Request for expression of Interest (REOI) - Ref No: HiH EA/REOI/CON/2023-02

INSTRUCTIONS TO CONSULTANTS1 (ITC)

Background

Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA) is registered in Kenya as a Non-Governmental

Organization (NGO) with mandate to operate within the Eastern Africa region. It is a member of the Hand in Hand Global Network that comprises affiliated organizations that mutually pursue the shared goal of poverty alleviation while supporting poorer communities to create sustainable enterprises and jobs.

The organization strives to work with the marginalized communities in the areas of economic and social empowerment using a participatory approach aimed at helping people fight poverty and vulnerability.

The Hand in Hand Eastern Africa enterprise and job creation approach is based on a philosophy of self-help, providing training, skills, and support to enable poor people, particularly women and youth, to build and sustain independent, market-based, economic activities. This provides for a higher level of income for them and their families, which in turn contributes to greater food security, better education for children, increased access to healthcare, improved housing, and overall improved livelihoods.

To facilitate enterprise creation, HiH EA uses a 4-step enterprise model that entails seven training modules that starts with set-up or mobilizing self-help groups that act as savings groups, delivering enterprise skills through training, enhancing financial management as well as financial access and providing linkage to broader markets. While entrepreneurship is the strategic focus of HiH EA, the work is complemented by efforts in thematic areas that increase resilience to climate change, promote advocacy and human rights, and enhance gender mainstreaming, regenerative agriculture, and circular economy among others. For more information about Hand in Hand Eastern Africa, please visit: https://handinhand-ea.org/.

The HiH EA now invites expressions of interest (EOIs) from legally constituted consulting firms (not individual consultants) (“consultants”) for the to undertake consultancy service under the following categories:

1. Monitoring and evaluation: Baseline, Midline, endline Surveys, other special studies/evaluations on donor and organization request etc

2. General Entrepreneurship

3. General Agriculture and value chains

4. Regenerative Agriculture/Agroecology

5. Environment

6. Waste Management

7. Human Rights

8. Gender and Advocacy

9. Livestock – especially poultry, goat, dairy and apiculture.

The consultant may, with approval of the client sub-contract, selected activities provided that said services do not exceed 20% of the total consultancy work.

The consultant shall not have any actual, potential, or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. A consultant with an actual, potential, or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the HiH EA. A consultant including their respective personnel and affiliates are considered to have a conflict of interest if they) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, b) participate in more than once in any one category of EOI under this procurement action, c) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of this expression of interest, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. The consultant has an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential, or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the HiH Policies.

All consultants are required to comply with the HiH EA commitments, practices, and Values.

a. If determined that a consultant or any of its personnel or agents, or its sub-consultants, sub-contractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and/or any of their personnel or agents, has, directly or indirectly, engaged in any of the prohibited practices defined in HiH EA safeguarding practices and Values, Anticorruption statements integrity, violations such as sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse as established in HiH code of behavior in competing for, or in executing, the contract, the EOI may be rejected or the contract may be terminated by the client.

b. In accordance with HiH EA Anticorruption commitment, the organisation has the right to sanction firms and individuals, including by declaring them ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period, to participate in any HiH EA-financed and/or HiH EA-managed activity or operation. The organisation also has the right to recognize debarments issued by other international financial institutions in accordance with its Anticorruption Policy. Furthermore, HiH EA may disqualify any firm because of reasons related to past performance in an assignment with the organisation.

c. Consultants and any of their personnel and agents, and their sub-consultants, subcontractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and any of their personnel and agents are required to fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by HiH EA, including by making personnel available for interviews and by providing full access to all accounts, premises, documents, and records (including electronic records) relating to this selection process or the execution of the contract and to have such accounts, premises, records and documents audited and/or inspected by auditors and/or investigators appointed by HiH EA.

d. Consultants have the ongoing obligation to disclose in their EOI and later in writing as may become relevant: (i) any administrative sanctions, criminal convictions, or temporary suspensions of themselves or any of their key personnel or agents for fraud and corruption, and (ii) any commissions or fees paid or to be paid to agents or other parties in connection with this selection process or the execution of the contract. As a minimum, consultants must disclose the name and contact details of the agent or other party and the reason, amount and currency of the commission or fee paid or to be paid. Failure to comply with these disclosure obligations may lead to rejection of the EOI or termination of the contract.

HIH EA does NOT condone any form of corrupt practices. Pease report complaints via toll free number 0800721347

e. Consultants are required to keep all records and documents, including electronic records, relating to this selection process available for a minimum of three (3) years after notification of completion of the process or, in case the consultant is awarded the contract, the consultancies assignment documentation and reference documents will be archived/backed-up in the HiH EA Consultants database execution of the contract.

f. Consultants interested in more than one category shall make separate application for each category.