SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATED HORTICULTURE, HEALTH AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
RESETTLEMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SERVICES CONSULTANT – PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RESETTLEMENT AND LIVELIHOODS PLANS FOR THE COMMERCIAL IRRIGATED HORTICULTURE PROJECT
Reference No.: SIHHBDP/CIH/C010/QCBS/2026
1. BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), through the Sustainable Irrigated Horticulture, Health, and Business Development Programme (SIHHBDP-PIU) which is mandated to oversee and implement national initiative in irrigated horticulture, health systems strengthening, and business development invites eligible and qualified consulting firms to submit Expression of Interest (EoI) for the provision of consultancy services for Resettlement and Livelihood Services (RLS). This assignment involves preparation and implementation of Resettlement and Livelihoods Plans (RLPs) for Commercial Irrigated Horticulture (CIH) Project in line with the Land Act of 2010 and best international practices in involuntary resettlement and land acquisition.
Specifically, the consultancy will focus on resettlement and compensation activities related to the realignment of agricultural land parcels and acquisition of land for construction of irrigation infrastructure at four proposed scheme sites. In line with the Public Procurement Act 2023, the consultancy will be procured using Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method.
2. SCOPE OF WORK
The Consultant shall provide comprehensive resettlement and livelihood services for CIH Project in accordance with the Land Act 2010, other applicable national requirements, and international best practices especially International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement.
The scope of services shall include, but not be limited to development/updating and implementation of the following:
- Resettlement Policy Framework.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Grievance Redress Mechanism.
- Gender and Social Inclusion Plan – Gender Transformative Approaches.
- Resettlement and Livelihood Planning Process – Census, Socio-economic Survey and Assets Inventory.
- Resettlement and Livelihood Plans – compensation, livelihood diversification and restoration of project affected persons.
3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Interested consulting firms should:
3.1 Request summary scope of work and Submission forms (EOI-1 to EOI-4) by email from [email protected] from the date of this notice to 08 October 2026 at 4:30 pm SAST (GMT+2).
3.2 Fill in the submission forms provided with correct details.
3.3 Attach any additional relevant information as needed.
4. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The assignment shall commence immediately after contract signature and is expected to take approximately sixty (60) months or subject to terms and conditions on duration to be agreed by the Parties.
5. SHORTLISTING CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY
5.1 Shortlisting Criteria
Interested consulting firms should provide information that demonstrates the following key areas:
Organisational Capability
- Description of organizational structure, administrative arrangements and quality assurance systems.
Financial Capacity
The Applicant shall demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to perform the contract without undue reliance on anticipated payments under the contract.
- Audited Financial Statements or certified Financial Statements for the last three (3) completed financial years, prepared in accordance with applicable financial reporting standards.
- The Applicant’s Available Financial Capacity shall be at least USD 1,000,000.00.
- A bank reference letter and/or evidence of an available, confirmed credit facility from a recognised financial institution, confirming the Applicant’s financial standing and access to funding.
General Experience
- 10 years’ experience in resettlement and livelihood restoration planning and implementation for large infrastructure projects that include gender integration.
- At least one assignment should have been conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Relevant Similar Experience
- Demonstrable experience in resettlement planning and implementation involving land parcel reorganization, land acquisition, compensation processes, and the application of gender-transformative methodologies and social behaviour change approaches.
- The Consultant should provide evidence of at least two (2) completed assignments of a similar nature, each undertaken over a period of three (3) years or less, and all completed within the last ten (10) years.
Expressions of Interest shall be evaluated using the above criteria specified in the REOI. Ratings of Poor (1 point); Average (2 points); Good (3 points), and Excellent (4 points) shall be applied.
The minimum qualifying score shall be 12 out of 16 points, which is equivalent to 75%. Only the consulting firms obtaining the minimum qualifying score of 12 points and above shall be shortlisted. Only the shortlisted firms shall be invited to submit detailed Technical and Financial Proposals at the RFP stage.
5.2 Eligibility Criteria
A firm must provide evidence of being legally registered and incorporated in its country of establishment and must be in good standing with the relevant authorities as well as in compliance with eligibility requirements of Public Procurement Act 2023.
6. CLARIFICATIONS
Consultants seeking clarifications for this REOI must email their request for clarifications to the following email address [email protected] on or before 08 October 2026 at 4:30 pm SAST (GMT+2).
Deadline for response for clarification by SIHHDBP PIU will be 09 October 2026 at 4:30 pm SAST (GMT+2).
7. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Submissions should be sent electronically, in password-protected PDF documents, to [email protected] on or before the set deadline. Hand delivered submissions will not be accepted.
The e-mail subject must be:
“Expression of Interest for Resettlement and Livelihood Services Consultant – Preparation and Implementation of Resettlement and Livelihoods Plans for the Commercial Irrigated Horticulture Project – SIHHBDP/CIH/C010/QCBS/2026”
The password for the EoI document should be sent no earlier than 16 October 2026, 12:00 pm SAST (GMT+2) and no later than 16 October 2026, 1:30 pm SAST (GMT+2).
The submission documents must be addressed for the attention of:
The Acting Chief Executive Officer
Sustainable Irrigated Horticulture Health and Business Development Programme
Implementation Unit – SIHHBDP-PIU
3rd Floor Letsie Office Park
Constitution Road
Maseru 100, Lesotho
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
16 October 2026, 1:30 pm SAST (GMT+2)
Late submissions will not be accepted.
SIHHBDP PIU reserves the right to accept or reject any or all EOIs and/or cancel the procurement proceedings at any time and in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2023.
TEL: +266 22315401