Provision of Business Development Services, Mentorship and Coaching in Mandera Consultancy at Danish Refugee Council

Objective of the Consultancy

• To support this goal, the project intends to engage a qualified Business Development Services (BDS) Provider Consultancy firm to mentor and coach Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) youth in Mandera. The consultancy will focus on building the entrepreneurial and business management capacity of participants, enabling them to develop and manage profitable and sustainable enterprises.
• The consultancy will focus on equipping VSLA groups and TVET youth with the necessary skills, knowledge, and networks to:
• Develop and implement comprehensive business plans tailored to their ventures.
• Access structured markets and value chains for their products and services.
• Improve operational efficiency through innovative technologies and effective management practices.
• Enhance their business acumen to navigate market dynamics and improve competitiveness.
• Establish sustainable production and marketing models for business growth and scalability.
• Improve access to financial services including savings, credit, insurance etc
• The proposed consultancy aims to empower Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) youth in Mandera by building their entrepreneurial and business management capacities. By equipping participants with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to develop comprehensive business plans, access structured markets, adopt innovative technologies, and enhance operational efficiency, the initiative seeks to foster the establishment of profitable and sustainable enterprises. This approach is designed to improve market competitiveness, create scalable business models, and promote long-term economic growth in the region.

Scope of Work and Methodology

• The consultant will provide tailored mentorship and coaching services to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of VSLA groups and TVET youths. The scope of work includes:

Inception Phase:

• Review project documents, including market analysis and baseline reports, to understand participants' current capacities and gaps.
• Conduct in-person co-creation meeting to identify key training and mentorship areas.
• Develop performance improvement plans for the VSLAs and TVET which will be used to track change in their capacity.
• Provide on the job mentorship and support to these groups based on the individualized gaps identified
• Submit an inception report detailing the methodology, work plan, performance improvement plan and tailored training modules.

Training and Mentorship Phase:

• Provide business development training and mentorship on the following topics:
• Development of individual fundable business plans
• Business management and planning
• Costing, pricing, and financial management
• Strategic Communication and product branding, including social media marketing.
• Deliver personalized mentorship and coaching to address specific needs of individual enterprises or groups.
• Help them adopt Market research techniques and marketing strategies to facilitate linkages with market actors, including financial institutions and service providers, to improve access to resources and market networks.
• Support participants in value addition and innovation to enhance product and service quality especially for the honey value chain.
• Risk management and quality improvement

Access to Finance:

• Map formal financial institutions (FFIs) offering financial products relevant to VSLAs and TVET youth.
• Facilitate engagements with FFIs to identify realistic financial products aligned to the participants' needs and facilitate linkage of the VSLA and TVETs to the FFI
• Train participants on accessing and managing financial services, including loans, savings, and digital financial platforms

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework to track participants' progress.
• Provide periodic progress reports highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

Deliverables

• Based on the detailed scope of work outlined for the assessment, the key deliverables for the consultant or consultancy firm conducting the assignment include:

Inception Report:

• A comprehensive report outlining the findings from the need’s assessment, methodology, and work plan, along with tailored training modules and performance improvement plans for the VSLA and TVET youth.

Interim Reports:

• A report detailing the training conducted, and mentorship sessions delivered, including:
• Training content and Samples of fundable business plans developed by the VSLA groups and TVET youth.
• Success snapshots, impact stories, or success stories highlighting outcomes from the mentorship and coaching sessions.
• Profiles or geo-maps of private sector actors identified for linkage purposes and a list of the linked participants.
• A comprehensive list of participants reached, areas of mentorship along with progress updates on mentorship activities. These reports should be presented and pitched to the PMU for review and approval.
• Identification and documentation of critical success factors for Business Development Services (BDS) mentorship interventions within the context of the tri-border region.

Final Report:

• A comprehensive and detailed final report that encompasses:
• Critical Success Factors: An in-depth analysis of the key elements contributing to the success of BDS mentorship interventions, tailored specifically to the socio-economic dynamics of the tri-border region.
• Stakeholder Feedback: A summary of feedback gathered from stakeholders, including participants, private sector actors, and community representatives, highlighting their perspectives on the effectiveness and relevance of the mentorship interventions.
• Achievements: A clear presentation of tangible outcomes achieved, such as:
• Number of participants who successfully developed fundable business plans.
• Number and nature of linkages established between VSLAs, TVET youth, and private sector actors or financial institutions.
• Documented impact stories or case studies demonstrating the transformation of participants’ business ventures.
• Enhanced skills and knowledge demonstrated by participants in business management, marketing, and financial practices.
• Challenges: An honest account of the challenges faced during the mentorship and training phases, including logistical, cultural, or systemic barriers, and how these were addressed or mitigated.
• Recommendations: Strategic insights and actionable recommendations for enhancing future interventions. These may include scaling up successful strategies, addressing identified gaps, and fostering sustainable partnerships.
• The report should also include supporting annexes, such as:
• Samples of business plans developed by the VSLA and TVETs
• Samples of financial business records kept by the VSLA and the TVETs.
• Geomaps of the mapped out private sector actors at the borderlands for strengthened linkages and partnership with the VSLA and TVETs.
• A pitching session should be organized to present the final report to DRC Kenya and the BORESHA PMU for input, validation, and approval. This session will ensure alignment with programme goals and provide a platform to share lessons learned for future planning.

Duration, Timeline, and Payment

• The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 90 working days
• The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 30th May 2025. This is subject to change based on the co-creation/kick-off meeting.
• The payment schedules will be as follows:
• 30% upon approval of the inception report
• 40% upon submission of the interim report
• 30% upon approval of the final report

Proposed Composition of the Team

• The team composition will be agreed upon in detail during the co-creation/kick-off meeting. However, firms are advised to propose the desired team needed to achieve the objectives of this consultancy. However, we expect to have the Project manager/team Leader, Field supervisors and Coaches/mentors.

Project Manager/ Team Leader (Full time)

• The key expert proposed for the position of project Manager/ Team Leader must have A bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Management, Marketing, Economics, or a related field. The firm team lead should possess at least 10 years of demonstrated experience in business mentoring and coaching, especially for youth and women initiatives, knowledge of market systems development approaches, proven expertise in business planning, financial management, and marketing. Hs/She should possess strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills. Should have experience working with community-based organizations and in cross-border contexts. Familiarity with the socio-economic dynamics of Mandera and the broader borderlands region. Knowledge of ILO start and improve your business (SIYB) and grow and expand your business (GEYB) and mentoring approaches

Field Supervisors (Full Time-3)

• The key experts proposed for the position of Field Supervisors (Deputy Team Leader) must possess a minimum bachelor’s degree Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Management, Marketing, Economics, or a related field. The field supervisors will possess at least five years of working experience in BDS provision in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia or at least two of these countries with demonstrated capacity to work in the target areas.

Coaches/ mentors

• The coaches/ mentors responsible for providing technical support to the VSLA and TVET youth. They will possess a minimum of a Diploma or certificate in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Management, Marketing, Economics, or a related field. Proven expertise in business planning, financial management, and marketing. They should possess strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills. Should have experience working with community-based organizations and in cross-border contexts. Familiarity with the socio-economic dynamics of Mandera and the broader borderlands region, preferably Somali speaking coaches are recommended.

Eligibility, Qualification, and Experience (Firm/Consultants)

• The consulting firm should possess the following qualifications:
• Proven track record in providing Business Development Services (BDS) to community groups, youth, and women in similar contexts.
• Demonstrated 5 years of experience in delivering similar assignment
• Demonstrated experience in market systems development and value chain integration.
• A multidisciplinary team with diverse expertise, including business planning, financial management, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments, designing training programs, and providing mentorship and coaching services.
• Familiarity with the socio-economic dynamics of Mandera and the broader borderlands region.
• Strong organizational capacity, including resources and tools to deliver high-quality training and mentorship.
• Evidence of previous successful engagements with similar projects, preferably in cross-border or fragile contexts.
• Capacity to manage and deploy field teams effectively to project locations.
• Established relationships with key market actors, financial institutions, and community stakeholders relevant to the project goals.