Consulting firm/s or Consortia to develop 2 GCF Concept Notes, GCF Programming Training Material, and a Knowledge-sharing platform for the NDA

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an international action network created in 1996 to foster the implementation of integrated water resources management. The GWP Network includes government institutions, non-governmental organisations, academic and research institutions, private companies, and public sector service providers.

GWPO calls for an interested and qualified consulting firm or consortium, hereafter referred to as “firm/consortium”, with the required experience and expertise in climate change related issues, especially in Somalia, to deliver on three outputs that will strengthen the country’s readiness to access and
utilize climate finance.

The objective of this assignment is to support project pipeline development, NDA strengthening, and knowledge sharing in Somalia via three outputs:

Output 1) 2 high-quality GCF Project Concept Notes, developed through an inclusive, stakeholder-engaged process
Output 2) Training materials on GCF programming, and training for NDA staff
Output 3) Knowledge sharing platform for the NDA

Specification of requirements

Output 1. 2 GCF Concept Notes

The steps shared below provide a guide for the firm/consortium for the process of developing 2 GCF concept notes. A detailed methodology that addresses the requirements outlined in these steps is expected as part of the proposal for this assignment.

Gender. The proposal will have to pay particular attention to gender equity and social inclusion issues throughout the delivery of the assignment in order to ensure that: (i) the process of developing the concept notes ensures gender equity and social inclusion, and (ii) the developed concept notes incorporate a gender-transformative approach.[1]

Stakeholder engagement. The proposal will also have to describe how the concept notes will be developed through a multi-stakeholder-engaged, participatory approach including bilateral and multilateral meetings and interviews, field visits, and multi-stakeholder workshops. The firm/consortium is expected to adjust the stakeholder engagement process according to the state of maturation of project ideas, and as needed for development of high-quality concept notes; the steps outlined below list the minimum level of stakeholder engagement required. Organization of a stakeholder engagement workshop includes preparation of workshop concept note and agenda; development of the list of participants; development of documents necessary for discussions and their timely circulation among participants ahead of the workshop to allow meaningful review; development of presentations and guidance for group work; documentation of workshop outcomes including stakeholder feedback provided in plenary and group work sessions.

Somalia’s no-objection procedure for GCF project proposals. The process of developing GCF concept notes proposed by the firm/consortium should be in harmony with Somalia’s No Objection procedure for submitting project proposals to the GCF.

Building capacity of the NDA. The concept note development process will offer an important opportunity for the NDA staff to learn about GCF concept note development. Towards this purpose, the proposal should describe how, in coordination with the PIU, the concept note development team will engage the NDA.

Step 1. Inception: This step will involve meetings of the firm/consortium with the GWP team, the Somalia Readiness Project Implementation Unit (PIU), and key stakeholders in Somalia, to discuss the approach and methodology, list of proposed criteria for the analysis and prioritization of project ideas, workplan and timelines.

Deliverable: An inception report.

Step 2. Multi-criteria analysis of priority project ideas and selection of 2 project ideas to be developed into GCF concept notes. As part of this step, the firm/consortium is expected to do the following:

1. Review national climate change policies, strategic frameworks, and plans i.e. Somalia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP) priorities as part of the ongoing NAP development, GCF Country Programme, and others to identify priority areas for action in the water sector
2. Review sectoral strategies and action plans to identify adaptation and/or mitigation project ideas with strong climate justification that align with GCF funding criteria. These project ideas should cover Integrated Water Resources Management approaches; Water Sanitation and Hygiene; Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) Nexus; water-related disaster risk reduction; nature-based solutions, among others, for the conservationd of water resources, water demand management, etc.
3. Review the Readiness Needs Assessment for Somalia, developed as part of this Readiness project, to identify and pre-emptively address key factors limiting the progress of project ideas towards concept notes and funding proposals in Somalia
4. Identify stakeholders and their roles in the GCF concept note development process
5. Exchange with key stakeholders for a first identification of potential project ideas and confirmation of prioritization criteria, based on country priorities
6. Conduct an MCA on list of priority project ideas, in conjunction with ongoing GCF Country Programme development being undertaken by the GCF Readiness Project PIU, and present results to the Somalia Readiness PIU, the NDA and selected key stakeholders in Somalia, and the GWP team
7. Organize a multi-stakeholder workshop to validate project ideas considered, approach of MCA, projects prioritized as a result of MCA (as part of development of Somalia’s Country Programme)
8. Pre-identification and engagement, in collaboration with GWP, of potential GCF Accredited Entities for the selected project ideas
9. Regular exchanges with the national coordinator, the NDA, stakeholders and the GWP teams throughout the process of identifying 2 project ideas
10. Prepare and organize 2 project inception workshops for the 2 selected project ideas, inviting all project development stakeholders on the ground, including potential Accredited Entities, to agree on the project concept note development process

Deliverables:

• A report of the stakeholder-informed multi-criteria analysis of potential project ideas, including methodology, prioritization criteria and their justification; stakeholders consulted, feedback received and incorporated; starting list of priority project ideas, results of MCA; validation of selected project ideas by stakeholders. The report must specify ranking of project ideas against the climate rationale requirement and the six GCF investment criteria.
• 2 project idea notes, presenting the project synopsis, including the project scope (thematic/geographic), climate change impacts addressed, non-climatic confounding factors, project objectives, project interventions, expected project impacts, project beneficiaries, roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the project proposal development process, sources of funding for proposal development, pre-identification of AEs.
• 2 project inception workshop reports.

Step 3: Identify Accredited Entities: The development of project ideas and the identification of AEs are strongly linked and need to inform each other. Potential AEs will be engaged in the prioritization of project ideas and ultimately, the selection of project ideas that will be developed into GCF concept notes. In collaboration with GWP, the firm/consortium will support exchanges with potential AEs to secure their commitment to serve as AE for the selected project ideas. For this step, the firm is expected to do the following :

• Exchange with the national project coordinator, the NDA, GWP, and other stakeholders to identify potential accredited entities to target
• Identify potential executing entities
• Identify potential sources of financing for full proposal development
• Identify possible sources of co-financing the project
• Support the NDA and GWP for exchanges with potential AEs to obtain their commitment for the selected project ideas
• Organize online working meeting(s) to mature project ideas and their appropriate institutional set-ups with the PIU, the NDA, AEs, potential executing entities, and GWP country and regional teams

Deliverables:

• Report on identification of Accredited Entity (s) for each of the 2 selected project ideas explaining the motivations for the choice of these entities, a description of the process undertaken for the engagement of these entities, the challenges encountered, and the lessons learned. Report will include wider implementation arrangements of project at concept stage (executing entities, sources of financing for proposal development, project finance structure, co-financing sources)
• Agreements signed with AEs for the development of each concept note

Step 4: Prepare two high-quality draft concept notes in accordance with GCF requirements, accompanied by high-level pre-feasibility studies, early-stage ESS screening reports, and preliminary gender analyses. Based on the project idea notes and in close collaboration with the PIU, the NDA and selected stakeholders in Somalia, the GWP country and regional teams, and Accredited Entities, the firm/consortium is expected to do the following:

• Collect data and information necessary for the development of project concept notes, including climate rationale and theory of change, and accompanying high-level pre-feasibility studies and early-stage screening of environmental and social risks
• Collect gender-related information that makes it possible to conduct the preliminary gender analyses and to integrate gender into the theory of change of the projects
• As needed, visit project areas and consult with local stakeholders and beneficiaries to collect additional data to ensure feasibility and adequacy of conceptualized project
• Draft high-level pre-feasibility studies, early-stage environmental and social risk screening reports, and preliminary gender analyses
• Engage potential project executing partners
• Describe institutional set-up based on the results of the previous steps and the responsibilities of each of the actors
• Prepare detailed budget for the activities and the financial package of the project
• Develop draft concept notes for the two selected project ideas, and their revised and final versions having integrated inputs of different stakeholders during the consultation process including comments of the NDA, key stakeholders, and the Accredited Entities
• Organize 2 workshops for concept note validation, including preparation of action plans for moving projects from concept note stage to funding proposal stage, including submission to the GCF Board
• In collaboration with the PIU, and in light of Somalia’s GCF programming stakeholders, prepare a 4-page brief compiling lessons learned and best practices for project idea formulation and concept note development for the GCF.

Deliverables:

• 2 concept notes in GCF format (draft, revised, final versions), with accompanying high-level pre-feasibility studies, early-stage environmental and social risk screening, and preliminary gender analyses
• 2 concept note validation workshop reports, including action plans for moving projects from concept note stage to funding proposal stage, including submission to GCF Board
• A brief summarizing the concept note development process undertaken in Somalia, including stakeholders engaged, and lessons learned.

Output 2. Training material on GCF programming, and training for NDA staff

Based on Somalia’s Readiness Needs Assessment, build capacity of the Somalia NDA – in terms of human resources and technical skills – to play its role as the oversight body for GCF activities in the country. A detailed capacity building process that addresses the requirements outlined in points below is expected as part of the proposal for this assignment.

1. Develop and submit an inception report with details on proposed capacity building process – approach, workplan, and budget.
2. Develop training material for NDA staff on GCF funding windows, project development processes and requirements, environmental and social safeguards and gender mainstreaming. This training materials will be retained within the NDA to conduct future trainings for continued capacity building in light of staff turnover.
3. In conjunction with PIU in Mogadishu, train NDA staff using training materials developed. Submit training report.
4. Informed by NDA’s vision for executing its mandate, develop capacity development scorecard for NDA (organization, individuals), and fill scorecard pre- and post-training.

Output 3. Knowledge sharing platform for NDA

Based on Somalia’s Readiness Needs Assessment, develop a knowledge sharing platform within Somalia’s NDA to enable it to harvest, collate, and disseminate best practices on GCF programming to all stakeholders. A detailed capacity building process that addresses the requirements outlined in points below is expected as part of the proposal for this assignment.

1. Develop and submit an inception report with details on approach, workplan, and budget.
2. Prepare survey tools to solicit stakeholders’ expectations from the knowledge management platform.
3. Based on the findings and recommendations of Somalia’s Readiness Needs Assessment Report, engage with stakeholders involved in operating and developing climate change-related information and knowledge management platforms (including the UNDP NAP project) to understand gaps.
4. Identify suitable enhancements to the NDA’s existing knowledge management system that is fit-for-purpose for the Somali context. Prepare final specifications of the knowledge platform.
5. Undertake necessary developments to build/enhance knowledge management platform. Prepare manual for using and for maintenance of knowledge management platform.
6. Launch improved knowledge management platform in association with other relevant national institutions and development partners; introduce platform to its intended users and build their capacity to be able to use the platform. Prepare launch workshop report. Hold meeting with NDA to discuss workshop report, including recommendations for way forward.
7. Prepare a usage monitoring and communications plan, aligned to Somalia’s GCF Country Programme, for the knowledge management platform.

Interested and qualified consulting firms or consortia are invited to submit bids for the entire assignment (all three outputs), or for a sub-set of outputs (one or two outputs) for which the consulting firm or consortium is fit-for-purpose.