Foreign economic-aid-related services

Tender description

DFID is seeking a Fund Manager to manage the Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2 Plus). The Fund will build on the Trade Advocacy Fund (TAF1) which provided on-demand technical assistance to developing countries to participate in trade negotiations. TAF2 Plus will build on the first phase by expanding to include in international investment negotiations, enhanced support in DFID Priority Countries and financial contributions to certain organisations. TAF2 Plus will run for a contracted period of six years with the option to extend by up to a further 24 months with a total programme budget of GBP 16 000 000. The Fund will have four windows: a Negotiation Window (GBP 8 000 000), which will provide short-term technical support to any developing countries during a negotiation; a Strategic Window (GBP 4 000 000), that provides medium to long-term technical support to DFID priority countries prior to, and initially after, a negotiation (such as country level trade analysis and strategy planning); and DFID Country Office window (GBP 500 000) that provides highly technical trade advice. The fourth window, the Institutional Support Window (GBP 1 500 000), will provide financial support to organisations that deliver niche trade and investment-related services. This will be managed under a direct grant arrangement with DFID. The objective of the contract is to establish and manage a demand-led call down facility that provides highly technical trade and investment services. The Outcome Statement is to increase the technical skills and coordination of trade and investment ministries in developing countries. The services will be for the benefit of developing country governments and the citizens of those countries which includes the poorest and most vulnerable. The direct beneficiaries will be government officials and, to a lesser extent, DFID country office staff seeking highly technical trade advice and training. Interested suppliers are now invited to participate in the call to competition which shall follow a 2 stage (Restricted Competition) format commencing with a Pre Qualifier stage following which shortlisted bidders will be Invited to Tender.