EOI: Identification and Assessment of a Network of Organizations Supporting Entrepreneurs and Delivering Managerial Training Programmes

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has received from the World Bank, financing for the preparation of a proposed Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project, in West Africa and in some Sahel Countries. ECREEE, therefore, intends to use part of this financing for the procurement of consulting services.

The overall objective of the consulting services (“the Services”) is threefold to 1) identify organizations supporting entrepreneurs; 2) assess their capacity and willingness to deliver managerial, business and technical training services to entrepreneurs in the renewable energy field and in particular in off-grid solar PV and 3) define the required technical assistance intervention based on a regional network. This will be accomplished through the completion of 4 tasks:

1. Take stock of various organizations providing diverse business support (technical and financial) to entrepreneurs.
2. Assess the capacity of these organizations to provide services to their existing client portfolio as well as to an enhanced market in the standalone solar PV sector.
3. Assess the interest and capability of these organizations to deliver capacity-building and technical assistance to entrepreneurs in the renewable energy market and specifically in the off-grid solar PV standalone systems.
4. Define the technical assistance intervention based on a regional network of the identified organizations and make recommendations on internal capacity reinforcement and other incentives these organizations may need in order to be effective in supporting off-grid solar entrepreneurs.

The Services will be carried out to the all 19 target countries of the project, which are: Republic of Benin, Republic of Cabo Verde, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Republic of Chad, Republic of Côte D’Ivoire, Islamic Republic of the Gambia, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Liberia, Republic of Mali, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Republic of Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Sierra Leone and Republic of Togo.

ECREEE now invites eligible 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.

Furthermore, firms will be shortlisted based on the following criteria: 

• Experience in engaging face-to-face with incubators and entrepreneurs from countries with similar profiles as those targeted by ROGEP.
• Experience in business mentorship, entrepreneurship training and/or business plan development in similar markets and in the off-grid solar PV sector.
• Experience in vocational training, adult learning such as soft skills training in leadership and business development.
• Previous experience in assignments with a similar scope working simultaneously in several countries and languages.
• Existing relationships with entrepreneurship support organizations in the region and globally.

The specific experiences in the ROGEP countries will be particularly valued.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers of July 2016 for Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications and are encouraged to associate with qualified local firms.

Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualification-based Selection (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00 to 17:00 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail at tender(at)ecreee.org and CC slima(at)ecreee.org; sdiallo(at)ecreee.org; nbugatti(at)ecreee.org; yhandem(at)ecreee.org ) by 16^th September 2018, clearly indicating the title of the assignment and the name of the project.

ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Attn: Siré Diallo, Coordinator of the private sector support facility

Achada Santo Antonio, Electra Building, 2nd floor, C.P. 288, Praia, Cabo Verde

E-mail: sdiallo(at)ecreee.org

For more information, please download the Terms of Reference available below.