Consultancy Services to Provide Business Development Services and Technical Support

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia: SME Finance Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

NAME OF PROJECT: Small and Medium Enterprises Finance Project (SMEFP)

Project ID: P148447

Credit No.:  IDA 68640

Reference No.: ET-MOI-327920-CS-QCBS

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services to Provide Business Development Services and Technical Support

The Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Small and Medium Enterprises Finance Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) is to provide a Business Development Services (BDS) in setting-up proper and sustainable BDS landscape in Ethiopia which include:

• Undertaking desk research, scoping visits and baseline assessment
• Identify business management skill components, carryout need assessment and prepare training packages & modules,
• Develop training manuals and guidelines for the use of e-commerce marketplace,
• Provide capacity building training to different federal and regional institutions,
• Identify potential BDS providers for outsourcing trainings to SMEs,
• Prepare guidelines, training manuals, modules and directives to lay the foundation for sustainable BDS,
• Advertise & market benefits of BDS to SMEs and potential Clients,
• Arrange exposure visit for SMEs,
• Provide BDS trainings across major cities in Ethiopia,
• Organizing profile of SMEs

The entire assignment is expected to be completed within a period of 24 months after contract signing.

The SMEFP housed at the Ethiopian Enterprises Development 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. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The following criteria will be used to assess the Expression of Interest documents;

• Company Establishment [regarding its Areas of Expertise, Core Business and Year in the Business]
• Technical and Managerial Organization of the firm
• Number and diversity of permanent personnel related to the service, Business Management and Development Experts, Entrepreneurship Expert, Marketing Management Expert, Experts in Textile/Garment, Metal and Wood Technology & Agro-Processing, etc.
• Experience: completed service projects on providing Business Development and Management Services including baseline and need assessment, business matchmaking and facilitating business linkages, assistance on e-commerce marketplaces and digital marketing, preparation and delivery of trainings, preparation of guidelines, advertising and marketing services, preparation of country level training manuals, modules and directives for BDS landscape in the last ten years.
• Familiarity, Knowledge and Experience in the region (in Ethiopia and other Sub Sahara Countries) is an advantage.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the consultancy assignment and further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm -5:30 pm local time, Monday through Friday.

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” July 2016, Revised November 2017 and August 2018, and updated November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly 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 method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 4:00 PM on July 03, 2023.

Ethiopian Enterprises Development

Attn: Yemenzwork Girefie, PIU Coordinator of SMEFP

Ras Abebe Aregay Street, Around Mexico Square, in front of Wabe Shebelle Hotel

P.O. Box 1463

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Building Block A, 1st Floor, Room Number 4

Tel: +251-115-58-50-56 / +251-115-51-11-22/ +251-115-53-04-27

E-mail: smefp2023@gmail.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia