Funding Opportunities

Request for Proposals (RFP): Informing the Design of a Clean Cooking Delivery Unit in Ghana

Summary 

The United Nations Foundation’s Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is accepting proposals from firms with deep knowledge of the Ghanaian clean cooking sector and its supporting government institutions to complete an assignment to inform the design of a clean cooking delivery unit in Ghana. The assignment will include conducting country-level institutional architecture research, which will be used to understand country specific experiences of delivery units and de-risk the preparation and implementation stage of the delivery unit development process. The firm will also support the development of the delivery unit mandate, provide an options analysis regarding institutional structuring, and provide support to a stakeholder workshop at the 2022 Clean Cooking Forum. 

Background of Assignment 

Government leadership is essential to achieving universal access clean cooking solutions, yet governments face coordination, financing, and capacity challenges that prevent them from achieving their objectives. Accountability for clean cooking outcomes is often spread thinly across ministries and agencies, resulting in a status quo state where clean cooking objectives and investments are not elevated, monitored, and optimized as effectively as they could be. Globally, at least $6 billion of public sector funding per year is required to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030, yet government teams are unable to dedicate the capacity to access international financing.  

The Clean Cooking Delivery Units Network (DUN) is a transformative initiative of the Clean Cooking Systems Strategy that will establish and support Delivery Units (DUs) dedicated to clean cooking within national governments. The DUs will consist of a small team embedded in government with the sole mandate of setting and achieving ambitious clean cooking targets. The DUN provides the funding, technical support, and connections to ensure the DUs are successful.  

The DUN is the ‘backbone’ of wider progress for the ecosystem. The whole ecosystem will benefit from government leadership and action that can i) unlock public and private sector funding, ii) facilitate clean cooking transitions that are equitable, iii) enable markets to function for the private sector, and more. A clear owner for the issue area will empower government leaders to incorporate clean cooking as a critical piece of the country’s climate and SDG agenda, leveraging its cross-sector nature as an asset rather than an inhibitor.  

The DUN will launch an initial pilot with three select countries, but CCA plans to set up DUs in 10+ countries, with an ambition to expand to 25+ countries over time (including half of sub-Saharan Africa). The DUN will operate globally but will have a particularly strong presence in sub-Saharan Africa, where the need for clean cooking investment is most urgently needed.  

Background of Organization 

The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, CCA is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping families save time and money. 

Objective 

The objectives of this assignment are as follows: 

1. Identify, describe and provide lessons learned from existing government-affiliated policy delivery structures in Ghana, as well as develop institutional model options. 
2. Develop content for and provide support to a stakeholder workshop at the Clean Cooking Forum 13 October 2022. 
3. Prepare a draft mandate for a Delivery Unit in Ghana based on a detailed mapping of the sector. 
4. Present feasible institutional structure options in line with the proposed mandate of the DU. 
5. Input, review and contribute to key DUN strategy documents, including decks, MOUs, and other stakeholder materials. 

Scope of Work and Deliverables  

Activity 1: Conducting research on lessons learned from existing government-affiliated policy delivery structures 

• Conduct research to identify, describe and provide lessons learned from existing government-affiliated policy delivery structures in Ghana. Structures of interest include delivery units, project implementation units, special purpose vehicles under a ministry, policy coordinating units, long-term consultants or contractors, autonomous policy advisory units, long-term secondment arrangements.  
• Assess the feasibility of 6 potential institutional model options for a DU with respect to Ghana-specific constraints and risks related to both the ability to successfully establish the DU and its ability to complete its mission. Constraints and risks can be legal, political, financial, administrative or operational.  Institutional features to describe should include: 
  • Origin  
  • Legal status 
  • Host institution  
  • Governance structure and decision-making processes  
  • Management structure  
  • Funding and cost-sharing (if any) model  
  • Legal basis / contractual relationship / partnership agreement / partner roles and responsibilities  
  • Personnel recruitment modalities  
  • Processes (e.g. work planning, budgeting, workflows, procurement, financial management, performance management, quality management) 
  • Political context  
• Assess country-level risks related to a draft MoU that codifies all expected arrangements 
• Deliverable:  
  • Report on lessons learned from similar structures in Ghana 
  • Institutional Model Options Analysis 
  • Country risk assessment 

Activity 2: Support for Stakeholder Workshop at Clean Cooking Forum  

• Develop content for and provide support (potentially involving in-person support) to DUN stakeholder workshop at the Forum, to take place on October 13, 2022 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra. This would incorporate content developed for Activity 1, and/or Activity 3 depending on progress by the time of the Forum. 
• Deliverable: 
  • Summary report/deck on findings to date from the deliverables specified other Activities  

Activity 3: Preparing Draft Mandate for the Delivery Unit 

• Conduct market research to support the development of the draft Delivery Unit mandate. The supporting market research should include: 
  • A mapping of all clean cooking stakeholders in the country, their roles, their programs and projects, and their relationships  
  • An overview of active donors and funding pools relevant to clean cooking 
  • An understanding of the detailed roles of government staff working on clean cooking and how the relate to and interact with one another 
  • A detailed list of all draft and current national strategies, plans, legislation and regulations related to clean cooking which includes key points of interest (e.g. activities, budgets, timelines, targets, implementing bodies) 
  • A list of the government’s main clean cooking priorities  
  • A detailed list of government priorities that are not yet supported by the implementation of programs, plans, policies, regulations or standards  
  • A description of the clean cooking capacity and capabilities within the government and of its ability to develop and implement policies effectively 
  • A stakeholder vision for a high-performance clean cooking ecosystem  
  • A detailed list of gaps and opportunities in the clean cooking ecosystem  
  • An overview of the current state of the clean cooking market  
  • A plan for the DU’s first year priorities co-created with the government and other stakeholders  
• Develop draft mandate based on the market research and stakeholder consultations and vet across critical stakeholders 
• Deliverable: 
  • Background market report with all sections incorporated as outlined above 
  • Draft mandate, and how it relates to the mandates of existing government units 

Activity 4: Developing feasible institutional structure options 

• Create an option analysis of feasible institutional structure options in line with the mandate of the DU prepared under Activity 3. Each option should include pros and cons and the following details: 
  • Legal status  
  • Host institution 
  • Governance structure and decision-making processes  
  • Management structure  
  • Funding and cost-sharing (if any) model  
  • Legal basis / contractual relationship / partnership agreement / partner roles and responsibilities  
  • Personnel recruitment modalities  
  • Processes  
• Deliverable: 
  • Options Analysis 

Activity 5: Generalized Support to Delivery Unit Development 

• Input, review and contribute to key DUN strategy documents, including decks, MOUs, and other stakeholder materials.  

CCA has already engaged with several Ghanaian-based individual consultants over the course of the preparation phase. CCA may engage one of these individual consultants to support the work of the winning firm on the ground and review and input into the key deliverables.  

Project Period of Performance 

This assignment will be performed between September 2022 – February 2023  

Technical Requirements 

Firms should have the following experience: 

• Understanding of the clean cooking sector in Ghana 
• Experience conducting research on institutions as well as institutional design and analysis 
• Knowledge of delivery units and/or experience designing or restructuring a government institution within the proposed team is required 
• Previous experience conducting market analysis and developing options analysis 
• Existing relationships with Ghana market stakeholders, including investors, development partners, foundations, etc. engaged or interested in the clean cooking sector that can inform the desk research and design 
• Experience authoring innovative and strategic reports for the sustainable development sector 

Selection Timeline 

Budget 

A detailed budget in US Dollars must be submitted with the proposal. Budget should include both pre-tax and net of tax values. The budget should include direct costs (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Sub-Agreements, Equipment, Supplies, etc.), as well as indirect costs (overhead). For indirect costs, please indicate a list of expenses covered by the indirect rate. For all direct cost, please include assumptions that were made to arrive at line item costs (e.g. 2 trips @ $1,500/trip = $3,000 or 20 staff hours @ $40/hour = $800). 

If a bid has a mathematical discrepancy, CCA may correct the discrepancy and notify the Consultant of the adjustment. In such circumstances, the Consultant may choose to withdraw their bid.  

The budget should not exceed 80,000 USD. 

Evaluation Process 

The Clean Cooking Alliance will review all written proposals and may request a phone or in-person interview and/or updated submission to address questions or provide clarification. CCA will use the following criteria in our evaluation.   

Intent and disclaimer 

This RFP is made with the intent to identify a Consultant to deliver results as described in this RFP. UNF/the Clean Cooking Alliance will rely on the Consultant’s representations to be truthful and as described.  The Clean Cooking Alliance assumes it can be confident in the Consultant’s ability to deliver the product(s) and/or service(s) proposed in response to this RFP.   

If the Clean Cooking Alliance amends the RFP, copies of any such amendments will be sent to all respondents to the proposal. 

Proposal Guidelines and Requirements 

• This RFP is open to multiple partners and is a competitive process. 
• Proposals received after September 6, 2022, 5 pm EST will not be considered. 
• The price provided should be in US dollars, and should contain both pre-tax and net of tax values. If the process excludes certain fees or charges, the applicant must provide a detailed list of excluded fees with a complete explanation of the nature of those fees. 
• CCA prefers a single point of contact who manages deliverables. If the execution of work to be performed by the Consultant requires the hiring of sub-contractors, the Consultant must clearly state this in the proposal. Sub-contractors must be identified and the work they will perform must be defined. Subcontractors are subject to vetting and approval of UNF/CCA.  
• CCA will not refuse a proposal based upon the use of subcontractors; however, we retain the right to refuse the sub-contractors you have selected. 
• Provisions of this RFP and the contents of the successful responses are considered available for inclusion in final contractual obligations. 

Format for Proposals 

Proposals must include applicant signature as well as a signed declaration form. Proposals must include the full legal name of applicant, as well as legal formation and ownership structure (e.g. incorporation certification, tax status and ID, etc.).  

Contracting and Compliance 

CCA will negotiate contract terms upon selection. A copy of the contract terms and conditions will be provided upon selection. All contracts are subject to review by the UN Foundation’s Business Services and Budget Reporting team. The project will start upon the complete execution of the contract. The contract will outline terms and conditions, scope, budget, and applicable flow down terms. Selected recipient(s) must comply with CCA, United Nations Foundation, and funder compliance requirements. The selected recipient(s) must also undergo detailed legal, financial, and commercial due diligence. 

Release 

The Consultant understands that the Clean Cooking Alliance has chosen to solicit an RFP for consulting services, and that the Consultant’s response does not guarantee that the Clean Cooking Alliance will enter into a new contract with the Consultant or continue any current contract(s) with the Consultant. 

The Consultant agrees that Clean Cooking Alliance may, at its sole discretion: 

• Amend or cancel the RFP, in whole or in part, at any time 
• Extend the deadline for submitting responses 
• Determine whether a response does or does not substantially comply with the requirements of the RFP 
• Waive any minor irregularity, informality or nonconformance with the provisions or procedures of the RFP 
• Negotiate with all Consultants UNF deems acceptable 
• Issue multiple awards 
• Photocopy the responses for evaluation/review 

This RFP is not an offer to contract.  The Clean Cooking Alliance assumes no responsibility for Consultant’s cost to respond to this RFP. All responses become the property of the Clean Cooking Alliance. 

The Consultant, by submitting a response to this RFP, waives all right to protest or seek any legal remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFP.  

The Consultant represents that it has responded to the RFP with complete honesty and accuracy. If facts provided in the Consultant’s response change, the Consultant agrees to supplement its response in writing with any deletions, additions, or changes within ten (10) days of the changes. The Consultant will do this, as necessary, throughout the selection process. 

The Consultant understands it may receive proprietary and confidential information from the Clean Cooking Alliance during the RFP process (“Confidential Information”).  The Consultant and CCA agree to not use Confidential Information for any purpose other than the Consultant’s participation in the RFP process, and to not reveal Confidential Information directly or indirectly to any other person, entity, or organization without the prior written consent of the other party. The Consultant and CCA further agree to exercise all reasonable precautions to maintain the proprietary and confidential nature of Confidential Information where it can best demonstrate its value and capacity to delivery ecosystem-wide, meaningful value.  

Grounds for Exclusion 

Material misrepresentations, including omissions, may disqualify the Consultant from a contract award. 

Submissions will be rejected in the Clean Cooking Alliance’s sole discretion if it finds that the Consultant has engaged in any illegal or corrupt practices in connection with the award. 

The Consultant will be excluded from participation for the reasons below. By submitting a proposal in response to the RFP, the Consultant confirms that none of the below circumstances apply: 

• The Consultant is bankrupt or being wound up, is having their affairs administered by the courts, has entered into an arrangement with creditors, has suspended business activities, is subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations. 
• The Consultant or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a final judgment. 
• The Consultant has been found guilty of grave professional misconduct; proven by any means which CCA can justify. 
• The Consultant has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established, or within the United States of America, or those of the country where the contract is to be performed. 
• The Consultant or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organization or money laundering by a final judgment. 
• The Consultant makes use of child labor or forced labor and/or practice discrimination, and/or do not respect the right to freedom of association and the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining pursuant to the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

Principal Point of Contact 

Sonja Heiles is the primary point of contact for this assignment. Please reach out to strategy@cleancookingalliance.org with any questions.  

Submission Details 

Please submit any questions and/or proposal materials related to the Request for Proposals to strategy@cleancookingalliance.org with the subject line “Proposals for Design Ghana Delivery Unit.”  

The deadline for submission is September 6, 2022 at 5 pm EST.