Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development -- Request for expressions of interest in Market Study

Second Economic & Financial Management Project [EFMPII] IDA Credit No: 3297-UG REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Market Study for Global Distance Learning Centre This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No. 531 of 31st March, 2000. The Government of the Republic of Uganda has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of the Second Economic and Financial Management Project [EFMPII], and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments under the contract for provision of consultancy services. Government therefore intends to improve cost-effectiveness of the Government capacity building efforts through sustained use of global development learning programme to strengthen capacity in its critical managerial and technical fields of public, private and civic sectors, for achieving national development goals of eradicating poverty. The Global Distance Learning Centre has been set up to test the effectiveness and sustainability of Distance Learning as part of a global knowledge sharing program in support of capacity building programmes for public, private and NGO sectors. The objective of the assignment is to collect, document, analyze and synthesize relevant data on the market and level of demand for the GDLC services by the public, private, NGO sectors, civil society and academia; data on the potential partners of the GDLC and areas of potential partnership; the market niche customer base for GDLC products; key inputs for a comprehensive business plan for the Centre. It is intended that this will provide comprehensive information on the current and potential demand and supply of distance learning services for all sectors in Uganda. The Consultant will specifically required to provide information on: - The market segment/niche for the GDLC services and UGDLC's competitive advantage and how it can increase its revenue earnings in the immediate, medium and long term. - The most effective marketing strategies the GDLC should adopt in the context of Uganda's economic dynamics. - Key experts/practitioners who are ready and willing to facilitate learning sessions at the GDLC (Areas to include: Health, HIV/AIDS, Poverty Eradication, Environmental Management, Journalism, Unemployment/labour, Economics, Business, Project Management, Financial Management, Trade Decentralization, Infrastructure Management, Investment, Procurement, Corruption Control, etc.) including the cost of facilitation. - Areas in which the GDLC can obtain support from programme partners, international /national development organizations /agencies /institutions, training institutions, technology providers, etc. - Details of distance learning courses demanded by different market segments in Uganda, the institutions already offering these courses and their charges and what is required in order to set up regional nodes together with other partners. The Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development now invites consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing these consulting services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, descriptions of similar assignments; experience in similar conditions; availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications. A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, January 1997 (revised September 1997) and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the guidelines. Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address below from 0900 to 1700hrs. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by 1700hrs on Friday, the 31st August, 2001. EFMP II Project Co-ordination Office Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Finance Building 2nd Floor, Room 2.4 Tel: 256-41-347804, Fax: 256-41-250005 E-mail: efmp@imul.com; rmuwanga@africaonline.co.ug jetidau@africaonline.co.ug. Website: www/finance.go.ug