Expression of Interest (EOI)

Consultancy to develop materials and training on ICGLR and OECD and other international Mineral Supply Chain Guidelines.

Reference Number: 83451087

Publication date: 26.01.2024 

Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

Context

The mining sector in Rwanda is largely characterized by small-scale mining operations with its characteristic drawbacks related to low usage of modern technology in terms of mining and mineral beneficiation, low productivity and limited application of health, safety, and environmental standards. Despite its deficiencies, however, the sector is among the ones with important positive economic impact. This is demonstrated by the substantial role of minerals in the country’s global exports as well as for job creation in rural areas, which in turn spurs economic growth and hence contributes to government revenues. In the past years the Government of Rwanda has taken important steps towards the improvement of mineral value chain and responsible mineral sourcing. In that context, one of the major challenges remain the limited knowledge of different regional and international sourcing guidelines.

Since 2020, the German cooperation represented by GIZ has been providing support to the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) to implement tools of the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR). In the 3-year phase that ended in December 2022, both partners implemented a number of activities with the funds from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Since December 2022, the abovementioned cooperation has been taken to a higher level. From December 2022 to November 2025, a new project titled “Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda” was launched. The project will be co-financed by the European Union and the BMZ and implemented in collaboration with GIZ. This project is part of the wider regional project “Responsible resource governance for peace and security in the African Great Lakes Region”. It covers four outputs: (1) enhancing compliance with responsible mineral sourcing standards; (2) support digitalization/operationalization of mining sector services; (3) strengthen provision of TVET skills and training on mining; and (4) improve application of international social and environmental protection standards.

The Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) is one of the six tools of the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR) used to foster compliance with international sourcing standards. This initiative is spearheaded by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and its 12 Member States, aiming to ensure that all 3TG minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold) from the region are of conflict-free origin. As a procedural guide, the requirements of the RCM aim at establishing responsible mineral supply chains from mine sites to export points taking into account intermediaries such as miners, traders, transporters, processing entities and exporters of 3TG.

It is against this background that Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have joined efforts to support this common goal. Within the framework of the project “Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda,” GIZ, on behalf of RMB, is looking for a well-experienced consultant able to train mine operators on various existing guidelines for mineral supply chains on a regional and international level.

0. Tasks to be performed by the consultant

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide relevant knowledge and skills that enable the key actors of the mineral upstream supply chain (i.e., miners, exporters, processors, and transporters) to perform well and in accordance with the recognized international standards. Knowledge and information will be provided based on the international mineral laws, regulations, and initiatives, with special focus on the ICGLR RCM, the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines, the Dodd Frank Act, European regulation on responsible sourcing and RMI initiatives.

The Consultant shall work hand in hand with RMB staff in charge of traceability and certification activities to solicit their inputs and ensure their meaningful participation and ownership of the entire process. The targeted groups for this training are minerals exporters, mining companies, mineral processors, and other identified stakeholders.

The consultant is responsible for providing the following services:

• Conduct a desktop review of the existing international laws, regulations, and initiatives on minerals business, especially conflict minerals.
• Identify target-groups to attend the training.
• Consult with RMB and ensure their meaningful participation in the training preparation, delivery, and validation of outcomes.
• Submit all training materials to RMB for validation before the training.
• Prepare adequate materials that will help to understand the six RINR tools.
• Prepare a detailed and easily understandable materials on the ICGLR RCM (inspection-traceability-certification and their relationship, Chain of Custody (CoC) requirements, third party audit requirements, export and certification requirements, mineral database, etc.);
• Prepare adequate materials on OECD Due Diligence Guidance.
• Prepare relevant materials on mining company management (incl. licenses, legal documents, company policies, mineral taxation, filing system, production recording, mineral transport system, human resources management, etc.
• Conduct a desktop analysis of the law on mining; quarry operations and develop the linkage between them and identified international laws and regulations or/and initiatives.
• Consult the identified miners and traders audited in 2022, as well as RMB staff involved in RCM and OECD implementation.
• Present a gap analysis of key requirements in the existing management of the mining companies and propose solutions.
• Prepare and deliver trainings to mine operators 

Based on the tasks described above, the consultant will produce and submit the following deliverables:

• Inception Report which includes a Gap analysis
• Training manual
• Training Report
• Working manuals (to be given to the mining companies)

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Period of assignment: The assignment will be performed in 35 expert days and the assignment should be completed within a period of 6 months effective from the date of signing the contract in April 2024 to October 2024. This period includes the time for consultations, materials preparation, training delivery and reporting.

1. Concept

The bidder is required to show how tasks to be performed will be achieved (technical and methodological concept). In addition, the bidder must describe the project management system for service provision.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The bidder is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which he/she intends to provide the services for which he/she is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The bidder is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which she/he is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The bidder is required to present and explain his/her approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and he/her contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The bidder is required to describe the key processes for the services for which she/he is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the bidder is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

Project management by the consultant (1.6)

The bidder is required to explain his/her approach for coordination with the GIZ project. In particular, the project management requirements specified in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) must be explained in detail.

The bidder is required to draw up the plan that includes information on assignment dates (duration and expert months) and locations of the individual members of the team complete with the allocation of work steps as set out in the schedule.

Further requirements (1.7)

The bidder is required to take into consideration cross cutting themes and issues such gender equality, gender ratio, use of a specific method for a study.

2. Personnel concept

The bidder is required to provide a CV that reflects the nature of the tasks involved and required qualifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification of a master’s degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, environmental laws, environmental management, or mining with at least 7 years of professional work experience
• At least 5 years of practical experience in the mining sector, environmental laws, policies, and legal frameworks development
• Excellent analytical, organizational, drafting, reporting and communication skills
• Ability to respect deadlines and work independently
• Being dynamic and proactive with the ability to produce technical work plans and monitor performance against them
• To avoid conflict of interest, the consultant must not be a current RMB staff member 

3. Costing requirements

The bidder is required to hand in a proposal that includes all costs necessary to deliver this service.

Travel

The bidder is required to calculate the travel based on the places of performance (10 travel days maximum), list the expenses separately by daily allowance, accommodation expenses, and other travel expenses.

The table below shows the costing the bidder should take into consideration:

4. Inputs of GIZ or other actors

The consultant is responsible for planning the validation workshop. GIZ is responsible for the cost of the workshop such as venue and stationery if needed.

5. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToRs. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organised in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English language.

The complete tender must not exceed 10 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g., links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in French.

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Costing requirements. The consultant is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops, or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

1. Annex / Attachments

• Annex 1. Technical Assessment Grid
• Annex 2 Template for Technical Proposal 

2. Submission of offer: The Expression of Interest should contain the following: 

A. Technical Proposal:

• A cover letter expressing your 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, your approach to complete the assignment, template attached.
• CV of the Consultants proposed
• Company registration certificate (RDB)
• VAT-Registration certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate
• Proof of successful completion of related assignments. 

B. Financial Proposal: indicate all-inclusive daily rate, supported by a breakdown of all costs. The costs must be in RWF and VAT

Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email ONLY: RW_Quotation@giz.de  until latest 09th February 2024.

Please you must write on each email subject this sentence: 

83451087 Technical/financial offer, without this sentence, your offer may not be considered

Hard copies are not allowed this time

GIZ reserves all rights

List of Abbreviations