Strengthening Education for Mining in Ethiopia

THIS PUBLICATION REPLACES THE REQUIREMENT # PW-15-00677224 – REMOVED DUE TO A TECHNICAL PROBLEM ONLY.

NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DOCUMENT.

INVITATION
The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant to provide the professional and consulting services related to the implementation of the Project Strengthening Education for Mining in Ethiopia (STEM).

The STEM project aims to increase domestic employment in the mining industry in Ethiopia by:
1) strengthening key Ethiopian universities to develop more industry driven geology and mining engineering undergraduate programs; and 2) supporting the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to deliver training on high priority occupational standards, and implement innovative short-term training programs to improve the employability of local communities, particularly women, with low levels of education.

The purpose of this notice is to invite formal costed proposals from eligible Consultants. On the basis of the formal proposals, one Consultant will be invited to negotiate a contract for the provision of services. DFATD reserves the right to refuse any or all proposals received. The amount allocated to this contract will not exceed twelve million Canadian dollars (CAN $12,000,000) excluding applicable taxes. The anticipated contract duration is five (5) years.

WORKING LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT
Since the recipient country requests communications with DFATD in English, the working language for this project is English.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
The Consultant will manage the project in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines, bringing together the various resources required to execute the project. The Consultant will be responsible for carrying out activities required for the financial and operational administration of the project.

The Consultant will be responsible for: 1) assessing mining curriculum for geology and mining engineering and implement appropriate measures to address gaps; 2) procuring modern and relevant laboratory and library equipment based on a needs assessments ; 3) conducting gender analysis and design strategy to maximize female student success;
4) establishing institutional partnerships for mentoring and resource sharing; 5) addressing short and medium term technical gaps (skills and knowledge) within universities for mining sector; 6) training and providing follow up support on mining related pedagogy for university instructors and lab technicians delivering mining curriculum; 7) establishing and supporting work-study and/or co-op programs for mining engineering and geology students with industry and government ; 8) providing training and follow up support to university staff on gender equality issues in mining and addressing female students’ concerns regarding related employment opportunities; 9) developing training modules on technical mining specific topics in accordance with mining occupational standards; 10) developing mobile training modules on vocational and employability skills in occupations relevant to the mining sector targeting people with low literacy, particularly women; 11) providing training and follow up support to TVET trainers to develop and deliver new modules to engage local communities in the mining sector; 12) partnering with industry to establish joint mechanisms for training; 13) providing training and follow up support to TVET instructors in designing women tailored training programs; 14) conducting gender analysis and design strategies to address the socio cultural barriers that limit women’s and local community participation and benefits from mining related jobs; 15) conducting local community mining awareness campaigns to develop a shared understanding between companies and communities about job opportunities in the mining sector, especially for women; 16) conducting awareness campaigns within the mining industry to promote inclusive employment of women and vulnerable communities in the mining sector; and 17) establishing community structures based on existing local governance structures to address community employment-related grievances.

CONSULTANT PROFILE
To meet the requirement of the assignment, DFATD is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant with a set of demonstrated and verifiable capabilities. DFATD is seeking a Consultant with experience in managing and implementing international development projects of similar scope and complexity, specifically, 1) working with universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools in strengthening their mining related studies in areas such as geology and mining engineering and in programs that provide mining training services; 2) integrating governance and environmental integration as crosscutting themes; 3) working with multi-stakeholder groups such as educational institutions, private sector, or local communities; and 4) achieving gender equality results in capacity building interventions.

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS
Proposals should be presented following the instructions provided in the Request for Proposal document to be obtained through the GETS on the Internet (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/). Please note, DFATD does not send out RFPs directly to interested Consultants.

In order to be considered, proposals must be completed and received no later than 14:00 hrs, Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT), on closing date, at the following address:

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Distribution and Mail Services - AAG
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2 CANADA
Attention: Bid Receiving Unit – SGD

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED VIA FACSIMILE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

INQUIRIES
Questions relating to this notice must be directed IN WRITING to:
André Gagné
Senior Contracting Officer
Grants and Contributions Management Bureau (SGD)
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0G4
Fax: 819-953-9186
E-mail: andre.gagne@international.gc.ca