Egypt: Cairo Integrated Transport Project - Inclusion Component

Project Description:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or the "Bank") is considering providing a number of sovereign loans to the Arab Republic of Egypt ("Egypt") and (secured) loans to private sector Concessionaires, with potential co-financing of other commercial banks /IFIs. The intended investments in Cairo's urban transport system target the improvement of functionality, quality, and efficiency of high-capacity public transport services. This is expected to include:

· Cairo Metro Line ll, (i) the purchase of a total of 13 air-conditioned train sets (8 wagons per train) to be operated on Cairo Metro’s Line II and (ii) a portion of the long-term outsourced maintenance contract for Line II’s entire fleet covering mainly spare parts and equipment

· Cairo Metro Lines V and VI, financing of the future metro rail infrastructure development.

· Cairo Bus Sector Reform Project, of 500 clean CNG buses and related depot investments.

· Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) PPP, constructing segregated bus lanes within the existing road right of way.

· Nile Ferry PPP, for the modernisation and expansion of the existing ferry service in Cairo.

· Heliopolis Tram Modernisation, a comprehensive light rail investment programme in Cairo consisting of two operations.

For the EBRD, economic inclusion - the opening up of economic opportunities to previously under-served social groups - is integral to development. In Egypt, youth unemployment currently stands at over 28 per cent, and 33 per cent of young people are not in education, employment or training. Inclusion Component TC assignment is intended as part of the Bank’s Integrated Approach ("IA") to the Greater Cairo’s urban transport sector. The projects will introduce youth inclusion through inclusive procurement: The projects under the IA are expected to achieve positive inclusion impact for young people by opening up on-site training opportunities as part of the maintenance contracts to be awarded by individual clients under the IA. This on-site training will complement existing local vocational training provision and lead towards the achievement of an accredited vocational skill certificate. The tender documentation will include a requirement (on a best effort basis) to make available on-site training placements as part of a partnership with local vocational schools and job centres. Systemic impact will stem from the piloting, optimising and introduction of these inclusive procurement practices in the Egyptian context over the course of the projects under this IA in close dialogue with the new Ministry for Technical and Vocational Education in Egypt (MoTET) and other relevant stakeholders.

Assignment Description:

The EBRD is seeking to engage an experienced technical consultant to assess and substantiate the potential inclusion impact of the Project, to develop a bespoke inclusion action plan for at least four projects, to support each client in the implementation of this plan and to draw on lessons learned and best practice throughout this process. Furthermore, the assignment will focus on creating systemic impact by initiating and maintaining an effective dialogue with Egypt's Public Procurement agency to test the model developed by this project and optimise it for future use.

The Consultant's tasks will be structured around the following objectives:

Objective 1: Establish the number of jobs and on-site training opportunities that will become available as part of the maintenance contracts across the different IA projects.

Objective 2: Provide a short overview of current international industry standards and best practice and establish a baseline for Egypt in relation to local hiring and on-site training opportunities (including vocational training standards) targeted at young people in related sector. Compare these to current practice in Egypt and outline related gaps.

Objective 3: Develop a clear inclusion methodology and bespoke action plans for (at least four) projects under the IA, involving key stakeholders (Client(s), relevant ministries, the National Procurement Office, vocational training institutions, job centres, main international and local contractors and sub-contractors and other relevant stakeholders) to open up on-site training opportunities (and related future employment opportunities) to young people. The methodology should go beyond current practice in the infrastructure maintenance industry in the country (The reference to “maintenance” includes all those companies typically involved in infrastructure maintenance including, inter alia, engineers, technical specialists, project managers, quantity surveyors, etc. ). Drawing on models of international best practice, the bespoke action plans should clearly reflect and respond to the specific circumstances and requirements of the construction industry and other local stakeholders in Egypt so as to be relevant and effective in that context. Each action plan also needs to include cost models and specific recommendations as to how to integrate the inclusion component within the overall Project design and delivery plan. The scope for an event , potentially supported by the EBRD, gathering these players to present the objectives, understand better respective positions and receive feedback from industry representatives should be presented.

Objective 4: Project delivery, capacity building and monitoring support to the client throughout Project implementation. This should include (i) specific technical support to the client and key stakeholders (specifically contractors, job brokerage agents and training providers) to ensure the effective implementation of the inclusion methodology; and (ii) capacity building to the client and relevant stakeholders, (iii) ongoing impact monitoring (including the numbers or young women and men trained, skill levels achieved, and – where possible - future progression) to establish the impact achieved to identify lessons learned and recommend actions to optimise the methodology.

Objective 5: Direct engagement with the National Procurement Office in Egypt to integrate similar inclusive procurement models across other areas of public procurement in the country in order to achieve wider systemic impact.