promoting an integrated approach to planning and budgeting as a means for unlocking domestic public resources for investment in energy priorities at the nexus of energy and other sector priorities.

Additionally, the consultant will analyze empirical literature highlighting successful implementations of integrated planning and budgeting approaches. This analysis will serve as a valuable source of practical experiences that can inform the development of a context-specific framework and tools tailored specifically for Makueni County. By incorporating these practical insights, the consultant will deliver a guiding
framework and relevant tools that should be used by the different departments from Makueni County Government during their planning and budgeting exercise, with the aim of mainstreaming an integrated approach to the process.

The consultant will work closely with the WRI team and engage with County focal persons to ensure a collaborative and consultative approach throughout the assignment.

The expected timeline for this project is to deliver the outputs by mid-March 2024, aligning with the County’s budgetary process.

About the World Resources Institute

Founded in 1982, The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future.

The institute has been working in Africa for more than 30 years, supporting local partners and Africa governments to advance forest protection, landscape restoration, sustainable cities, as well as facilitate delivery of access to clean energy for the underserved populations. In recent years, we appointed our first vice president for Africa, established a regional hub in Addis Ababa, and created a region-wide strategy.

Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes flourish. WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across three strategic pillars: vital landscapes, thriving and resilient cities, and institutional and economic transformation.

Project or Program Name: Mainstreaming an Integrated Approach to Planning and Budgeting in Makueni County.

This assignment is part of the research project “Moving to an integrated planning and budgeting approach to unlock domestic public finance for energy access in Makueni County, Kenya”. The project aims to identify strategies and approaches that can facilitate mainstreaming of integrated planning and budgeting by departments from Makueni county for more effective allocation of resources for investments in interventions at the nexus of energy and development particularly in agriculture, water, irrigation, health, and MSMEs.

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The consultant will assess the current national and County policy and regulatory documents pertaining to planning and budgeting. This includes a thorough review of guidelines, procedures, and other relevant materials, including, but not limited to the planning and budgeting cycle guidelines, the Annual Development Plans (ADP), Participatory Planning Framework, the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDPs) among others, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the existing frameworks, tools, and procedures, and identify areas that require improvements, with the ultimate aim of facilitating a more integrated approach to planning and budgeting at the county level. In addition, the consultant is required to analyze empirical literature that showcases successful implementations of the integrated planning and budgeting approach to draw practical experiences when designing the framework. Importantly, the framework, which will need to be accompanied by necessary tools, should be specific to the context of Makueni County, geared towards guiding the various departments to strengthen the integrated planning and budgeting approach. To deliver on this assignment, the consultant will need to work closely with the WRI team, while maintaining regular consultation with the focal point from Makueni County Government, including from the department of Finance, Planning, Budget & Revenue, as well as the department of Energy.

TIMING

The assignment is expected to commence by the end of December 2023, with an anticipated completion date in March 2024. (Please revise this section based on your experience of WRI procedures and include the specific timeline for engaging the consultant)

BUDGET

An estimate of the number of days required to carry out the activities is to be provided by the vendors in their proposal and must be reflected in the estimate. However, once the budget has been validated, the payment of the service will be conditional on the delivery of the deliverables and not on the number of days actually worked. All expenses (equipment, vehicles, materials, supplies, consumables, means of communication, insurance, travel expenses, etc.) necessary for the performance of the service, including travel expenses, mission expenses, etc., are the sole responsibility of the vendor and must be quantified in the budget proposal.”]
Please note that WRI is an IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable.

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Requirements

Qualification and Eligibility Criteria for the Consultant:

1. Expertise in Planning and Budgeting: The consultant should possess demonstrable experience and expertise in the field of planning and budgeting, with a focus on both national and subnational levels. This includes a strong understanding of policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as existing guidelines and tools for planning and budgeting processes. Additionally, practical experience in
developing guidelines for implementing integrated planning and budgeting approaches, preferably in similar contexts will be required.
2. Knowledge of Kenyan Context: The consultant will need to demonstrate familiarity with the Kenyan context, particularly in relation to County governments. He/She should have a deep understanding of the national and County-specific policies, guidelines, and procedures relevant to planning and budgeting.
3. Research and Analytical Skills: Strong research and analytical skills are essential for conducting a thorough review of existing documents, including national and County policies, regulations, guidelines, and the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDPs). The consultant will be required to demonstrate technical expertise in identifying gaps, areas for improvement, and good practices from empirical literature.
4. Strong Communication and Collaboration Skills: The consultant must possess excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively work with the WRI team and engage with the relevant County focal persons.
5. Time Management and Project Delivery: The consultant will be required to demonstrate his/her ability to deliver the required guiding framework and tools within the specified timeline.

Proposal content

Prospective vendors should submit:

• A statement of interest describing the proposed team and how it meets the above requirements.
• CV(s) of team member(s).
• Examples of and references for similar previous work.
• An outline of the proposed methodology and workplan.
• An account of how the work and/or organization is sustainable.
• A proposed budget with a breakdown of costs sufficient to assess reasonableness and compliance with our funder requirements. If proposing for a Fixed Price contract, please also include a competitive payment schedule associating amounts with work milestones.

For more details: https://www.wri.org/about/procurement-opportunities