1.0   The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

The AECF, LLC (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organisation that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting climate resilient communities, and creating jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding; we are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

To date, we have supported over 510 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 33million lives and created over 35,000 direct jobs.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya and has offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

2.0   Investing in Women in South Sudan (IIW-SS)

Investing in Women in South Sudan (IIW-SS) programme is a five-year (June 2021 to July 2026) gender equality and economic inclusion programme being implemented by The AECF with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The programme responds to the poverty, food insecurity, conflict, and climate-change vulnerability of female small-scale farmers in South Sudan who are excluded from the economic opportunities of major agriculture value chains. The outcome of IIW-SS is to economically empower women in the agricultural sector in central and eastern Equatoria states in South Sudan through investing in enterprises that work with women, supporting women’s associations and cooperatives and providing technical assistance to businesses and the communities that they work with.

The programme has three components: Private Sector Business Window (PSAW); this is the primary investment component of the programme that provides grants to eight companies operating in five value chains (sorghum, sesame, groundnut, honey and shea nut). The second component is on Financing to Women Enterprise Associations and Groups (Finance-WAG); this is the secondary investment component of the programme that seeks to provide women groups and cooperatives. The third component is on provision of technical assistance on gender, human rights advocacy, early warning and response systems, climate-smart agriculture training, post-harvest handling and collective marketing and financial literacy.

The programme objectives are to reduce gender-specific barriers to women’s participation in agricultural value chains, increase adoption of gender-sensitive climate-smart agricultural practices and improve employment or livelihoods for women in agriculture and food systems. The Immediate Outcomes of the programme are increased capacity and knowledge provided to farmers to reduce barriers to accessing productive resources e.g., land, information, capital, and access to human rights, improved enabling environment for women including the security of their assets, increased capacity and knowledge to conduct climate-smart agricultural practices that are gender-sensitive, increased production and productivity of crops, and livestock that are grown and kept by women, and farmers reduce their post-harvest losses and increase production, processing and marketing of their surplus produce and products.

3.0   Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this consultancy is to provide comprehensive market development strategies, build marketing research capacity, guide on market linkages, co-develop distribution channel approaches and coach on export trading to 8 AECF investees by addressing their specific needs.

The consultant/firm will be responsible for improving their market presence, facilitating access to export markets, and strengthening their marketing capabilities.

4.0   Scope of Work

The consultant will work with The AECF and the investees’ leadership team to deliver interventions across the functions below:

4.1   Market Research and Analysis

• Conduct detailed market research to understand consumer preferences, market trends, and competitor analysis in local, regional, and international markets.
• Provide export market information, identifying opportunities for agricultural products from South Sudan.
• Analyze market demand and supply trends to support market expansion and distribution strategies.

4.2   Marketing Strategy Development

• Develop marketing strategies for each company, focusing on both local and export markets.
• Create unique value propositions for each company and assist in implementing effective pricing strategies based on market research.
• Design product development and branding strategies, focusing on creating unique blends and packaging that stand out in competitive markets.

4.3   Market Linkages, Distribution Channel Development and Trade Facilitation

• Identify and establish partnerships with buyers, distributors, and trade facilitators in regional and international markets.
• Expand the distribution networks for each company, focusing on external markets.
• Develop strategies for increasing product sales through enhanced distribution and promotional activities.
• Facilitate connections to trade fairs, promotional events, and certification bodies for product showcase and export compliance.
• Provide guidance on seed laws, regulations, and certification requirements for international markets.

4.4   Capacity Building, Financial and Value Chain Services

• Assist in the recruitment and development of marketing teams for each company, ensuring they have the skills to implement marketing strategies effectively.
• Provide support to enhance marketing capabilities, including the development of marketing plans focusing on markets beyond South Sudan.
• Provide guidance on crop value chain development, including access to financial services to support marketing efforts.
• Facilitate access to financial products that can support marketing initiatives and the expansion of operations.

 

5.0   Deliverables

The key deliverables for the consultant will include:

5.1   Market Research Report

• For each investee, a detailed analysis of consumer preferences, market trends, competitor analysis, and export opportunities.
• Documentation of potential export markets and their requirements.

5.2   Marketing Strategy Document

• Marketing strategies for each investee, including value propositions, pricing strategies, and distribution plans.
• Product development and branding guidelines, focusing on differentiation and market positioning.

 

5.3   Market Linkages Report and Distribution Channel Expansion Report

• List of potential buyers, trade facilitators, and export opportunities in regional and international markets.
• Documentation of linkages or subscriptions to trade fairs, promotional events, and export certification processes.
• Strategies and implementation plans for expanding distribution channels and increasing product sales.
• Documentation on partnerships with distributors and logistics providers.

 

5.4   Capacity Building Plan and Value Chain Financial Services Report

• A report on the recruitment and training of marketing teams.
• Report including workshops and training materials provided to enhance marketing capabilities.
• Recommendations on crop value chain financial services and their integration into the companies’ marketing strategies.
• Documentation of financial service providers engaged to support marketing and market expansion efforts.

Additionally, the consultant will provide an insights report from the technical assistance provided.

 

6.0   Duration of Service

The assignment will be conducted over six (6) months in South Sudan. The assignment is expected to commence in January 2025.

7.0   Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Senior Advisory Specialist at the AECF.

8.0   Eligible Experience

• Consultant/Firm to be based in South Sudan
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural marketing, export market development, and market linkages, specifically in South-Sudan.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational management and governance, designing and implementing gender and governance strategies in South-Sudan.
• Strong knowledge of trade facilitation, market access, and certification processes in international markets.
• A minimum of ten years in the provision of marketing research and marketing strategy development to medium service companies.
• Good understanding of the agribusiness sector in South Sudan or similar environments.
• An in-depth knowledge of agricultural value chain and market systems approaches.

9.0   Evaluation Criteria

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The consultant should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such an event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating the proposals.

In deciding the final selection of a qualified bidder, the technical proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked according to the total points scored.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

 

Assessment Criteria	Weight	Max. Point
Technical	70%
Relevant, demonstrated experience and capacity of the consultant in the provision of similar services. Please provide details of at least three(3) similar projects completed in the last( 5) years		20
The proposed team/individuals must have relevant skills, qualifications, and experience and have played key roles in at least three similar assignments. Provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae of the proposed team, which must clearly highlight the areas of experience and competence relevant to the tasks and objectives of the project as outlined in the scope of work.		20
The bidding entity must demonstrate through the application of its methodology how, in a time and cost -effective manner, it will conduct the processes.		20
Workplan		10
Financial (Lower offer/offer*100)	30%	30

 

10. Proposal submission

The qualified consultant/Firm is invited to submit a Proposal that includes the following:

Technical

1. Approach and methodology to undertake this assignment by demonstration of value for money.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and demonstration of experience eligibility. Track record in executing similar projects to the Assignment. The consultant may include its employees’ cumulative experience where relevant

Financial

1. A detailed financial budget (in US$).

 

Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial proposals will not be opened until the conclusion of the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals that are deemed qualified and responsive.

 

11. Pricing

The AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure that VAT, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

12. Application Details

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• Interested consultancy are requested to submit their technical and financial proposal to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 17^th January 2025, 5pm EAT
• All questions should be directed to the procurement email by 9^th January 2025, 5pm EAT.
• The subject of the email should be ‘’CONSULTANCY FOR MARKETING AND MARKET LINKAGES SUPPORT IN SOUTH SUDAN”. The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject or responding to questions that did not meet the deadline as indicated.

 

13. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

 

The AECF does not charge an application fee for participation in the tendering process and has not appointed any agents or intermediaries to facilitate applications. Applicants are advised to reach out directly to the AECF Procurement Department.

 

1.0   The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

The AECF, LLC (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organisation that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting climate resilient communities, and creating jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding; we are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

To date, we have supported over 510 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 33million lives and created over 35,000 direct jobs.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya and has offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

2.0   Investing in Women in South Sudan (IIW-SS)

Investing in Women in South Sudan (IIW-SS) programme is a five-year (June 2021 to July 2026) gender equality and economic inclusion programme being implemented by The AECF with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The programme responds to the poverty, food insecurity, conflict, and climate-change vulnerability of female small-scale farmers in South Sudan who are excluded from the economic opportunities of major agriculture value chains. The outcome of IIW-SS is to economically empower women in the agricultural sector in central and eastern Equatoria states in South Sudan through investing in enterprises that work with women, supporting women’s associations and cooperatives and providing technical assistance to businesses and the communities that they work with. The programme has three components: Private Sector Business Window (PSAW); this is the primary investment component of the programme that provides grants to eight companies operating in five value chains (sorghum, sesame, groundnut, honey and shea nut). The second component is on Financing to Women Enterprise Associations and Groups (Finance-WAG); this is the secondary investment component of the programme that seeks to provide women groups and cooperatives. The third component is on provision of technical assistance on gender, human rights advocacy, early warning and response systems, climate-smart agriculture training, post-harvest handling and collective marketing and financial literacy.

The programme objectives are to reduce gender-specific barriers to women’s participation in agricultural value chains, increase adoption of gender-sensitive climate-smart agricultural practices and improve employment or livelihoods for women in agriculture and food systems. The Immediate Outcomes of the programme are increased capacity and knowledge provided to farmers to reduce barriers to accessing productive resources e.g., land, information, capital, and access to human rights, improved enabling environment for women including the security of their assets, increased capacity and knowledge to conduct climate-smart agricultural practices that are gender-sensitive, increased production and productivity of crops, and livestock that are grown and kept by women, and farmers reduce their post-harvest losses and increase production, processing and marketing of their surplus produce and products.

3.0   Objective of the Assignment

The assignment will focus on building eight (8) companies’ capacities in marketing, financial viability, business modelling management, governance, and fundraising readiness.

The AECF is seeking the services of a consultant(s) to support AECF’s investees in South Sudan to;

• Enhance business model viability for the investees.
• Strengthen organizational management and governance for the investees.
• Ensure robust financial management functions for the investees.

 

4.0   Scope of Work

The consultant will work with The AECF and the investees’ leadership team to deliver interventions across the functions below:

4.1   Business Model Viability:

• Conduct market research to identify growth opportunities and competitive positioning in South Sudan.
• Review and update the existing business strategy to align with current market trends, customer needs, and business goals.
• Develop a detailed operational plan with clear objectives, tactics, timelines, and responsibilities.
• Develop a business plan that includes market analysis, marketing strategies, financial projections, and operational plans.
• Create a long-term strategic plan to guide sustainable growth and resilience.
• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of current business operations to identify areas for improvement and potential growth.
• Develop a scalable operational framework to manage increased demand and expansion.
• Implement a quality control system to ensure consistency and high standards in products/services.

4.2   Organizational Management and Governance:

• Evaluate current governance practices (including board practices) and suggest areas for improvement.
• Design and deliver training programs on corporate governance
• Provide ongoing support and mentorship to board members and senior management.
• Conduct risk assessments to identify potential threats.
• Develop a comprehensive business continuity plan (BCP).
• Develop a robust recruitment strategy, including job descriptions including a succession plan for key roles in the organization
• Improve job performance and service delivery through targeted training and support.
• Evaluate current environmental and social impacts.
• Develop and implement an ESMS plan, including training of staff, ESMS policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement OHS policy guidelines.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with goals
• Develop gender-related policies and guidelines and conduct training on gender inclusivity and equality

4.3   Financial Management Functions:

• Develop a comprehensive financial reporting system to provide timely and accurate financial information to stakeholders.
• Develop strategies to maintain or improve operational efficiency during periods of high inflation.
• Assess financial risks, including market, credit, operational, and liquidity risks.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial risk management framework.
• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of current operational costs to identify areas for potential savings.
• Analyze current cash flow patterns to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement cost-cutting strategies that do not compromise product or service quality.
• Review and analyze historical financial data to establish accurate budgeting processes.
• Develop an annual budget plan aligned with business goals and market conditions.
• Implement a budget monitoring system to track actual vs. planned expenditures.
• Develop strategic initiatives to enhance profitability through diversification and process optimization.
• Develop and deliver training programs on financial management, budgeting, cash flow management, and financial forecasting.

5.0   Deliverables

• Key Deliverables

The key deliverables for the consultant will include:

• Business Model Viability

• Market analysis report
• Development of Business and strategic plan document
• Updated business strategy document
• Scaling strategy
• Comprehensive operational plan
• Quality control manual
• Training Materials and tools
• Risk management strategy document

 

• Organizational Management and Governance

• Comprehensive governance and board assessment report with recommendations.
• Board compliance checklists and updated governance guidelines
• Training report on corporate governance.
• Recruitment strategy, job description and success plan strategy
• Risk assessment and Business Continuity plan documents.
• ESMS plan and policy documentation.
• Leadership skills assessment report and Leadership Coaching session reports and development progress.
• Gender policy documents and training reports.

 

• Financial Management Functions:

• Financial reporting templates with account mapping
• Cash flow analysis report and management strategy document
• Financial risk management framework
• Cost analysis report and reduction strategy document
• Annual budget plan and monitoring framework
• Monthly budget variance reports
• Profitability enhancement strategy
• Training materials and tools

Additionally, the consultant will provide an insights report from the technical assistance provided.

6.0   Duration of Service

The assignment will be conducted over six (6) months in South Sudan and is expected to commence in January 2025.

7.0   Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Senior Advisory Specialist at the AECF.

8.0   Eligible Experience

• Consultant/Firm to be based in South Sudan
• Demonstrated experience in strategic business planning focusing on business operations, business model designs, sales and marketing, specifically in South Sudan.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational management and governance, designing and implementing gender and governance strategies in South Sudan.
• Demonstrated experience in financial and credit management with a focus on agribusiness companies.
• A minimum of ten years’ experience in the provision of strategic advisory support to corporate or development institutions.
• Good understanding of the agribusiness sector in South Sudan or similar environments.
• An in-depth knowledge of agricultural value chain and market systems approaches.

 

9.0   Evaluation Criteria

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The consultant should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such an event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating the proposals.

In deciding the final selection of a qualified bidder, the technical proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked according to the total points scored.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

 

Assessment Criteria	Weight	Max. Point
Technical	70%
Relevant, demonstrated experience and capacity of the consultant in the provision of similar services. Please provide details of at least three (3) similar projects completed in the last (5) years		20
The proposed team/individuals must have relevant skills, qualifications, and experience and have played key roles in at least three similar assignments. Provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae of the proposed team, which must clearly highlight the areas of experience and competence relevant to the tasks and objectives of the project as outlined in the scope of work.		20
The bidding entity must demonstrate through the application of its methodology how, in a time and cost -effective manner, it will conduct the processes.		20
Workplan		10
Financial (Lower offer/offer*100)	30%	30

 

10. Proposal submission

The qualified consultant/Firm is invited to submit a Proposal that includes the following:

Technical

1. Approach and methodology to undertake this assignment by demonstration of value for money.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and demonstration of experience eligibility. Track record in executing similar projects to the Assignment. The consultant may include its employees’ cumulative experience where relevant

Financial

1. A detailed financial budget (in US$).

Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial proposals will not be opened until the conclusion of the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals that are deemed qualified and responsive.

 

11. Pricing

The AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure that VAT, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

12. Application Details

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• Interested consultancy are requested to submit their technical and financial proposal to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 17^th January 2025, 5pm EAT
• All questions should be directed to the procurement email by 9^th January 2025, 5pm EAT.
• The subject of the email should be CONSULTANCY FOR GENERAL BUSINESS STRATEGIST TO SUPPORT PORTFOLIO INVESTEES IN SOUTH SUDAN”. The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject or responding to questions that did not meet the deadline as indicated.

 13. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

 

The AECF does not charge an application fee for participation in the tendering process and has not appointed any agents or intermediaries to facilitate applications. Applicants are advised to reach out directly to the AECF Procurement Department.

 

1. The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

The AECF, LLC (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organisation that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting climate resilient communities, and creating jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding; we are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

To date, we have supported over 510 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 33million lives and created over 35,000 direct jobs.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya and has offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

 

2. About Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF)

Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF) is a five-year Program of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), implemented with Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Turkana County Government, and UNHCR. KKCF originates from the market data from IFC’s “Kakuma as a Marketplace” study which quantified Kakuma’s economy and confirmed that it was a dynamic and potential market-place. This triggered a lot of interest that contributed to KKCF’s conceptualization and Program development.

KKCF is designed to support private sector investment and unlock the economic potential of refugees and their hosts in Kakuma Kalobeyei refugee hosting area in Turkana West District of Turkana County. KKCF aims to attract private companies and grow the local entrepreneurship potential to create job opportunities, present more consumption choices, and contribute to fair pricing of products and services. KKCF targets all sizes of companies from small to medium-size family businesses to social enterprises and large firms. For more information, visit https://kkcfke.org/

KKCF applies a competitive financing mechanism for disbursing donor funding to incentivize companies to start or scale existing operations in the Kakuma-Kalobeyei area. The process begins by advertising a call for proposals, applicants are then subjected to a competitive selection process leading to identification of companies that are best aligned to the Kakuma-Kalobeyei market dynamics to then deliver intended socio-economic impact to the host and refugee communities while also contributing to the development of Turkana County.

With the Kakuma-Kalobeyei area being a marginalized and fragile setting, KKCF supports these companies to manage business limitations prevalent in such challenging environments including limited access to financing, low availability of technically qualified and experienced staff, complex social and cultural conditions, slow and bureaucratic regulatory environment and fragmented, low income and remote markets with poor infrastructure. KKCF support includes provision of concessionally costed capital, technical assistance and policy advocacy to improve the business environment. This collaborative Program focuses on building commercially viable and sustainable businesses that can:

• Increase incomes for both refugees and host communities.
• Provide essential goods and services.
• Create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
• Improve living standards for those in the refugee camp and surrounding communities.

 

KKCF is currently working with 105 commercially viable and sustainable Micro enterprises and 19 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across diverse economic sectors. One of the 19 SMEs is a Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) deposit taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO). The SACCO has been in operation for an year and is looking to broaden its product offerings by developing Sharia-Compliant financial products tailored to the needs of the host and refugee community.

 

3. About the Assignment

3.1 Purpose of the assignment

AECF is seeking the services of a consultant/Consulting Firm to support the SACCO, to conduct market research to identify the financial needs and preferences of the Islamic segment in Kakuma-Kalobeyei, create prototype design, develop policies and procedures, pilot test and carry out an evaluation, refine the prototype design, support the roll out the product and provide financial products’ implementation oversight. The SACCO has a national membership of over 33,000 members nationally, 3,500 of whom have been enrolled from the Kakuma – Kalobeyei area.

The purpose of these terms is to define the scope, responsibilities, expectations, and deliverables of the engagement expected by AECF from the selected Consultant. The successful service providers must demonstrate experience and understanding of the refugee context and the Islamic banking/finance practices.

 

3.2 Specific duties and responsibilities (the “Services”) of the Consultant

The Consultant will be expected to deliver on the following scope of the assignment:

 

3.2.1     Market research

• Conduct a comprehensive market analysis of the Islamic segment in Kakuma including the potential target group and products already available at the market.
• Identify the financial needs, preferences, and Patterns of potential customers.
• Analyze the competitive landscape, including existing financial products and services tailored to the Islamic segment.
• Assess regulatory and compliance requirements for Islamic banking products.

3.2.2     Develop product prototypes

• One loan and one savings product, either newly developed or adapted from existing SACCO products that meet the identified needs of the target segment.
• Adapt the existing share capital contribution and rebate structure to Shariah-Compliance investment principles.
• Ensure products are Shariah-Compliant.
• Support the SACCO’s with relevant approvals and certification to offer Shariah-Compliant products.
• Develop the costing structure of the products.
• Develop sustainable/profitable strategies and risk management frameworks for the new products.

3.2.3     Develop P&P and training materials

• Develop the policies and procedures manual for the products including the necessary application and evaluation forms etc.
• Develop the training materials related to the products.
• Sensitizing and training of the SACCO management and selected investment officers identified for pilot testing.

3.2.4     Pilot testing

• Design and implement a pilot testing phase for the newly developed products.
• Develop testing protocols and metrics for assessing product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Rollout the pilot.

3.2.5     Evaluation of the pilot

• Collect and analyze data from the pilot phase to refine the products.
• Make the necessary adjustments to improve the prototype design.

3.2.6     Commercialization

• Provide guidance and support to investee during the implementation phase.
• Train SACCO staff on the new products and services to ensure they understand the features and benefits.
• Assist in developing marketing and promotional strategies for the new products and services.

3.2.7     Periodic Review

• Conduct periodic reviews to assess the performance of the products and the implementation process.
• Provide recommendations for improvements based on the reviews.
• Ensure continuous alignment with customer needs and market trends.

3.2.8     Reporting

• Provide regular progress reports.
• Present findings from market research, product development, and pilot testing phases.
• Make recommendations for product launch and further development based on pilot test results.

 

4. Deliverables

The Consultant/Consulting Firm is expected to deliver the following:

1. A comprehensive market research report detailing findings and insights on the demand and supply for the Islamic finance in Kakuma.
2. One loan product and one savings Shariah-Compliant product tailored to the needs of the target segment.
3. Policies and procedure manuals for the developed products.
4. Recruitment of qualified personnel and Certification of products / institution.
5. A piloting evaluation report detailing areas of improvement.
6. Refinement of the products following the pilot.
7. Final presentation to Sacco’s management team on the products developed.
8. Roll out of the Shariah-Compliant products.
9. Periodic review reports with recommendations for further product and process improvements.

5. Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to commence in February 2025 and is expected to be completed in 6 months from the commencement date.

6. Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Senior Advisory Specialist at the AECF and KKCF Program Manager.

7. Proposal Submission

Interested and qualified consulting individuals or teams are invited to submit their proposal(s) comprising the following:

1. A technical proposal, max 10 pages (excluding annexes)

• An understanding of the consultancy requirements.
• Methodology and work plan for performing the assignment underpinned by a demonstration of value for money
• Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments.
• Relevant services undertaken in the past five (5) years.
• Letters of reference from at least 3 previous companies/assignments
• Registration and other relevant statutory documents (this apply to Institutional consultants).

2. A financial proposal

• Clearly showing the proposed team member, roles, and proposed days and the proposed professional fee (daily rate and total amount per team member). The financial proposal shall also include an indication of reimbursables (travel, communication etc.). Currency to be in KES

N/B: Technical and Financial proposals be submitted separately. Combining the financial and technical document as one document will automatically disqualify the applicant.

 8. Qualifications and Experience

The Consultant/Consulting Firms should possess the following skills and/or credentials:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in working with SACCOS and MSMEs in similar assignments for lead consultants.
• Extensive experience in market research
• Strong understanding of Shariah-Compliant financial principles.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and launching Islamic financial products.
• Experience in providing implementation oversight and staff training.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of the development sector and in particular working in the Kakuma/Kalobeyei area is an added advantage.
• Certification in Islamic finance.
• Advanced degree in related field will be a plus.

9. Evaluation Criteria

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF and may include employees of the businesses to be supported. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The consultant should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such an event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating proposals.

In deciding the final selection of qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 80% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 20% and the proposals will be ranked in terms of total points scored.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

Key Areas for Evaluation/ Assessment	Weighted Award
(i)  TECHNICAL PROPOSAL	80
a) An understanding of the consultancy requirements;	10
b) Methodology and work-plan that will deliver the best value on the assignment:	30
c) Relevant services undertaken by the bidder in past engagements:
–          Minimum of 5 years of experience in working with MSMEs to develop Shariah-Compliant products. –          Extensive experience in market research and product development within the Islamic banking sector. –          Strong understanding of Shariah-Compliant financial principles. –          Proven track record of successfully developing and launching Islamic financial products. –          Experience in providing implementation oversight and staff training. –          Excellent analytical, communication, and reporting skills. –          Knowledge of the development sector and in particular working in the Kakuma/Kalobeyei area is an added advantage.	30
d) Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments and at least 2 Letters of reference from past customers or associates to the consulting firm/ consultant:	10
ii)  FINANCIAL PROPOSAL	20
–          Clarity, relevance, reality to market value/ value for money of cost for the assignment (inclusive of any applicable tax)

  10. Pricing

The AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure that VAT, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

11. Application Details

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• Interested consultancy are requested to submit their technical and financial proposal to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 19^th December 2024, 5pm EAT
• All questions should be directed to the procurement email by 12^th December 2024, 5pm EAT.
• The subject of the email should be CONSULTANCY FOR MARKET RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OF SHARIAH-COMPLIANT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN KAKUMA-KALOBEYEI AREA”. The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject or responding to questions that did not meet the deadline as indicated.

 12. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

 

The AECF does not charge an application fee for participation in the tendering process and has not appointed any agents or intermediaries to facilitate applications. Applicants are advised to reach out directly to the AECF Procurement Department.