Message-ID: <199604052029.MAA01908@cdp.igc.apc.org> Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 15:21:24 +0100 From: Mark Zimsky <mailto:mark.zimsky@VOCA.ORG> Subject: Slovakia Rural Services Support Network RFP To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
---------------------------------- Forwarded ----------------------------------
From: Fred Johnston
Date: 4/5/96 2:23PM
To: Mark Zimsky
Subject: Slovakia Rural Services Support Network RFP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance
Summary
Project Title: Rural Services Support Network
Proposal Due Date: April 19, 1996
Period of performance: May 15-July 19, 1996
Project plan deadline: July 31, 1996
Contract type: Daily with set maximum
Project location: Slovakia
VOCA Project Managers: Charles C. Cox, Vice-President for
Programs
Rosemary Mahoney, Regional Representative
for Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic
Jane Horsefield, Regional Project Officer
Introduction
VOCA Slovakia seeks two US community development specialists to
complete and submit a written project design and implementation
plan for USAID funded, Rural Services Network project. The Rural
Services Network project is a 2 year project targeted to provide
technical and training support to grassroots rural community and
economic development efforts throughout Slovakia. US consultants
will be teamed with Slovak counterpart and interpreter. Project
tools will include: resident US adviser, Slovak project manager,
short-term volunteer consultants, training, as well as inter-
regional and US study tours. The design and implementation team
will evaluate several micro-regions with community and economic
development initiatives underway according to their goals and
objectives to be accomplished, local capacity and development
needed to build that capacity, and levels of technical intervention
needed to complement/support local development efforts. The design
team is expected to develop program which incorporates all
communities along the development continuum and which provides
training/technical support to further these development efforts.
The design team is expected to develop selection criteria for
assigning resources to individual communities. In addition, design
team is expected to assess and incorporate appropriate community
financing options within the project. These include community
based credit unions, savings cooperatives or other innovative
financing mechanisms which utilize local resources for local
economic development and investment.
VOCA requires the consultants have experience with implementation
of options which are to be explored. Skills and experience desired
include: Community development experience (US and international);
community finance; institutional development; training program
design and curriculum development and project management
experience.
Background
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA), a private
voluntary organization funded by USAID, has been working in
Slovakia since 1991, providing volunteer consultants for
agricultural projects designed to facilitate the transition and
development of Slovak agri-businesses. Through this work, VOCA has
obtained extensive experience in rural Slovakia, established
numerous contacts throughout Slovakia, and has obtained an unique
understanding of the conditions and opportunities in rural
Slovakia. Based on this experience and the unique challenges of
economic development in rural Slovakia, USAID has requested that
VOCA design and implement a 2 year rural economic development
project. As conceived the project would be sustainable,
replicable, and flexible enough to meet the changing demands of the
Slovak transition.
Deliverables
At the end of the work performed and described below, the
consultants must submit a written project design and implementation
plan. This plan should include:
1. Project design which includes levels of technical support and
training which address the needs and absorptive capacity of
various community development initiatives.
2. Criterion for selection and placement of communities within
project according to absorptive capacity and resources
available for achieving development goals.
3. Design and development of training curriculum needed to
support community development efforts.
4. Preparation of development strategies for target communities
participating in the program.
5. Strategy for transition of project into a sustainable network
which supports Slovak rural community development efforts.
6. Strategy for establishing community based financing options
within the project. These include community based credit
unions, savings cooperatives or other innovative financing
mechanisms which utilize local resources for local economic
development and investment.
Proposal Requirements
Submitted proposals must refer to the requirements listed in the
RFP.
1. A description of tasks (ie: methodology) you would follow in
completing this work.
2. A time-line for completing work.
3. Identification of meetings required to gather information
needed to complete work.
4. Resumes of individuals who will complete the consultation.
5. Background and statement of qualification for this project.
6. Summary of similar projects completed, including: client's
name and address, description of project, duration of project,
cost of project.
7. Estimate of daily rate of consultant completing this project.
(Total contract not to exceed $25,000)
For a copy of the full RFP, please contact:
Jane Horsefield, Regional Program Officer
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA)
50 F Street, NW Suite 1075
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 202/383-4961
Fax: 202/783-7204
Email: mailto:jane.horsefield@voca.org