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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)
MALAWI EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (MWEITI)
PROCUREMENT REFERENCE NO: MOF/CONS/2024 – 2025/000
DATE OF ISSUE: 13th JULY 2024
1. INTRODUCTION
The Malawi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) intends to produce the 7th ElT report in accordance with the new EITI International Standard and guidelines published in 2023. This will be the first post COVID error Malawi report having produced the previous two the 5th and the 6th El report during and under flexible reporting due to the COVID pandemic which devastated the globe.
The MWEIT Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) through MWEITI national Secretariat has produced the terms of reference for the 7th EITI report. The ToRs sets out the work to be undertaken by the Consultant referred to as an Independent Administrator (IA) with the technical support of the MSG and the MWEIT National Secretariat. The 7th EITI Report is expected to be financed fully by the Malawi Govemment through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. The Independent Administrator will be expected to produce the final report by 30th November 2024 or 17th Week after commencement of the assignment.
Due to the lost months and delay on the initiation of the process of the assignment the 7th MWEIT report will cover two financial years. Therefore, the report and assignment will consider data and information covering the fiscal year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 and will address issues conceming the Energy Transition (Green Mineral Transition).
2. Background
Malawi joined the EIT International community as a candidate country in October 2015. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Is a global standard for good goverance and management (Revenue Transparency and Accountability) in the management of the extractive industries. The country has since produced Six EIT reports which have been published and can be found on the MWEITI website (www.mweiti.gov.mw).
Malawi has also for the past 8 years undergone two validation assessment by the International Secretariat successfully eaming meaning progress achievement by the EIT International Board.
The first validation assessment took place in 2018 and the second assessment in 2022. The report of the two validation assessments are published and can be accessed on the MWEIT website. In the meantime, Malawi is expected to undergo a next validation assessment from the month of June 2025. Therefore, the 7th MWEITI report is the defining report which the next validation assessment will base most of its evaluation in terms of Malawi implementation of the 2023 EITI international standard. The new EIT Intemational standard can be accessed through the ElTI International Secretariat website (https://eiti.org)-
MWEITI National Secretariat through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs seeks to procure a local competent and credible firm, free from conflict of interest to conduct an EITI revenue reconciliation and develop a 7th MEIT report which will publish data and information along the extractive industries value chain in accordance with the 2023 EI international standard and provide practical recommendations on how EM can enhance extractive industries good governance and objectives of MWEITI.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The main objective of the assignment is to support the MSG in strengthening disclosures, in accordance with the ElTI Standard, provide an assessment of the comprehensiveness and reliability of the disclosures, and support the MSG in addressing recommendations for strengthening government systems and natural resource goverance in accordance with the ToRs.
The specific objectives of the assignment includes:
- Production of the 7th EITI Report and its summary data sheets for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial year data in accordance with the EITI Standard and section 3 and 4 of the ToRs.
- Collect all mining, oil and gas and forestry contracts for the MWEIT contract database.
- Analyse and report Beneficial Ownership Disclosure implementation progress during the period and BO register within the scope of disclosures, and for all operating extractive companies with shareholding of 5% and above;
- Provide timely and relevant information that can help inform ongoing discussions on measures to address the impact of the interrelated factors Green Mineral Energy Transition and offer recommendations of how Malawi can take advantage of Energy Transition;
- Give highlight of current minerals and Forest price shocks, and the Economic contribution and impact of the extractive industries to the large economy of Malawi;
- Publish revenue and tax collection, corruption risks, projected revenues and the broader sector outlook in the country; and
- Undertake reconciliation of the government and companies revenues in accordance to the MSG agreed materiality threshold.
- Report on the progress on the implementation of the previous MWEIT report recommendations and the validation corrective actions.
3. COMMENCEMENT AND PERIOD
The assignment is expected to commence from July 2024 to 30th November 2024.
4. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR CAPACITY
- The Independent Administrator will need to demonstrate:
- Expertise and experience in the extractive sectors in Malawi.
- Expertise and experience in economic and financial Analysis
- Experience in accounting, auditing and financial analysis.
- A track record in similar work. Previous experience in EITI related reporting is not required, but would be advantageous.
- Availability of staff with appropriate skills/expertise to complete the required task on schedule and with the required high quality.
- Independent Administrators are required, in their proposal, to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest, together with commentary on how any such conflict can be avoided.
5. LANGUAGE
The language of the consultancy and all related workshops and written correspondence must be English.
6. DELIVERABLES
The Independent Administrator shall be expected to deliver the following documents as an output of this assignment:
- Produce a scoping study report to inform the MSG’s decision on the scope of the 7th EI Report covering 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 EITI Report.
- Produce Independent Administrator Training workshop report of Companies and MDAs reporting entities.
- Produce a Draft EITI Report
- Produce a stakeholders validation Workshop Report
- The final EITI Report hard copies in triplicate with a signed letter of completion
- Soft copies of the final ETI report One in Word document version and one in PDF document version.
- Produce associated data files (Summary data sheet) for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial year in accordance with the EIT Standard, and section 3.6 (ii).
7. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR
The Independent Administrator will need to demonstrate:
- Knowledge and experience in the extractive sectors in Malawi or a Sub-Sahara Africa.
- Expertise in Economic, accounting, auditing and financial analysis.
- Knowledge and experience of Monitoring and Evaluation or auditing in the extractive sector.
- A track record in related work.
- In order to ensure the quality and independence of the exercise, Independent Administrators are required, in their proposal, to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest, together with commentary on how any such conflict can be avoided.
The Firm
- Is expected to demonstrate no conflict of interest
- Should be reputable
- Demonstrate experience in similar assignments
- Should be an economic analyst or auditing firm
- Should have a branch in Lilongwe or be ready to work from Lilongwe.
8. TEAM LEADER
8.1.1 Tasks of the Team leader
- Overall responsibility for the advisory packages of the contractor (quality assurance and deadlines)
- Coordinating and ensuring communication with the National Secretariat and MSG members, partners and others involved in the project.
- Personnel management, in particular identifying the need for short-term assignments within the available budget, as well as planning and steering assignments and supporting experts.
- Regular reporting in accordance with deadlines.
- Responsible for providing deliverables and updates.
8.1.2 Qualifications of the Team Leader
These are listed below:
- Education/Training: minimum Master’s Degree in Economics, CPA, ACCA or equivalent. Other hhigher qualification on the subject will be an added advantage
- Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is a must.
- More than 10 years of general professional consulting experience in related work
- Good professional knowledge and experience in the extractive sector
- At least 5 years of management/leadership experience as Project team leader or Director/ Manager
- At least 5 years of related work experience in Sub Saharan Africa
9. CONTACT
Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information (Full ToRs) by requesting from at juliana.kalonde@gov.mw Copy mushanileonard@yahoo.co.uk; catherine.chilima@finance.gov.mw.
10. SUBMISSION
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by 10:00 am 26th July, 2024. Late submissions shall be rejected The Chairperson
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
P.O. Box 30049
Capital City
LILONGWE 3.
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