Business Advisory Consultant at Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

INTRODUCTION

The Trust is a multi-donor entity jointly founded by the Government of Kenya and the European Union who later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA). Through its vision of being the leading and preferred provider of resources for the development of enterprises, MESPT services are anchored on three (3) pillars namely:

• Green Growth Development
  • Promotion of Resource Efficient, Clean and Climate Sensitive Technologies & Solutions through: sensitization Campaigns, facilitation for efficient Energy, Water &, Waste management and provision of Green Financing debt capital.
• Enterprise Development
  • The provision of wholesale Credit and loan guarantee facilities to financial intermediaries for onward support to micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Value Chain Development
  • An all-inclusive and holistic perspective of agriculture-based value chains is emphasized with a view of enhancing productivity, incomes and sustainability of the Micro-Enterprises as they engage with upstream and downstream stakeholders. Value chain development interventions are selected on a needs basis at different levels (inputs, production, processing, trade, distribution and consumption).

RATIONALE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

Micro Enterprises Support Program Trust (MESPT) has successfully been awarded a grant for $ 100,000 under Feed the Future Kenya Investment Mechanism (KIM) funded by USAID. This is a five-year program with an initial review date of March 2020. Thus, the grant will be used to assist Kenyan enterprises within key regions to access business development services for facilitation of debt finance and investments.

The grant seeks to unlock two key barriers that discourage investors from financing certain segments of the clean energy and agricultural sectors: 1) insufficient quality of business advisory services and 2) Limited availability of tailored financial products.

Grant will be applied to provide business advisory services to enterprises located in or working with suppliers/producers located within the following 17 counties: Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga, Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, Garissa and Wajir.

The enterprises must be dealing in the following qualifying value chains; Mango, Passion, Banana, Avocado, pineapple, sweet potato and African leafy vegetables, dairy, and livestock value chains.

KEY ACTIVITIES

• The consultant will be expected to undertake key activities contracted between MESPT and Palladium International LLC. This includes
• Identification of investment opportunities;
• Liaising with KIM for further investment opportunities;
• Undertaking necessary business advisory services to potential enterprises.
• Draw and share work plan for the business advisory services on quarterly basis.
• Maintain and share progress report per approved templates.
• Identification and engagement of potential financial intermediaries.
• Preparation and submission of financing proposals to financial intermediaries interested in financing the identified enterprises.
• Arrange meetings with officers from financing intermediary to discuss and negotiate the deals.
• Following through and obtaining financial intermediaries term sheets.
• Ensuring advancement of debt or equity to target enterprises by identified financing intermediaries.
• Following up utilization of financing extended to enterprises including monitoring repayments.
• Facilitate for debt restructuring where necessary.
• Assessment of internal management systems of target enterprises to identify gaps for capacity building.
• Undertake financing structure to enhance efficiency- term loans, credit lines, inventory credit and warehousing receipting.
• Place more focus on women led and or youth led enterprises.
• Preparing and presenting requisite monthly and quarterly reports.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant will work closely with team leader- credit department at MESPT. MESPT through credit department will be expected to support the consultant on the following aspects:

• Sharing list of potential financial institutions to engage for financing to target enterprises.
• Vetting target enterprises for business advisory services.
• Sharing list of potential enterprises vetted for further business advisory services.
• Sharing preliminary analysis for each potential enterprise.
• Sharing necessary reporting templates.
• Sharing program guidelines including compensation scales.
• Undertaking joint onsite visits and analysis for each potential case.
• Review and submission of documents to potential financiers
• Follow through on and action on feedback from potential financiers.
• Maintaining program documents and reports.
• Submission of requisite reports to program sponsors within the requisite timelines.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Due diligence Report on critical gaps and proposed solutions/actions on business advisory for identified SMEs. This must include a tentative work plan.
• Documented output on business advisory provided to the identified SMEs.
• Complete credit request proposals to be submitted to potential financiers.
• Monthly and quarterly progress reports per approved templates.
• Report on lessons learnt.

CONSULTANT QUALIFYING CRITERIA

• In-depth knowledge and 5 years’ experience in SME financing.**
• Minimum three years’ experience in design and delivery of business advisory services such as development of business plans and financing/ debt proposals; institutional assessment among other issues.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant business courses

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of Credit and Business Development Manager to deliver and meet the expectations of the target enterprises. The consultant is also expected to work in consultation with the business owners and their technical officers for the achievement of the objective of the assignment. During his/her assignment, the consultant will be provided with all necessary information and support.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

1. A covering letter explaining how your experience addresses the requirements of the TOR
2. CV of consultant to be involved in the exercise with specific cases of business advisory undertaken for the last 5 years with contact details of the beneficiaries
3. Short methodology & workplan
4. National identification card/ valid passport and KRA Pin Certificate
5. Valid KRA Tax compliance Certificate (Individual)**