Request for Information (RFI) for

Approaches to Promoting Innovation and Inclusion in the Tunisian Water Sector

1. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Government of Tunisia, through the Tunisian Ministry of Development, Investment and International Cooperation (MDIIC), are developing a Compact program with a proposed activity called Demand Management and Improved Productivity (DMIP).

The DMIP project is based on proposals from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries (MARHP in French) which focus on the rehabilitation/modernization of public irrigated perimeters (IPs) in the four Interior governorates of Kairouan, Sidi Bouzid, Kebili and Tozeur.

The objective of the DMIP project is to achieve efficient and sustainable use of scarce groundwater resources while also increasing the incomes of its users.  The project is composed of three subcomponents: 1) Policy and Institutional Reform (PIR) which will initiate reforms that will improve overall management of groundwater resources; 2) Small and Medium Water Infrastructure which aims to increase the efficiency of water delivery and ensure stable provision of irrigation services to water user associations (WUAs) on IPs without increasing overall abstraction; and 3) Promotion of Innovative and Inclusive Technologies which aims to incentivize private investment with the goal of increasing the economic value of water (irrigation or potable) and improving livelihoods for users.

2. Purpose of the RFI

The Compact between MCC and the Government of Tunisia endeavors to create a project to support Activity 3, Promotion of Innovative and Inclusive Technologies.

In this context, MCC and the Government of Tunisia request relevant actors to propose ideas or concepts that strengthen the activities of the DMIP project to contribute to the increased economic productivity of water resources in the selected governorates.

Submitted ideas and concepts could eventually receive financial support through a competitive bidding process, once the compact is signed.  The submissions will aide in developing the parameters, conditions, and operational features of the financing mechanism.

Parties submitting concepts may be contacted from time to time if and when solicitations are published under a future Compact between the MCC and the Government of Tunisia. Proposers will received a generalized reflection and summary of the concepts so as to enable them to better prepare their proposals at the appropriate time.

3. Background

The DMIP project will target four governorates, including Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid in the Center West region and Kebili and Tozeur in the Southern region.  In the Center West region, water supply is met through a combination of surface water through a network of dams and groundwater sources.  In the Southern region, water supply comes predominantly from practically non-renewable groundwater sources.   These governorates have unique characteristics and agricultural production systems that will require adaptive solutions and hypothesis testing to ensure that the proposed interventions are appropriate.  Even so, irrigated perimeters within these four governorates suffer from similar challenges, such as aging infrastructure, which leads to inefficient water use and variable levels of water loss, low levels of intensification, and poor demand management through inefficient and underperforming organizations (GDA).  These organizations also suffer from poor governance and lack external support and financial means by which to improve their management.  This leads to poor and insufficient maintenance of irrigation systems.  In addition, from a social perspective, the general absence of women in leadership roles is problematic and reinforces existing gender inequality.  This leads to inadequate maintenance of the irrigation systems. Also, on the social side, the lack or low participation of women in the leadership roles of these GDAs is problematic and reinforces gender inequality.

4. Thematic Areas of Focus

It is important to note that this activity focuses on the promotion of new models of water governance that create investment opportunities and bring in the private sector to manage and increase the productivity of water.  Therefore, this call for ideas also seeks ideas that improve the governing framework and sustainability of water resources in the target zone.  In addition, this activity focuses on infrastructure improvement, environmental sustainability, and inclusive approaches to promote better access to economic opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized populations.  This Request for Information also seeks to encourage innovations that improve overall water productivity.

Applicants are encouraged to develop ideas and concepts that encompass one or more of the following areas, including but not limited to:

• Water-efficient technologies, quality improvement, or drainage systems, etc.
  • Pump efficiency, conveyance networks, and final distribution
  • Leak and water loss detection
  • Smart irrigation
  • Ultra-efficient water application equipment
  • Small water treatment facilities
  • Improved drainage systems
  • Reuse of drainage water
  • Remoting sensing and monitoring of water systems
  • Innovative approaches to use geothermal waters (cogeneration, new cooling approaches …)
  • Innovative cropping techniques
  • Other ideas
• Administrative and management support mechanisms for GDAs and CRDAs
  • Services or platforms aimed at improving management and services provided by GDAs and SMSAs to their members
  • Adapted or improved water metering technologies
  • Accessible agricultural extension services
  • Electronic payment services for water user fees
  • Increased participation of marginalized groups, including youth and women, in GDA management
  • Other ideas
• Groundwater monitoring systems
  • Real-time data measurement, analysis, and dissemination
  • Other innovative technologies or ideas related to this theme
• Opportunities to improve gender and social inclusion in water use
  • Innovative services and methods to improve women’s and youth involvement in water decision making and governance
  • Projects that provide income earning and economic opportunities to women and youth around water efficiency, conservation and smart agriculture
  • Water saving technologies and services championed and led by women and youth organizations and/or primarily benefitting such groups
  • Projects that address informal work in agriculture
• Other investments that increase water productivity in the four governorates with the vision of improving water productivity, incomes: including activities that encourage increasing the value of agricultural products:
  • Post-harvest loss reduction
  • Value-add opportunities
  • Storage, transport, and marketing
  • Development of local products
  • Other ideas
• Behavior change communication tools
  • Techniques for sensitizing populations on the scarcity and efficient use of water
  • Tools to encourage water efficient practices
  • Other ideas
• Diversification of economic activities outside of agricultural production
  • Opportunities through the regional economic development plans focusing on sectors with low water footprints
  • Opportunities for diversification that create economic opportunity and jobs for women and youth outside agriculture
  • Promoting agri-tourism
  • Preservation of cultural heritage
  • Ecosystem protection 
  • Artisanal opportunities with respect to the use of agricultural by-products
  • Other non-agricultural activities

5. Eligible Organizations

This Request for Information is open to all domestic and international institutions that are equipped to propose an idea or concept within the mentioned investment themes in the four target governorates within the DMIP project.  Eligible organizations could include, but are not limited to:

• Private sector businesses such as agro-dealers, engineering and equipment firms, management support groups (private or public) linked to water management, IT and data management providers, etc.
• Non-governmental organizations
• Professional associations or unions
• Chambers of Commerce and domestic or international industry groups
• Community-based organizations (communes, regional councils, etc.)
• Advocacy groups focused on gender, youth, and social inclusion,
• Companies headed by women or youth
• Organizations representing women and youth, particularly those focused on improving their economic opportunities
• All other entities concerned in general or in part with the thematic areas of focus

Please ensure that all communications includes the following information:

• Company Name:
• Contact Person Name and Title:
• Address:
• Telephone Number:
• Fax Number:
• Contact's Email Address: 

6. Instructions

The following information is requested in this Request for Information:

• Status (type of organization) and contact information for submitting entity
• Brief description of the problem to be addressed
• Proposed solutions
  • Thematic areas of focus covered by the idea or concept
  • Implementation plan and timeline
  • Sustainability of the proposed idea or concept following the provision of requested resources
• Expected results
  • Feasibility of the proposed solution within the local context
  • Alignment with DMIP project objectives to improve the management of groundwater resources and improve beneficiary livelihoods
• Estimated financing/cost
• Geographic targeting and beneficiary analysis
• Gender and social inclusion aspects
  • Positive societal impacts of proposed idea linked to reduced inequalities

We encourage submissions of concepts or ideas to be concise and conform to the requested format, attached to this call for ideas (4 page limit). 

All questions regarding this solicitation shall be directed to the following email address no later than November 29, 2019:

[email protected]

All submissions in response to this Request for Information shall be sent to the following email address no later than December 6, 2019:

[email protected]

NOTES:

Issuance of this RFI does not constitute any obligation whatsoever on the part of the Government of Tunisia to procure these services or to issue a solicitation. Government of Tunisia is neither seeking proposals nor accepting unsolicited proposals, and responses to this RFI cannot be accepted as offers. Any information the consultant or supplier considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. Government of Tunisia will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI.

DISCLAIMER: THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS RFI, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL: [email protected].