The Latvian Association of Business consultants in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) organized an information seminar on March 21, 2012, during which the representatives of the EBRD provided guidance and lessons learned on the HOW, DOs and DON’Ts of obtaining consultancy contracts with EBRD and its clients. The sessions covered:

(a)  The EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules (PP&R) for consultancy assignments and the main differences compared to other donors or international financial institutions;

(b)  Getting started and identifying EBRD consultant opportunities;

(c)  Strategies for successful applications and winning contracts;

(d)  A group exercise/case study to apply lessons in practice (assessing an EBRD procurement notice and the strengths/weaknesses of firm’s fictitious expression of interest).

The event was also attended by the ICMCI chairman Francesco D’Aprile. It was found that the workshop presentations focused on consulting services quality and sustainability, which play an important role not only in the EBRD consultants procurements, but the entire industry's reputation.

Further Information on the EBRD can be found here: www.ebrd.com

 In 2011, the EBRD and its clients awarded more than 2,800 consultancy contracts with a total value in excess of €175 million in all fields related to consultancy advice (management, public sector reform, banking, financial institutions, support to SMEs, social development, environment, energy including energy efficiency, transport, legal, IT etc.). The value of contracts increased by almost 30% compared to the previous year. 2011 particularly was a successful year for consultants from the Bank’s countries of operations with the value of contract awards to local consultants amounted to more than €40 million and representing a 50% increase in value compared to 2010.