Solicitation to Apply a Micro-franchise Model
for Women in Aquaculture
Background
The Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture Activity (BAA) is a five-year project of USAID intend to improve nutrition through growth in the aquaculture sector growth. BAA works in 21 districts of southwestern Bangladesh and two districts in the southeast.
Small scale fish farmers face many obstacles. Many of these could be solved by improved access to inputs-- feed, packaging, chemicals, machines, and other items. There are several reasons why supplies do not reach rural areas-- small orders do not justify the cost of delivery, small farmers do not want or are not able to buy the large packages of the product, farmers do not know the product available in the area, and more.
There are many market opportunities for the companies who can overcome these obstacles and reach these customers.
"Micro-franchising" is a model with good potential, a model which has had success in Bangladesh. In this business model, a micro-entrepreneur becomes operates a micro-franchise to handle all customer-facing activities in selling a product or service while a master franchise operator handles supply and logistical issues in a specified locality. The master franchisee works with the supplier-- a large fish feed company, for example-- to training, support, and re-supply. The micro-franchisee sells the products in his/her local area.
This can also be a very a good way to bring women and young people into business.
Objective
BAA would like to focus women earning an income through aquaculture and is looking for a partner who will implement a micro-franchise model targeted at women entrepreneurs.
The partner will be (or enroll a large enterprise as) the supplier of products in demand in aquaculture, form an adequate number of master franchisees in the target areas, and train a corps of micro-entrepreneurs as micro-franchisees. The products involved will be related to aquaculture and nutrition, in demand, and profitable for the micro-franchisees.
Scope of work
The selected partner will develop a commercially sustainable micro-franchise business model and implement it in at least three places; develop a strategy for scaling the model to other locations without support from BANA as a sustainable, profitable business; and launch the expansion program during the period of the partnership.
The selected partner will focus on women and youth as micro-franchisees and give preference to products which improve household nutritional status among the rural population.
This is not a contract to provide services to BANA. This is a limited time partnership to develop a new business model to increase incomes in rural areas by providing inputs to small holder fish farmers and their families.
Key deliverables
- A business plan for the profitable operation of the master- and micro-franchisees.
- A detailed implementation strategy and timeline
- A realistic plan for scaling the business in the future
- Regular financial and narrative reports
Who can apply?
Only qualified applicants should apply. "Qualified" means an enterprise or private sector with sound qualifications related to providing products and technical services.
Required documentation
If selected for the grant, the partner will be required to show:
- A certificate of incorporation (for individual companies, a trade license);
- Joint stock registration certificate (if applicable);
- An organizational organogram of key personnel, inclusive of the names of such personnel;
- Tax Identification Number (TIN);
- VAT registration number;
- Proof of a segregated account (providing the name and address of such an account);
- Other valid papers (provided by government institutions).
- The consulting firm must bear all annual income tax (AIT).
- Percentage of VAT and total amount of VAT should be mentioned in the proposal.
Submission details
Interested parties should submit a one page inquiry on the attached form on or before March 10,2021 , either online or via email to: wfbanaproject@cgiar.org mentioning the title of solicitation in the subject line.
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