MTF Energy Survey in Zimbabwe

SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) Electronic Submissions through WBGeProcure RFx Now ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW Assignment Title: MTF Energy Survey in Zimbabwe Assignment Countries: Zimbabwe ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION The Electricity Sector Management Assistance Program of the World Bank (ESMAP-World Bank), in consultation with multiple development partners, developed the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) to monitor and evaluate energy access by following a multi-dimensional criterion for energy access.1 The MTF redefines energy access by replacing the traditional binary count with a multi-dimensional definition as “the ability to avail energy that is adequate, available when needed, reliable, of good quality, convenient, affordable, formal, healthy and safe for all required energy services across households”. Based on the definition, the MTF approach measures energy access provided by any technology or fuel at different levels. Energy access is measured in the tiered spectrum, from Tier 0, indicating no access, to Tier 5, the highest level of access (Bhatia and Angelou 2015). Grounded in the MTF, a global energy survey was developed to capture countries’ energy access situations. By 2023, ESMAP-World Bank carried out an energy survey examining households, communities, and enterprises in 33 countries to establish each country’s baseline to measure progress towards the universal energy access goals. At the same time, ESMAP-World Bank in collaboration with the World Bank Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) programm has assisted national governments (in particular, energy authorities and statistical offices) in building capacities to use the framework and gather data in the future (e.g., through integrating an MTF module into the upcoming periodic national household surveys.) The energy survey is essential for capturing the current energy access status, assessing household energy affordability, estimating electricity demand, and understanding the off-grid solar and clean cookstove markets from demand and supply perspectives. Findings from the study will guide electrification prioritization, promote productive use of electricity, and offer insights for future government subsidy interventions, especially regarding off-grid solar solutions and clean cooking solutions. LSMS–World Bank intends to engage a consulting firm to conduct energy survey activities and related capacity building in Zimbabwe. The assignment will be conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, energy agencies and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTATS) and with technical assistance from the LSMS team. Other key stakeholders will be involved as needed. The consulting firm will be responsible for designing and implementing energy access surveys covering households, communities, public institutions (education and health), and enterprises. This includes reviewing and adapting survey questionnaires and CAPI scripts to each country's context, conducting market research on energy products and services, and developing a qualitative methodology to assess the supply side of the off-grid solar and clean cookstove market. The firm will design a nationally representative sampling strategy in coordination with national statistical offices and the World Bank team, and will manage all aspects of fieldwork, including enumerator recruitment, training, and supervision. Prior to data collection, the firm will submit an inception report detailing the methodology, fieldwork plan, and sampling strategy. Data collection will be carried out using tablet-based CAPI technology, with robust quality assurance mechanisms in place throughout. Upon completion, the firm will deliver clean, fully documented datasets and a market assessment report on off-grid solar and clean cooking, incorporating feedback from the World Bank and relevant government entities. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase. Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through WBGeProcure RFx Now NOTES Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selec