The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

Project Background

Business Acceleration for Youth project is a three-year, innovative initiative funded by USAID Malawi and led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Framed around a resilience-led sustainability strategy, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of youth and women-led business start-ups in Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mulanje and Thyolo through the delivery of business incubation services creating growth-orientated, sustainable firms able to secure and effectively utilize investment.

To accomplish this, the project engaged Malawian Business Development Services (BDS) providers with a proven track-record of successfully delivering incubation services. The incubation services included periodic bootcamps over a period of 3-4 months and post training coaching and mentorship.

We are calling for proposals from experienced consultants to assess the capacity and impact that Business Development Service providers delivering the incubation services have had with youth in the districts of implementation.

Description of the assignment

The goal of the assignment is to assess the capacity and impact that Business Development Service providers delivering the incubation services have had with youth within the resilience focus zone districts. As each of the methodologies used by the BDS were different, it is important to assess which ones worked best (and why) in achieving the Business Acceleration for Youth theory of change.

Therefore, the appraisal will need to tap into various stakeholder perspectives with regard to the quality of the incubation services offered, looking into but not limited, to the curriculum content, coaching and mentoring methodology, monitoring and growth in the businesses. Additionally, appraisal should assess the capacity of the BDS provider through the incubations process. Ultimately, the consultant should provide recommendations drawn from the conclusions of the appraisal, which will help inform future design thinking of the project.

Purpose and expected results 

Purpose

Conduct a 360-degree appraisal for six business development service providers to establish their quality of service and capacity to deliver services that align with the business acceleration for youth deliverables.

Expected results

A comprehensive report documenting and highlighting the various perspectives of the key stakeholders of the project on the following areas:

• The challenges achieved in the delivery of the incubation services
• The successes experienced in the delivery of the incubation services
• The lessons learned during the delivery of the incubation services
• The recommendations for future implementation of incubation services
• The overall level of satisfaction of the services for participants
• The analysis of the methodologies used by the incubators

Scope of work             

Detailed tasks

The consultant will 

• Conduct desk research of the program and benchmarking against other programs in Malawi and across the region
• Interview/survey District Youth Officers (DYOs)/key district council officers to give views on project and more especially the BDS performance.
• Conduct Focus group discussions of incubates in all districts
• Survey/interview all six BDS providers on delivery in each district
• Survey Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 

Location of the assignment:

The consultant(s) will be expected to conduct an appraisal of the business development service providers delivery in the following resilience focus zone districts: Zomba, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Thyolo, Balaka, Machinga, Mulanje, Chiradzulu and Nsanje.

Deliverables

Technical Proposal and Supporting Documents

Offerers are requested to submit a technical proposal that outlines the process flow for the 360-degree appraisal. As part of the submission process, offerers are required to submit the following supporting documents as part of their technical proposal:

• The CV of the proposed ‘Project Manager,’ who will be responsible for supervising the execution of activities under this contract and will be the main point of contact between ABC and the contractor.
• If conducted by a consultancy firm, the CVs of any other staff that may be involved in the intervention.
• Proposed assignment workplan including description of how services will be delivered both physically and remotely in the target locations.
• Data analysis techniques to be utilized
• Proof of execution of similar assignments previously (please note formal references will be requested before final contracting).
• If applying as a firm include business registration and Tax clearance certificates.

Financial Proposal

Based upon the above information, Offerers are requested to provide a detailed cost proposal for the delivery of services in local currency. Please note ABC is legally obliged to apply withholding tax where appropriate.

The contract will be for a Duration  2 Months.