REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

“Toward the improvement of CHES livelihood strategy for targeted children 15 to 17 years old and parents of withdrawn children”

I.          BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Winrock International is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, and civil society organizations to actively participate in local and national development and to transform their societies.

In Cambodia, Winrock International is implementing the Children's Empowerment through Education Services (CHES) project to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in agriculture. The project is funded by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreement IL-16567-07-75-K. CHES is being implemented in four provinces (Pursat, Siem Reap, Kampong cham and Prey Veng provinces) in close collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations at all levels. The project period is for four years starting from 30 September 2007 and ending on 30 September 2011.

CHES aims to withdraw and prevent 8,250 children from hazardous child labor in subsistence and commercial agriculture, including fresh water fishing, in 12 districts, 32 commune and 160 villages of Siem Reap, Pursat, Kampong Cham and Prey Veng provinces through education and other services.

Since poverty is the main reason that leads to child labor, CHES considered improving livelihood for parents of those targeted children is playing a crucial role in order to withdraw/prevent those children from involving in child labor and to keep them stay in schools regularly. For the remaining time of the CHES project, significant changes will be done to improve the livelihood intervention for children 15 to 17 years old and parents of withdrawn children. These changes are summarized below:

Improve economic interventions for parents

The project will enhance activities to increase economic opportunity for parents of withdrawn children and children’s protection from worst forms of child labor.  Better needs assessment among parents and provision of appropriate livelihood skills training will be implemented to ensure that parents maximize the economic benefits from their training. 

Technical experts will be engaged to develop agriculture-based skills training leading to the acquisition of more market-driven and competitive skills as well as increased economic benefits among participating parents.  Select parents will be supported to reach out and train other eligible parents in their communities.  Parents will receive start up kits, as appropriate, and will be assisted to form self-help groups to access to micro-finance institutions.  The latter can provide revolving credit and other forms of technical assistance that lead to business development and growth.

An estimated 800 parents of withdrawn children are targeted for this assistance, representing 24% of parents of withdrawn children.

Improve Non-Formal Education (NFE) Program

The project will implement significant improvements in this component so that children 15-17 years old acquire more marketable skills and capacities to improve their employment and income-earning opportunities and avoid exploitative work.  

At least 1000 children currently enrolled in literacy and vocational training classes will be given better opportunities to benefit from more market-oriented skills. A better match of beneficiary needs, interests, capacities and expectations with market-driven skills will be done through a labor market study. A re-design of existing literacy and vocational training courses offered in communities, workshops and training centers will be done resulting in more relevant skills training offerings, better quality trainers, and increased economic opportunity from training,

The implementation of diversified vocational skills training courses will include the provision of life skills training and business planning modules for those inclined towards entrepreneurship.  Job skills training as well as training on health, safety and child rights will be offered for those who will seek wage employment.    Job placement opportunities will also be provided to children who need them. Business start-up kits and support in marketing trainees’ products will be provided, as appropriate.   Earn-while-you learn schemes will be explored for trainees taking their courses in various venues such as community, private workshop and training centers.  Formation of self-help groups and direct assistance in managing trainees’ businesses will be undertaken for those who will require such assistance. 

Winrock International is looking for qualified, experienced Cambodian NGO who has a proven track record in livelihood project management preferably in agricultural community. The NGO selected must assure the equally good quality of services and cost-effectiveness. The selection of NGO will be through an appropriate competitive process following the standard procedure of Winrock International.

II.        OBJECTIVES

The overall general objective of the project is to improve the livelihood strategy for targeted children 15 to 17 years old and parents of withdrawn children of CHES project.

The proposal should respond to the following project objectives related to improved livelihood strategy for children 15-17 years old and parents of withdrawn children:

• Identification of more effective and sustainable livelihood interventions for target children 15-17 years old and parents of withdrawn children;
• Development and implementation of livelihood schemes for parents of withdrawn children to enable them to protect their children from worst forms of child labor and sustain their education; and
• Development and implementation of improved training, employment and other income-earning opportunities for children 15-17 years old to sustain their withdrawal from worst forms of child labor

III.       SCOPE AND DELIVERABLES:

The selected NGO will work in the 12 districts, 32 communes, and 160 villages in Kampong Cham, Pursat, Siem Reap and Prey Veng. An organization need to submit a proposal to work for all 4 provinces.

Project time frame is September 2010 to August 2011.

The main tasks and deliverables of the selected NGOs will include but not be limited to:

1.  Conduct of a simple market assessment per province that will inform the program about the most marketable goods/products and services that are highly demanded in the community; as well as employment opportunities for youth.
2. Validation of  the profile of assisted children and parents to assess their needs, capacities, interests and expectations
3. Development of improved vocational training strategies based on market assessment and profile of beneficiaries and other contextual factors
4. Implementation of training, employment and other livelihood strategies for the target beneficiaries and provision of necessary technical and materials support for sustainability of the family/child economic benefits, especially increased income and employment skills.
5. Evaluation and follow-up of results of livelihood strategies implemented
6. Documentation and reporting to CHES

IV. Guidelines to Proponent

Proponents should submit a concept note which provides a clear methodology and plan for addressing the objectives, scope and deliverables described in the earlier sections.  The concept note should not exceed 5 pages.

Shortlisted NGOs will be requested to submit and present a full proposal consisting of two parts:  the project narrative and budget.

Submission Deadlines

Submission of concept note.  Organizations should submit an electronic version of the concept note in English through email with a subject line including the NGO name and “CHES proposal” no later than August 6, 2010.  Please send the electronic version to: info@winrockcambodia.org, attention: Mrs. Kim Moly.

Winrock will inform short-listed candidates by August 13, 2010.  Short-listed candidates will submit two hardcopies of their full proposal by August 24 to the  following address, with attention to: Project Director, Winrock International, House No. 48, Street 242, Sangkat Chak Tomok, Khan Daun Penh. P.O.Box 1201, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tel: 023212334, Fax: 023212335.  They will be asked to present these proposals to the CHES review committee, who will then select the winning organization.

The full proposal should have two parts:  a project narrative and a budget, detailing their methodology and plan for meeting the project objectives, scope and deliverables described in this Terms of Reference.

Applicants should attach the following documents:

a.       A Cover Sheet (provided below) attached to the proposal

b.      Section I: Technical proposal and Budget

c.       Appendix I: Logical Framework and M&E Plan

d.      Most recent audited financial statements

e.       Most recent Annual Report

f.       CV of key personnel staff

g.      Constitution and bylaws of the organization

h.      Copy of the personnel policy

i.        Conflict of interest guidelines

j.        Registration documents

The Applicant must submit a Commitment Letter from each of the collaborating Partners named in the Proposal as responsible for activities related to project deliverables. Commitment Letters should include information on the type of collaboration and be signed by competent authority. 

Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest includes, but is not limited to, any situation or circumstance where the Applicant or any of its respective advisors, partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents or volunteers has an unfair advantage or engages in conduct, directly or indirectly, that may give it an unfair advantage; used confidential information of CHES without its written consent; or a direct or indirect benefit from the carrying on of the project; Applicants must disclose on any actual, potential or perceived conflict of Interest by attaching a Declaration of Conflict of Interest. If the Applicant does not submit a completed Declaration of Conflict of Interest with its submission of a proposal, the Applicant warrants that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no actual or potential Conflict of Interest exists with respect to the proposal or its performance.

Budget

The budget available for this project should not exceed USD 120,000.00

V.  Minimum Qualifying Criteria

·         Be a nationally-based organization registered according to country laws and legislation (faith-based groups are eligible and encouraged to apply);

·         Demonstrate ability to manage subcontracts in a sound manner (such as a bank account and an experienced accountant);

·         Demonstrate technical knowledge, capacity, and relevant experience to address livelihood project management for at-risk children and families, and have concrete systems to monitor impact;

COVER SHEET

A cover sheet with the following information should accompany all pieces of the complete application (so please copy and insert at the beginning of each file attachment or separate proposal piece). 

Name of organization:                                                           

Contact Person # 1 (with title and e-mail address):                                       

Contact Person # 2 (with title and e-mail address):                                       

NGO phone/fax numbers:                                                      

Street address:                                                                                   

City:                           

State/County:                         

Postal code:                

Budget Template

Please note this is a budget template only, and applicants may add or delete items as relevant to the operation of the proposed project. NGOs should maintain the section headings, including Salary and Wages, Benefits, Procurement, Travel and per diem, Project Activities, and Other Direct Costs, but may customize the line items to the proposed project. Administrative costs, which include line items I, II, IV and V, in sum must not be more than 35% of the total budget.

The budget must be presented in U.S. Dollars.

                               Match Contributions

Guidelines:

1.      “Units” may be for example the number of months (for staff’s salaries, rent, etc.) or the number of items (for supplies, trainings, etc.).

2.      Salaries should be based on a staff person’s total actual annual rate, with a certain number of units (months or weeks) charged to the proposed project. Consultants may be budgeted in days, weeks, or months, as appropriate.

3.      Fringe benefits may be charged in proportion to staff time or may be counted as match to the project (see below): in any case, NGOs must show that they are in compliance with country regulations regarding provision of fringe benefits (i.e. employee social contributions, leave time, and others) for staff.

4. Travel costs directly relevant to project implementation may be budgeted. Airfares may be economy class only. Per diem payments may not exceed those approved by the U.S. Government.
5. NGOs will need to open and maintain a separate bank account for CHES and should budget for any anticipated bank fees.
6. Organizations are encouraged to budget for translation expenses if relevant to their project.
7. VAT taxes cannot be included in the budget, but can be considered as match.