Consultant - Garment focused Business Incubation Centre

Job Description

About DAI

DAI is an international development company. For more than 45 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries. Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

Objective of the Programme

Private Programme Enterprise Ethiopia (PEPE) is a wealth creation programme, which aims to support the private sector and Ethiopia’s economic growth inclusive of women and the environment. Enterprise Partners (EP), PEPE’s M4P pillar component, aims to facilitate market development in order to spur innovation and investment that create jobs and increase incomes. It does so in combination of technical assistance and market facilitation resolving market failures. EP is implemented by a consortium led by DAI Europe and includes First Consult, Enclude, ITAD and BCaD.

1. Assignment Background

Amhara Credit and Savings Institution (ACSI) is the largest microfinance institution in Ethiopia, and the 6th largest in the world. It was established in 1997 and as of March 2016, has a total Asset of 13.9 billion Birr with 1.06 million borrowers (621,245 female) and 4.05 million (1.7 million female) active saver clients.

ACSI was asked by the Amhara Regional Government to establish garment-focused Business Incubation Centre (BIC) to create employment opportunities for the increasing unemployed youth in Bahir Dar and the surrounding areas. The BIC would support new garment-focused Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by providing them intensive and coordinated business support services, which could include any combination of technical assistance, advise, working space, market linkage, mentorship and finance supported by ACSI’s financial services.

There are currently few incubation centres in Bahir Dar operated by the government, universities or donors. The Bahir Dar ICT Incubator which was jointly established by the Regional Government and the World Bank is operational, but faces budget challenges, lack of focus and skilled staff support. Others like the Bahir Dar University ICT Incubation Centre and Bahir Dar Polytechnic College Textile and Garments Incubation Centre is either in the process of being established or non-functional.

Besides the incubation centres, the largest support to unemployed youth is provided by Technical & Vocational Enterprise Development Bureau (TVEDB) through TVETs, MFIs and One Stop Shops. In addition, donor-supported programmes such as Digital Opportunity Trust (DoT) Ethiopia and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) provide short-term and specific entrepreneurial skill development training. However, primary assessment on the current regional MSEs support programme and business incubation landscape shows that the market is not well-coordinated, lacks continuity and does not provide services beyond those basic services provided for start-ups. As micro enterprises grow and are in need of additional training and capacity building, the TVED Bureau is not able to provide them required services due to lack of skilled entrepreneurial staff and inadequate facilities.

Scope of Work

The purpose of this assignment is to design a BIC focused on establishing and incubating garment- focused MSEs that will create model enterprises and create jobs for the youth.

Where possible, the design should leverage on existing structures, programmes and services, including ACSI’s financial services and should be sustainable.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to conduct the following tasks based on international best practices and fit to the local context:

• Complete a desk review.
• Develop a workplan for the assignment.
• Review enterprise development and business incubation landscape; identify key stakeholders and their respective roles and incentives, existing practices, strengths and weaknesses.
• Meet with stakeholders, which could include but may not be limited to TVETs, BICs, and Entrepreneurship Development Centre, centres of excellence at universities, businesses owners and job seekers.
• Develop a design for a garment-focused BIC which should include the following:
  • A business case for the BIC.
  • Organizational structure for the BIC and staffing requirements.
  • Detailed design of activities that map how businesses will be developed through the BIC.
  • Outline how the BIC will leverage on existing organizations products and services.
  • Process to select businesses and participants from the target market into the BIC, including identification of potential incubatees, basic selection criteria and evaluation process.
  • Clear outline of pre-incubation, incubation and post incubation services and investments facilitated by the BIC manager.
  • Details on the journey the incubatees will go through from entry to graduating from the BIC.
  • Clear outline of how the BIC will lead to the development of successful model enterprises in the garment centre and creating jobs for the youth.
  • A sustainability plan that outlines how the BIC centre will operate and finance in the future.
  • Budget requirements.
  • Identification of potential risks and mitigating actions.
  • A monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Conduct stakeholders’ workshop on findings and recommendation.
• Final BIC design incorporating comments from key stakeholders.

Qualifications

A Mid-level International Expert with:

• Advanced degree in business or relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years international experience in business incubation facility design and/or management, especially in the garment sector.
• Excellent understanding of MSE development as well as MSE training and capacity building services.
• Good understanding of the Ethiopian context a must.

Assignment Duration:

Description of each deliverables

Total days per deliverables

Desk review & workplan

3 working days

Draft garment-focused Business Incubation Centre Design

20 working days

4

Incorporate comments from ACSI

2 working days from home

5

Key Stakeholder’s Workshop on designed model

2 working days

6

Finalize BIC design and submit to ACSI & EP

3 working days from home

Total days

30 working days

Assignment Start Date:

01 July 2016

Application Deadline:

23 June 2016

Applicants should apply directly to Getachew Mergia Getachew_Tache@enterprisepartners.org who is the contact person within EP and who will set up a selection panel.

About the Organization

DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of
international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.