Expression of Interest (EOI)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE FOOTWEAR SECTOR OF BHAIRAB IN ACCESS TO FINANCE

Swisscontact was established in 1959 as an independent foundation by notable figures from the worlds of commerce and science in Switzerland. It is exclusively involved in international development co-operation and has carried out its own and mandated projects since 1961. In Bangladesh, Swisscontact was registered under the NGO Affairs Bureau in 2008.

Funded by Switzerland and the Government of Bangladesh, co-implemented by Swisscontact and the Local Government Division (LGD), the PRABRIDDHI project is working with partner municipalities to foster local economic development. PRABRIDDHI has started working in the Bhairab municipality in 2022. PRABRIDDHI has started working in the Bhairab municipality in 2022. The project aims to design and deliver sustainable Business Development Services to the Bhairab footwear sector in Access to Finance. PRABRIDDHI is inviting EOI for consultants/consultancy firms/service providers (e.g., banks) to provide Business Development Services for the Footwear Sector of Bhairab in Access to Finance. 

Contract duration: Initially, around 3-6 months and should lead to longer term strategies creating sustainable systemic change in next 7-18 months
Location: Bhairab Municipality

Objective 

The objective of the interventions is to design and deliver sustainable Business Development Services to the Bhairab footwear sector in Access to Finance. The interventions will be targeted to both the input sellers and footwear workshops/factories of Bhairab. The interventions will be focused on the following areas/ activities:

Short-term:

  • Analyse the needs and the capacity of the entrepreneurs and organize meetings/dialogues on financial services and related eligibility requirements, providing the banks with an overview of the sector and linkages to potential customers, including analysis of the capacity and need of the entrepreneurs.
  • Selection of pilot entrepreneurs based on their willingness and capacity to co-finance part of the activities.
  • Organize meetings/dialogue between the banks and the local entrepreneurs to sensitize the entrepreneurs on financial services and related eligibility requirements, providing the banks with an overview of the sector and linkages to potential customers. Create a common platform for footwear
  • Entrepreneurs to get in touch with banks, MFIs, and other financial and non-financial enterprises and investors.

Long Term:

  • Design and delivery of customized training/expert recommendations/digital solutions on improved credit worthiness of the entrepreneurs.
  • The intervention is expected to reach 100 entrepreneurs initially. It is expected to expand to 5,000 entrepreneurs across the entire value chain of the footwear industry over 3 years in Bhairab municipality.

Required qualifications

PRABRIDDHI is looking for consultants/consultancy firms/service providers (e.g., banks) who meet the following requirements:

  • Design and delivery of customized training/expert recommendations/digital solutions on improved credit worthiness of the entrepreneurs.
  • Expertise in analyzing value chains, constraints and developing interventions for private sector development.
  • Experience of developing and/or providing Business Development Services for ensuring access to finance for the MSMEs.
  • Experience of working in the footwear sector of Bhairab will be preferred.
  • Experience of working with international development agencies will be preferred.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and reporting skills in English.

PRABRIDDHI is open to explore collaboration with multiple entities.

Submission details

Interested organisations are requested to express an interest by filling out the attached EOI Form by 30th June 2022 to the following e-mail address: bd.prabriddhi@swisscontact.org

Following response to the initial EOI, a virtual/physical discussion session will be hosted by PRABRIDDHI for selected organizations and detailed intervention concept/TOR will be shared. For more information, please e‐mail to bd.prabriddhi@swisscontact.org

Templates:
Attachment 1: Detail EOI
Attachment 2: EOI Form