Consultants (ECOWAS Maritime Port Masterplan) at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional grouping with 15 Member States in West Africa (three landlocked and one island) with a population of about 300million with an annual economic growth rate of 6%. The ECO WAS Commission is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) supporting the African Union to coordinate the implementation of continental and regional integration and development programmes in West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Consultant for the Feasibility Study on Preparation of ECOWAS Maritime Port Masterplan

Location: West Africa
Client: ECOWAS Commission
Type: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Background
A region's ability to unleash its economic potential is closely linked to the efficiency of its transport system. Transport is also an integral part of almost all daily subsistence and social activities. Without well-defined and effective transport policies and strategies, poor people will not be able to accumulate enough human, physical, financial, and social assets to get ahead. Transport has, therefore, to be an integral part of a country's poverty reduction strategy.

It has been recognized that maritime transport is a key catalyst to the achievement of the ECOWAS Commission's people-centered Regional Integration vision that is capable of stimulating economic growth and eradicating poverty in the region. It is in this regard that Article 32 of the ECO WAS revised Treaty of 1993 seeks the development of transport infrastructure and policies within Member States to promote free movement of persons, goods and services within the Community.

The fierce competition among the regional ports in West Africa has led to the multi-loop system of alliance with smaller vessels than running very larger vessels on a few loops. The bargaining power of shippers that ensures the principle of ship, follow cargo in the liner service network becoming customer oriented differentiation exercise, with less transshipment and more direct ship calls based on traffic density and overall logistic chain efficiency for the shipper. This is a challenge for future expansion of West African regional ports unless certain policy options are vigorously pursued. This is especially true for landlocked countries where transit traffic is expected to increase tenfold in the next 30 years.

It is in this perspective that the ECOWAS Commission, through its Infrastructure Projects Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), Lome, Toge is desirous to undertake a study to prepare a Maritime Port Masterplan for the West African Region.

The overall objectives of this assignment is to enable ECOWAS identify the maritime sector requirements within the sub-region to meet projected economic growth and development needs of West Africa over the next three decades and also develop a Masterplan for the realization of these sector needs.

The consultant is expected to:

• Task 1: Conduct Diagnostic Analysis for Maritime Sector Requirements for 2025,2035 and 2045;
• Task 2: Design and draft Maritime Sector plans;
• Task 3: Develop an Action Plan and Timeline for the ECO WAS Master Plan Implementation;
• Task 4: Develop a Financing Strategy;
• Task 5: Develop a Plan for Coordination and Monitoring of the Master Plan;
• Task 6: Undertake Capacity Building Activities

For the realization of the mission, the firm shall at least:

• Be a major and internationally renowned firm with wide experience (at least 10 years ) in Maritime Port
• Masterplan Development;
• Have a qualified team of key staff (Minimum of a Master Degree) with at least 10 working years experiences in Maritime Port Masterplan Development matters;
• Have the capacity to produce and provide the reports in at east two of the ECOWAS official languages, namely: English and French.

The selection procedure will be based on Quality and Cost in accordance with the ECOWAS Tender Code. ECOWAS Commission is under no obligation to shortlist any Consultant who expresses interest.

A shortlist of six firms which present the best profiles shall be drawn up after the expression of interest.

The firms that are part of an international network are to submit one expression of interest.

The ECOWAS Commission now invites eligible Consultants (Firm) to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested Consultants must provide information showing that they are qualified to perform the services:

• List of staff and expertise of the Consultants for the mission;
• The Consultant should have on its team, members with a combined knowledge of the official languages of the ECOWAS Region, which are English, French and Portuguese;
• List of verifiable technical references similar to this mission: list of previous clients and contacts for this type of mission stating the year and the cost of the mission;
• The Office Address (location, contact, BP, Telephone, Fax, email).

Interested Consultants may wish to apply as a consortium to enhance their profile and chance of being qualified.

Application Closing Date
11:00 am (GMT +1) Thursday 16th July, 2015.

Method of Application
Expression of Interest must be delivered in sealed envelope and clearly marked "RECRUITMENT OF A CONSULTANT FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY ON PREPARATION OF ECOWAS MARITIME PORT MASTERPLAN", Do not open except in the presence of the Tender Committee" to the address below:
The ECOWAS Tender Box
The Office of the Commissioner,
General Administration & Conference,
5th Floor ECOWAS Commission,
101 Yakubu Gowon Crescent,
Asokoro District,
P. M. B. 401,
Abuja,
Nigeria.

Note:
Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours: Monday to -Friday from 9.00 am GMT+1 to 5.00 pm (GMT+1).
Procurement Division,
Directorate of General Administration,
ECOWAS Commission,
Plot 101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent,
Asokoro District,
P M. B. 401,
Abuja- Nigeria
Or
By E-mail to this address: [email protected]