Terms of Reference (TOR) for Business Development Consultant for the Women’s saving Group Hub in Mogadishu, Somalia

Job Description

Terms of Reference

Business Development consultant for the Women’s Saving Group Hub in Mogadishu

Job Location: Mogadishu

Job Duration: 105 days in a period of 6 Months from 22nd August to 22th February

Job Type: Service Contract

Background:

The Women’s Saving Group Hub was established in Mogadishu – Banadir region, on 15^th of April 2021 by three self-help group Cluster Level Associations (CLAs) named Dadihiso, Danwadaag and Daruuro, with support from YouthLink and Concern Worldwide. This innovative project is implemented in the scope of the BRCiS Consortium FCDO-funded resilience programme. The Women’s Saving Group Hub aims to further strengthen and scale–up the SHG & CLA model as a Somali-owned and impactful solution to reduce the barriers for poor women’s social and financial inclusion, contributing to resilience and women’s empowerment.

The recently inaugurated Hub is led by 60 elected representatives from three CLAs and is the first saving group networking and learning platform in Somalia led by federations of self-help groups (CLAs). The core functions of the Women’s Saving Group Hub are:

1. Provide capacity building and mentorship services to new and existing Self-help groups (SHGs) and Cluster Level Associations (CLAs).
2. Support economic and financial inclusion through the provision of business incubation and development services, access to CLA loans, private sector engagement and fundraising.
3. Promote knowledge and information exchange, social interaction and women’s agency.

Purpose of the consultancy

Expert consultant services are required to develop the Hub business model, build the capacity of the Hub committee members and facilitate the establishment of sustainable partnerships with the private sector to contribute to achievement of the following Women’s Saving Group Hub project outcomes:

• Outcome 2; “Hub members benefit from business development services and access to alternative micro-finance through CLA business loans”.
• Outcome 3; “CLA and SHG showcase their management, savings and business skills and advocate for improved access to formal micro-finance services”

Objectives, specific tasks and consultancy outputs to be undertaken by the Consultant

The Consultant will provide expert support and advice to the Women Saving Group Hub committee and its members, as well as to YouthLink and Concern project team, to achieve the following three objectives:

Objective 1 : Develop the Women Saving Group Hub business model and business plan

The Hub will be a multi-functional space providing different free services to its users: alphabetization, capacity building of saving groups, business development services, access to micro-finance, awareness raising, etc. To be financially sustainable, the Hub will have different income sources, which include; revenue from the Hub productive space, contributions from CLAs and grants to support and expand specific services of the Hub.

The Hub productive space will offer the possibility for members to mutualize the use of productive equipment and supplies. The model chosen is the one of cooperative and the registration process is ongoing. Liquid soap making and clothes/mask manufacturing have been identified as profitable income generating activities for the Hub cooperative. Initial market data has been collected for these two products, showing profit potential and feasibility. However further market analysis and design is required to inform an effective production, marketing and sales management plan for the Hub cooperative productive activities. Part of the income generated though the Hub productive space activities will contribute to sustain the Hub running costs after the end of the project in March 2022. Eventually the productive space could be used for the manufacturing of other products, further diversifying the income sources of the Hub. 

Specific consultant tasks

• Review existing project documents and hold meetings with the Hub committee and the project team to develop a sustainable business model for the Women Saving Group Hub.
• Collect and analyze market information to inform the liquid soap making and clothes tailoring IGA and develop a detailed business plan for the Hub cooperative.
• Provide assistance to the Hub cooperative for the implementation of the cooperative business plan.

Consultancy outputs

• Women Saving Group Hub detailed business model (including all Hub services; alphabetization, capacity building of saving groups, business development services, awareness raising, etc.).
• Detailed business plan for the Hub cooperative IGAs liquid/solid soap making and clothes/masks tailoring. The business plan will include the following ;

• Executive summary.
• Business description.
• Market analysis and strategy.
• Production plan.
• Marketing and sales plan.
• Competitive analysis.
• Management and organization description.
• Products and services description.
• Operating plan.

Objective 2: Facilitate access to business development services (BDS) by Hub members

The current SHG curriculum business skills training component will be complemented and strengthened by the provision of business development services for Hub users, mainly SHG members. These services will be provided by project staff, experienced CLA facilitators, entrepreneurship/TVET centres, private sector stakeholders and other Hub collaborators. These services will include:

• Market information: access to existing market analysis information (included Concern-commissioned market analysis of entrepreneurship opportunities in Banadir in May 2020, targeted market research and linkages with private sector stakeholders.
• Business incubator: entrepreneurship “Learn 2 Earn” training, support to develop business ideas and business plans, linkages with other entrepreneurs and mentorship.
• Technical skills related to production or service delivery: linkages with TVET and other technical skills trainings.
• Access to informal micro-finance: facilitating access to CLAs business loans and creation of a financial record to enable access to formal micro-finance products
• Access to formal micro-finance: facilitating access to formal micro-finance services by supporting registration of business and opening of individual or group business bank accounts, providing information on existing micro-finance schemes and their terms in an accessible way for low literacy groups, linking women small business to banks and micro-finance service providers MFIs.

Specific consultant tasks

• Develop a suitable basic package of BDS for the Hub members and an operational plan to roll out these services in the Hub.
• Identify strategic partners to effectively and sustainably deliver the different components of the BDS package and facilitate the negotiations for the establishment of market system development partnerships with the Women Saving Group Hub. This will include:
• Partnerships with entrepreneurship centers, business incubators and TVET centers in Mogadishu to deliver entrepreneurship, business development and technical skills training to Hub members.
• Partnerships with business actors and other private sector stakeholders that will facilitate the development of the Hub members individual and group small-scale businesses.
• Partnerships with MFIs and banks to provide information and facilitate access to micro-finance products suitable for women saving groups and individual Hub members businesses.
• Review existing Business Development training manuals and tailor the content to the profile of the self-help group and CLA members.
• Build the capacity of the Hub committee business development team (CLA facilitators) to deliver the BDS services cited above, through specific training sessions and continuous mentoring.

Consultancy outputs

2.1 Women Saving Group Hub BDS package and operational plan, identifying how the BDS will be delivered by the Hub committee business development team (CLA facilitators) and external partners identified.

2.2. Business development training manual to be used by the Hub committee business development team (CLA facilitators).

2.3 Training reports of the training sessions delivered to the Hub committee business development team (CLA facilitators).

2.4 Partnership agreements between the Women Saving Group Hub and at least two external stakeholders for the delivery of BDS in the Hub (entrepreneurship/TVET centers, business incubators, MFI/banks and/or business groups).

Objective 3: Facilitate advocacy strategies and partnerships with MFI/banks to enhance Hub member’s access to formal micro-finance services

In line with the programmatic and advocacy recommendations from the “Mapping of Financial Services for SHG and Barriers for Women to Access Microfinance” study of May 2020, the Hub will showcase women’s financial management and business capacities contributing to improved financial identity, trustworthiness and market inclusion. Communication materials documenting evidence on SHG/CLA women’s savings capacity, loan management and business income, as well as best practice and lessons learned, will be produced and disseminated among the private sector and MFI/banks in advocacy meetings held by CLA members and the project team. In addition to the advocacy component, the Hub will also aim to address the barriers women face in opening bank accounts and map the existing micro-finance pro-poor products in a way that they are more accessible to low literacy clients. A multi-stakeholder workshop with finance service providers, Chamber of Commerce and other key stakeholders will be organized to further advocate for pro-poor micro-finance services with more flexible guarantor and loan conditions that could enable women business groups, SHGs and CLAs to capitalize themselves with relatively low risks for both women customers and finance service providers.

Specific consultant tasks

• Review the study commissioned by Concern Worldwide “ Mapping of Financial Services for SHG and Barriers for Women to Access Microfinance” , May 2020 to identify micro-finance institutions (MFI/banks) offering pro-poor products services for women saving groups and business in Mogadishu.
• Assist the Hub committee in stablishing linkages with the identified MFI/banks and other business groups in Mogadishu.
• Adapt the loan application and conditions documents of at least three MFI/banks offering pro-poor products to low literacy levels in order to better inform Hub members of the conditions and risks.
• Facilitate awareness raising sessions in the Hub on the MFI/banks offering pro-poor products, conditions and risks.
• Guide the Hub committee and YouthLink/Concern team in conducting advocacy for pro-poor financial products for women with at least two MFI/banks. Key advocacy strategies will include:
• Showcase the CLA’s and women business groups credit trustworthiness
• Advocate for banks/MFI to broaden their options for guarantors to consider CLAs as guarantors of CLA members requesting loans for business.
• encourage and popularize more bespoke loan products for micro-businesses (especially with group accounts suitable for SHGs and CLAs);
• create and advocate for guidance for banks to create SHG/CLA-specific accounts;
• Assist the Hub committee and the YouthLink/Concern project team in identifying key participants and facilitating one multi-stakeholder meeting with financial service providers, private sector and development stakeholders to disseminate information on the Women Saving Group Hub, the CLA micro-finance model and women business groups’ performance to establish linkages and identify partnerships.

Consultancy outputs

3.1 Mid-term and final reports identifying the micro-finance institutions (MFI/banks) offering pro-poor products services for women saving groups and business in Mogadishu, the linkages stablished between them and the Hub committee and the advocacy efforts taken with the leadership of the consultant. The report will include:

• Analysis of the pro-poor financial products identified in Mogadishu and their suitability for women saving groups and business groups
• Contact details of MFI/ banks identified.
• Plan of meetings to establish linkages with the Hub and advocacy content.
• Minutes of the meetings to establish linkages with the Hub and advocacy efforts
• Analysis of effective advocacy strategies and future recommendations for the Hub advocacy efforts.

3.2 Documentation on loan application requirements and conditions from at least three MFI/bank adapted in format for low literacy levels and disseminated in awareness sessions in the Hub.

3.3. Assist the project team in the organization and facilitation of one stakeholder meeting to to establish linkages and identify partnerships

• 6. Timeframe

105 days in a period of 6 Months from 22nd August 2021 to 22^nd February 2022.

• Lines of Communication

The consultant will provide direct advisory services to the Hub committee and report progress on bi-weekly basis to Concern Worldwide resilience project manager, YouthLink programme director and Concern Worldwide Technical Specialist for SHGs.

• Essential Experience/Qualifications
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Business Administration and/or Development.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in advisory or managerial roles in economic/financial inclusion programmes and Market Systems Development (MSD).
• Proven experience engaging with markets in Somalia and facilitating partnerships among stakeholders in the scope of economic inclusion and MSD programmes.
• Proven experience in the provision of Business Development Services including market analysis, business incubators, business mentorship and linkages with the private sector.
• Proven experience in advocacy and communication on economic / financial inclusion in Somalia and/or similar contexts.
• Good understanding of the micro-finance services landscape in Somalia and of the stakeholders providing Business Development Services in Mogadishu.
• Established network of contacts with banks and micro-finance service providers, entrepreneurship training centres, business incubators and business groups in Mogadishu.
• Strong analytical and writing skills and track record in producing high quality reports/ documents.
• Coaching, mentoring, partnership facilitation and advocacy skills.
• Good interpersonal and people management skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with government officials, private sector and programme participants.
• Sensitivity to diverse opinions arising from differing social and cultural perceptions.
• Ability to work autonomously and deliver quality outputs timely with minimal supervision.
• Fluency in Somali is required.
• Proficiency in written English is required.

Desirable Experience/Qualifications

• Experience working on women empowerment projects focusing on women’s economic and financial inclusion
• Experience working with saving groups
• Experience working with cooperatives 

9. Application process

Qualified and interested parties will submit the following:

• A technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including:
  • Description of the approach and methodology proposed for each of the consultancy outputs described in the ToR.
  • Description of previous experience in similar assignments and qualifications outlined in this ToR (with submission of two most relevant reports/deliverables).
• CV
• References
• A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown the number of days allocated to each consultancy output and the total daily fee (all inclusive) in United States dollars.

All applications should be sent electronically to: procurement.mogadishu@concern.net  with subject line: Application consultancy Hub Business Development Services in Mogadishu. The Submission of technical and financial proposals closes on 12^th August 2021.

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