ILO SCORE IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme

Terms of Reference for Implementing Partners to participate in the 2023/24 ILO SCORE Programme, implemented by the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI)

With support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and within the framework of the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” (brand name: Invest for Jobs), another phase of the ILO SCORE programme is implemented in partnership with MDPI. Hence, the services of other SCORE implementing partners are needed to contribute to the implementation of this programme.

 1.    Management Development and Productivity Institute

The MDPI is a subverted Agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR). The Institute was established on 26 October, 1967 under a joint Ghana Government, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Project. The MDPI replaced its forerunner, the National Productivity Centre (NPC), which had been established in June 1964 as part of the then Planning Commission. Legislative Instrument (LI) 1077 of 2 July 1976 incorporated the MDPI as a parastatal. The Institute was formally handed over to the Ghana Government by the UNDP and ILO in 1977 when the joint sponsorship ended.

Mission Statement:

The Mission Statement is to promote increased productivity in both public and private organizations, primarily in Ghana, to enable them to contribute to the growth of the economy on a sustainable basis.

Vision:       

The Vision is to be a market leader in productivity improvement strategies development and the promotion of best management practices.

 Objectives:

The three main objectives of MDPI are as follows:     

  • To embark upon practical aspects of training and problem solving with a view to building up managerial capacity and promoting increased productivity;
  • To offer consultancy services to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness;
  • To conduct macro-micro economic studies, enquiries and research to determine suitable management techniques and practices to improve and develop the standard of management in all

2.    ILO SCORE Programme

The SCORE Programme is an ILO Development Cooperation Programme that promotes productivity, competitiveness, and decent work in emerging economies. It is to assisting governments, industry associations and trade unions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to develop export and domestic industrial sectors, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Its main intervention is SCORE Training, a practical training and in-factory consulting programme that improves productivity and working conditions in SMEs. SCORE Training demonstrates best international practice in the manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

SCORE is delivered through a combination of a joint classroom training for managers and workers as well as in-factory consultancy led by industry experts. The consultancy visits are a unique element of the training methodology that ensures that classroom learning is put into action in the workplace.

3.    ILO SCORE in Ghana

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is promoting measures to support investment activities in Africa. In Ghana, GIZ has been implementing “Invest for Jobs”, a 6-year project (2019-2025), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). The project seeks to identify and remove investment barriers in cooperation with companies and investors for economic growth as well as to create more and better jobs.

The goal of the project is to create jobs and improve working conditions, by

  • Building a more enabling environment for investment by European enterprises in Ghana;
  • Increasing the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana;
  • Improving the business ecosystem for selected sectors.

The second goal of the project presents opportunities for synergies from a collaboration between GIZ and MDPI/ILO to offer support to increase productivity and strengthen competitiveness of SMEs in Ghana, thereby creating decent jobs and participating in global business partnerships.

In August 2021, GIZ and MDPI signed a memorandum of understanding to sponsor the ILO SCORE programme. With support from the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” (Invest for Jobs), MDPI successfully implemented the programme under a grant agreement with GIZ. During this phase, a total of 60 SMEs were trained in SCORE modules and 30 micro enterprises were also trained in Business Continuity Planning modules in Greater Accra, Western and Central regions.

Between September 2022 and May 2023, the phase II of SCORE was organised. In all, 74 growth-oriented SMEs (out of 206 initial applications received) with high job-creation potential in different sectors including manufacturing, hotel and tourism industries in Ghana received the SCORE Training with the aim of improving their productivity through resource efficiency, cleaner production and best practices in workplace organisation, cooperation, and safety. Unlike previous years, the training was implemented in 5 instead of 3 administrative regions in Ghana: Greater Accra, Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti. Eastern and Ashanti were the 2 new administrative regions.

4.    ILO SCORE 2023/24

4.1  Overview

Following the successful implementation of the 2022/2023 programme, it is now expanded to additional SMEs and administrative regions (Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Savannah and Northern) as well as other potential sectors to boost productivity and ultimately create decent jobs in Ghanaian SMEs. SCORE trainings for SMEs are expected to start in November 2023.

MDPI is calling for application from individual consultants and entities in Greater Accra, Western/Central, Ashanti/Ahafo, and Eastern Regions to participate in the 2023/24 SCORE Programme.

4.2 Objectives

The objective is to strengthen Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises through training and exchanges with SCORE experts. This will support the growth of the Ghanaian industry and create strong partnerships with ILO Ghana, GIZ, MDPI and other implementing partners.

Main goals are job creation, improvement of working conditions and company growth by strengthening SMEs for regional and international markets especially with the coming into operations of the AfCFTA.

4.3  Methodology and deliverables

The ‘SCORE Short Course’ will be the main module to be adopted by all implementing partners and is made of the following:

  1. Driving for change in your enterprise
  2. Involving everybody through 5S
  3. Communication in your enterprise
  4. Fair HR policies for better workplace management
  5. Enhancing productivity
  6. Measuring workforce improvement
  7. Taking action
  8. Quality first
  9. Safety at work
  10. Productivity through cleaner production
  11. SCORE for climate

Practices related to green economy and green recovery will be encouraged by the SCORE Training, by covering resource efficiency and cleaner production topics. Plastic waste recycling enterprises will be encouraged to apply for selection into this year’s project to help improve the ecosystem of various administrative regions.

Baseline assessment is conducted to identify current training needs. Baseline assessment consists of a visit by a trainer (consultant) to the enterprise to observe the work environment, interact with management and workers, collect basic information on the enterprise, and complete a checklist on some key performance indicators.

Baseline assessment is followed by 3 days of classroom training, facilitated by SCORE trainers. Four to six enterprises are trained together, and each enterprise is represented by four participants comprising two managers and two workers. A participatory approach is adopted in the delivery of the classroom training to impart knowledge and skills. A combination of tools, such as Power Point presentations, discussions, group exercises, games and audio-visual materials, make SCORE Training delivery engaging. As part of the training process, participants are assisted to generate innovative ideas for improving their enterprises. These ideas are later converted into Enterprise Improvement Plans (EIPs) with timelines for implementation in the enterprises. This initiative is led by an Enterprise Improvement Team (EIT) that is established to lead all improvement activities in the enterprise.

After the 3-day classroom training and preparation of the Enterprise Improvement Plan (EIP), coaching visits begin. 4 coaching visits are made to each participating enterprise over a period of two months to support implementation of improvement activities. Coaching visit 1 is conducted to follow up on the proposed EIP and identify additional ideas or opportunities for improvement. Coaching visits 2, 3 and 4 assess the progress of implementation of the EIP and give assistance where enterprises are having challenges.

Deliverables

Timeliness

Scouting of enterprises

September – November 2023

Selection of qualified enterprises

8th November 2023

Identification of suitable venue for training

6th – 15th November 2023

Training of enterprises

15th November – 29th February, 2024

On-site coaching of enterprises

November 2023 – 30thApril 2024

Reporting

November 2023 – 30thApril 2024

All tasks should be worked on in close collaboration with the MDPI Team, including regular feedback and exchange.

4.4 Duration

The project duration is 6 months, starting from November 2023. Additional two months will be used for end of project activities, e.g., certification ceremony.

5.    Eligibility criteria

  1. Consultants should have registered companies.
  2. Consultants must be ILO certified SCORE trainers (SCORE modules 1-3 and / or short course).
  3. In case of hospitality trainers: Consultants must have been trained in Hospitality coaching (HoCo) and must be ILO certified trainers for at least 2 years.
  4. Consultants should have participated in the ILO SCORE Programme for at least one year.
  5. Consultants should be prepared to accept working outside of their own regions.

All consultants, both entities and individuals, who meet the above requirements are invited to apply to participate in the ILO SCORE 2023/24 Programme via the MDPI link https://www.mdpi.gov.gh/ilo-score-implementing-partners/.  Bidders are expected to provide details on their approach to implementation. They are expected to give an overview of names, qualifications, and experiences of SCORE trainers. Trainers’ CVs and the implementing partner’s registration need to be attached to the bid.

DEADLINE: 8TH NOVEMBER, 2023

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER