REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL-TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, OCTOBER 2021 * At Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

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1.0 The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

The AECF (formerly the “Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund”) (www.aecfafrica.org), is a leading African-based development organisation that supports innovative commercial businesses in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting resilient communities and creating jobs. The AECF has raised US$ 402 million to date and provides catalytic funding and technical advisory support to enterprises in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa by investing in businesses that struggle to meet traditional risk-return standards for commercial investors. In just over a decade, we have supported 343 businesses, impacted more than 28 million lives, created close to 25,898 direct jobs, and leveraged over US $753.8 million in matching funds.

In 2021, the AECF launched a new strategy with the objective to build resilience and sustainable incomes for rural and marginalized communities in Africa. Through catalytic funding, we help surface and commercialize new ideas, business models, companies and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, expand energy access, and alleviate poverty while also addressing the crosscutting themes of women, youth, climate change and fragility. AECF is committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go**.**

2.0 REACT SSA programme

REACT SSA is a Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) funded programme implemented by AECF that provides matching grant financing and technical assistance (TA) to catalyze investment into innovative renewable energy businesses / business ideas across Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Its objective is to improve access to renewable energy for low-income off-grid households, increase incomes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in eight target countries. One of the objectives of the REACT SSA program is to capture and disseminate lessons on how increased access to clean energy can deliver positive impact on the rural poor, especially women, through i) business models, and ii) improved business environment, through policy influencing and advocacy, iii) improved business environment through crowding in, replication and copying best practice.

3.0 Rationale for this consultancy

AECF’s Women in Leadership program – which is hosted within the broader Nkwanzi Program which aims to unlock the entrepreneurial capacity of women-owned/led enterprises and women in leadership positions – is designed to address the needs of women in leadership to enable them to effectively lead themselves, lead their teams, and lead their organizations. This program will bring together 45 participants consisting of women CEOs and those in senior management working with companies in the renewable energy sector from eight countries in Africa.

4.0 Objectives of the Assignment

Through this consultancy, AECF seeks to build the capacity of women in business and leadership within its renewable energy portfolio companies (REACT SSA) through a targeted approach which is centered on leadership development that includes coaching, learning and exchange. AECF is therefore seeking a consultancy firm/consortium of experts who can deliver the different facets of the women in leadership program.

At the end of the assignment, the participants should be able to:

a. Gain greater understanding of a leader’s responsibilities.

b. Create and maintain an efficient, effective, and motivated team.

c. Maximize their team performance by understanding how their behavioral preferences may influence their personal style in the workplace, and the value this brings to their team.

d. Engage with investors for additional capital raising for the growth of their companies.

5.0 Task and Responsibilities

To achieve the envisaged objective, the consultant under the overall supervision of AECF will:

a. Conduct one on one virtual pre-event coaching on leadership for all participants for a minimum of two hours each.

b. Facilitate a two day in person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, for the selected participants with a focus on women-in-business leadership development.

c. Provide additional follow up leadership development support for the women post the workshop in the form of virtual support.

6.0 Deliverables

The consultant will deliver to AECF:

a. An inception phase report demonstrating understanding of the tasks in the ToR and how they propose to accomplish the required tasks.

b. Training and coaching materials to be used for the pre-event leadership coaching and leadership development workshop targeting 45 women.

c. Detailed report of all the pre-event coaching sessions, showing process, approaches and lessons learnt.

d. Comprehensive workshop report for the two-day in person workshop detailing methodology employed, key learnings from each session and outcomes of the workshop.

7.0 Duration of Service

The duration of the service will be 30 days. This service is expected to commence in November and end by mid December 2021.

8.0 Proposal Submission

Qualified consultants (consortiums or institutional consultants) are invited to submit a detailed proposal in English that includes the following:

a. Approach and methodology to undertake this assignment.

b. Previous experience in similar assignment(s).

c. References: Contact details of three references.

d. Detailed financial budget (in USD) and work plan.

e. Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents.

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9.0 Qualifications

The consultant team should have:

a. At least 10 years’ experience in leadership development, coaching and training. Experience developing women leaders is an added advantage.

b. A consultancy firm/consortium with a team of experts in leadership development, coaching and business leadership support.

c. Experience in conducting business-related coaching for growing businesses in emerging economies.

d. Ability to deliver the assignment in both English and French.

10.0 Reporting

The consultant will be accountable to Manager – Partnerships and Gender.

11.0 Pricing

The AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure VAT, at 16%, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

12.0 Evaluation Criteria

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF and shall include employees. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The vendor should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any Vendor when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the Vendors to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating proposals.

In deciding the final selection of qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked in terms of total points scored. The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

Key Areas for Evaluation/ Assessment

Weighted Award

a) Technical Proposal

70

i) An understanding of the consultancy requirements:

Demonstrate understanding of the assignment

10

ii) Methodology and work-plan for performing the assignment:

A detailed methodology and work plan outlining how the assignment will be executed within the stipulated timeframe to the targeted audience. Present a clear and comprehensive strategy and work plan for this assignment

20

iii) Relevant services undertaken by the bidder in the past engagements:

Demonstrate relevant experience in delivering similar assignments on leadership coaching, training and leadership development to growing businesses in Africa.

25

iv) Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments:

Three letters of reference from past customers for the lead consultant or the consulting organization.

15

b) Financial Proposal:

Clarity, relevance, reality to market value/ value for money of cost for the assignment (inclusive of any applicable tax).

30

13.0 Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. **