Business Development Services Consultant

Job Description

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

USAID’s Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) in Egypt project is part of the Trade and Investment Promotion in Egypt (TIPE) project. The project focuses on strengthening the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurship. More specifically, the purpose of the contract is to increase employment and income of MSMEs and entrepreneurs by:

• Stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation;
• Enhancing formalization of private enterprises;
• Improving financial and non-financial services to MSMEs, especially those owned by women and youth;
• integrating MSMEs and entrepreneurs in progressive value chains; and
• addressing enabling environment policy reform initiatives to facilitate MSME development that is aligned to the Government of Egypt’s (GOE) plans and commitment, and subject to the emergence of champions, who will advocate for these reforms.

SEED supports the growth of MSMEs and promotes entrepreneurship in Egypt by working with and through intermediary service providers to improve their management and operational skills, products and services, and marketing and outreach to their clients and our ultimate target beneficiary. SEED funds are primarily designated for training, capacity building and technical assistance using both domestic and foreign firms and individuals.

SEED’s stakeholders and counterparts include but are not limited to the following:

• MSMEs and entrepreneurs,
• Government of Egypt stakeholders,
• Public organizations,
• Public sector reform champions,
• Private sector reform initiatives,
• Academic sector reform initiatives,
• Business Development Service Centers (BDSCs),
• Capacity building consultants, trainers, mentors and coaches,
• Business associations,
• Banks,
• Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs),
• Investors, and
• Large domestic and international corporations.

SEED will collaborate with other development partners (donors) and other USAID contractors to take full advantage of synergistic opportunities in achieving results.

Special focus will be given to disadvantage areas and population groups such as women and youth. Youth is defined for the purpose of this activity as individuals who are between ages of 15 and 29 years old.

MAIN TASKS

General:

Work with Component B primarily on the SEED project’s Non-Financial Services (Business Development Services or “BDS”) efforts to contribute directly and specifically to increase effectiveness of BDS providers in Egypt. The Consultant should also carefully and thoroughly review all available secondary source information ( to mainly be provided by SEED) as the challenges to and opportunities for improved BDS services in Egypt has been researched and documented extensively. Project will be completely mostly in Cairo, Egypt with possibility of travel to other areas of Egypt.

Specific:

1. Mapping: Conduct a mapping exercise of all BDS providers, including setting a standardized definition for BDS provision, identifying all types of BDS offered, and their target audiences and geographical distribution.

1. International Best Practices: Develop and present a conclusive presentation on the most applicable international best practices for BDS provision for MSMEs in Egypt, considering the fragmented natrure of the ecosystem (e.g. disparities between the regions of Cairo, the Delta, and Upper Egypt; the additional challenges faced by women; the lack of a unifed or coordinated approach to MSMEs by the GOE, the current players, and the lack of sophtication and awareness of the importance of BDS within the entrepreneurial and business owner communities).

1. Gap Analyses: Conduct gap analyses and where possible a training needs assessment (TNA) on the following:
   1. Supply and demand of BDS services for MSMEs, including both general non-financial business services as well as sector specific and/or technical services needs.
   2. The willingness and capability of BDS service providers to survey the market, determine what services are most in demand, adapt, adopt or otherewise obtain the training materials and skills needed to offer these services, reach out to their targeted audiences, and deliver services in an easily assessable and financially sustainable manner.
   3. The interest in and understanding of BDS providers to serve the particular needs for women and youth entrepreneurs and business owners.
   4. The level of understanding and application of the interdependency between financial and non-financial (BDS) services.

1. Recommendations for Improvement: Develop a report based on the Consultant’s findings and conclusions focused on specific recommendations to improve the quality, availability, sustainability, and relevance of BDS in Egypt. This report could address overall needs of the eco-system in general and/or focus on specific public and private BDS providers (e.g. SFD, IMC, FEDCOC chambers) or types of BDS providsers (e.g. private consulting companies, incubators, and business associations) to more precisely sugest needs and interventions to build their capacity and market relevance. Recommended interventions may touch upon overall management needs, business modeling, type of services offered, the traing or technical assistance delivery methodologies employed (not withstanding the use of ICT technologies), outreach mechanisms to reach target audiences, or self assessment and evaluation tools to better monitor performance and market trends.

DELIVERABLES

• A comprehensive database and map of leading BDS providers in Egypt broken down by service provided, size, geography, organizational type, etc. Some of these will focus on BDS and will provide other services such a microfinance loans but also have a BDS unit. Further, these will comprise government, quasi-government, NGOs and for-profit private sector organizations.
• A detailed presentation on relevant international best practices, including successful and failed attempts to introduce new or better BDS services in country contexts similar to Egypt. The best practices chosen must take into consideration Egypt’s MSME and mezzanine organization eco-system, its economy, the economic and social differences between various regions/governorates, and the perception of BDS service needs and quality from public and private secotr institutions.
• A gap analysis report as described above clearly defining the real and perceived gaps with respect to the provision of market led BDS services (general and technical/sector specific) and meeting the needs of women and youth in disadvntages areas. This report shall also address the important link between financial and non-financial (BDS) services and how this is currently being addressed, if at all.
• A final report with recommendations on how to measurably improve the quality, availability, and assess to market driven BDS services targeted for the MSME eco-system with a specific emphasis on women and youth and disadvantages areas. This report shall identify actionable and financially sustainable interventions that will be well received by both the providers and receivers of BDS assistance.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 15 years in organizational development with elaborative experience in Business Development Services provision.
• Preferably someone with either experience in working (with demonstration on real success stories) or a degree in entrepreneurship, management, innovation or business development or related field.
• Strong international experience in BDSCs international best practices.
• Prior focused in-depth experience working with MSME development organizations.
• Preferable focused knowledge on capacity building for areas of business linkages, value chain development, and financial literacy.
• An understanding of the Egyptian governmental, semi-governmental, non-governmental organizations and private sector, with a comprehensive knowledge and research interest and study in the greater national agenda and potential reforms required. This is withstanding a focused understanding of the additional issues facing women and youth.
• Experience in working with underserved communities in Egypt, generally, experience in consulting for international development projects (prior USAID experience preferred) is an added value.
• Ability to engage in, and knowledge of:
• In-depth analysis in organizational performance management.
• Corporate procurement and CSR policies, to promote and leverage interest and commitment of both corporate and MSMEs, when facilitating backward and forward business linkages.
• General awareness of key stakeholders and players in the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Egypt, with a focus on BDS providers.

About the Organization

AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Recordmagazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, have annual revenue of approximately $19 billion. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com.

About the Governement Business Line:

AECOM’s Global Support Services (GSS) organization resides within AECOM’s Government business line and is comprised of three divisions — International Development, Operations and Mission Support, and Global Programs. GSS has the international presence, personnel networks and procurement infrastructure to deliver support for any mission, anywhere. We optimize the reliability, availability and sustainability of equipment, logistics systems and facilities for clients around the world. GSS supports the U.S. Government, non-U.S. Governments and industry clients with worldwide program management, planning, design, operations and maintenance, logistics, aviation services, security, international development, environmental and civil engineering and mission and intelligence support.