Assignment Title: Onboarding New Enterprises Under Enterprise Development Programme in Bangladesh.

Contract Type: Enterprises

Assignment Location: Dhaka

No of the Enterprise will be onboarded: 05

Contract Authority: Oxfam in Bangladesh

Background:

From 1990 to 2015, Bangladesh halved its incidence of poverty, meeting one of its Millennium Development Goals, and gained lower-middle-income status in 2015. The country’s economic growth has been robust over the past decade. However, 43% of Bangladesh’s population still live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day; the number living below the poverty line is higher in rural areas.3 About 80,000 hectares of arable land goes out of production every year due to challenges such as climate change, and lack of farming technology and skills. SMEs can make a significant contribution to reducing poverty and are important to the Bangladesh economy. There are an estimated 3.3 million to six million registered SMEs in in Bangladesh.4 SMEs make up 25% of the total labour force, 80% of industry employment, and 90% of all enterprises in Bangladesh.

Oxfam has extensive experience in improving livelihoods and has been working with experts to develop EDP. The Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) adopts an innovative approach to building sustainable businesses, combining elements of private equity and rural economic development. We invest where others don’t go – and where the potential for social impact is highest. Oxfam provides an intelligent mix of loans and grants to small and medium enterprises throughout the developing world, helping people to work their way out of poverty. But it’s not just about providing capital. It’s about identifying business opportunities, and helping entrepreneurs develop and implement viable business plans. It’s a pioneering, business-based approach to development. EDP is unique and it works. It combines Oxfam’s international presence and experience with the finance and expertise of our supporters and partners. It creates wealth and drives change in poor communities. Crucially, it helps many thousands of people – especially women – to work their way out of poverty.

Context of the Assignment:

Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) portfolio in Bangladesh is relatively young and currently there are 3 ongoing projects. The portfolio commenced its journey in 2016 with Chetona Fish Hatchery, a leading fishery based in Kurigram district of Rangpur division. Subsequently, the portfolio grew to include two more enterprises, namely: Bolon Duck Hatchery based in Gaibandha, Rangpur in 2017 and the latest Prantojon Agro Enterprise (PAE) based in Barisal, approved for support in 2018.

Despite a relatively young portfolio, EDP portfolio in Bangladesh showed an increase in social impact. More farmers have been reached through this programme which subsequently increased the income of the farmers. There has also been a sharp increase in the number of women farmers supplying to the enterprises resulting in a better livelihood and social inclusion in the community of the targeted impact group.

EDP provides businesses that enter the programme with a tailored package of interventions designed to support them to the point where they can stand alone; profitable and able to secure investment from banks or social investors beyond Oxfam. The package includes:

• Direct financial support – a mix of grants, loans or bank guarantees appropriate to the size and stage of development of the business.
• Connecting the business to financial organizations, vital for ongoing sustainability
• Training in all aspects of business from technical advice to improving productivity, to financial management, to sales and marketing, all through a local business mentor.

Providing loans to enterprises is an innovative activity in the sector, moving away from typical development programmes that focus on grants. Our aim is to enable enterprises to become viable businesses and create a culture in which credit can be acquired and businesses thrive in poor agricultural communities, resulting in jobs and opportunities for all.
We use this experience to influence wider change – advocating for financial institutions, governments, and other key stakeholders to change policies to benefit poor rural farmers.

EDP has expanded its focus and identified enterprises from different sectors for support. Currently, there are three new enterprises in the pipeline. One of them is focused on promoting agro products, while the other is focused on promoting hand-made Bangladeshi products through an e-commerce platform. Both enterprises source their products from local producers and create income-generating opportunities for them and other value chain members. Additionally, they organize capacity development programs for the local producers and farmers and provide them with market linkage opportunities. Oxfam supports these enterprises through the Enterprise Development Program by facilitating their business growth, access to finance, and market linkage. EDP collaborates with local implementation partners, who work directly with the enterprises to provide assistance.

Objectives:

EDP mainly focus on working with enterprises which can ensure substantial social impact. EDP is successfully able to link investors and entrepreneurs because of Oxfam’s worldwide presence and experiences from development practices. Through a tailored package of loans, grants, or bank guarantees to potential small- medium enterprises, EDP has played a significant role in improving livelihood and bringing development in the rural areas. The programme provides expert advice guidance sessions, and trainings to small-medium enterprises besides monetary support. Under the Enterprise Development Programme, Oxfam in Bangladesh Provided financial and Business development support for the business growth of the enterprises.

The principal objective of this assignment is to Support/Develop the shortlisted Local/National Enterprise through the local implementing partner as a sustainable enterprise that create positive social and environmental impact resulting in economic and employment opportunities for marginalized farmers, women, and youth.

Key qualification and experience of local implementing Partner

• Proven Business model
• With experience in the market and annual revenue of at least 40 000 GBP
• Enterprises that have at least one-year available financial results 
• Market potential.
• Enterprise that Operates in markets with growth potential or niche markets,
• Enterprise with potential for Women economic empowerment
• Strong leadership team
• Experienced management with leadership skills, clear vision for growth and impact, demonstrated track record.
• Clear and well-articulated Governance System. All stakeholders are committed to growth and social Impact of the enterprise.
• WEE and social impact
• Enterprises that address critical needs of women, in some of the poorest regions in the world, and promote women leadership within their communities.
• Potential for financial sustainability
• Enterprises with a viable Business model and potential to be self-sustainable in the long term.
• Scale
• Business models with potential for scale or replication, that can increase their impact on women.

Application Procedure & Documentation Required

Interested Enterprises must submit EOI (Not more than 3 page) based on the guidelines above clearly marked “Onboarding New Enterprises Under Enterprise Development Programme in Bangladesh” as the email subject line at hrbd@oxfam.org.uk.

The package should include:

1. Expression of Interest and Availability
2. Organisational profile
3. Tax Identification number and other legal documents (i.e., license/registration/work-permit etc)

Organizations interested in this assignment should apply and will be reviewed based on their own organizational capacity. The successful firm may sign a Partnership Agreement with Oxfam.

Please refer to the detailed Guideline and format (Click Here) for submitting your application. 

Deadline for Submission: 31 January 2024 (11:59 PM, GMT+6)