Consultancy Services for an Independent verification agent (IVA) for 6 DLIs — Uganda Learning Acceleration Program (ULEARN)

Republic of Uganda REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) COUNTRY: UGANDA PROJECT: UGANDA LEARNING ACCELERATION PROGRAM (U-LEARN) CREDIT NO. 7779-UG and GRANT NO.: C8807 ASSIGNMENT TITLE: CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO UNDERTAKE INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OF PROJECT RESULTS UNDER THE UGANDA LEARNING ACCELERATION PROGRAM (U-LEARN) REFERENCE NO . MOES-ULEARN/SRVCS/2026-2027/00011 DATE OF ISSUANCE OF REOI: 23rd September 2026 The Government of the Republic of Uganda through the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has received financing from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of the Uganda Learning Acceleration Program (ULEARN), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for hire of an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) to conduct independent verification of results for the Uganda Learning Acceleration Program (ULEARN). The consulting services (“the Services”) include; (i) Conducting independent verification of the achievement of all eligible Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) and Disbursement Linked Results (DLRs) under ULEARN, (ii) Verification of results across the program implementation period, including document reviews, field verification, validation of reported data, assessment of compliance with agreed verification protocols, and confirmation of the achievement of results in accordance with the Financing Agreement, Programme Appraisal Document (PAD), Verification Protocol, and Project Operations Manual (POM). The verification shall cover all implementing entities, beneficiary institutions, and geographic locations relevant to the DLIs being assessed. The IVA shall produce independent verification reports that confirm the extent to which the DLRs have been achieved. These reports shall provide a direct basis for the World Bank's assessment of DLR achievement and the corresponding disbursement recommendations under the Program. The Independent Verification Agent (IVA) shall be engaged for the duration of the ULEARN Program implementation, expected to until run 30th June 2030 subject to satisfactory performance, continued need for the services, and availability of funding. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.education.go.ug or can be obtained at the address given below. The Ministry of Education and Sports now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: The firm shall meet the following minimum requirements: At least ten (10) years of demonstrated experience in conducting independent verification, performance audits, Program evaluations for Government institutions. Demonstrated experience in at least three (3) assignments involving verification or evaluation of large-scale education, infrastructure, or public sector Programs within the last ten (10) years. Proven experience in verifying results under Results-Based Financing (RBF), Program-for-Results (PforR), Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs), or similar performance-based financing mechanisms is highly desirable. Experience working on projects financed by the World Bank, African Development Bank, or other multilateral development partners will be an added advantage. Demonstrated capacity to deploy a multidisciplinary team comprising experts in education, engineering, procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeguards, monitoring and evaluation, Information and Technology and data management. (Please do not submit CVs and bio data of experts). Capacity to undertake nationwide field verification and quality assurance. Demonstrated experience in the use of digital data collection platforms (e.g., KoboToolbox, GEMS, ODK, Survey123, or equivalent) capable of capturing geo-tagged photographs, GPS coordinates, and date/time stamps. Experience implementing similar assignments in Uganda or the East African region or Sub-Saharan Africa will be an added advantage. Demonstrate high standards of professional integrity, independence, confidentiality, and quality assurance, and shall have no actual or perceived conflict of interest in relation to the implementation of ULEARN Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, and should indicate clearly in the Expression of Interest (EOI) whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 hours, except on public holidays). Expressions of interest ( One original plus three copies ) must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by courier, or by e-mail) by 1100 hours on 21st October 2026 The packages must be clearly marked “ Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for Independent Verification of project results under the Uganda Learning Acceleration Program (ULEARN)” Address: The Permanent Ministry Ministry of Education and Sports Attn: Mr. Milton Ndyamuba Head Procurement and Disposal Unit King George VI Way, Embassy House, 3rd Floor, Room 3.7 Kampala, Uganda E-mail: milndy2004@yahoo.com and Wturyamubona@gmail.com copy to rashidahn360@gmail.com