GGGI Caribbean is seeking to hire a Consultant who will be primarily responsible for providing technical assistance to participating businesses/greenpreneurs in the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative (“Greenpreneurs”) Accelerator program. The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Greenpreneurs Program Officer and liaise closely with other team members to provide individualized coaching and business advisory support to 2 Greenpreneurs at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey, over a 3-month period.

The Consultant will first undertake an initial Needs Assessment to identify strategic priority areas to target in the Greenpreneurs’ current business models towards increasing their investment- readiness potential. Based on these identified priority areas, the Consultant will provide tailored, context-specific, and actionable technical business advice to the Greenpreneurs to support them in developing their business acumen; strengthening their sustainable green business models; developing an investor-ready business pitch & plan and Greenpreneur investor profile; increasing their access to finance by assisting with the preparation and submission of the Repayable Grants application; and building connections with other ecosystem actors relevant for green businesses in the Caribbean.

Technical Assistance is expected to include a total of 8 sessions/meetings with each Greenpreneur over the course of the contract, with a minimum of 1 session per week, and all 8 sessions completed within the 2-month contract period.

INTRODUCTION

Based in Seoul, The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as “green growth”, which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

GGGI Caribbean in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is implementing the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative, a 3-year project funded by the Qatar Fund for Development, which supports development of green businesses in the region from six participating OECS countries: Antigua & Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Defined as those which contribute in some way to addressing environmental or social problems, green businesses include but are not limited to: selling products that offset or reduce imports; selling sustainable/renewable energy or energy efficiency products, services, or equipment; farms or food production businesses that use organic or regenerative agriculture techniques; businesses that reduce energy use or use renewable energy, reduce water use, reduce waste (such as recycling businesses or those that source re-used or local materials), or protect or conserve natural landscapes, address social issues (support vulnerable populations like youth, women, the disabled, reduce inequality/poverty etc. ), or increase resilience to climate change (storm-resistant buildings and infrastructure, increased ability recover from storms/flooding, etc.).

The Initiative includes an Incubator and an Accelerator program. The Incubator program targets existing innovative early-stage medium, small, and microenterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned firms, with demonstrated growth potential that are still in pursuit of a scalable and repeatable business model, and citizens with relevant experience and entrepreneurial ambitions. Successful applicants to the Incubator program have access to a 12-week training program, mentoring, coaching and networking opportunities, and a Business Plan Competition where up to 10 participants will win a seed funding grant of USD $10,000 each. The Accelerator program is focused on investment-readiness and aims to support 2 streams of green businesses: 1) Early-stage but promising green businesses, specifically the Greenpreneurs Incubator Business Plan Competition winners; and 2)-potential businesses in the growth-stage. All businesses within the Accelerator program will have the opportunity to access repayable grants in amounts up to USD$50,000, connect with investors through networking and pitching events (Investor Round Table), and learning opportunities. The first stream of early-stage businesses will also have access to a mentorship program and technical assistance with the aim of developing their investment-readiness.

Both programs (Incubator and Accelerator) prioritize women entrepreneurs and green job creation for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

The objective of this assignment is for the Consultant to provide Technical Assistance to 2 early-stage Greenpreneurs identified by GGGI in order to support the businesses as they transition from early-stage to growth-stage, refine their business model, and prepare them to receive outside investment. This includes:

1. Developing the Greenpreneurs’ business acumen:

a)Improving their financial and impact modelling, book-keeping and impact assessment skills;

b)Increasing understanding of investor-readiness to increase access to finance/investment;

c) Identification of appropriate finance/investment opportunities;

i. Completion and submission of an application to the Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs Repayable Grants program

2. Strengthening their sustainable green business models:

a) Refining their financial and impact models,

b) Guiding the development of investment teasers;

3. Establishing Networking Opportunities

a) Facilitating connections with a minimum of two (2) other ecosystem actors relevant to the needs the respective Greenpreneurs.

DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Deliverable 1: Detailed Workplan

Upon taking on the assignment, the Consultant is expected to meet with the Project Implementation Team to develop a detailed workplan outlining the timeline of main activities, methodology for technical support, validation meetings, and any anticipated issues or challenges.

The deliverable must be submitted within 2 weeks of signing the contract and must be approved by the Project Implementation Team (PIT).

Deliverables 2: Needs Assessment & Strategic Plan

The Consultant will develop and undertake a Needs Assessment with each Greenpreneur at the outset of the program to identify strategic priority areas to target in their current business models. The Needs Assessment should include a written component such as a survey to be completed by the Greenpreneurs in addition to an in-person or virtual meeting. Based on these identified priority areas, the Consultant will document conclusions and create a strategic plan that illustrates tailored, context specific and actionable steps that the Consultant plans to take as part of this assignment to support the Greenpreneurs’ in becoming investment-ready. This document is to be shared with the respective Greenpreneurs for review, discussion, and agreement prior to submission to the Project Implementation Team and will serve to govern the approach used in the provision of Technical Assistance throughout the contractual period. Any changes in strategy/approach, once agreed by the Consultant and Greenpreneur, must be communicated to the PIT via email.

The consultant must deliver the following:

• Needs Assessment survey tool for approval by GGGI;
• Needs Assessment surveys and notes from meetings with each Greenpreneur;
• Report on Needs Assessment conclusions and strategic technical assistance plan for each Greenpreneur;

Deliverables 3: Improved Green Business Plan and Investment Teasers Designed and Developed

The Consultant will submit a brief report on the key improvement of the Greenpreneurs’ business plan, with particular focus on the financial and impact models. Additionally, the Consultant will help develop an Investment Teaser for each Greenpreneur. The Consultant must submit the following documents as validation of completion of this deliverable for each Greenpreneur:

a) Consultant’s report on key improvements to the Greenpreneurs’ business plans;

b) Record-keeping plan and recommendations on relevant systems that the Greenpreneurs may implement ;

c) Impact Assessment plan; and

d) Investment teaser including business overview, key investment ratios and investment highlights. GGGI will provide a sample Investment Teaser, but it is expected to be improved by the consultant.

Deliverable 4: Submission of the Greenpreneurs’ Accelerator Repayable Grant application

The Consultant must submit in PDF form the completed applications by each Greenpreneur for the Accelerator Repayable Grant towards accessing finance/investment.

Deliverable 5: Facilitation of 4 Meetings with Relevant Ecosystem Actors

The consultant must provide a list of relevant ecosystems actors that each Greenpreneur has met with (facilitated by the Consultant), including the date and duration of the meetings, topics covered, and any next steps identified. The Greenpreneurs’ must sign off on this document prior to submission to the PIT in PDF format. Each Greenpreneur is to meet with a minimum of 2 actors.

Deliverable 6: Greenpreneurs’ Summary Reports

The Consultant will prepare a summary of the first 4 meetings with each Greenpreneurs, including dates, duration of the meetings, topics covered, and any next steps identified. The final 4 meetings will be documented in the final report. The Summary Reports will be submitted in MS Word format and resubmitted in PDF format once reviewed and approved by the PIT.

Technical Assistance is expected to include a total of 8 sessions/meetings with each Greenpreneur over the course of the contract, with a minimum of 1 session per week, and all 8 sessions completed within the contractual period.

Deliverable 7: Final Report

The Consultant will submit a final report summarizing results of the assignment. The structure of the Final Report will be agreed with the GGGI Project Implementation Team and shall include, at least: a description of all activities completed, identification of challenges and mitigation strategies implemented, lessons learned, suggested modifications to the program, and recommendations for further development of each Greenpreneur and their business. A Summary Report of the final 4 meetings held with each Greenpreneur will be included as an Annex.

The draft Final Report will be submitted in MS Word format and resubmitted in PDF format once reviewed and approved by the PIT.

Suggested Methodology and Competence Requirements

The Consultant is expected to have weekly interactions with the GGGI Project Implementation Team. During meetings, the Consultant will be asked to report on progress against the contractual objectives, activities, and milestones. The Consultant shall communicate any deviation from the Workplan and issues arising to GGGI Project Implementation Team.

Upon submission of each deliverable by the Consultant to the Project Implementation Team, 1 week must be allowed for the provision of comments and feedback. Submission of final deliverables must include a clean version as well as a tracked changes version (for MS Word documents) which includes responses to comments received.

All deliverables are to be approved by the Project Implementation Team.

Payment Schedule: Total Fees: Up to USD $6,000

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

o A recognized degree or equivalent in Finance, Sustainable Development, Environmental Studies, Climate Change, Economics, Business, or another relevant field.

o At least five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience in one of the following fields:

o Business development for start-ups or MSMEs

o Finance & Accounting for start-ups or MSMEs

o Business strategy & business continuity planning for start-ups or MSMEs

o Human Resources for start-ups or MSMEs

o Business compliance, market connections &/or export regulations for start-ups or MSMEs

o Marketing & communications (including branding, pitching, digital marketing and/or e-commerce) for start-ups or MSMEs

• Overall understanding of the concept of green growth, sustainability, and climate change vulnerability in the context of small island developing countries, as well as the needs and challenges for small businesses in the OECS region, especially green businesses.
• Proven experience coordinating and delivering technical assistance to diverse stakeholders, with strong oral communications and facilitation skills.
• Experience in engagement with the private sector in the Caribbean region, particularly small and micro businesses, and business support organizations.
• Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills
• Experience with international organizations is an advantage.
• Prior experience working with national private sector organisations/Chamber of Commerce is an asset
• Strong existing networks with entrepreneurship ecosystem actors (such as entrepreneurs, relevant market actors, private sector organisations, financial institutions/investors, business support organisations, Government) is an advantage

• Skill and knowledge:
  • English fluency
  • Proficiency in use of Zoom or other virtual meeting platform
  • Proficiency in business planning and productivity tools like MS Excel, Recording keep as well as financial management tools like QuickBooks or others

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

The Consultant reports to the GGGI Caribbean Program Representative. This is a home-based position.

Date to close is listed in Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Application, Cover Letter, Writing Sample and CV must be sent in English.

A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

Social and sustainability safeguards

GGGI as an institution abides by its project-level Sustainability and Safeguards Rules (SSR) for all projects aligned with international standards for Environmental and Social Safeguards. The SSR is aligned with commonly recognized international standards for Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS), i.e. the WB Performance Standard, that ensure project level safeguarding of communities and people impacted by GGGI activities. GGGI has integrated project level Environmental and Social Safeguards into its Project Cycle Management (PCM) with mandatory Preliminary Gender and Social Assessments and ESS Screening of all projects to identify and manage risks.

In addition, GGGI’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy 2021-2025 provides a framework toward achieving the principle of “Leaving No One Behind” in the transformation towards green growth, guiding GGGI’s approaches to the mainstreaming of gender equality and poverty reduction in GGGI Colombia´s Program. This also includes the implementation of the

GGGI Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction Policy Markers on all projects. GGGI’s Corporate Results Framework requires gender disaggregated indicators for participation in GGGI Capacity Building events.

All GGGI´s policies are available for open consultation under the following link: https://gggi.org/policy-documents/

ANTI-Fraud and Safeguard

GGGI is committed to apply transparency and accountability in its decisions and actions, and to practice integrity in all aspects of its operations. GGGI’s anti-corruption policy establishes zero tolerance for corruption and fraudulent, coercive, and collusive practices in GGGI’s operations. The whistleblowing policy is available at the following

link https://gggi.org/site/assets/uploads/ 2017/11/Whistleblower-Policy_02072015.pdf

In addition, all GGGI’s policies are available for open consultation under the following link: https://gggi.org/policy-documents/

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.