Expression of Interest (EoI)

Consultancy for conducting a study on Opportunities and Barriers for Cross-Border Mineral Trade in the Great Lakes Region of Africa

Reference Number:83445270

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1. Context

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, Mineral Governance, Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region.

The Africa Mining Vision of 2009 emphasizes mining and natural resources in Africa as the foundation for its industrialization. It endorses the role of the mining sector in catalysing and contributing to the broad-based growth and development of a single, fully integrated African market. For this to happen, African countries are called upon to work together to reduce transaction costs of doing business across borders, establish intra-regional synergies and realize economies of scale. One crucial pillar of the vision refers to value-addition to African minerals through refineries, smelters and other tasks in the mineral value chain that add value, increase revenue and contribute to job creation on the continent. Currently most mineral ores mined in Africa undergoes an initial processing step at the mine site and are then being shipped overseas without any further value addition thereby missing out on the above-mentioned benefits. Among the main constraints to increasing upstream value addition are the low capacity and access to capital as well as human resources and technical expertise.

However, in recent years, there has been an increase in 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) smelters and refiners operating in the Great Lakes Region. But they face several challenges to being fully operational and contributing to unlocking the potentials that the African mining sector bears, such as:

1. On the regional level this includes the proof of conflict-free origin of the minerals which is needed to access international markets. For this, mostly private traceability services that are being utilized are rather designed to support the flow of minerals to international refineries and smelters instead of accommodating local value addition.
2. In addition, smelters and refiners in the region are struggling to secure sufficient raw material supply to become fully operational and profitable. One reason for that is that companies are often constrained by long-term contracts through which they commit to supplying to specific smelters and refiners outside the continent, which makes it difficult for them to engage in new trade relationships.
3. The current legal and fiscal regimes of the countries in the region are not set up to support regional trade and value addition. These non-tariff trade barriers cause mining companies and trading houses to avoid regional trade as it is very costly and time-consuming, and the framework is often unclear. In addition, regional trade is still somewhat overshadowed by former suspicions of illegal activities.
4. Furthermore, access to finance and appropriate technology as well as poor infrastructure may create additional obstacles hindering economic development.

For the countries of the Great Lakes Region and beyond to unlock the potential that regional value addition in the mineral sector entails, there is a need for countries to work on harmonizing their trade regulations and remove barriers to incentivize regional trade, beneficiation and contribute to economic and social development. Such regional cooperation could also include the sharing of different value addition tasks along the global mineral value chain to ensure the region is benefitting in an inclusive manner as well as an exchange on technological innovations relevant to the sector and different financing modalities. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) that has long-standing experience in promoting regional cooperation and regulatory framework in the extractive sector could act as a political platform to facilitate this kind of cooperation and enable regional learning and sharing of lessons learned.

2. Background

The ICGLR is an intergovernmental organisation with 12 member states in the African Great Lakes Region. Its creation in 2004 was based on the recognition that political instability and conflict in and between these countries have a significant regional dimension and therefore require a concerted effort to promote sustainable peace and development. The Secretariat of the ICGLR, based in Bujumbura, Burundi, is the technical arm and coordinating body.

GIZ has been supporting the ICGLR since 2004. The new project phase started in December 2022 with a duration of 3.6 years until May 2026 and is co-funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (DGIS).

Against this background, GIZ supports ICGLR in the organization of a Great Lakes Minerals Investment Conference to be held in February 2024. The conference shall be informed by a study on “Opportunities and Barriers for Cross-Border Mineral Trade in the Great Lakes Region”. An international consultancy is expected to carry out this study on the different forms and specifics of non-tariff barriers but also including tariff barriers that pose major obstacles (e.g., having to pay royalties twice for importing the mineral ore and then exporting the metal) to the easy flow of minerals. In this context, options regarding the access to finance and appropriate technology shall also be examined. This study will serve as a starting point and shall provide the basis for further regional integration and cooperation processes aiming to increase value addition in the region and provide case studies for selected ICGLR Member States for strategic orientations in their policymaking.

3. Objectives of the Study

3.1. General Objective

The general objective of this study is to identify major tariff and non-tariff barriers that hinder the cross-border trade of minerals in the region and propose measures to address these. In addition, it will develop specific recommendations directly for the participating case-study countries (the 5 implementing countries of the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism, namely Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo, and Uganda).

The general part of the study will provide a regional perspective as a starting point for the countries to engage in a strategic dialogue with each other to address the obstacles and maximise existing opportunities identified.  Furthermore, the country case studies should enable the participating countries to initiate a national strategic dialogue with different stakeholders at the national level and to consider potential reforms.

3.2. Specific Objectives

1. Assess regional regulatory frameworks for mineral trade;
2. Assess domestic policies for mineral trade in the five selected ICGLR Member States;
3. Examine the mineral trade sectors in the selected ICGLR Member States;
4. Identify opportunities for policy and regulatory reforms to eliminate trade barriers and enhance investments, both on regional and national levels.

4. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is responsible for providing the following services:

• After initial kick-off phase, propose a methodology of how the study will be conducted with a clear schedule and topics to be covered.
• Propose a regular coordination structure to exchange with ICGLR and GIZ;
• Carry out desk review of the existing situation in the region, including based on documents provided by authorities of the participating countries.
• Conduct interviews with government authorities, private sector representatives and other relevant stakeholders.
• Compile a report with concrete measures and recommendations for the regional level; involve ICGLR and GIZ in the process and include comments from feedback loops;
• Compile reports for each participating country with concrete recommendations for the national level.
• Present the draft findings on both levels to stakeholders and collect their inputs and observations.
• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation and present the study findings at the Great Lakes Minerals Investment Conference;
• Finalize and present the reports to the ICGLR Secretariat, Member States and GIZ

Period of assignment: 76 days from October 2023 until March 2024

• Deliverables

• Inception report, incl. the proposed table of contents, methodology, research design, analytical/conceptual framework, stakeholder engagement, coordination structure, work plan and timeline for the studies. Due within 15 days of awarding the contract and holding the kick-off meeting with ICGLR and GIZ.
• One (1) regional study report. Draft due within 60 days, final within 90 days.
• Five (5) separate national reports for each of the case study countries. Draft due within 45 days after final regional study report, final within 60 days.
• One (1) PowerPoint presentation on study outcomes for the Minerals Investment Conference. Due 2 weeks prior to the conference.
• Two policy briefs. Due within 15 days of the approved final report.
• (Online) validation workshop with ICGLR and Member States (Due date tbd).

• Roles and responsibilities

• Supervision arrangements

1. This consultancy assignment will be supervised jointly by the ICGLR Secretariat (Directorate for Economic Development and Regional Integration) and GIZ. The day-to-day monitoring and guidance will be provided by the Directorate for Economic Development and Regional Integration and the ICGLR Technical Unit on the implementation of the Regional Initiative Against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR).

• Monitoring and progress control

1. Weekly update and review of progress against KPIs set in Inception Report.
2. Report of strategic planning meeting to be submitted within 1-week of the meeting including outcomes and key decisions made (if applicable).

4.5 Expected travel

This consultancy will be home-based. A possible travel to the region can be envisaged to facilitate a validation workshop.

4.6 Estimated timeline for implementation

5. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 4 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer 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 it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 4 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The tenderer is required to present and explain its approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1)

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 4 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer 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 4 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

Project management of the contractor (1.6)

The tenderer is required to explain its approach for coordination with the GIZ project and the ICGLR Secretariat. In particular, the project management requirements specified in Chapter 4 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) must be explained in detail.

6. Qualifications of the Contractor

The below specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.

Expert 1 of 1

Tasks of the expert

• Independently identify various sources of information for desk research
• Identify interview partners to collect additional information
• Conduct interviews (remote)
• Suggest a study outline and draft the regional study and recommendations
• Derive national summaries and recommendations
• Remain open to suggestions and comments from the ICGLR and GIZ project team
• Remain available for regular exchanges and clear communication with the ICGLR and project team

Qualifications of the expert

• Education/training (3.1.1): university degree (masters or equivalent) in international relations, international political economy, international trade, mineral economics, international relations, international law, mining law, or any related field.
• Language (3.1.2): C2-level language proficiency in English (5 out of 10 points) by the Lead Expert, and B2-level language proficiency in French (5 points).
• General professional experience (3.1.3): 8 years of professional experience in research
• Specific professional experience (3.1.4): 5 years specialization in topics related to trade, mineral resource governance, ASM or supply chains
• Leadership/management experience (3.1.5): 2 years of programme management/leadership experience as project team leader or manager in a donor funded programme/project.
• Regional experience (3.1.6): 7 years of experience in Sub-Saharan Africa (5 points), special focus on the African Great Lakes Region or East Africa Region (5 points)

7. Costing Requirements

Assignment of personnel and travel expenses

Per-diem and overnight accommodation allowances are reimbursed as a lump sum up to the maximum amounts permissible under tax law for each country as set out in the country table in the circular from the German Federal Ministry of Finance on travel expense remuneration (downloadable at https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de).

Accommodation costs which exceed this up to a reasonable amount and the cost of flights and other main forms of transport can be reimbursed against evidence

All business travel must be agreed in advance by the officer responsible for the project.

If agreed and deemed necessary to fulfil the objective of this consultancy, the expert will travel for a total of 5 travel days (one trip of five in-country days in Burundi, plus two travel days). Lump sums for per diems in Burundi amount to up to 36 EUR a day and accommodation amounts to up to 138 EUR a day.

Sustainability aspects for travel

GIZ would like to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ emissions) caused by travel. When preparing your tender, please incorporate options for reducing emissions, such as selecting the lowest-emission booking class (economy) and using means of transport, airlines and flight routes with a higher CO₂ efficiency. For short distances, travel by train (second class) or e-mobility should be the preferred option.

If they cannot be avoided, CO₂ emissions caused by air travel should be offset. GIZ specifies a budget for this, through which the carbon offsets can be settled against evidence.

There are many different providers in the market for emissions certificates, and they have different climate impact ambitions. The Development and Climate Alliance (German only) has published a list of standards (German only). GIZ recommends using the standards specified there.

Specification of Inputs:

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 sheet.

8. 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 5) 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.

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 CV of the expert proposed in accordance with Chapter 6 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CV shall not exceed 4 pages. It must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CV can be submitted in English, French.

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 7 Costing requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

9. Submission of the EoI

The EoI should contain the following:

• For Technical Proposal:
  • A Cover letter expressing 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,
  • Business /company registration certificate
  • Tax clearance certificate (if available)
  • VAT certificate (if available)
  • Recommendation letters/certificates of similar services concluded

For the Financial Proposal:

The Financial Proposal indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs. The cost must be in Rwandan Francs and VAT excluded.

Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email: RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 06.10.2023  

Please you must write in your email subject this sentence:

83445270- submission of technical& financial offer,

without this sentence, your offer may not be considered

Hard copies are not allowed this time

GIZ reserves all rights

10. Annexes

• ICGLR RINR Business Plan 2014 – 2018
• ICGLR Strategy for ASM Gold 2022
• Technical Assessment Grid
• Technical proposal template

List of abbreviations