GENERAL PROCUREMENTNOTICE

Republic of Yemen

Emergency Social Safety Net Enhancement Project

GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE

European Union Food Crisis Rapid Response Facility (TF95879)

Project ID No. 117038

The Republic ofYemen has received financing in the amount of EURO 17.5 million from theEuropean Union Food Crisis Rapid Response Facility administered by International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost ofthe Emergency Social Safety Net EnhancementProject, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments forgoods, relatedservices and consulting services to be procured under this project.

The project will include the following components:

Component 1:  Workfare Assistance and Impact Evaluation(Euro 10.197 million) - will be implemented by Social Fund for Development (SFD).

Sub-component 1.1. Expand workfare assistance for the needy (Euro 9.8 million).  The sub-component will finance the provision ofSub-grants under the workfareassistance program to about 12,000 to 16,000 households within the most seriously affected communitiesfor the carrying out of basic infrastructure activities (subprojects) in the fields of: soil protection, agricultural terracesrehabilitation, maintenance and improvement of local feeder roads, streets pavement and other types of labor-intensive based on thedemand and priority needs of each community.  The sub-grants will cover wages,materials, local consultants, training, and transportation directly related to the mobilization of communities and implementationof the subprojects.

The Phase I workfare program initiated under the initial GFRP grantwill be expanded to reach additional households affected by the food crisis.  Cash willbe provided to help mitigate the impact of increased food prices through temporary work opportunities through a well-testedcommunity targeting mechanism, as well as supporting rehabilitation of basic community assets.  It is estimated that 60-70% of the sub-component cost would be for wages, and approximately 30% for cost ofmaterials, project mobilization/supervision activities, etc. It is estimated that participatinghouseholds will earn US$ 400#600 (average 66 days participation spread over a period of 6 #9 months depending on the nature of thesubproject).   The formula used to determine household wage share is describedunder Section D - Social of this document.

Sub-component 1.2. Impact evaluation and component management - workfare program(Euro 0.397 million). The sub-component will support theimplementation of the program's phase II baseline study and an impact evaluation ofthe workfare assistance program through the provision of consultants' services, and financing up to Euro 298,000 (3% of component1.1) for SFD incremental operating costs. 

Results from the Phase I Beneficiary Assessment will contribute to the design of the phase II impact evaluation. The impactstudy will provide lessons and policy recommendations for further SFD workfare expansion, as well as contributing to the socialprotection dialogue concerning the protection of the able-bodied poor. 

Component 2:  Temporary Cash Assistance for Poor Households(Euro 7. 303 million) - will be implemented bythe Social Welfare Fund (SWF).

Sub-component 2.1. Cashtransfers to poor and vulnerable households (Euro 7.140 million)

The sub-component will providetemporary cash assistance grants to about 41,000 eligible poor households in selected areas, whoare not yet enrolled in the SWFprogram but have been identified through the recently completed SWF household survey and the developed Proxy Means Test (PMT)scoring.  These households, to be located in flood, conflict or child traffickingareas, will receive US$20/month to help them cope with price pressures over 12 months. Thesubcomponent will also finance the contracted payment agency administrative fee. After project closing, thesehouseholds will be included in regular SWF coverage based on the GOY 2011 budget.  

Sub-component 2.2: Evaluation and component management - cash assistance program(Euro 0.163). The sub-component will support an evaluation of the temporary cashassistance program to address the targeting, operational processesand results of the program at the household level.  The sub-component will also finance the salary of a local Financial Management Specialistto support the SWF Finance Department to meet project fiduciary requirements, the fee for theexternal auditor, and additional localconsultants as required, as well as travel cost for SWF staff for field follow up and supervision.

The evaluation findings will provide lessons learned and policyrecommendations for the SWF overall program, as well as contributing to the dialogue in regard to policy options for the reform ofthe wider safety net programs. 

Procurement of contracts financed by the World Bank will beconducted through the procedures as specified in the World Bank's Guidelines: Procurementunder IBRD Loans and IDA Credits, May 2004(revised October, 2006), and is open to all eligible bidders  as defined in the guidelines. Consulting services will be selected in accordance with the WorldBank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, May 2004 (revisedOctober, 2006).

Specific procurement notices for contracts to be bid under theWorld Bank's international competitive bidding (ICB) procedures and for contracts for consultancy services will be announced, asthey become available, in UNDevelopment Business and dgMarket, and in localnewspapers.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Interested eligible bidders who wish to be included on the mailing list to receive invitations toprequalify/bid under ICBprocedures, and interested consultants who wish to receive a copy of advertisement requesting expressionsof interest for consultancy contracts, or those requiring additional information, should contact the address below."