Introduction
Within the framework of the project “Boosting innovative business initiatives led by women and youth in Qena and Al Minya, Upper Egypt”, implemented by CIDEAL Foundation with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), specialized technical assistance is required to design a tailored incubation and acceleration program adapted to the agriculture and handicraft value chains, including two differentiated levels:
o Level I (Incubation): for entrepreneurs without prior business experience who have innovative ideas to be developed and brought to market.
o Level II (Acceleration): for entrepreneurs with existing products or services who require support to consolidate, scale, and increase revenue.
About CIDEAL Foundation
CIDEAL Foundation for Cooperation and Research is an independent organization with 40 years of experience in implementing international cooperation projects in developing countries. Its areas of work include food security and productive development, employment, entrepreneurship and income generation, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, human rights, and governance.
CIDEAL also operates as a research centre, developing innovative studies and training activities on key issues such as development cooperation, project management, the human rights-based approach, gender mainstreaming, and public-private collaboration. The Foundation’s headquarters are in Madrid, with offices and permanent staff in various parts of Spain, Africa, and Latin America.
Context and justification
Upper Egypt, particularly the governorates of Qena and Al Minya, offers significant opportunities for the development of innovative entrepreneurial initiatives linked to agriculture and handicrafts. These sectors constitute key sources of livelihoods for local communities, especially for women and youth, and hold strong potential for generating sustainable economic growth.
While there is a growing base of entrepreneurs, further support is needed to strengthen their integration into structured value chains, enhance access to markets, and consolidate business and technical capacities.
In this context, the project aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem through the design and implementation of a tailored incubation and acceleration program. This program will support both early-stage entrepreneurs and existing businesses, fostering innovation, sustainability, and stronger market integration.
Objectives of the Technical Assistance
To design a comprehensive, structured, and context-adapted incubation and acceleration program for entrepreneurs in agriculture and handicraft value chains in Qena and Al Minya.
Specifically:
1. To develop a tailored incubation (Level I) and acceleration (Level II) model adapted to the project context.
2. To design training content, mentorship schemes, and support services aligned with the needs of both levels.
3. To integrate value chain development, market orientation, marketing and sustainability principles into the program design.
4. To propose mechanisms for funding access, business support, and post-incubation follow-up.
The program design should be aligned with the project targets, including the planned number of cycles for each level.
Methodology
The expert shall propose a clear, feasible, and participatory methodology combining:
• Desk review of project documents, studies and relevant program models.
• Benchmarking of similar incubation and acceleration programs.
• Consultations with key stakeholders (entrepreneurs, local partners, sector experts, institutions).
• Analysis of value chains and entrepreneurial needs in agriculture and handicrafts.
• Participatory design approach to ensure contextual relevance and ownership.
Tasks to be performed
The Technical Assistance will include:
- Preliminary design of the program
o Definition of the overall structure of the incubation and acceleration program
o Detailed methodology and approach
o Work plan and timeline - Design of the incubation and acceleration model
o Definition of the structure for Level I (incubation) and Level II (acceleration)
Definition of phases, duration (Level I: 3 months; Level II: 1.5 months), participant profiles and eligibility criteria. - Training and capacity building design
o Development of training modules tailored to both levels and to the agriculture and handicraft value chains in El Minya and Qena, including:- Business model development
- Financial management
- Marketing and and market access
- Sustainability and innovation
- Mentorship and support mechanisms
o Design of mentorship framework
o Definition of follow-up and coaching mechanisms - Funding and business support mechanisms
o Identification of potential funding opportunities (grants, seed funding, linkages with financial institutions)
o Identification of market linkages and commercialisation pathways - Post incubation strategy
o Design of follow-up mechanisms for supported entrepreneurs
o Definition of indicators for monitoring progress and impact
Deliverables
1. Inception report
• Methodology
• Work plan & timeline
• Proposed program structure
2. Draft incubation and acceleration program design
3. Final validated program documents, including:
• Full incubation and acceleration manual (Level I and Level II)
• Training curriculum
• Detailed session structure
• Mentorship and support framework
• Funding and post-incubation mechanisms
Duration of the consultancy
The consultancy will last for 1 month.
How to apply
Consultant requirements
To submit a proposal, CIDEAL Foundation seeks one expert with qualifications clearly aligned with the following profile:
Academic background
o Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies, or related fields.
o Postgraduate studies in entrepreneurship, innovation, or incubation programs will be an asset.
Professional experience
o At least 5 years of experience in designing or implementing incubation and/or acceleration programs.
o Experience in entrepreneurship development, SMEs support, or value chain development.
o Experience in Egypt (preferably Upper Egypt)
o Experience in designing incubation programs in rural or resource-based sectors with focus on women and youth economic empowerment will be an asset.
Languages
o Fluent Arabic and English (essential)
o Knowledge of Spanish will be an asset.
Skills and competences
o Strong analytical, planning, and program design skills.
o Capacity to work both independently and in a team, with a results-oriented approach.
Application Dossier
The applicant’s dossier must include a technical offer and a financial offer.The technical offer must contain the following elements:
a) A duly signed cover letter.
b) A summary of the understanding of the Terms of Reference, including a detailed proposed methodology.
c) The timeline for the mission execution.
d) The consultant’s updated CV duly signed.
e) Reference certificates for similar missions carried out by the consultancy firm.
The financial offer for the service must be submitted in Egyptian pounds (EGP), excluding taxes.
It is important to note that the financial offer must cover any potential expenses related to this mission (travel expenses, accommodation, and any other costs associated with the execution of the mission).
Evaluation Methodology for offers
The evaluation of the offers will be based on the weighting of technical and financial evaluation criteria.
Evaluation of the Technical Offer (80% of the total score)
A technical score (St) with a maximum of 100 points will be assigned to the technical proposal according to the following table:
Organisation and Methodology – 25
• Overall understanding of the mandate and intervention context – 10
• Clarity, structure, and coherence of the proposed methodology – 15
Expertise / Experience – 50
• Relevance of the profile and experience in similar projects and in line with the required qualifications – 15
• Training – 5
• Functional skills – 5
• Professional experience – 15
• Training – 5
• Functional skills – 5
• Professional experience – 15
• References (similar missions) – 10
Proposed Methodology and approach – 25
• Quality of the proposed approach/methodology – 15
• Quality of the proposed work plan – 10
Total global score: 100
Offers that do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Terms of Reference or do not reach the minimum technical qualification threshold of 70 points out of 100 will be eliminated at this stage.
Evaluation of the Financial Offer (20% of the total score)
The financial proposal of the lowest-priced offer (Om) will be assessed based on the total price and the coherence of its breakdown. This offer will receive a financial score (Sf) of 100 points.
The financial scores of the other offers (F) will be calculated using the following formula:
Sf = 100 x Om/F
Om = the lowest-priced financial offer
F = the price of the evaluated offer
Final Evaluation of the Overall Offer
The final evaluation of the offer will be conducted by weighting the technical and financial evaluation criteria.
Coordination and supervision
The work will be supervised by the coordination team designated by CIDEAL
Application procedure
Interested candidates must submit their application before 14th June 2026 to the following email addresses: arena.martinez@cideal.org and hakim.jamain@cideal.org
Any incomplete application will not be considered.