Expression of Interest (EOI) Development of a five (5) year strategic plan for the Rwanda Community Tourism Association.

Reference Number: 83460617

Publication date: 28.02.2024

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.

Skills Development for Economic Transformation (SD4T)

Rwanda’s economic growth has been remarkable, annual growth rates averaged at eight per cent over the past two decades. Yet, unemployment (21.1 %) and underemployment (58.9 %) remain high. The majority of the population works in the agriculture sector, where incomes are low. Moreover, the number of young people entering the labour market is increasing. A large proportion of local companies are unregistered micro-enterprises which are not very competitive and cannot harness the long-term potential for growth. Most of them are only creating a handful of jobs at present. Domestic value creation, specifically in the light industrial sector is low and meets international standards only to a limited extent. At the same time, the professional skills of many job seekers do not match the requirements of the labour market.

With strategies like the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 1) and Made in Rwanda Policy, the Government of Rwanda is promoting skills development, the creation of off-farm jobs and domestic value creation. To contribute to the Rwandan Government’s strategy, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GIZ to implement the programme “Skills development for economic transformation (SD4T)” from 2023 to 2026, as part of the priority area “Sustainable Economic Development” of the Rwandan-German Development Cooperation. The programme is co-funded by the European Union (EU). The programme’s main political partners are the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC). As a specific focus, SD4T supports the Government of Rwanda in stepping up its efforts for local inclusion and graduation of refugees out of humanitarian aid, which is reflected in the Joint Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities in Rwanda (2021-2024) by MINEMA and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The programme aims to create jobs and strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in the light manufacturing industry (e.g. furniture production, metal processing etc.) according to the principles of inclusivity, productivity and environmental sustainability. This will be achieved by following an integrated approach to employment promotion, consisting of 1) the promotion of technical and vocational education and training to enhance the quality of labour supply, 2) private sector development to raise labour demand, and 3) economic policy advice to improve the matching of labour supply and demand. A specific focus is placed on the economic empowerment of women, refugees and host communities.

As one of the largest and most successful private sectors and the largest contributor to Rwanda’s export value, GIZ is building on previous achievements by continuing to support tourism. Due to its impact and size, tourism works as a motor for other sectors by increasing demand in manufacturing, conservation, agriculture, and other services.

1.Context

Rwanda's tourism industry plays a vital role in the country's economic growth, employment opportunities, and earnings from foreign currencies. Rwanda recognizes the significance of capacity building, effective marketing strategies, and expanding tourism offerings to improve competitiveness, boost revenue, and enhance the overall value chain of the industry, as outlined in the National Tourism Policy (2009) and Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (2009). The tourism sector in Rwanda has been depending on its national parks, particularly Volcanoes National Park, renowned for its mountain gorillas. Additionally, Rwanda has prioritized the development of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism to drive economic growth. Visitors, whether for MICE events or national park exploration, also take advantage of experiencing historical, natural, and cultural attractions like museums, biking and hiking trails, birdwatching, and community-based tourism activities. Rwanda has made significant progress in developing its tourism sector, with community-based tourism emerging as a valuable niche.

Rwanda has emerged as a significant destination for community-based tourism, known for its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and unique community experiences. The Rwanda Community Tourism Association (RCTA) is the newest association under Rwanda Tourism Chamber and plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable and responsible tourism practices within local communities. On the other hand, GIZ’s SD4T programme has been actively supporting Rwanda's tourism industry through various technical development initiatives. The programme's involvement has been instrumental in policy and strategy development, diversification and marketing of tourism products beyond national parks.  This involved the development of the National Guidelines for the Community-based Tourism in Rwanda as well as developing and promoting different CBTEs in Rwanda. A collaboration between RCTA and GIZ could harness synergies and expertise to further develop community-based tourism in Rwanda. This forms a key aspect of the SD4T strategy for transitioning tourism management to partner organizations, as RCTA holds the promise of assuming responsibility for the developed community-based tourism initiatives once the programme’s tourism support phases out in Rwanda.

2.Objective

This assignment aims to strategically enhance RCTA’s capacity, fostering sustainable growth and member support.  As a recently formed association, RCTA's 5-year strategic plan is foundational, outlining a roadmap for organizational development, member engagement, and the establishment of a strong and sustainable presence in the community-based tourism    

3. GIZ shall hire the contractor for the anticipated contract term, from March 2024 to November 2025

4. The contractor shall provide the following work/service:

i.  Review and Analysis

• Thoroughly review existing organizational documents, policies, and any relevant materials.
• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current state of community-based tourism in Rwanda, identifying opportunities, challenges, and key stakeholders.
• Engage in stakeholder consultations, including RCTA members, community representatives, and external partners.

ii. Strategic Plan Development

• Collaborate with RCTA to define organizational goals, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the next five years.
• Ensure alignment of the strategic plan with national guidelines for community-based tourism.
• Develop a detailed and actionable strategic plan document that includes a timeline, budgetary considerations, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Regular reporting and update to GIZ and RCTA as agreed on during inception phase.

iii. Post-Dissemination Support

Conduct coaching sessions for RCTA members after the dissemination of the strategic plan that involves:

• Providing tailored guidance and support to address specific challenges and opportunities identified during the plan's implementation.
• Schedule and conduct one coaching session in the year of plan dissemination (2024) and one additional session in the following year before October 2025, as needed.

Tender requirements

1.Qualifications of proposed staff

1.1. Expert 1:

1.1.1. General qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Travel and Tourism Management, Business Administration, or a related field

Professional experience:   Proven experience in developing strategic plans for community-based organizations or similar entities, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with references

 Proven experience in providing coaching or advisory services for organizational development with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with references.

1.1.2.   Experience in the region/knowledge of the country

5 years experience  working in the Rwandan tourism sector

1.1.3.   Language skills

Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda

2. Quantitative requirements

Calculate your financial bid exactly in line with the quantitative requirements of the specification of inputs above. There is no contractual right to use up the full days/travel or workshops or budgets. The number of days/travel/workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum amounts. The regulations on pricing are contained in the price schedule.

3.Conceptual design

The tender should indicate how the services outlined in Section I.4 (Tasks) are to be provided. Reference should be made to the following criteria:

3.1  Methodology and Approach:

Clarity and comprehensiveness of the proposed methodology for developing the 5-year strategic plan.

Effectiveness of the approach in aligning the strategic plan with national guidelines for community-based tourism.

Quality and depth of the proposed engagement with RCTA members, community representatives, and external partners during the strategic planning process.

3.2 Customization and Tailoring:

Ability to tailor the strategic plan development process to the specific needs and context of RCTA.

Demonstrated understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the community-based tourism sector in Rwanda.

3.3  Coaching and Support Plan:

Clarity and feasibility of the coaching sessions' plan, including the post-dissemination support and ongoing sessions in 2024-2025.
Personalization of the coaching approach to address the evolving needs and challenges of RCTA.

3.4 Innovation and Adaptability:

Innovation in proposed strategies for community-based tourism capacity building.

Demonstrated adaptability in responding to unforeseen challenges and changes in the community-based tourism landscape.

Requirements on the format of the tender

The CV submitted for the expert can have a maximum of four pages. The technical proposal should not exceed five pages. If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment.

1. Annex / Attachments

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.
• Company registration certificate (RDB)
• VAT-Registration certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate
• Proof of successful completion of related assignments.

B. Financial Proposal: The price per service category must contain all relevant costs supported by a breakdown of each cost. 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 14^th March 2024

Please you must write on each email subject this sentence: 

83460617 Technical/financial offer, without this sentence, your offer may not be considered

Hard copies are not allowed this time

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