Expression of Interest (EOI)

Training of Trainers on International Trade in Services Categories and Sampling Techniques for Trade in Services Data Collection.

Reference Number: 83486187

Publication date: 02.04.2025

Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

Contents

• General Information. 1
• Tender requirements. 4
• Personnel Concept Requirements.4
• Quantitative requirement 5
• Conceptual methodology. 6
• Requirements on the format of the tender 6

1. General Information

Brief information on the project

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy, and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

Through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany currently provides technical support to the African Union Commission (AUC), specifically to the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, with its project “African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”. The project’s main objective is to strengthen the framework conditions for intra-African trade. Besides the outstanding topics of AfCFTA Phase I on Trade in Goods and Trade in Services, phase II and III issues, such as Investment, competition policy, Intellectual Property Rights, and digital trade are supported. Furthermore, the involvement of the private sector and civil society is supported.

To this end, the project pursues a multi-level approach on the continental level working with the AUC DTI and AfCFTA Secretariat, at the regional level supporting Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the national level, specifically in the project focus countries, like Rwanda.

Context

With the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) , The services sector is a significant contributor to Rwanda’s economy, accounting for 49% of GDP as of Q3 2024. However, the collection of reliable Trade in Services (TIS) data remains a challenge due to methodological gaps, resource constraints, and limited technical expertise. Unlike merchandise trade statistics, which are well-established and standardized, TIS data require enhanced capacity for effective collection and analysis.

To address these challenges, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), in collaboration with the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) and other stakeholders, aims to strengthen technical capacities through a two-phase training program:

• Training of Trainers on International Trade in Services Categories
• Tailored Training on Sampling Techniques for Trade in Services Data Collection

The training will equip participants with advanced skills in international trade in services concepts and effective sampling methodologies to enhance data collection, analysis, and reporting. This will ensure robust and credible data to support policy decisions, trade negotiations, and economic planning.

Objectives.

The primary objective is to enhance the capacity of trade statisticians and researchers in applying international trade in services methodologies and sampling techniques for effective data collection and analysis. Specifically, the training will:

• Strengthen understanding of international trade in services concepts, definitions, and data sources.
• Introduce best practices for sampling methodologies, including probability and non-probability techniques.
• Address challenges in TIS data collection, such as non-response bias and small sample sizes.
• Enhance skills in using statistical tools for trade-in services analysis.
• Improve coordination among institutions involved in TIS data collection and analysis.

Tasks to be performed

The contractor is tasked to Design and implement the training program in two phases:

Phase 1: Training of Trainers on International Trade in Services Categories.

• Introduction to Balance of Payments (BOP) concepts and definitions.
• Overview of Trade in Services (TIS), including categories and classifications.
• Understanding the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and Extended Balance of Payments Services Classification (EBOPS).
• Sectoral analysis of key service sectors (finance, ICT, transport, education, professional services).
• Review of regulatory and institutional frameworks governing trade in services.
• Training methodologies for capacity building and knowledge dissemination.

 Phase 2: Tailored Training on Sampling Techniques for TIS

• Introduction to TIS data collection methodologies and key data sources.
• Fundamentals of sampling techniques: probability vs. non-probability methods.
• Designing sampling frameworks: sample size determination and stratification.
• Addressing non-response bias and improving data completeness.
• Advanced estimation techniques for extrapolating sample results.
• Hands-on practical exercises using statistical software for sampling analysis

The contractor is responsible for providing the following key deliverables.

1. Inception Report – Detailed methodology, training materials, and schedule.
2. Training Modules – Comprehensive training content for both phases.
3. Training Sessions – Facilitate training workshops, ensuring active participation.
4. Practical Exercises – Hands-on activities and case studies for participants.
5. Final Training Report – Summary of sessions, feedback, and recommendations.
6. Training Certificates – Issuance of completion certificates to participants.

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Period of Assignment

GIZ shall hire the contractor for the anticipated contract term, from 1^st June 2025   to 30^th December 2025. The assignment is expected to be implemented within 40 days period between 1^st June 2025 and 30^th September 2025. The assignment requires physical presence in Rwanda (Kigali) as the assignment implies consultations with relevant stakeholders during training materials and physical /onsite Training workshops. These milestones, as laid out in the table above, are to be achieved within the contract period.

Tender requirements

Personnel Concept requirements

The tenderer is required to propose personnel for the positions specified here and described with respect to the areas of responsibility and qualifications based on relevant CVs.

The below specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.

Senior Consultant 1: Trade in Services Expert

• Education: Master’s degree in economics, international trade, international business, trade law, competition policy, or any other related field.
• Language: Business fluency in English C1.
• General Professional Experience: 8 years of experience in trade in services, including its concepts, principles, modes of supply, and trade policy related to services.
• Specific Professional Experience: 8 years of experience in analysing and evaluating trade in services policies, including the Balance of Payments (BOP), General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and Extended Balance of Payments Services Classification (EBOPS). Strong expertise in conducting sectoral analysis of key service industries such as finance, ICT, transport, education, and professional services. Experience in assessing regulatory frameworks and institutional structures governing trade in services, as well as designing capacity-building methodologies for knowledge dissemination.
• Regional Experience: 7 years of experience in the regional trade landscape in Africa, with a strong understanding of Rwanda’s service sector regulations and their alignment with AfCFTA and other regional frameworks.
• Development Cooperation (DC) Experience: 5 years of experience working on development projects, preferably with international organizations, development agencies, or consulting firms. Expertise in capacity-building initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and results-based management in trade policy development.

Senior Consultant 2: Sampling & Statistical Analysis Expert

• Education: Master’s degree in statistics, economics, or a related field.
• Language: Business fluency in English C1.
• General Professional Experience: 8 years of experience in statistical analysis and sampling methodologies.
• Specific Professional Experience: 8 years of experience in designing and implementing sampling techniques for trade in services data collection, including probability and non-probability methods, sample size determination, and stratification. Strong expertise in mitigating non-response bias and ensuring data completeness. Extensive experience in applying advanced estimation techniques for extrapolating sample results and conducting hands-on statistical software analysis for data interpretation.
• Regional Experience: 7 years working with African trade institutions, with a deep understanding of Rwanda’s statistical landscape and trade data requirements.
• Development Cooperation (DC) Experience: 4 years working on capacity-building initiatives in trade statistics, preferably in collaboration with international organizations, development agencies, or consulting firms. Experience in providing technical training on data methodologies to policymakers and statisticians.

2. Quantitative requirement

Per-diem allowances are reimbursed as a lump sum up to the maximum amounts permissible under tax law for each country as set out in the country table in the circular from the German Federal Ministry of Finance on travel expense remuneration (German only).

 GIZ Input.

GIZ will directly convert the costs of logistics for Focused group discussions or validation workshops if held physically. This includes only the hotel conference packages.

3. Conceptual methodology.

The tender should indicate how the services outlined in the Tasks and deliverables sections (above)are to be provided. Reference should be made to the following criteria:

Strategy (1.1): The contractor is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services. Following this, the contractor presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (Tasks to be performed).

The contractor is required to present the actors relevant to the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The tender is required to present and explain its approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and its contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The contractor is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) (1.4.2).

The tenderer is required to describe its contribution to knowledge management for the partner (1.5.1) and GIZ and to promote scaling-up effects (1.5.2) under learning and innovation.

Project management of the contractor (1.6) The tenderer is required to explain its approach to coordination with the GIZ project.

 4. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToR. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept should be organized in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English (language).

The complete tender must not exceed 4 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in English (language).

Financial Bid: Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter; Quantitative requirements.

Submission of offer: The Expression of Interest should contain the following:

Technical Proposal:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical Proposal (attached template for technical proposal MUST be used)
• Company registration certificate (RDB)
• VAT-Registration Certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate
• Up to date CVs of proposed experts
• Self-declaration of eligibility

Financial Proposal: Financial offer indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs as described in the specification of inputs.

Your EoI has to be submitted in 2 separated emails to RW_Quotation@giz.de until 17/04/2025

1.The technical offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: Technical offer 83486187

2.The financial offer has to be submitted in PDF format and the price must be in Rwandan Francs and VAT excluded (if applicable) and as attachment to the email with the subject: Financial offer 83486187

If the emails exceed the default email size of 30MB, offers can be exceptionally submitted through https://filetransfer.giz.de/

Offers submitted through any other sharing platform, as google documents or similar will not be considered.

Offers submitted in hard copy will not be considered.

GIZ reserves all rights.

Annex:

• Technical Proposal template
• Technical assessment grid
• Self-declaration of eligibility