Consultant(s) to Build Comprehensive Business Plan and Develop detailed Project Proposal for Pearl Production Project

1. Background

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in 38 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organizations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995. Using market based approaches, SNV is committed to reducing poverty by catalysing environmentally sustainable solutions for the poor in agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+.

SNV’s Inclusive Business Accelerator Program (IBA) is the first one-stop shop in Vietnam for various services needed by businesses which include low-income groups in their operations. We use innovative acceleration models to make the businesses investor-ready. Our scope of services including: Market Intelligence & Opportunity Identification, Business Design & Readiness, Investor – Investee Match making, Impact Measurements & Scalability.

There will be primarily two kinds of businesses who would be attracted to its service offerings, one of which is Acceleratee (Young and growing SMEs). They will enroll in the IBA's fixed 9-12 month acceleration program. The other type of businesses is SMEs and IB ventures by Large Businesses, who need customized services. Prioritized sectors include agriculture, sustainable energy, water and ICT. We currently have a business who needs support for conducting Due Diligence, building a detailed Business Plan to Impact Investors and writing a detailed project proposal to submit to World Bank funded projects.

2. Objectives of the consultant’s work 

The Consultant(s) is to analyze the background and potential growth of the enterprise, conduct due diligence, write a comprehensive business plan focusing on market study for pearl product which will be submitted to Impact Investors both in English and Vietnamese and develop a detailed Project Proposal for the Project: ”Experimenting and transferring technology of pearl culturing to farmers, merchandizing products, improving manufacturing capacity of enterprises and farmers to create jobs, increase farmers’ income and sustainably develop pearl culturing in Vietnam” which will be submitted to World Bank funded projects both in English and Vietnamese.

3. Deliverables

1 Due Diligence Report including, but not limited to:

• Business overview including business profile, product or service
• Company organisation and management structure including a description of the skills and experience of the entrepreneurs, management structure and franchise information
• Competitors and Industry analysis, market analysis
• Sales and marketing strategy
• Social and Environmental impacts
• Financial statements and projections
• Legal and regulatory environment
• SWOT analysis and risk/reward assessment

The report will be used as inputs for the Business Plan. It should at least cover the enclosed Due Diligence Checklist.

2 A comprehensive business plan for the company with a focus on sales, marketing strategy which outlines the demand and potentials for pearl. The business plan should seek answers to the following questions:

• Describe the existing market, market situation, its goals and strategy including major exporters and importers, market share, trends, etc.
• Overview on the macro environment, regulations, challenges for product growth in domestic market.
• Potential regions for export of the products, their specific regulations, competitors and trends
• Specific suggestions for product potential and proposed pricing as well as product competitive advantages
• Analysis on existing and potential customers with detailed profile
• Lists of existing competitors including knowledge and correct handling of competitors in domestic as well as potential external markets
• Other recommendations to increase marketing strategy effectiveness

3   A detailed Project Proposal for the Project: ”Experimenting and transferring technology of pearl culturing to farmers, merchandizing products, improving manufacturing capacity of enterprises and farmers to create jobs, increase farmers’ income and sustainably develop pearl culturing in Vietnam”

• Conduct analysis of applicants so that the Funder can see the following key selling points:
  
  • The innovation and renovation of applicants’ R&D or business ideas
  • The effectiveness and application in reality for the Base of Pyramid
  • The feasibility of applicants
  • The sustainability of applicants
  • The commercial viability of applicants
  • The applicants’ commitment to impact on livelihoods, health, environment, gender…

• Deliverables:
  
  • Full sets of grant and loan/equity applications to WB-Funded projects in accordance with their provided formats and templates including, but not limited to:
  • The analysis of the applicants’ capacity in project implementation (background, capacity in R&D or innovation and technology, Intellectual property status, human resource, business capacity in commercializing the technology/innovations) based on currently available information to be provided by SNV and the consultant’s meetings with the applicants and working with the applicants to create all documents required by WB-Funded projects;
  • Environmental and social impact issues in the proposal;
  • A brief analysis and commitment to environmental protection according to Environment Management Template from the Funder;
  • A set of expected Monitoring and Evaluation activities covering impact, outputs, activities to achieve indicators to measure applicants’ performance and sustainability;
  • The analysis of commercial viability of the innovation/renovations including potentiality analysis, market competition, distribution and marketing channel and commercialization;
  • The analysis of applicants’ capacity on human resources, finance, cooperation amongst parties;
  • Risk analysis and mitigation solutions;
  • Budget including grant and/or loan, equity in compliance with guidance from the Ministry of Finance (Circular 219/2009-TT-BTC) and the Funder.

• Submitting the proposals by email with scanned full set of application as required by WB-Funded projects, in addition to hard copies.

4. Qualifications of Consultant(s)

Essential Qualification:

• Master in Business Administration/ Marketing/ Commerce / Economics or related fields. Ideally, possessing a Master degree in: international marketing/intelligence, international economics/trade.
• Experience in conducting Due Diligence, making the Business Plans; Business Strategy
• Excellent analytical, planning and reporting skills;
• Experience in planning and executing market research studies.
• Based in Vietnam and ready for frequent discussion with IBA acceleratees

Desired Experience:

• Ten years’ experience in writing Business Plan, designing Managerial Strategy Development Programmes for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs);
• Experience in technology, social innovation
• Practical management experience with Private Sector.
• Consulting experience in developing Innovative Business / Market Development initiatives for SMEs

Templates

• Due Diligence Checklist
• Business Plan Template for Impact Investors (will be provided to the appointed Consultants)
• WB-Funded Projects Proposal Template(will be provided to the appointed Consultants)
• WB-Funded Projects Activities Plan, Procurement and Budget(will be provided to the appointed Consultants)
• WB-Funded Projects Environmental Protection Commitment (EPC) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) (will be provided to the appointed Consultants)
• Full set of application forms from Funders (will be provided to the appointed Consultants)

5. Application

Consultant(s) are invited to submit a competitive proposal for this assignment, including:

• Technical proposal to conduct the assignment (understanding, team structure and profiles, summary approach, and draft work plan should be included);
• Financial proposal;
• Relevant qualifications and past experience, including CVs and at least 3 references.

Please submit your proposals and questions to Ms Nguyen Thi Quyen at [email protected]. Proposals must be received by September 7, 2015.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
Address:  La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can Street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Tel:        84 43 8463 791/2
Fax:       84 43 8463 794