Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organisation, working in and on fragility. We stand with those who are hit hardest by poverty and conflict. We support them in their struggle to move beyond survival and to fully participate in equitable and resilient societies.

Website: https://www.cordaid.org/en/who-we-are/about-us/

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Enhancing Business Development Services under PSAC Project

Introduction

Cordaid Rwanda in partnership with NAEB is implementing the Promoting Smallholder Agro-Export Competitiveness Project (PSAC) to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of smallholder producer organizations in the coffee, tea, and horticulture value chains across 14 districts: Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Musanze, Rulindo, Bugesera, and Rwamagana. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of smallholder organizations, including cooperatives and farmer groups, in key areas such as governance, financial management, farming as a business, ICT for value chain enhancement, and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

At the same time, the project is focusing on helping smallholder producer organizations access high-quality business development services (BDS) to support business growth and long-term sustainability. This includes capacity building, financial readiness, innovation, business planning, and sustainability strategies, all aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in dynamic economic environments.

To effectively implement business development service activities, Cordaid is seeking a competent service provider to support the BDS initiatives. The selected provider will be responsible for assessing existing BDS models and recommending those that can be upgraded to meet the needs of project beneficiaries or developing a new model tailored to smallholder producer organizations. Additionally, the service provider will identify and onboard potential BDS providers, coach and mentor them to enhance their capacity, and facilitate their integration within targeted communities while establishing connections with key value chain actors.

To ensure ongoing improvement and maintain high service quality, a coaching and mentorship model will be developed to provide regular guidance to BDS providers. This will help them uphold high standards of service delivery, with the aim of establishing a robust and sustainable support system for smallholder organizations, enhancing their competitiveness and long-term business success.

The objective of the assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to enhance the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of smallholder producer organizations in the coffee, tea, and horticulture value chains by designing and implementing a comprehensive BDS framework that will support smallholder producer organizations by providing tailored business development services to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability in the agro-export sector. The specific objectives are as follows:

  • Identify existing BDS models and upgrade to suit the project beneficiaries’ needs or develop a new model tailored to the needs of smallholder producer organizations.
  • Identify and onboard the best performing existing BDS Providers operating within the targeted areas and value chains to enhance their capabilities so they can complement the newly formed youth BDS providers to better serve targeted communities.
  • Train (refresher training), coach and mentor onboarded youth service providers along with the best identified BDS providers operating in targeted areas and value chains. This aims at ensuring continuous improvement in business service delivery and beneficiaries’ satisfaction.
  • Ensure the effective integration of established business development service providers (the youth and other identified BDS providers) in the targeted communities and value chains through networking and linkages with VC actors.
  • Develop sustainable training/service delivering model for BDS providers that will ensure that all initiatives are executed in the same spirit, providing regular advice and guidance to BDS providers to maintain high standards of service delivery.

Scope of work and deliverables

The service provider selected will be responsible for implementing the following tasks and deliver as described in the table below

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TASKs

DESCRIPTION

DELIVERABLES

TIMELINE FOR DELIVERY

1

Propose a customized approach and methodology

Provide a detailed methodology and approach, outlining a clear roadmap for execution

Inception Report

5 days after the contract is signed

2

Identify and upgrade existing BDS models or develop a new one

identify an existing BDS model and upgrade to suit our current beneficiaries’ needs or develop a new one that can address the need of beneficiaries.

Business Development delivery model report

15 days after the contract is signed

3

Identify and onboard best-performing BDS providers

Identification and onboard the best performing existing BDS Providers operating within the targeted areas and value chains. This include empowering them and transforming them into reliable service providers within their respective communities through raining, Business plan development, linkage to FI, and follow ups ( 15  youths were identified at each district and estimated number of 10 existing)

Database of existing BDS onboarded, workshop and detailed training report

35 days after the contract is signed

4

Train, coach, and mentor youth and existing BDS providers

Train (refresher training), coach and mentor onboarded youth service providers together with the best identified BDS providers operating in targeted areas and value chains. This aims at ensuring continuous improvement in business service delivery and beneficiaries’ satisfaction ( 15  youths were identified at each district and an estimated number of 10 existing)

NB: The coaching and mentorship will be provided by request

Curricular and modules documents and

A detailed training report with photos

45 days after the contract is signed

5

Integrate BDS providers into targeted communities and value chains

Facilitating the integration of established business development service providers (the youth and other identified BDS providers) in the targeted communities and value chains through networking and linkages with VC actors.

Activity report of BDS providers linked with VC actors.

50 days after the contract is signed

6

Develop a sustainable BDS training and service delivery model

This model will ensure that all initiatives are executed in the same spirit, providing regular advice and guidance to BDS providers to maintain high standards of service delivery.

Profile document of developed training and service delivery model

50 days after the contract is signed

Methodology

Preferred Service Provider

The ideal service provider should possess the following qualifications, supported by relevant certifications:

  • Proven experience of 5+ years in business development services (BDS) and entrepreneurship support.
  • Proven expertise in SMEs and cooperative development & governance, climate resilience, sustainable agribusiness, capacity building, and institutional strengthening.
  • Strong track record in training, coaching and mentoring business advisors, youth enterprise, and cooperative incubation programs.
  • Extensive knowledge of the coffee, tea, and horticulture value chains.
  • Ability to facilitate partnerships by connecting MSMEs, cooperatives with financial institutions (FIs) and impact investors.

Team composition

The proposed key experts for the assignment are detailed in the table below

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ROLE

QUALIFICATION

REQUIRED  EXPERIENCE

1

Team Leader for Business development
  • Master’s degree in business administration, Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural economics or related field.
  • Proven 10 years in Business Development Services (BDS) model design and implementation.
  • Proven track record in developing and upgrading BDS models for smallholder producer organizations.
  • Expertise in entrepreneurship and SME support programs.

2

Capacity Building & Training Expert
  • – Master’s degree in business development, Agribusiness, agricultural Economics, Organizational Development, Business education or a related field.
  • Proven 7+ years in training, coaching, and mentoring business, advisory services, entrepreneurship, business incubation
  • Expertise in adult learning methodologies and entrepreneurship training.
  •  Proven experience in designing and implementing capacity-building programs for cooperatives and SMEs.

3

Business Coaching and Mentorship Expert
  • Master’s degree in business administration, Organizational Development, agribusiness, agricultural economist or a related field.
  • Proven 7+ years in business coaching, mentoring entrepreneurs, and supporting SMEs.
  • Expertise in providing hands-on business advisory services to small-holder producer organizations.
  • Proven experience in coaching youth-led enterprises and startup incubation.
  • Strong facilitation skills for capacity-building and mindset change among MSMEs and cooperatives.

4

Policy and Advocacy Expert
  • Master’s degree in public policy, Development Economics, or a related field
  • Proven 5+ years experience  in policy analysis and advocacy related to smallholder agriculture, financial inclusion, or cooperatives.
  • Expertise in working with government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to shape policies that support sustainable BDS and agribusiness development.
  • Proven experience in crafting policy recommendations and engaging in advocacy at the local and national levels.

6

Financial Management and Risk Expert
  • Master’s degree in finance, Business Administration, or related field.
  • Proven 5+ years in financial management, especially in agricultural finance, cooperatives, and SMEs.
  • Expertise in financial planning, risk management, and designing strategies to mitigate financial risks for BDS providers and smallholder businesses.
  • Experience in developing financial models to support business sustainability and growth, including working with impact investors and FIs.

 Submission guidelines

The interested service provider should submit the following documents

  • Administrative documents: Copies registration certificates, Tax clearances etc.
  • Technical proposal: The proposed structure of the technical proposal, along with a clear table of contents, is as follows:
  • Profile of the service provider: Provide an overview that highlights your expertise and experience relevant to the task. This section aims to establish your credibility and suitability for the project. Limit this description to a maximum of one page.
  • Background of the assignment: demonstrate the understanding of the assignment, the context, background, and relevance of the assignment.
  • Objectives and scope: Clear statement of the assignment specific objectives, scope of work, including boundaries and deliverables.
  • Methodology/Approach: A detailed explanation of the methods, techniques, and processes to be used in carrying out this assignment. This section should describe how the service provider intends to achieve the key expected results and deliverables of the assignment, using a well-justified approach and methods
  • Work Plan/Timeline: Outline of the key activities, milestones, and deliverables; A timeline showing the phases of the project and the estimated time for completion.
  • Team Composition: A description of the team members, their roles, qualifications, CVs, copies of degrees and certificates proving their work experience.
  • Financial proposal: detailing cost associated with the implementation of this assignment. This needs to be submitted as a separate document.

Evaluation criteria

Application will be evaluated based on:

  • The service provider must first meet the administrative document requirements

Application should be submitted to apollinaire.nshimiyimana@cordaid.org and with copy to info@coraid.org by 28th March 2025 3:00 PM

Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights

All deliverables, including the developed solutions, will become the property of Cordaid and its partners. The service provider must maintain strict confidentiality regarding any proprietary or sensitive information obtained during the assignment.

Right to Cease Advertisement

Cordaid reserves the right to withdraw or cease the advertisement for this consultancy at any time prior to the signing of a contract. This decision may be made at Cordaid’s discretion and without obligation to provide reasons for such withdrawal. All interested parties will be promptly notified if the advertisement is ceased.

Duration of the assignment

The assignment will start immediately after signing the contract and will be implemented according to the deliverable’s timeline.

 Contact information

For further information or queries regarding the terms of reference please contact HAKIZIMANA Jean de Dieu at email:  jeandedieu.hakizimana@cordaid.org

Patrick BIRASA

Country Manager

Cordaid Rwanda

 

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