Corrigendum - Tenders Are Invited For Enhancing Private Sector Participation In Agriculture - Consulting Firm Services

Enhancing Private Sector Participation in Agriculture - Consulting Firm Services Approval Date: 23-Nov-2021 Estimated Commencement Date: 326,000 USD Engagement Period: 9 MONTH Background: 1. The importance of agricultural sector production to Uzbekistans food security, livelihoods and economic growth cannot be overstated. In 2020, agriculture generated 28% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP), provided employment to 27% of the labor force, and constituted 25% of the countrys merchandized export. Out of 20.4 million hectares of agricultural land, 20.7% is irrigated. 2. About 85% of the irrigated land is cultivated by around 0.075 million large farms, while the remaining 15% of land is cultivated by around 4.9 million small farms and household plots.6 However, it is considered that gross output of the agricultural sector is below its full potential due to: (i) inadequate irrigation, market, logistic, and road (farm to market) infrastructure; (ii) inefficient and fragmented value chain; and (iii) lack of support to farmers. 3. Much of the irrigation infrastructure in Uzbekistan is more than 30 years old and needs significant modernization. Low water user fees and poor recovery rates discourage investments to maintain existing irrigation infrastructure assets as well as new investments in future water development projects. The situation is expected to deteriorate with increasing aridity because of climate change and continued use of conventional irrigation techniques. 4. Uzbekistans infrastructure for logistics and wholesale and retail markets is insufficient and lacks strategic national coordination. The lack of all-weather rural roads hampers access to logistics hubs and implicitly results in price increases for agricultural products. The agricultural value chain is characterized by weak linkages between value chain actors, as well as insufficient and technologically poor logistics and storage facilities with limited processing capacity. Public investments in agricultural research and development, extension services, and agribusiness development have been negligible. Private sector investments have been limited. Farmers have limited access to advanced agricultural technologies, productive seeds, effective fertilizers and pesticides, and appropriate financial resources and insurance products. 5. The technical assistance (TA) for Enhancing Private Sector Participation in Agriculture will design support measures to increase private sector participation (PSP) in Uzbekistans agriculture and irrigation sector. The remaining scope of the TA will support (i) capacity-building for selected government agencies, including the development of an awareness tool kit to help identify, appraise, implement, and manage PSP and publicprivate partnership (PPP) projects; and (ii) the preparation of the pre-feasibility studies/ concept notes for two to three potential PSP and PPP projects, and other possible government support measures needed to boost PSP in the countrys agriculture and irrigation sectors. 6. As part of this TA, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has engaged various consultants to carry out the initial assessment of the existing environment, key constraints, and opportunities for PSP/PPP development through a diagnostic study that was completed in 2023. 7. Having covered the scope of works for the preparation of the diagnostic study, the ADB now requires support of a firm (herein known as the Consultant) to implement the next set of deliverables of the TA, in which 1) different government entities will receive tailored capacity building training TA Output 2, and 2) detailed PSP/PPP project evaluations will be developed TA Output 3. Objective and Purpose of the Assignment under TA Outputs 2 and 3: 8. The remaining activities under the TA require 9 person-months of international consulting services and 7 person-months of national consulting services recruited through a firm using Simplified Consultants Qualifications Selection (SCQS) procurement method to engage the services of several key experts following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time). 9. The overall implementation period of consultancy services required for completion of Outputs 2 and 3 of the TA is 10 months (March 2024December 2024). The TA will be aligned with the following impact: private sector development in the agriculture sector supported. The TA will have the following outcome: enabling environment for PSP/PPP in the agriculture sector strengthened. Scope of Works: 10. The selected Consultant will: (i) Based on the findings of the diagnostic study: (a) prepare an awareness toolkit for the identification, appraisal, implementation, and management of PSP and PPP projects; (b) conduct 2 tailor-made sector specific trainings in various aspects of PSP/PPP for at least 60 staff of Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, and provincial municipalities. The topics to be agreed with ADB and government stakeholders and can include project finance concepts, fundamental PPP principles and Uzbek PPP legislative framework, etc. (ii) Identify and then prepare Phase 0 project evaluations (prefeasibility study) for at least 3 potential PSP and/or PPP projects. When preparing the evaluations, actively involve concerned government agencies. PSP opportunities to be identified should align with ADBs private sector investment framework and strategy in the agribusiness space. The project evaluations to be developed should follow ADBs Concept Review Form template to enable preliminary endorsement for further due diligence. The potential areas for PSP and PPP development include (i) agricultural value chains; (ii) agricultural research, innovation, and technology transfer; (iii) building, upgrading, and operation of irrigation, market, logistics, and rural road infrastructure; and (iv) delivery of business development services to farmers and small enterprises or other financial support, insurance, or policy instruments. Specific tasks: Capacity Building 1. The Consultant should conduct interviews with government officials to identify main gaps in the understanding of the principles of PSP/PPP in agriculture. Based on the findings and with active engagement of public sector stakeholders, the Consultant should develop a practical toolkit and a training program. 2. The Consultant should organize and deliver at least 2 capacity-building trainings/workshops for staff of Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, provincial municipalities and other relevant government agencies. Project Evaluations 1. Based on the findings of the Diagnostic Study and in consultation with GOU public sector agencies, identify a short-list of prospective PSP/PPP projects across the agriculture sector value chain. 2. Undertake a closer evaluation of the prospective projects (pre-feasibility study level) and make recommendations with regards to project structuring, implementation, and next steps. 3. Engage GOU public sector representatives into this task as part of their capacity building training. Experts: 11. The Consultant should provide at least the following experts who meet the minimum requirements as described below. The Consultant may offer additional experts with complementary skills and expertise to undertake this TA. 1. Agriculture Finance and Private Investment Enhancement Specialist (international, 5 person- months, intermittent) The expert should have at least a bachelors degree in economics or finance, or comparable discipline with strong knowledge of private sector participation in agriculture projects, agribusiness, and value chain development. The specialist should have at least 15 years of experience in the development of PSP and PPP projects related to agriculture, agribusiness, food value chains, and irrigation. He/she should be fluent in English. Strong preference will be given to candidates who are fluent in Russian and/or Uzbek. The specialists key tasks include: a. Provide overall consultant team leadership for supervision and coordination of activities, ensure the high-quality standards of the deliverables; b. Lead and oversee (and contribute in appropriate areas of specialization) TA studies on (a) preparing an awareness toolkit for identification, appraisal, implementation, and management of PSP and PPP projects; (b) capacity development trainings in various aspects of PSP/PPP; and (c) preparation of concept notes (prefeasibility studies) for 2-3 potential PSP/PPP projects. c. Recommend appropriate financing arrangements required to facilitate PSP development in Uzbekistan d. Take responsibility for the finalization and submission to government and ADB of all reports (deliverables) required by the TA; e. Lead the consultant team in the preparation of, consultation on, and finalization of concept notes (prefeasibility study) for 2-3 PSP/PPP projects to be potentially financed by ADB. 2. PPP Infrastructure and Capacity Building Specialist (international, 4 person-months, intermittent) The PPP Infrastructure Specialist should have a bachelors degree in Economics, Finance, Business and/or other related fields with specialized professional experience in PPP. He/she should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in assessing PSP/PPP opportunities in emerging markets; experience in structuring, and executing transactions for infrastructure projects and/or hands-on experience developing and financing PPPs, including structuring, and delivering infrastructure projects with PPP components, preferably in agriculture. He/she should be fluent in English. Strong preference will be given to candidates who are fluent in Russian and/or Uzbek. The specialists key tasks will Tender Link : selfservice.adb.org