Uganda: Consultancy Service Invitation (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

Mercy Corps is an International Non-Governmental Organization operating in Uganda since 2006, and implementing a wide range of programs including food security, health/nutrition, water/sanitation, agriculture and economic development. It has field offices in Kitgum, Kaabong, Kotido and Moroto districts.

Mercy Corps Uganda has been operational in Karamoja since 2009, focusing on support for food security, infrastructure development, market development and peace building. In 2012, Mercy Corps was awarded a new 5-year USAID-funded program, called, Growth, Health and Governance (GHG). The overall objective of GHG is to ‘Improve Food Security and Peace in Karamoja’ through an integrated, gender-sensitive approach, GHG has three complementary strategic objectives. These objectives are:

· Pro-poor economic development,

· Improving nutrition status for children under the age of two

· Improving governance and local capacity for conflict mitigation

SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY WORK

This SOW describes a consultancy to perform an assessment to rigorously examine the challenges of GHG supported local business people and develop their capacity and skill in pertinent areas of business development services. The objective of this assessment is to conduct a gender sensitive preliminary assessment to understand challenges of local business people in business management and thereafter build their capacity through training and develop a gender sensitive and responsive business development services curriculum suitable to the members of the business forums in Abim, Kaabong and Kotido. The Business Development Services Consultant shall, carry out the following key tasks:

· Provide ToT training on BDS to GHG relevant staffs

· Provide TOT on BDS to Female and Male Business Forum Executives in Abim, Kaabong and Kotido.

· Develop clear guidelines and sample marketable business plan for MSMEs, placing focus on businesses that are owned by women and youth

· Provide bookkeeping, marketing and data recording training for MSMEs, TOT providers, and members of the business forums, but not limited to the following areas

· Identification of follow-on training needs of MSMEs and TOT providers.

· Develop, design or adopt targeted training modules required by MSMEs and business forum Clients.

· Assist and organize training/management programs suited to meet the needs of the MSMEs.

· Develop a management/training plan to ensure that business development skills of GHG staff are improved.

DELIVERABLES

Upon completion of the consultancy service, consultant is expected to deliver the following:

1. Two (2) hard copies and soft copy of gap assessment report;
2. Two (2) hard copies and soft copy of BDS training material;
3. Two (2) hard copies and soft copy of a sample business plan;
4. A set of recommendations;
5. The hard copies should be submitted to MC Kampala Office.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will have:

· Advanced Master’s Degree in Business Management, Development Economics, Business Skills training and or relevant fields

· Should have at least 7 years of proven and well documented experience in conducting Business development services or related activities

· Excellent writing skills (English)

· Experience in working with local business people and local government authorities is an added advantage

· Ability and willingness to travel in rural areas

· Oral skills in Karamojong is an advantage

· Past experience working with MSME sector and informal businesses would be an advantage

· Good problem solver- experience dealing with entrepreneurs that do not have complete business data or sometimes no data at all

TIMELINE

The assignment will cover a period of 4 months. The report/deliverables should be submitted with two weeks after completion of the assignment.

APPLICATIONS

Interested consultants can collect the detailed terms of reference from Mercy Corps Office in the address below or request through email to consultant@ug.mercycorps.org Applicants are expected to send their technical and financial proposals together with a cover letter to the Mercy Corps, Kampala Head Office on 4^th Floor Embassy Plaza, Plot 1188-1190 Ggaba Road, before close of business on Friday 19^th June 2015.