REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENDOWMENT FUND  

1.   BACKGROUND 

The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) is a regionally owned institute currently with 13 member countries: Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.   The Secretariat is in Harare, Zimbabwe. MEFMI was founded with the view to build sustainable capacity in identified key areas in ministries of finance and/or planning and central banks, or equivalent institutions.   MEFMI strives to improve human and institutional capacity in critical areas of macroeconomic and financial management. The Institute delivers its products and services through courses/workshops for professionals, seminars for senior professionals, retreats for heads of departments/divisions, executive fora for top executives, and country missions.  These products and services are delivered in all 13 member states on a rotation basis 

2.   SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

2.1       Goals of the Endowment FundMEFMI is considering setting up of an Endowment Fund to cushion it against unforeseen decline in donor funding especially during recessions.There are three purposes of the MEFMI endowment fund: 

1. Help maintain operating independence – MEFMI is currently about 50% donor funded with the balance coming from member countries. A decline in donor funding would cause a significant problem if there is no fallback position.  A reliable cash flow from an investment portfolio can keep the business going during such periods of shocks.
3. Provide operational stability – MEFMI relies on funding from its financial partners based on 5-year cycles/phases. These funds may not be renewed or their availability may decline at the end of a cycle. An endowment fund would release some of the pressure to continually find new funding sources or to have another fund raising campaign.
5. Provide a margin of excellence – an endowment would enable the Institute to do some of the things it otherwise would not be able to do. For example, the Institute would be able to attract world-class experts to carry out its capacity building mandate because of the facilities and packages it would offer.

 2.2       Scope of work 

The project can be divided into two parts: Field interviews and data collection 

1. - Member states
2. - Financial donors
3. - Other similar endowment funds
4. - Collecting any relevant data and information

 Modalities of establishing such an endowment fund         

 i.            Feasibility of establishing a MEFMI Endowment Fund       

 ii.            Criteria for member states contribution     

 iii.            Determination of initial capital base     

 iv.            Options for investment      

v.            Place of investing the fund     

vi.            Mechanism for administering the fund   

vii.            Period of accumulation of the fund  

viii.            Location of fund and  investment portfolio    

ix.            Sustainability of  the fund

3.       EXPECTED OUTPUTS

 a)       Power Point presentations to management, Executive Committee and Donors;b)       Prepare and submit a report on the proposed endowment fund 

3. 1  SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL 

a)       MEFMI invites eligible Consultant(s) with requisite expertise in providing the above-mentioned services. The Experts/Consultant(s) should demonstrate knowledge and proof of expertise in the area of consultancy. 

b)       The proposal from eligible Consultant(s) should include the following information as a basis for pre-qualification: §  Submit both electronic and hard copy of proposal§  Statement of relevant experience i.e. similar assignments executed in/under execution in the last five years.§  Measurable goals and objectives§  Methodology §  Appendix: Documentation such as CVs.  

c)        The duration of the consulting services.  

d)       The Consultants will be selected in accordance with the MEFMI tendering procedures. 

e)       Interested consultants should submit a written expression of Interest of not more than ten (10) pages in a sealed envelope clearly marked “PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE CONSULTANCY SERVICES  

f)        PROPOSALS should be delivered not later than 16:00 on 31 May 2010 at the address below; 

The Executive

DirectorMacroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa

12^th Floor SSC Building, Cnr. Julius Nyerere Way/Sam Nujoma St.

P O Box 66016 KOPJE

Harare

ZIMBABWE 

Email: capacity@mefmi.org  

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.