Deadline: 2-Oct-20
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is seeking proposals for its Capacity Building & Training of SMEs program to support the UNCDF Clean Start team in providing Capacity building and training services, in the form of a boot-camp, in selected thematic areas to UNCDF portfolio partners.
The aim is to source a technical assistance provider who will support between 10 and 15 companies (minimum of 10 companies), to be trained over a period of 1 – 2 weeks.
The UNCDF energy programme contributes to achieving SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy for all, and SDG 8 focusing on decent inclusive work, economic growth and, more specifically, financial inclusion. The Programme aims to improve access to clean energy finance for poor and low-income people.
The Programme aims to improve access to clean energy finance for poor and low-income people. By partnering with the energy and financial service providers and offering capital, data analytics, capacity building and policy advocacy services in the off-grid energy finance markets, UNCDF CleanStart has scaled energy business models for a cleaner, efficient and more effective sources of energy for poor people.
Through the CleanStart Programme, UNCDF is managing the Renewable Energy Challenge Fund (RECF) in Uganda. RECF aims to fill in the “missing middle” in renewable energy SME financing by investing in early-stage, high-risk ideas to set energy SMEs on a pathway for larger, more commercial-oriented capital.
The following five principles are central to the RECF:
- Additionality;
- Sustainability;
- Inclusiveness;
- Results-orientation;
- Co-creation.
Focus Areas
The learnings from this boot-camp training are expected to enable the companies to develop skills and to be more knowledgeable in the areas of:
- Business Analysis and planning
- Financial literacy [focusing on receivables financing]
- Procurement and negotiation
- Corporate governance.
- Health & safety.
Expected Outputs
- Work Plan and Training Agenda: Build a tailor-made hands-on training methodology that applies practical tools and ideas in training and involves direct participation by each of the 10 participants. The firm will be expected to provide and apply demonstrable examples, using customised case studies and role-playing to facilitate the learning process.
- Execute the tailor-made training within a period of 1-2 weeks before Dec 2020. Training should have at least 10 businesses with a focus on financial management and Business Analysis & Planning. In addition to the two key thematic areas above, the firm will also be required to provide some high-level training in 3 complementary thematic areas being: Entrepreneurial attitude, Procurement and Negotiation and Corporate Governance.
- Submit a training report and recommendations for RECF to take this type of technical assistance/ training forward for other energy companies in Uganda and outside Uganda.
Frequency of Reporting
- At least once in two weeks or as requested by UNCDF. Communication via Skype or Email to update UNCDF on the progress of activities, or as needed, in order to resolve concerns/issues in a timely manner.
- Upon completion of each milestone activity and output tasks.
Evaluation Criteria
- The expertise of the firm:
- A reputable firm with a track record, either directly or through a reputable partner, of assessing and advising private sector
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) having been in operations for not less than 2 years
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) having at least 1-year experience in assessing and training clean energy SMEs on financial management. Having experience in structuring a receivables financing transaction will be an added advantage
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) with Energy SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa included in its portfolio of companies supported to date
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) with documented evidence of previous assignments working with UN or donor agencies
- Methodology: Proposal to include methodology:
- A clear approach/methodology for performing intended tasks
- An activity plan for achieving objectives, with clear budget and timelines
- Management structure and qualifications:
- Detailed CVs and/or short bios of at least 3 of the key staff to be involved in the assignment, including the authorized representative submitting the proposal. Key information for inclusion in the CV may include the current roles of the individual, the number of years worked, Training experience, Experience in Solar, and in Finance, tertiary and professional qualifications, experience. Where some of the staff are going to be outsourced please provide a short bio for each of them indicating their name, current designation, qualification, working experience (number of years), and training experience (number of years). Also, indicate if they have had experience in receivables financing transactions or training in this field. Qualifications will be scored as follows:
- Possession of relevant experience (>3 years) in:
- Business development and training
- Finance
- Renewable Energy, Offgrid Solar and Pay-go
- Possession of relevant experience (>3 years) in:
- Detailed CVs and/or short bios of at least 3 of the key staff to be involved in the assignment, including the authorized representative submitting the proposal. Key information for inclusion in the CV may include the current roles of the individual, the number of years worked, Training experience, Experience in Solar, and in Finance, tertiary and professional qualifications, experience. Where some of the staff are going to be outsourced please provide a short bio for each of them indicating their name, current designation, qualification, working experience (number of years), and training experience (number of years). Also, indicate if they have had experience in receivables financing transactions or training in this field. Qualifications will be scored as follows:
Evaluation Criteria
The expertise of the firm (40 points)
- A reputable firm with a track record, either directly or through a reputable partner, of assessing and advising private sector (10 points),
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) having been in operations for no less than 2 years (10 points),
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) having at least 1-year experience in assessing and training clean energy SMEs on financial management. Having experience in structuring a receivables financing transaction will be an added advantage (10 points),
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) with Energy SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa included in its portfolio of companies supported to date (5 points),
- A firm and/ or its key partner(s) with documented evidence of previous assignments working with UN or donor agencies (5 points).
Methodology: Proposal to include methodology (30 points)
- A clear approach/methodology for performing intended tasks (15 points)
- An activity plan for achieving objectives, with clear budget and timelines (15 points)
Management structure and qualifications (30 points)
- Detailed CVs and/or short bios of at least 3 of the key staff to be involved in the assignment, including the authorized representative submitting the proposal. Key information for inclusion in the CV may include the current roles of the individual, the number of years worked, Training experience, Experience in Solar, and in Finance, tertiary and professional qualifications, experience. Where some of the staff are going to be outsourced please provide a short bio for each of them indicating their name, current designation, qualification, working experience (number of years), and training experience (number of years). Also, indicate if they have had experience in receivables financing transactions or training in this field. Qualifications will be scored as follows:
- Possession of relevant experience (>3 years) in Business development and training (10 points), Finance, (5 points), Renewable Energy, Offgrid Solar and Pay-go. (15 points).
For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=70261
