Beschreibung der Beschaffung
Output 4 of the project PSDE aims to strengthen the private BDS market in Ethiopia, notably by improving the quality of the services offered by Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) for MSMEs. Selected BDSPs will be enabled to offer high-quality and needs-oriented consulting services. They will be qualified to professionalize their services and obtain international certification. The demand for the improved services will be enhanced through the introduction of a voucher scheme to provide support to businesses to access certified BDS.
Scope of the Assignment:
The overall objective of this assignment is to implement an essential part of output 4
The main work packages of the contractor are:
Work package 1: Evaluation of existing studies on BDS and BDSPs
The objective of this work package is for the contractor to conduct an initial assessment by conducting a desk review of existing studies that assess the competency of current BDSPs (see the local study currently underway as part of the project). The contractor will meet with and learn about existing initiatives and identified BDSPs to confirm capacity building needs and develop a roadmap for qualifying selected BDSPs.
Work package 2: Awareness raising for BDS among businesses, (potential) BDSPs and other actors, with particular emphasis on regions
The goal of this work package is to create awareness for BDS among businesses, potential BDSPs and other actors, with a particular focus on selected regions in Ethiopia. To this end, success stories of businesses having engaged with BDSPs shall be created. The contractor shall also work out incentives for professionals to become (full-time) BDSPs. The work package also includes awareness raising measures for BDSPs and MSMEs (with a particular focus on women-owned/ - led businesses).
Work package 3: Strengthen women-led BDSPs
The objective of this work package is to motivate, encourage and build the capacities of women-led BDSPs. For this purpose, the contractor shall identify women-led BDSPs and access their challenges and needs. The work package also includes the conduction of awareness raising programs on benefits of running a BDSP as well as the identification and presentation of role models in the BDSP industry. Capacity building interventions to prepare selected women-led BDSPs for certification (work package 4) as well as the integration of additional trainings into the certification activities on topics such as negotiation, etc. are also part of the assignment. All selected women-led BDSPs are to receive additional mentorship and coaching support.
Work package 4: Training and certification of management consultants
The objective of this work package is to develop a training package that addresses the capacity building needs of BDSP identified in work package 1. To this end, the contractor will identify certification institutes to allow the selected BDSPs to acquire an international certification standard. It is expected that the contractor will conduct the training in conjunction with the certification body to provide the BDSPs with the skills they need to be successfully certified.
The certification standards shall cover BDS in the following areas: business management and development, financial management, technical development, and technology-oriented / digital transformation. Within these categories, special emphasis should also be placed on: business linkages, business continuity management, resource and energy efficiency, investment planning and management, access to financial services, and digital transformation.
In addition to the promoted services, the capacity building programme must include soft skills trainings for BDSPs.
Work package 5: Promote the visibility of Ethiopian BDSPs in the market
The goal of this work package is to support BDSPs to gain visibility in the Ethiopian market by establishing a directory of BDSPs and a user-friendly web portal. Similar portals are expected to be benchmarked. The directory and web portal will be developed with stakeholder needs in mind. In addition, the contractor will develop promotional material for BDSPs and provide trainings for BDSPs on how to present and promote themselves. The portal shall be inaugurated in the presence of various stakeholders.
Work package 6: Development of tailored voucher system (VS) for BDS
The objective of the work package is to support the establishment of a BDS voucher scheme for MSMEs, SGBs and start-ups to promote the use of BDS. Global best practices from developing countries will be compiled and evaluated against various criteria such as financing mechanisms, types of vouchers, criteria for granting support, etc. A detailed concept of a voucher scheme for the BDS supported under this assignment shall be developed and a suitable local partner (or partners) identified for implementing and managing the scheme. The initial financing of the voucher system will be provided by GIZ (outside of this contract). The contractor shall support the local partner to set up the voucher scheme and build the partner"s necessary capacity to effectively implement the voucher system. The contractor's tasks also include finding possibilities for a commercial cost recovery system to sustainably anchor the voucher system in the ecosystem.
Work package 7: Twinning of MSMEs with BDSPs
The goal of the work package is to build long-term relationships between BDSPs and MSMEs. To this end, the contractor shall first identify mechanisms to match BDSPs with MSMEs. Subsequently, the MSMEs shall be enabled to participate in these matchmaking mechanisms. It is envisioned that the contractor will organize various formats of matchmaking to bring BDSPs and their users together. Assisting MSMEs and BDSPs in identifying funding mechanisms, ideally using the voucher system, is also part of the work in this work package. At the end of the project, 20 partnerships between BDSPs and their users are expected to emerge.