This Trust Fund is funded by the Eurpean Unin EU Lcal and Reginal Cmpetitiveness Prject This Trust Fund is administered by the Wrld Bank TERMS OF REFERENCE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE TOURISM EXPERT LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT (2016-2019) Grant N.: TF0A1779 Backgrund The Prject Develpment Objective f the Lcal and Reginal Cmpetitiveness Prject (LRCP) is t enhance the cntributin f turism t lcal ecnmic develpment and imprve the capacity f the Gvernment and public entities t fster turism grwth and facilitate destinatin management. LRCP is a fur-year investment peratin financed with a grant frm the Eurpean Unin (IPA II), and managed as a Hybrid Trust Fund. The Prject cnsist fur cmpnents, ne executed by the Wrld Bank and three cmpnents by the Gvernment f the Republic f Macednia. LRCP is based n a hlistic apprach t turism develpment and destinatin management and will prvide investment funding and capacity building t supprt sectr grwth, investment in destinatins, and specific destinatin prsperity. Prject cmpnents: Cmpnent 1: Technical assistance fr turism develpment Cmpnent 2: Strengthening destinatin management and enabling envirnment Sub-cmpnent 2.1: Central level capacity, crdinatin, and plicy Sub-cmpnent 2.2: Destinatin Management Cmpnent 3: Investment in turism-related infrastructure and linkages at destinatins Sub-cmpnent 3.1: Infrastructure investments Sub-cmpnent 3.2: Grants fr enhanced turism service-delivery and lcal ecnmic impact Cmpnent 4: Strengthening prject management At the central gvernment level, the prject will enhance the business envirnment, public-private dialgue, and strategic planning fr the sectr (Sub-cmpnent 2.1). At the reginal and lcal levels, LRCP will supprt selected turism destinatins in the cuntry thrugh a cmbinatin f technical assistance t imprve destinatin management (Subcmpnent 2.2), infrastructure investments (Sub-cmpnent 3.1), and investments in linkages and innvatin (Sub-cmpnent 3.2). 1
Expected key results: Additinal private sectr investment generated in turism-related activities at beneficiary destinatins; An increase in the number f turism-related jbs created at beneficiary destinatins; Refrms implemented that were identified thrugh a cnsultative public-private dialgue destinatin management prcess; Objectives f Cmpnent 3: T supprt key investments in infrastructure and nn-infrastructure activities (training, publicatins, prmtin, upgrading f supplier capabilities, etc.) that will make an impact n increasing the attractiveness f selected destinatins thrugh upgraded prduct fferings and linkages with lcal ecnmies t capture a greater share f ecnmic benefits at the destinatins r turism circuits (markets, value chains). Ptential beneficiaries: Public and private sectr entities. The sub-prjects under Cmpnent 3 f the Lcal and Reginal Cmpetitiveness prject will be made thrugh three types f financing instruments: 1) Grants fr turism-related infrastructure: The instrument will finance investment in turism-related infrastructure which is critical fr unlcking the ptential f destinatins. Eligible investments include interventins t imprve the physical cnditin f attractins and turist sites in public wnership, access t cultural and natural heritage sites, prmtin and branding f destinatins and sites, etc. 2) Grants t private sectr rganizatins fr enhanced turism service-delivery: The grants will finance gds and services such as sft infrastructure and nn- infrastructure services such as capacity-building, training technical and financial supprt. Eligible applicants fr these grants are nn-prfit entities (e.g. business assciatins), training and educatinal service prviders (including nn-prfit and fr-prfit), and civil sciety rganizatins. 3) Matching grants fr lcal micr and small sized enterprises t enhance business linkages and innvatin: The grants aims t imprve the ability f cmmercial, private micr and small enterprises t invest in new r imprved prducts r services, new knwledge thrugh market research, business plan r marketing strategy develpment, adptin and implementatin f internatinal quality standards, investment in business linkages and innvatin, training and undertake renvatin f existing facilities, and thers. Fr each type f grant, a matching cntributin will be required depending n the type f beneficiary (i.e. nn-prfit, fr-prfit, etc.). Objectives f the Assignment The turism expert will be a member f a technical cmmittee (TC) t be established by LRCP Prject Implementatin Unit (PIU) fr cnducting evaluatin f sub prject (grant) prpsals submitted as a part f cmpnents 3.1 and 3.2 cnsisted f Sub-cmpnents 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 f 2
the LRCP. Based n the selectin criteria and guidelines develped in the Prject s Grant Manual, the expert and ther TC members will undertake the evaluatin and prvide a final ranking f prpsals t be submitted t the PIU, and then t Cabinet f Deputy Prime Minister fr Ecnmic Affairs (CDPMEA) and Wrld Bank (WB). This prcess will determine which prpsed sub-prjects receive funding thrugh the Prject s grants. Scpe f Cnsulting Services Preparatin: Participate (in persn r virtually) in the wrkshp rganized by PIU in rder t get intrduced with the LRC Prject and the relevant LRCP dcuments such as Grant Manual and Develpment Plans; Develp gd grasp f Grant Manual requirements, including selectin criteria in the Request fr Prpsals (with applicable frms, templates and annexes) t the Grant Manual, including Turism Develpment Plans; Read and sign Cnflict f Interest-Nn Disclsure frm; Ensure fair and equitable treatment f all sub-prject prpsals; Evaluatin and selectin f prpsals Based n the dcuments mentined abve and the criteria established in the Grant Manual, the expert, in cnjunctin with ther TC members, will use the set f criteria develped in the Grant Manual prvided by the PIU; The turism expert will be engaged fr evaluatin f all three types f grants; Based n the selectin criteria and the scring scale, the expert will individually evaluate sub-prject prpsals and prvide pinins, cmments and discuss with ther members t deliver a final ranking fllwing the wrking methds specified in the sectin belw (sectin - Wrking methds and prcesses); Discuss and cmpare the scre assigned t each prpsal; Prepare Evaluatin and Scring Reprt; Recmmend in the Evaluatin and scring reprt which prpsal(s) shuld be awarded fr receiving a grant and prvide justificatin fr such decisin and ranking; Participate in grievance mechanism with prviding the answers t cmplaints received by LRCP PIU abut decisins if necessary; With ther TC members as applicable, recmmend budget negtiatins in case it is decided necessary fr smth implementatin f the sub-prjects; In particular, the Turism expert shuld: Assess relevance and benefits f the prpsed sub-prject fr turism develpment in the cuntry and cmpatibility with the gaps identified in the develpment plans. Assess that the prpsed budget f the sub-prject is realistic, reasnable and cmpatible with the prpsed activities. Evaluate the technical and implementatin plan fr the sub-prject The turism expert shuld recmmend t the PIU if certain budget negtiatins are needed with the highest-scring sub-prjects applicants qualified fr award 3
f sub-grants in rder t have successful, smth and realistic implementatin f the sub prjects. Wrking methds and prcesses The member f the technical cmmittee turism expert will use the fllwing wrking methds and prcesses: Step 1: Evaluatin f all submitted applicatins frm the Lng List: (Each TC member will evaluate all submitted full sub-prjects prpsals that have passed the administrative check by PIU); Step 2: Establishment f Shrt List: (Individual list f all sub-prjects that have scred ver 70 pt) Step 3: Establishment f Final List: selecting the highest-scring sub-prjects qualified fr award f grants based n the average scre received frm all TC members scre Step 4: Establishment f Rejected List: stating the reasns fr rejectin Step 5: Prpse a Reserve List: cmpsed f prpsals which have btained a scre abve the threshld (minimum 70 pints) but which exceed the funding available. Step 6: Participate in the preparatin f the Evaluatin and Scring Reprt. The final ranking f the TC, cncluded in an Evaluatin and scring reprt adpted and signed by all TC members will be the basis fr the PIU t submit t WB and CDPMEA fr apprval. General qualificatins and skills University degree preferably in Scial Science, Ecnmy, Management r Turism r ther relevant university. Master s degree in the relevant field wuld be an advantage; Cmputer skills: full cmmand f Micrsft applicatins (wrd, excel, PwerPint) and cmmn internet applicatins; Excellent knwledge f English; Excellent cmmunicatin skills and ability t write reprts clearly and cncisely. General prfessinal experience 10 years f experience wrking in the field f turism; Demnstrated sund understanding and experience f building/develping destinatins in an integrated way; At least three years experience wrking internatinally r n internatinal prjects; Sund understanding and experience f wrking in Macednia and/r the regin; Understanding f market cnstraints t meeting market demands including cnstraints in gvernment plicy, prcedures, and institutinal capacity; gender-related challenges and pprtunities; finance, marketing prduct ffering and ther necessary supprt services). Specific prfessinal experience Experience in develpment f and/r evaluatin f prject prpsals; Sund understanding and ability t evaluate ecnmic impacts f turism; Strng experience in prject finance, prject feasibility and financial analysis f turism (r ther) develpment prjects; 4
Sund understanding and experience f wrking with bth the public and private sectr Experience in value chain upgrading needs and key gaps where the prject can have the greatest impact; Experience in the area f planning and management f turism prjects. Place f delivery The Turism expert will be cnducting an individual sub-prject evaluatin. When each f the cmmittee members have cmpleted their individual reading and scring f prpsals, the cmmittee assembles as a grup t average the evaluatin results and reach a cnsensus n the ranking. The final ranking with recmmendatins fr award shall be cncluded and adpted in an Evaluatin and Scring Reprt. The meetings will be held at the LRCP premises in Skpje (r via Skype/internet1) where the expert will be given full access t all equipment and facilities (cmputers, printers, phtcpiers, ffice supplies ). Reprting Fr the first LRCP call, Turism expert is expected t deliver Evaluatin and scring reprt with adpted and cncluded final ranking f sub-prject prpsals with recmmendatins fr award, t the LRCP Directr, by e-mail and in written frm n later than 7 calendar days frm the receiving the prpsals fr Matching grants fr lcal micr and small sized enterprises, and n later than 22 calendar days frm the receiving the prpsals fr the Grants t turism sectr rganizatins and fr Infrastructure Investments. Fr the ther LRCP calls, fr which the expert will be infrmed in timely manner nce the dates fr call f prpsals are cnfirm, expected duratin fr reprting f individual evaluatin and deliver Evaluatin and scring reprt and the final ranking f sub-prject prpsals fr selecting the sub-grant beneficiaries, alng with the schedule fr expected assignment duratin, will be additinally submitted t all members f the technical cmmittee. Expected assignment duratin The turism expert is expected t be engaged frm the end f August till the end f September 2017 fr the first rund f LRCP call. The expert's services will be needed fr the duratin f the LRCP, in several phases, depending upn the number f issued calls fr which the expert will be infrmed in timely manner nce the dates fr call fr prpsals are cnfirmed. The estimated term required fr the assignment is maximum 30 calendar days within the perid f ne mnth. The cntract will be signed fr the duratin f the prject, but the wrk fr each phase wuld cmmence subject t satisfactry perfrmance during the preceding phase. Cmmittee members are required t devte cnsiderable time in preparing fr the evaluatin prcess. The turism expert is expected t prvide the specified deliverables as per belw tentative schedule fr the first call: 1. Participate n the LRCP wrkshp and develp gd grasp f LRC Prject related materials: 28.08.2017-31.08.2017 1 After the first call, there is a pssibility t establish nline Platfrm fr sub-prjects submissin where the TC members can evaluate the received sub-prjects nline 5
2. Evaluating prpsals, individual scring, grup scring and final reprt: 01.09.2017-07.09.2017 (Matching grants fr lcal micr and small sized enterprises) 3. Evaluating prpsals, individual scring, grup scring and final reprt: 01.09.2017-22.09.2017 (Grants t turism sectr rganizatins) 4. Evaluating prpsals, individual scring, grup scring and final reprt: 01.09.2017-22.09.2017 (Infrastructure Investments) After the evaluatin prcess, the expert is expected t be available t assist PIU in grievance mechanism prcess, if needed. Acceptance t serve n a Technical Cmmittee shuld be cnstrued as a cmmitment, within reasnable limits, t expend the time necessary t cmplete the entire prcess. Selectin methd Expert will be selected in accrdance with selectin methd: V. Selectin f Individual Cnsultants, set ut in the Cnsultant Guidelines, Wrld Banks Guidelines: Selectin and Emplyment f Cnsultants under IBRD Lans and IDA Credits & Grants by Wrld Bank Brrwers dated January 2011, Revised 2014. The Cntract shall be time based. Cnfidentiality f Infrmatin During cntract implementatin and afterwards, the expert undertakes nt t disclse t a third party r made publicly available any related infrmatin withut prir cnsent f LRCP PIU. The expert will be held liable fr failure t cmply with this prvisin. The expert is expected t maintain ttal impartiality thrughut the selectin prcess. Prir t the engagement, the Expert will be asked t sign nn cnflict statement. 6