Terms of Reference to hire a consulting firm to conduct Tourism Skills Enhancement for the East African Tourism Platform (EATP)

I. Background and Context

The East African Community (EAC) recognizes the significance of the tourism sector to the national economies of its Partner States. The Sector contributes an average of about 10% to GDP, 20 % to foreign exchange earnings and, creating employment opportunities of about 8.3% in the region. A review of the Partner States policy and development frameworks reveals that tourism is a critical driver for future growth with a high potential to transform their economies. In particular, tourism development is a priority in the Vision Burundi 2025, Kenya Vision 2030, Rwanda Vision 2050, Tanzania Vision 2025 and Uganda Vision 2040. Given its cross-sectoral nature, tourism can only grow sustainably if integrated into each country and the East African Community’s overall economic, social and physical planning policies.

The EATP is the apex private sector body for Tourism in East Africa. The East Africa Tourism Platform was established in July 2011 and became operational on 2nd April 2012 with start-up funding from Trademark East Africa. From June 2020, EATP Secretariat moved to Rwanda, and the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism hosts the secretariat.

II. Purpose and scope of the work

As the Private sector development continues to play a catalytic role in the development of the region’s tourism industry, the East Africa Tourism Platform seeks to hire a consulting firm to conduct a consultancy assignment with the aim to enhance tourism skills in its country members. This is in line with the EATP mandate to build capacity in member countries.

The training provider is expected to design the training curriculum and define the program's content informed by a quick market assessment. The training is expected to be conducted through a demand-driven training and experience sharing approach to ensure effectiveness and make it exciting and interesting to the participants. The program is expected to include innovative thinking and flexible learning such that it doesn’t base on a lecture format but an active and interactive learning approach.

As a means of ensuring quality control, there must be consistency across different training group sessions.

The training provider is expected to develop a list of relevant skill sets to tourism that are inline with intra and inter regional tourism. The suggested skills sets will have to be informed by the skills gaps affecting market tourism operators.

Based on identified skills gaps, the trainer is expected to develop training modules, delivery approach, including time allocated to different modules.

The scope of work for the consulting firm will include but not be limited to:

a) Identification of Tourism skills gap through a consultative process and application of an appropriate tool of analysis, identify focus areas for training
b) Demonstrating the skills Gap & showing how this can be covered
c) Organize, conduct and manage the workshop (training)
d) Evaluating the effectiveness of the workshops
e) Reporting to the East Africa Tourism Platform

III. Expected Deliverables

A quick compilation of need assessment on East Africa tourism from the private sector’s perspective in the intergration process.
Training program and modules customized as per the EATP agreed training areas.
Provide a full package of all the necessary learning materials to learners.
Monitoring and evaluating the training and reporting the results to EATP
Certificates of training to the participants
Provide database profiling graduates
Provide training report to the EATP

Reports

All reports will be submitted to the EATP Coordinator and the Director-General of the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism as follows:

Inception report comprising the need assessment and training areas in skills and work readiness
Training modules, delivery approach and training plan
Final report with the list and database of finalists with their identifications and performance of trainees during the training.

IV. Period

The consulting firm will carry out the assignment for 6 months renewable upon availability of funds.

V. Institutional Arrangements

The consulting firm will report to the EATP technical assistant and the director- General of the Chamber of Tourism. The consultant shall be responsible for the coordination of meetings and other activities under the EATP supervision and the Tourism chambers/association/confederation in the each EATP member state.

VI. Eligibility criteria

The training provider should satisfy the following criteria for eligibility to submit proposals.

The training provider should be legally registered and have at least 5 years of experience providing skills development training
Proven relevant experience in undertaking tasks of similar magnitude. Experiences in organizing skill development training (Provide proof of at least three similar assignments carried out and certificates from beneficially organizations will be required).
Proven experience and a high degree of competency in developing curriculum and delivering rapid skills training programmes in the above-mentioned areas.
Ability to offer internationally recognized programmes, with the flexibility to customize the training to East Africa’s unique setting and needs of the participants.
The training provider should have the capacity to provide food and refreshments, and any other necessary training facilitations/arrangements.
Proven experience in conducting quality assurance of training programs and innovation systems if any,
Should have presence in EAC member countries
Should provide at least 2 qualified trainers by country in the EAC (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda)
Proof that the consulting team is able to train in the EAC official languages i.e. English, Swahili and French.

VII. Desired profile of trainers

a. The team leader (1) is expected to have:

At least masters’ degree in tourism and Hospitality Management with four years of professional experience in delivering professional training and module development;
Must have experience in strategic planning
Three (3) references to similar work done in the last five years.
Prior working experience on regional (EAC) issues is an added advantage
Demonstrated experience in working with government partners and other stakeholders in public sector development programs, especially in the area of capacity development

b. The training facilitators (10)

Must have at least a minimum of masters’ degree or bachelors’ degree in tourism, hospitality or related with professional certification in related skills. to be proven by certificates
Should have at least 3 years’practical working experience in training, coaching, capacity building in areas of skills; to be proved by certificates
Having specific practical working experience for each training module proposed;
A proof of at least 3 similar good assignment completed; to be proved by certificates
Fluent in English and/or French as per the official language of the country requiring the training

c. Skills and Competencies:

High level written and oral communications skills in English and other official languages used in the EAC region.
Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity;
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and development partners;
Skills in facilitation of stakeholder engagements/workshops;
Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments;
Experience in research, policy development, management and programming-related work.

VIII. Application process

Interested companies should provide specific information, as indicated below:

Detailed Curriculum Vitae
Proposal for implementing the assignment
Attach at least three (3) references of similar work done in the last five years (both in training and skills gap Analysis).

The proposal should:

have two sections: technical and financial
establish an understanding of the assignment.

Please note that interested companies may be invited for a presentation of their proposal.

Documents to be submitted

Interested companies should provide specific information as indicated below:

Bidders must provide their company profile together with the Certificate of Registration.
Proof of academic qualification for each team member
Attach at least three (3) references of similar work done in the last three years.
Such information may include a description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, and availability of appropriate skills among staff with their most recent profiles showing their experience, qualifications, capabilities, and referees, letters of recommendation and details of past experience, especially in their areas of expertise.
A Valid Tax Clearance Certificate
RSSB Certificate
RDB Registration Certification

The budget should be broken down as follows;

Cost for the Skills Gap Analysis
Cost per training of 30 participants.

SUBMISSION

Proposals (both Technical and Financial) should be submitted electronically on procurement@psf.org.rw  or procurementpsf1@gmail.com  not later than 04th August 2021. Late bids will be rejected.