Consultancy for Feasibility Study for Improving Working Conditions in ICPCS At GIZ Rwanda

CONSULTANCY FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS IN ICPCS

Background
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy and ICT (Information and Communications Technology), Natural Resources, Peace and Security and Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

General Context of Eco-Emploi 2020– 2022
Rwanda aspires to improve standards of living for all its citizens in the Vision of 2050. The Vision will be affected through a series of seven-year National Strategies for Transformation (NST1), underpinned by detailed sectoral strategies that are aimed toward achievement of the SDGs. The NST1 followed the implementation of two, five-year Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies-EDPRS (2008-12) and EDPRS-2 (2013-18), under which Rwanda experienced robust economic and social performances. The growth rate averaged 7.5% over the decade to 2018 while the growth domestic product (GDP) per capita grew at 5% annually.
However, underemployment is still a prominent factor. With strategies like the NST 1 and the Private Sector Development and Youth Employment Strategy (PSDYES), the Government of Rwanda is promoting skills development and the creation of off-farm jobs. The bilateral Economy and Employment Promotion programme (Eco-Emploi) as part of the priority area “Sustainable Economic Development” of the Rwandan-German Development Cooperation is supporting these efforts.
Eco-Emploi, implemented by GIZ, incorporates an integrated approach of technical and vocational education and training, labour market interventions and private sector development and will be implemented between January 2020 and December 2022. The programme aims at employment-intensive growth in selected economic sectors, namely wood industry, tourism & hospitality, industry and film industry, with a special focus on digitalisation. The economic empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities are a crosscutting effort in all activities of the programme. Eco-Emploi works towards achieving SDG 1 "No poverty", SDG 4 "High-quality education", SDG 5 "Gender equality" and SDG 8 "Decent work and economic growth”.
Eco-Emploi’s success is mainly defined by the amount of jobs that are created through the programme’s activities.
For more information, please visit Eco-Emploi’s homepage: http://ecoemploi.org/


Background and Rationale for the assignment
Background of the ICPCs
The concept of establishing Integrated Crafts Production Centre (ICPC) (in Kinyarwanda: Agakiriro model) countrywide was decided in Rwanda ‘s National Leadership Retreat held at Gako in March 2012.The retreat emphasized job creation as a high priority in order to achieve the vision 2020 target of creating 3.2 million off farm jobs. This ICPC concept was set-up to absorb the largely underemployed youth, including young graduates from Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions into a productive labour force and support them to up-grade skills and embrace innovation. Hence, the objective is to generate employment on a large scale. The government of Rwanda through the Districts has offered ICPCs’ infrastructure to host and accommodate different artisans, individuals and cooperatives from various trades; (wood working/carpentry, welding, handcrafts and tailoring, etc.) and with the support of former National Employment Program (currently NSDEPS) through Business Development Fund (BDF), some cooperatives working in the ICPC were offered a leasing package, such as wood working machines or industrial tailoring machines. Established ICPCs play a significant role in the promotion of Made in Rwanda policy and in the creation of decent and productive jobs. ICPC aims at becoming a safe and convenient modern working environment, a pleasant environment for customers that enables environment for leveraging private investment to generate jobs and support the informal sector. ICPC also benefits from the opportunities for synergy and efficient organization, which lead to the standardization of best practices and quality standards.

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Description of assignment
Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OHS/EHS) aim at the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers and environmental protection in all occupations of craft sectors; the protection of workers in their workplaces and employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities, the handling of waste management; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to man and woman and of each man and woman to his job with regard to environment.
The Occupational and Environmental Health Safety (OHS/EHS) is a crosscutting topic in all crafts sectors thus also relevant in the Rwandan wood sector value chain.
NIRDA research showed that, regarding workplace safety and health, less than 7% of the respondents reported having hazard signage, dust extractor and personal protective gear at their workshops with only 33% having sufficient workspace and only less than 35% of respondents indicated having negatively affected by the environmental conditions.
Since 2018, various programmes of GIZ Rwanda are supporting different local companies, cooperatives, TVET institutions, chambers, and associations to acquire OHS/EHS technical and managerial skills required in different sectors of the economy (wood, metal works, plumbing, car mechanics, electricity). GIZ in collaboration with different stakeholders has been undertaking various efforts with regards to promoting OHS/EHS conditions to ensure working conditions in ICPCs are improved.
Despite all these efforts, the last assessment audits and studies conducted by GIZ Eco Emploi showed that the overall compliance for ICPCs was low (0%-49%).
It is important to note that previously, assessment audits and studies have targeted only nine ICPCs and could not cover all ICPCs. In addition, only OHS/EHS component was assessed while infrastructure component, which also has a great impact on OHS/EHS, was not part of these previous assessments.
It is against this background that GIZ Eco Emploi programme, in collaboration with MINICOM, RDB, MINALOC and other key stakeholders are looking forward to commissioning a feasibility study for improving working conditions in all ICPCs by conducting OHS/EHS audits with a strong emphasize on infrastructure. The particularity of this study is that it will cover all ICPCs, include infrastructure component and produce a budget proposal required per each ICPC for the implementation of proposed recommendations to address identified gaps.


Objective of the assignment
The main objectives of the assignment are to:
• Understand the ICPC level of compliance on OHS/EHS and to provide good recommendation of strategic interventions to upgrade working conditions in all ICPCs.
• To assess/examine infrastructure’s status through a better understanding of existing OHS/EHS and to produce a budget proposal required for the implementation of proposed recommendations to address identified gaps per each ICPC.


Scope of the assignment
The OHS/EHS integrated feasibility study process will involve an in-depth examination of an organization's entire integrated safety, health and environmental management system(s) and associated tasks and activities as well as the infrastructure conditions in relation to OHS/EHS in 28 districts namely: (Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Huye, Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyamagabe, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Ruhango, Burera, Gakenke, Gicumbi, Musanze, Rulindo, Karongi, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Rusizi and Kicukiro). Since the previous assignment on OHS/EHS audit covered only nine (9) ICPCs, this study will only assess the infrastructure part in these 9 ICPCs to complete the missing package targeted by this study. The target group are operators of the ICPCs.

Methodology
The study will focus on the key aspects of the approach to integrated management of occupational and environmental health and safety as well as infrastructure within the workplaces and offers a structured path for continuous improvement towards best practices. The consultant will use various methodology including focus group discussion, observation, and technical analysis.


Tasks and responsibilities of the consultant(s)
The consultant will:
• Review and update the existing OHS/EHS checklist to align it with this assignment.
• Conduct field visits to examine and assess the current situation and compliance on OHS/EHS in 19 ICPCs.
• With use of the checklist, the consultant will examine and inspect the co-status 28 ICPCs infrastructure within ICPCs that include electrical cables, hangar, water sanitation, …by Identifying main challenges, hazards, risks, gaps related to existing OHS/EHS and infrastructure rules and regulations, with a particular focus on wood sector related operations.
• Identify appropriate recommendations to address identified gaps to significantly improve OHS/EHS and infrastructure working conditions in 28 ICPCs and for the whole value chains found in ICPCs.
• Based on existing audit report in 9 ICPCs in combination of the newly audit reports from all ICPCs, the consultant will; develop a list of strategic interventions to upgrade the centers by addressing the gaps discovered by the audit in all districts.
• Propose mitigation measures and recommendations for the prevention of identified hazards, risks, and gaps in order to support a progressive compliance of ICPCs operations with applicable OHS/EHS and infrastructure rules and regulations.
• Pay a special attention to the safety and health of persons with disability (PWDs) and how ICPCs infrastructures affect them and come up with adequate recommendations on how to improve the employment prospects of persons with disabilities in ICPCs.
• Recognizing gender differences in the workforce as vital aspect in ensuring the safety and health of both men and women workers. Women and men may be exposed to different physical and psychological risks at the workplace, thus requiring tailored control measures. Therefore, the study will also consider a gender perspective in the process.
• Conduct for each ICPC, a cost analysis that covers the rehabilitation and an upgrade cost of the centers to meet/comply with OHS/EHS requirement that is also inclusive.
• Support the ICPC National Task Force to organize a dissemination session on the study’s outcomes and recommendations.

Deliverables
The Consultancy Firm will submit the following deliverables in both hard copy and electronic version:
• Inception report: with clear methodological framework and reflecting the understanding of the assignment which will be submitted within 2 days after the date of contract signature.
• Updated study checklist: with all items to be studied within 1 day after the date of contract signature.
• Audit report of OHS/EHS Compliance on the assessed ICPCs.
• Strategic activities/ interventions to upgrade each ICPCs.
• Budget needed to rationalize each ICPC towards OHS/EHS compliance center.
• Final report: Overall report of not less than 20 pages and not more than 50 pages for all ICPCs, study checklists for All ICPCs and recommendations as well as study findings for each ICPC and recommendations to address identified hazards and risks within 40 days after submission and approval of the Inception Report and Checklist.
• Power Point Presentation (PPP): to be used in presentation to the Client and ICPC National Task Force.
This set of study activities will be conducted in the period of 45 days.

Reporting
The Consultant shall officially submit all deliverables mentioned above within specified timelines. The language of reporting and communication will be English. The consultant will report to GIZ/Eco-Emploi Wood Sector Component and MINICOM. The inception report and the final report shall be presented to the ICPC National Task Force Members during the joint meetings/sessions.


Qualifications and Experience required
a) Specific experience of the Consultant Firm related to the assignment
• The firm must have conducted and completed at least three (3) assessment surveys/audits on occupational safety and health
• The firm must have conducted at least three (3) assignment related to occupational safety and health.
• The firm must have worked on occupational safety and health in wood value chain
• Having conducted an activity in ICPCs or/and having an experience in working with the ICPCs’ operators would be strongly preferred.

b) Adequacy of the proposed work plan and methodology in responding to the Terms of Reference
• Detailed and comprehensive checklist.
• Proposed methodology.
• Work plan.


c) Qualifications and competence of the key staffs for the Assignment:
i) Lead Consultant
The lead consultant must meet the following requirements:
• Degree in Environmental sciences or civil engineering with an extended experience of at least 8 years.
• Degree in Occupational Safety and Health with an extended experience of at least 8 years.
• Having conducted and completed at least three (3) assessment survey on occupational safety and health.
• Having conducted at least three (3) assignment related to occupational safety and health
• Having worked on occupational safety and health in wood value chain.
• Experience working with Development partner organization.
• Ability to work in close collaboration with different institutions (private, international and government) to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities.
• Ability to work in a heterogeneous team including different competences on an equal level.
• Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively
• Initiative, good analytical skills, mature judgement and ability to work under tight schedule while respecting deadlines and achievement, ethics, and honesty
• Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment and to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment
• Good ability to use information and communication technologies as tools and resources.

ii) Electrical Engineer
The electrical engineer must meet the following requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering
• Recognized certificate in occupational safety and health
• Professional experience working in occupational safety and health field
• Experience in conducting study/risk assessment in occupational safety and health
• Experience in working and conducting study/risk assessment in electrical occupational safety and health

iii) Architect
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture engineering, civil engineering.
• Professional experience in architecture field.
• Consultancy experience in architecture.
• Experience in plumbing.
A summary table of expected days per expert:
Expert Number of expert days (up to)
Expert 1 – Lead Consultant 45 days
Expert 2 – Electrical-Engineer/OHS-EHS Expert 31 days
Expert 3 – Architect/Plumber 31 days
Total expected days Up to 107 expert days

Submission of the EoI
EoI will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Individual profile,
• Relevant experience,
• Your strategies to assure agility, flexibility and responsiveness,
• Personnel offer
• Financial offer.

The EoI should contain the following:

For Technical Proposal:
• A Cover letter expressing interest in this assignment;
• Technical Proposal with a brief description of why you would be considered as the most suitable for the assignment, relevant expertise, and a detailed clear methodology,
• Business /company registration certificate
• Tax clearance certificate (if available)
• VAT certificate (if available)
• Recommendation letters/certificates of similar services concluded

For the Financial Proposal:
The Financial Proposal indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs. The cost must be in Rwandan Francs and VAT excluded.
Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email: RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 4th July 2022
Please you must write in your email subject this sentence:
EOI number 83412395- submission of technical& financial offer,
without this sentence, your offer may not be considered
Hard copies are not allowed this time
GIZ reserves all rights