Consultant for a Feasibility Study for the Project “Female-driven Social Enterprise towards Zero Hunger in Uganda, Kenya and DRC at Welthungerhilfe”

Tender Ref: RFT 342196 – UGA 1130/045/2023

1. Background and rationale of the project

Welthungerhilfe e.V. (WHH) was founded in 1962 and is today one of the largest, German non-governmental international aid agencies. The organisation follows a vision of a world in which all people can exercise their right to a self-determined life in dignity, and justice, free from hunger and poverty. Welthungerhilfe’s fundamental principle is help for self-help and aims at strengthening structures from the bottom up.

For the implementation of a new project titled “Growing female-driven social businesses for Zero Hunger in East Africa ”, WHH is partnering with SHONA to implement the project. The project has a 24 months period and is planned to kick-off in April 2024. The project partners, through their experience, have realised that Social Start-ups lack professional financial management & systems, business planning, investment readiness & growth mindset. Especially female-driven businesses need capacity building & investments. Therefore, the project seeks to support and work with 40 female-driven businesses from Uganda, DR Congo & Kenya to strengthen their businesses & female entrepreneurship in climate-smart food production, agriculture, climate change, nutrition, WASH, digitalization, and skills development by 1) identifying 100 female driven social businesses, and 2) building the capacity of 40 businesses through mentoring and investment readiness. Through these activities, the project seeks to impact up to 24,000 beneficiaries (customers, users, suppliers) to access products and services of these businesses as well as create up to 80 jobs due to the business growth and increase demand for products & services.

An initial concept note has been successfully submitted to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – Private Agencies. The project team has now been invited to submit a complete proposal and conduct a feasibility study to prove the viability and feasibility of this novice project, its approach, and geographical reach.

2. Context and objectives of this order

The overall objective of the proposed project is to improve food security and economy in the long term by strengthening businesses & female entrepreneurship in climate-smart food production, agriculture, climate change, nutrition, WASH, digitalization, and skills development.

The specific project objectives include:

1. 100 female driven social businesses are identified.
2. 40 businesses are mentored & capacity built, made investment ready & 40 new jobs created.
3. 10 businesses receive small loans to scale.
4. Support network for female entrepreneurs was created for joint learning.

Before finalising the proposal for the project, Welthungerhilfe has decided to conduct a study to analyse the feasibility of the project concept and recommend ways for improvement, specifically in relation to the proposed outputs and measures and their effectiveness with respect to the target group and their need, and potential of achieving the planned targets.

The feasibility study aims to determine and clearly describe the socio-cultural, political, economic, environmental, financial and technical feasibility of the proposed project concept. Specifically, the scope of the feasibility study will be:

• To conduct general context analysis and to critically examine the planned project with regard to the OECD DAC-criteria relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, effects and sustainability.
• To test the proposed project concept with respect to the relevance of the idea and proposed approaches with respect to the needs of the projects’ direct target group, the CSOs, potential partners and key stakeholders in the region as well as the final target group, the female-driven social enterprises.
• To develop an in-depth understanding of the markets and entrepreneurs/ enterprises in Kenya, Uganda and the DRC by identifying, interviewing and assessing up to 100 female-driven social enterprises that meet the criteria of the project, and document their business structure, size, staffing, rough estimates for capital, turnover (last 3 years), profitability, ownership structure; impact; main challenges/ needs and opportunities; and more.
• To conduct a detailed analysis of risks factors that are most likely to be exacerbated and have negative impact on the project.
• To identify and shortlist 5-10 key potential partners in each country that the project partners should collaborate with for the successful implementation of this project
• To provide practical recommendations to provide guidance in the project design and implementation as well as anticipating or mitigating potential risks and threats

3. Process, activities and key deliverables

The process of this feasibility study will be led by Welthungerhilfe and supported by the implementation partner, SHONA. The consultant (team) will work closely with SHONA on thematic aspects of the project such as market development and enterprise assessments to ensure accuracy and relevance to the project.

The core activity of this assignment is conducting a feasibility study in Uganda, Kenya and the DRC to get a clear picture of the female-driven social enterprise landscape and its actors, specific local priorities, potentials, challenges and needs of social enterprises. This includes:

• a comprehensive and gender sensitive needs assessment,
• an actors-map and implementing partner assessment
• a project risk assessment
• a detailed enterprise and market assessment

The feasibility study assesses the feasibility of the project and provides recommendations on how to proceed further. All collected information and data shall be collected, examined and made available to ensure they can be used for baseline study data points, among others, to avoid duplication.

Key Deliverables

• Inception report with detailed methodology, data collection tools and work plan
• Short debriefing meeting on inception report with all stakeholders
• Interim report (Mid September)
• Short debriefing meeting on interim report with all stakeholders
• Draft report (2nd October 2023)
• Short debriefing meeting on draft report with all stakeholders
• Final report (10th October 2023)

The final report does not exceed 30 pages and should include an executive summary, main findings and recommendations. The feasibility study should clearly address the objectives of this feasibility study (mentioned under Point 2) and provide answers to the key questions under Annex 1 of these ToRs.

All information, products and outputs must be complete and useful to elaborate the full proposal which should be submitted to Bengo / BMZ by 15th October 2023.

4. Methodical approach

The methodical approach is the responsibility of the consultant. A participatory approach is mandatory. This includes:

• Collection and analysis of information (including studies and data already available)
• Analysis of other relevant project documents
• Travelling to relevant project regions
• Consultation of all relevant stakeholders
• Identification of all interventions which can be expected to have synergy effects with the project
• SWOT of existing implementing partner structures

All relevant programme actors should be involved as much as possible into the planning process to ensure right from the beginning programme partners ownership and participation.

5. Profile of the consultant team

The consultant (team) should fulfil the following criteria:

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in agriculture, environment, economics, and/or relevant academic field.
• Working experience in conducting feasibility and baseline studies related to Food and Nutrition Security, Environment and Enterprise Development
• Ability to write clearly and concisely in English
• Experience of working with participatory methodologies
• Good methodological and research skills (Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies)
• BDS analysis and Enterprise development
• Enterprise and market development in Uganda, Kenya and the DRC
• Experience in feasibility studies and proposal writing for the German Federal Ministry BMZ is an added advantage.

6. Timeframe

Official start of the assignment shall be 7th September 2023. The estimated timeframe for the feasibility study is 4 weeks. The first draft of the final report should be presented by 2nd October 2023 in Kampala.

7. Proposal submission

Evaluation of Bids

Technical offer: The technical offer will be awarded based on:

• General quality of the proposal including: Completeness; Cohesion; Coherence; and How well it reflects the TOR
• Understanding of the TOR and how it is processed into proposal (Goals, Objectives, Deliverables)
• Methodology suggested
• Language (clarity and intelligibility)
• Relevant experience of consultants
• Availability and time budgeting in work plan

Financial offer: The financial offer will be mainly assessed on the basis of the best bidder, i.e. the financial offer together with the best technical bid (the most realistic). A comparative advantage will be given, if possible, to the least costly offer.