Advocacy Coaching on Policy for ESOs, BMOs, and County Governments in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru Counties – Part 2

Company Description

Introduction and background

Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems for more resilient economies.

The rate of job creation in Africa is not keeping pace with demographic growth. According to World Bank forecasts, Africa’s working-age population is set to increase by 450 million by 2035, while the continent’s economies are expected to produce just 100 million new jobs. While the entrepreneurial spirit is omnipresent in Africa today – one African in 5 sets up his or her own business – the continent’s young businesses and entrepreneurs encounter a number of obstacles in their entrepreneurial adventure, all of which hinder the development of their project and the creation of jobs: financing, support, cultural or social barriers, particularly for women, regulations and public policies that are more or less favourable to business creation, etc. It is against this backdrop that the EU has launched the TEI IYBA Team Europe Initiative Investing in Young Businesses in Africa to support start-ups and young entrepreneurs to launch and develop sustainable, inclusive, and job-creating activities. The Supporting Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development (SEED) program aims to foster the growth and success of businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those in the very early (pre-seed) and early (seed) stages of development. SEED beneficiaries primarily consist of young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 and women entrepreneurs. To enhance the support provided to SEED beneficiaries, there is a need to strengthen the capacity Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs1) and Business Associations (BAs2) through the creation of an advocacy manual and delivery of support programs. This will enable these advocacy groups to effectively execute their advocacy roles on policy issues affecting SEED beneficiaries.

About SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation

About SNV: SNV is a global development partner driven by a vision of a better world: a world where across every society, all people live with dignity and have equal opportunities to thrive sustainably. SNV aims to make this a reality through its mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships in the 20+ countries its staff are rooted in. By doing so, all SNV works towards systems transformation, and builds capacities for a long-lasting impact beyond project finalisation. Inspired by the transformational principles and objectives set out by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and SNV is committed to building resilient agri-food systems that deliver food security and adequate nutrition; increasing the reliability and availability of water and sanitation at an acceptable quantity and quality; improving access to affordable and sustainable energy for all. In doing so, SNV aims to strengthen institutions, markets, and effective governance within these spheres, reducing gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion and enabling adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crise.

Background to TEI IYBA-SEED Project

“IYBA-SEED” is part of the third Building Block of the Team Europe Initiative “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa”, supporting the ecosystem, with a special emphasis on women and young people.

The implementation of IYBA-SEED mobilises five Member State Organisations (MSOs) in collaboration with the European Commission (DG INTPA). The consortium of MSOs is composed of Expertise France (France) as lead, Enabel (Belgium), GIZ (Germany), SAIDC (Slovakia) and SNV (The Netherlands). IYBA-SEED is a multi-country project, which will be implemented in Benin, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Togo over the course of four years.

IYBA SEED in Kenya: In Kenya, GIZ has the role of Country Lead and is accompanied by SNV and SAIDC as Deputy Country Lead in facilitating the implementation of the program. Together, these organizations collaborate closely to foster the growth and sustainability of women and youth-led businesses in Kenya, leveraging their respective expertise and networks to maximize impact in promising sectors such as the green and circular economy, agriculture, blue economy, digital, infrastructure development, financial services, and manufacturing sector etc.

IYBA-SEED Targets: Players in the entrepreneurial ecosystems of the partner countries: support structures, funding players, institutional partners, public agencies, innovation clusters, incubators and accelerators, academic networks, foundations, civil society players, etc. Young people and women are the indirect beneficiaries of the project.

Job Description

Purpose of the assignment

The second phase of the advocacy initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of selected Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), and county governments in Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru counties through advocacy coaching and a gender mainstreaming approach. Building on the achievements and lessons from the previous phase, this coaching phase will focus on policy development and implementation, with an emphasis on inclusive and gender-responsive strategies, particularly addressing policies affecting SEED beneficiaries. The initiative seeks to enhance the SME ecosystem by addressing critical policy and regulatory barriers using a participatory and structured approach.

More so, the consultant needs to generate content and photos for Communication and Visibility in each county which will be shared to SNV and IYBA SEED team and adhere to global data protection act regarding photos and data shared by the stakeholders.

Objectives

The overall objective of this phase is to enhance the capacity of stakeholders to:

• Draft effective and actionable policies and regulations.
• Strengthen advocacy efforts through Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs).
• Mainstream gender considerations in policy development and advocacy.

Scope of Work

The selected consultant will be responsible for delivering the following activities:

1. Policy Validation and Prioritization (Building on Part 1 of the Advocacy Consultancy)

• Facilitate validation workshops with BMOs, ESOs, and county government representatives to confirm findings in Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru counties.
• Prioritize key policy areas for action for each county in collaboration with stakeholders and identify who the main drivers of each aspect/area will be, and perhaps who they need to work with to make things smooth.

2. Policy and Regulation memorandum Drafting

• Provide technical support to draft policies and regulations for each county (Kisumu, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru) based on the prioritized needs, to be presented at the MSPs, ensuring they align with county, national, and regional frameworks and incorporate inputs from stakeholders to refine policy drafts.

3. Policy Implementation and Monitoring

• Identify policy champions in each county to sensitise the local businesses on the policies
• Establish data collection and monitoring frameworks with clear indicators and timelines.
• Train stakeholders on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) techniques.

4. Gender Mainstreaming Training

• Design and deliver gender mainstreaming training tailored for BMOs, ESOs, and county governments in each county
• Provide tools and resources to integrate gender perspectives into policy processes.
• Conduct post-training follow-up to assess the application of gender mainstreaming principles.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected:

• Based on the report on the proposed ESO-BMO policy priority areas for Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru counties, engage policy actors and key stakeholders to validate the findings and secure official buy-in. Develop a detailed workplan.
• Draft policies and regulations for each county ready for stakeholder review.
• Policy implementation roadmaps and monitoring frameworks.
• Gender mainstreaming training materials and post-training reports.
• Advocacy training materials
• Generate and support content creation and photos for Communication and Visibility in each county which will be shared to SNV and IYBA SEED team.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and results
• Develop a 2-pager article, with a most significant change story, that narrates the short to medium term impact of the interventions.
• Engage in complementary meetings, activities, and discussions in line with the objective of the technical support.

For a detailed Terms of Reference, access the following link was follows Part 2: Advocacy Terms of Reference

Qualifications

Expressions of Interest:

Interested consultants are invited to submit the following documents as part of their application:

Technical Proposal – A comprehensive proposal outlining the consultant’s interpretation and understanding of the Terms of Reference, along with a detailed approach and methodology for execution. This should include:

• Proposed methodology and work plan with clear timelines.
• Demonstrated experience of the organization/consultant in similar assignments.
• Curriculum Vitae (CVs) – Detailed CVs of the consultant(s) and key team members, highlighting relevant expertise and experience. The submission should also include samples of previous consultancy work like this assignment.
• References – Contact details of at least three professional references, including recent clients (within the last two years).

Legal and Compliance Documents:

• Company registration certificate.
• Valid local office operating license.
• Tax compliance certificate and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Personal Identification Number (PIN) certificate.

Financial Proposal – A comprehensive cost breakdown in Kenyan Shillings (Kshs), inclusive of all applicable taxes in accordance with Kenyan regulations. (Please note that conferencing costs should be excluded, as SNV will procure these directly.)

Additional Information

Please note:

• For any inquiries regarding consultancy indicators or additional questions, please reach out to snyauncho@snv.org by Friday, 21st February 2025.
• SNV is an equal opportunity employer, and this position is available for filling at the earlier possible opportunity. Interested firms should apply through the SMART RECRUITER PORTAL.
• Proposals should be submitted with the subject line: “Procurement of Advocacy Coaching on Policy for ESOs, BMOs, and County Governments in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru Counties.”
• Technical and financial proposals must be submitted separately by uploading the relevant documents via the “I’M INTERESTED” button on the advertisement, no later than Friday, 28th February 2025, by 17:00hrs
• Only shortlisted firms will be contacted for an interview.

Vetting

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct”. This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

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