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: China South-South Investment Diagnostic and Seed Program
Assignment Countries:
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION
China has become a major source of cross-border investments over the past decade, with Outbound Direct Investment (“ODI”)overtaking Foreign Direct Investment totaling US$163 billion in 2022,accounting for around 11% of global outflows of capital and ranking second globally. Chinese companies seek overseas expansion for organic growth of existing business and for diversification. They invest in emerging markets through various regional connectivity programs like the Belt and Road Initiative. Private capital is increasingly driving these investments.
IFC MAS team in Asia has invested in projects under the China South-South investment theme over the past years and has accumulated knowledge, experience, and clients. Built on the success of the past while aiming higher, the team is ready to do more to keep supporting Chinese companies for its global expansion. On the other hand, the evolution of global geopolitical and financial environment brings new challenges, uncertainties, and complications to such investments for IFC and its clients, which requires amore systematic and strategic approach.
Against the backdrop of the above, the China South-South Initiative and a working group was set up in IFC MAS Asia with dedicated team and internal resources to implement the strategy. The China South-South working group is led by IFC MAS Asia management team and comprised of experienced team members based in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It targets to work with external partners to development new client relationships and investment mandates related to China South-South investments with special focus on (i) green manufacturing, (ii) food security, (iii) resilient healthcare, and(iv) circular economy (“Priority Sectors”).
IFC is looking to select a consulting firm (the “Firm”) with experience in conducting research and advising on China South-South investment activities to carry out the assignment. The objective of this assignment is to achieve following deliverables within 6 months implemented through 2 phases.
Phase I: Market Scoping and Mapping (October
2024 - November 2024)
1. Deep dive
into historical China ODI data and major transactions to understand drivers,
challenges, active sponsors, relevant policies, and trends.
2. Identify
the key trends and challenges in China South-South investments. Create a
framework of solutions.
3. Integrate
IFC additionality and product offerings with the framework of solutions to
tailor for IFC clients.
4.
Screen and maintain an updated list of major
players (defined by company size and importance by IFC team) in each of the
Priority Sectors.
5.
Create report and presentation based on the
key findings and framework of solutions for knowledge sharing.
Phase II: Capacity Building and Value Creation (November 2024 - March
2025)
6.
Arrange face to face meetings with key
decision makers of at least [60] Chinese companies (excluding IFC own contacts
and existing clients and companies that meet minimum investment criteria of IFC)
in IFC MAS sectors with near-term/mid-term financing needs (especially China
South-South investment needs) to emerging markets where IFC operates.
7.
Contribute to at least [2] IFC organized conferences/events
focusing on China South-South by inviting at least 20 senior executives from
Chinese companies each time.
8.
Facilitate the establishment and growth of
strategic relationships with IFC prioritized companies and results measured by
IFC signing at least [5] investment mandates.
Scope of Work
1. 1. China South-South Market Study
Activity
Details
1. Detailed analysis of historical China ODI
and major China South-South transactions
a)
Review of past 5-year China ODI flows, including major drivers, challenges,
active sponsors, relevant policies, and trends
b)
Zoom-in analysis of China ODI flows in key South-South destinations and
MAS sectors (to be identified together with IFC)
c)
Forecast ODI flows and trends over the next 5 years and identify priorities
by destination and sector
2. Identification
of challenges and framework of solutions
a)
Review of the major challenges faced by Chinese companies when considering
cross-border investments, including but not limited to regulations and
policies, legal and financial structuring, access to financing, local market
competition, identifying local partners
b)
Deep dive into [5] case studies with focus on challenges and solutions
especially on the financing side
c) Identify areas of potential IFC additionality
and product offerings (together with IFC team) to tailor for potential IFC clients
d) Form a framework
of solution incorporating generic solutions and IFC financial and
non-financial additionalities
3. Identification
of potential IFC clients
Consulting Firm to work with IFC working group to
develop potential client pipeline.
a) Identify addressable
market for IFC including a longlist of names based on in-depth understanding
of IFC investment criteria
b) Shortlist companies with
potential financing needs
c) Recommend outreach strategy for shortlisted companies
The consultant
is expected to provide Interim Reports to IFC every 3 months and a Final Report and Presentation to IFC before
closing this assignment to present results of this engagement.
2. 2. Company
Engagement and Connection
Work with IFC team to first set up a
target company screening framework where a full list of criteria that encompasses
IFC investment principles regarding factors including but not limited to integrity
due diligence, commercial and financial characteristics, ESG, and Paris
Alignment. The consultant is expected to first demonstrate full understanding of
IFC investment principles before starting to engage with potential Chinese
companies.
The consultant is expected to connect
IFC to at least [60] new companies in total through face-to-face meetings. The
consultant will be present in each of the meetings if required by IFC and
facilitate the discussion for strategic relationship building and investment
mandates discussion. Progress of company engagement will be report to IFC team
every months for review.
1.
3. Support IFC for South-South Investment Events
The consultant is expected to support
IFC team in preparing at least [2] China South-South Investment Events in the
form of either closed-door conferences with access only to invited
clients/potential clients, or open investment forums whichever decided by IFC. The
consultant’s contribution will focus on promoting these conferences to target
companies and invite at least [10] senior executives, ideally CEO, CFO, or
VP/SVP in charge of decision making on overseas investments, to the conference.
The consultant is expected to have
come up with a list of potential conference attendees which are new potential
clients to IFC. The consultant will conduct surveys related to clients’ topics
of interest related to the upcoming conference and provide feedback to IFC
organization team to facilitate better preparation. Separate introductory meetings
will be arranged by the consultant during the conference as needed by IFC team.
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 selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No notification or debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.
If you encounter technical difficulties while uploading documents, please send an e-mail to the Help Desk at corporateprocurement@worldbank.org prior to the submission deadline.