Consultancy services to undertake a needs assessment along the Dar-es- Salaam Corridor and the hinterland in Zambia.

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MINISTRY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) TRANSPORT CORRIDORS FOR ECONOMIC RESILIENCE (TRACER)

Project ID No: P180801

Procurement Reference Number: ZM-MSMED-535867-CS-QCBS

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO UNDERTAKE A SOCIAL-ECONOMIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT ALONG THE KAPIRI MPOSHI TO NAKONDE SECTION OF THE DAR ES SALAAM CORRIDOR IN ZAMBIA AND THE HINTERLAND. The Government of the Republic of Zambia has received funding from the World Bank (WB) to undertake consultancy services to undertake a Socio-Economic Needs Assessment along the Kapiri Mposhi to Nakonde section of the Dar es Salaam Corridor in Zambia and hinterland under the Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience (TRACER) Project. The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development is implementing the Corridor Oriented Development (COD) component under the TRACER Project. The TRACER Project aims to improve year-round transport and trade connectivity between Zambia and Tanzania and expand economic activity along a selected stretch the Dar-es Salaam Corridor in Zambia. The aim of the COD component is to assess the socioeconomic development opportunities along the corridor and unlock its potential, allowing the study to explore and maximize broader interventions for a greater developmental impact. These include areas that facilitate and complement large public and private investments aimed at increasing production and enhancing regional trade. Possible areas include for example, Agri-business logistics and value chains, tourism, and trade activities. The implementation of activities under this component will be guided by the assessment and will complement to the extent possible, other Bank-financed projects in the agriculture, tourism and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)-based industry and trade. The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, a procuring entity intends to apply a portion of proceeds of these funds to eligible payments under the contract for which this REOI is issued. Payments by the Bank will be made only at the request of the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and upon approval by the Bank, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement for the Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience (TRACER) project. The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, the procuring entity, now invites consulting firms ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the required Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The assignment will be completed within 10 and half (10.5) months, which includes the period for the required review and acceptance of the outputs by the Client and the World Bank. The assignment is expected to commence in the fourth (4th) quarter of 2026. The selection criteria required to demonstrate qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services include: Description of similar assignments previously undertaken in the last five years (should include the year, amounts involved, names of