Background
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 cooperation and has carried out its mandated projects since 1961. Based in Zurich, Swisscontact currently manages over 130 projects in 41 countries on behalf of public and private funding partners.
Project Brief
SMILE (Sustainable and Meaningful Intervention for Livelihood Enrichment) is a five-year project from 2023 to 2028, implemented by Swisscontact Bangladesh. The project seeks to uplift deserving students in Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Dhaka by providing educational support, skills training, and capacity building and employment of local youth, promoting cooperative governance and micro-savings, addressing health issues, environmental sustainability, and community safety, all while exploring innovative solutions to meet community needs.
The SMILE project is seeking consultant(s)/consultancy firm(s) to conduct studies on two of its components – Cooperative Governance and Innovation.
The Cooperative Governance component of the SMILE project aims to transform cooperatives, also known as Village Development Organisations (VDOs), into sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented institutions. The SMILE project plans to conduct a situational analysis and market assessment of cooperatives in selected areas of Sylhet Division, including Nabiganj upazila in Habiganj, Sreemangal and Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar, and Sylhet Sadar upazila in Sylhet district. to identify their current capacities, governance gaps, and market opportunities. This will help strengthen their financial base, improve governance, and position them as drivers of entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
The innovation component of the SMILE project aims to explore, implement, and promote climate-smart and green technologies that contribute to reducing carbon footprint, strengthening community resilience, and supporting sustainable development in the selected locations, including Nabiganj upazila in Habiganj, Sreemangal and Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar, and Sylhet Sadar upazila in Sylhet district. The SMILE project will conduct a scoping study to identify green innovation and carbon reduction opportunities in selected areas of the Sylhet division. The study aims to explore pathways for a green transition in rural and semi-urban contexts by assessing opportunities in renewable energy, eco-tourism, regenerative agriculture, waste-to-resource models, and other green technologies.
The SMILE project is now inviting proposals from consultant(s)/consultancy firm(s), and this document provides the detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the following two studies.
The detailed title and proposal outline can be found in the link below:
Desired Criteria for firms
- Minimum 5-7 years of experience in conducting scoping studies, market studies, and research
- Proven expertise in research methodology and knowledge of climate science and green technologies.
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- Experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Previous work with donor-funded development projects (Swisscontact experience is a plus).
- Experience conducting research in the Sylhet region is desired but not mandatory.
All interested service providers /bidders should submit the following documents.
- A technical proposal showing an understanding of the study, proposed methodology, study tools, timeline (activity plan), key staff profiles, roles, and their time to be spent in the study.
- A separate financial proposal setting out a detailed budget for the study.
- A summary of relevant services or similar work done (particularly in the research sector) during the last 5-7 years.
- Submission of an organisational profile, with the CVs of key personnel (including enumerators), will be involved in the study.
- A list of the existing clientele of the organization/individual.
- The bidding consultancy firms/consultants should submit documentary evidence demonstrating their legal, taxation, and financial status. This includes:
- Copy of valid Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN)
- Copy of VAT registration certificate (if applicable)
- Updated Proof of Submission of Return (PSR)
- Copy of Trade License (for registered businesses)/Companies and Firms (RJSC) certificate (if applicable)
- Proof of a segregated bank account (bank account name and address) for financial Transactions
- Any other relevant certifications issued by government authoritie
- A signed statement testifying that all information within the proposal is correct and true.
Technical Proposal: Interested consultant(s)/consultancy firm(s) should submit the technical proposal via email “bd.procurement@swisscontact.org ”.
Financial Proposal: Interested consultant(s)/consultancy firm(s) are required to submit a sealed envelope containing the hard copy of the financial proposal to the following address:
Sr. Officer - Procurement & Compliance, SMILE
Swisscontact Bangladesh
House 28, Road 43, Gulshan-2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Swisscontact Bangladesh
Note: Please specify which study you are applying for - “Scoping study for green innovation and carbon reduction opportunities under the SMILE Project”/“Situational analysis and market assessment of the cooperatives in Sylhet region for the SMILE project” (whichever is applicable for the bidder) on the top of the envelope and in the email subject line.
For multiple applications, please apply separately.
Deadline for submission: September 18, 2025, before 5:00 pm
Swisscontact reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason.
Please note that if any application does not meet all the above eligibility criteria, the application may be disqualified without further evaluation.
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