REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EXTERNAL MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS
ABOUT THE SERVICES
The Government and Community Relations (GCR) Department of ArcelorMittal Liberia is the client of the successful agency that will provide the services listed in this proposal. The Department manages community development, external stakeholder relations (government, communities, etc.), resettlement and impact mitigation, and corporate responsibility, among other functions.
ArcelorMittal Liberia Ltd. was created in 2006, when a 25-year Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) to mine iron ore was signed between the Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal. ArcelorMittal Liberia is part of the ArcelorMittal group, the world’s leading steel and mining company with a presence in over 60 countries.
Since 2006, ArcelorMittal Liberia has invested millions of dollars in community development, resettlement and livelihood compensation, strategic philanthropy and related activities and initiatives. The company will unveil its five-year sustainable development plan on 1 January 2023. The plan will enable ArcelorMittal Liberia to operate at a cost-efficient scale, as the operations of the company expand to the concentrator phase.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The successful agency will support the implementation of the community development programs of ArcelorMittal Liberia. These will include Community Development Fund, Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration Program and other programs / activities as may be mutually agreed between the parties.
All services of the implementing agency shall be limited to the operational areas of ArcelorMittal Liberia in Bong, Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCY 1. Daily management of projects and programs
General
1.1. plan, execute and supervise the daily operations and activities of assigned projects and programs.
1.2. apply the highest level of technical and operational capacity to manage all programs and projects as per approved plans and strategies of implementation.
1.3. work with assigned focal persons of ArcelorMittal Liberia to address all challenges and issues related to the daily management of assigned projects and programs.
Action: develop monthly reporting KPIs with AML that summarizes the various activities and list of projects in Q1-2023. Roll-out to Head of Dept, CEO and Global Head.
Resettlement
1.4. update stakeholder engagement plans to reflect post-resettlement action plan (RAP) community communication and engagement activities.
1.5. maintain a stakeholder’s grievance matrix to manage the grievances of all stakeholders. Input the information from the various community relations personnel into an Excel database (for example: the Face-to-Face meeting templates)
1.6. investigate the possibility of undertaking a community survey[1] to identify vulnerable peoples[2] and consult with stakeholders (develop a calendar of events and methodology used to engage stakeholders for the LRP).
1.7. investigate the use of agricultural specialists to undertake field assessment on progress with livelihood restoration on farms. Develop a ranking system of all the projects on how effective they have been to restore livelihood (i.e.: 1- very effective to 5-not effective)
Action: add resettlement grievances to the reporting KPIs (i.e.: total number of grievances, open and closed grievances etc.)
Community Development Fund
1.8. manage the daily operations of the Community Development Fund (CDF) in strict adherence to the Fund Management Guidelines.
1.9. maintain collaborative relations with all stakeholders of the CDF.
1.10. provide technical support to the three-tier management system of the CDF.
1.11. provide regular financial and operational reports on the CDF. Action: develop monthly KPIs in collaboration with AML.
2. Cost-efficiency and optimal use of resources
2.1. implement a transparent financial system in accordance with the requirements of ArcelorMittal Liberia.
2.2. apply the highest level of cost effectiveness and efficiency in utilization of company’s resources assigned to the Agency.
2.3. comply with the anti-corruption and ethical business standards of ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Action: develop monthly KPIs, including description column on “how” cost-effectiveness was achieved.
3. Technical and operational support
3.1. work with ArcelorMittal Liberia to design programs, projects, and activities in accordance with assigned deliverables; and
3.2. advise the client on improvements to assigned projects and programs to ensure that all deliverables are achieved.
4. Information management and reporting
4.1. maintain an easily accessible digital information management on all services and activities that the Agency is contracted to provide through the use of KPIs.
4.2. update the socio-economic baseline data collected on affected households (i.e., the Village Profile). Provide a summary of changes between the baseline and to-date.
4.3. submit regular reports on activities as per management contract and per terms agreed with the client.
COMPETENCIES AND CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS
The successful agency must possess and demonstrate the following competencies:
- Technical capacity to manage community development and resettlement programs in an investment concession environment.
- Operational capacity with optimum number of staff and logistical capacity.
- Financial capacity to prefinance activities its own activities in lieu of payment of claims by the client.
- Stakeholder engagement in an extractive industry context
- Understanding of IFC Performance Standards
HOW TO APPLY
Interested implementing agencies / organizations / companies may please submit a proposal to provide services. The proposal must contain the following:
- Qualifications and competencies: explanation of technical, managerial, logistical, personnel and financial capacity.
- Execution strategy: methodology and strategies to deliver the services that the client requires.
- Experience: including two examples of similar services that the entity provided to other clients for at least two years.
- Three-year pricing for services.
- Expected results, deliverables, and outcomes. Define successful outcomes for AML management to consider in application.
- Written references from two recent clients.
- CVs of key personnel who shall manage the services that the agency will provide.
- Other useful information that will strengthen the agency’s bid.
APPLICATION Deadline
January 15, 2023
[1] Survey to be done using: https://ulula.com/ The successful consultant will have integrated the use of this software in the survey process.
[2] Vulnerable peoples can include : female headed households with limited resources to support the family; households with food insecurity; household head with physical disability that limits their capacity to provide for their family’s basic needs; culturally vulnerable households such as inhabitants that do not speak the local language or do not have land rights within the community; households with socio-cultural differences/ practices that may not be acceptable within the Project affected community; households with more than 5 persons with less than $50 income/month (regardless if they are female headed or both parent headed)
