PROGRAM DESIGN

for the

Bangladesh Better Business Forum (BBBF)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)

About IFC

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives.

About IFC BICF

The IFC Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund targets a better operating environment for businesses. The program is managed and executed by the IFC, the private sector development arm of the World Bank Group, and is funded by the U.K.’s Department for International Development and the European Union. Its objectives are consistent with the Bangladesh government’s strategic vision for private sector development within its poverty reduction strategy. Government agencies and IFC BICF—in close collaboration with the Bangladeshi private sector and civil society—jointly design and implement programs to institute business friendly policies, laws and regulations, and strengthen the institutions that implement them.

About the Bangladesh Better Business Forum (BBBF)

IFC BICF has been requested by the Government of Bangladesh to help establish a formal platform for sustained dialogue between the public and private sectors. Such public-private dialogue played a crucial role in the design phase of IFC BICF, where senior Government and private sector officials cooperated extensively in the development of several investment climate related interventions focused on regulatory reform, economic zones and capacity building of Government officials. IFC BICF would like to build upon the successes of this experience by establishing the Bangladesh Better Business Forum to ensure that both the public and private sector continueworking together to develop and carry out initiatives that willimprove the investment climate in Bangladesh.

Scope of Work

An indicative, but not exhaustive, list of scope of work is as follows:

  • Developing a business plan, logical framework and indicators to measure success of the Forum
  • Determining potential membership of the BBBF and composition of the various working groups
  • Analyzing options for the initialSecretariat

Minimum Qualification Criteria and Eligibility of Bidders:

  • Experience and capabilities to engage in and facilitate dialogue between the public and private sectors in Bangladesh
  • Experience developing business plans, logical frameworks and monitoring and evaluation indicators
  • Familiarity with the Public Private Dialogue Handbook (DFID, WB, IFC, OECD)
  • Knowledge of international best practices in public private dialogue
  • Experience working on PSD and investment climate issues in Bangladesh

IFC BICF now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing their 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). Bidders are highly encouragedto associate with other consultants/consulting firms to enhance their qualifications.

The expected commencement date of the assignment is October 2007 depending on the consultant's availability. The work will take place over the next 12-24 months.

Interested candidates may obtain further information at the address below. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by 6 September 2007. Only short-listed firms will be contacted.

For further information, please contact IFC BICF at the following address.

Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund

International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group

United House, 10 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

E-mail: