Consultant(s) for World Bank Proposal Writing

Consultant(s) to write detailed project proposals to apply for World Bank funded projects for an enterprise developing personalize learning platform

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 catalyzing 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 specialized in developing personalize learning platform who needs support to conduct Due Diligence and write a detailed project proposal to submit to World Bank funded projects including VIIP and FIRST.

2. Objectives of the consultant’s work

The Consultant(s) is to analyze the background and potential growth of an enterprise specialized in developing personalize learning platform, to conduct Due Diligence and write detailed project proposals to submit to World Bank funded projects including VIIP and FIRST.

3. Detailed description of work:

a. 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…

b. Develop Project Proposals to submit to WB-funded projects to optimize the financing structures for the applicants

c. Develop Project Proposals to submit to WB-funded projects based on currently-available templates including, but not limited to:

• Technical aspects of the innovations, Intellectual property status, its potential competition and the effectiveness of science and technology aspects
• The adaptation of innovations/renovation to BoP market (if requested by Funder)
• Environmental and social impact issues in the proposal
• 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…
• For VIIP C1, C2 and C3 groups, loan repayment plan and loan relating documents will be excluded

d. The Consultant(s) will be responsible for ensuring all related documents required in the Check list are properly monitored and checked to ensure the quality needed.

e. The Consultant(s) will work closely with IBA members who coordinate with technology/ innovation experts and peer review the proposals.

4. Qualifications of Consultant(s)

Essential Qualification:

• Master’s in Business Administration / Finance / Technology/Innovation/Economics or related fields; ideally a small group of consultants;
• Having experience in writing Project proposals;
• Familiar with WB-Funded Project’s approach and its requirements for funding applications;
• Familiar with financial guidance and regulations from the Ministry of Finance
• Experience  in project management using log-frame  approach, social impact assessment;
• At least 5 years of experience working with companies in energy, agriculture, aquaculture, medicinal plants and ICT;
• Having experience in finance and budgeting;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.

Desirable Experience:

• Ten years’ experience in Programmes for SMEs;
• Managerial Strategy Development experience with Private Sector;
• Consulting experience in developing Innovative Business / Market Development initiatives for SMEs;
• Having experience in business, technology and social innovation;

5. Outputs and deliverables:

The consultant(s) needs to deliver the following outputs:

• Full sets of grant and loan/equity applications to WB-Funded projects in accordance with their provided formats and templates including:
  
  • 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;
  • The technical analysis of its innovation and technology;
  • The analysis of adaptation to Bop market (if requested by Funder);
  • The brief analysis and commitment to environmental protection according to Environment Management Template from the Funder;

• Submitting the proposals by email with scanned full set of application as required by WB-Funded projects, in addition to hard copies;
• Taking photos to show evidence of whatever important mentioned in the application.

6. Templates

Templates will be provided to the appointed Consultant(s) including, but not limited to:

• WB-Funded Projects Proposal Template
• WB-Funded Projects Activities Plan, Procurement and Budget
• WB-Funded Projects Environmental Protection Commitment (EPC) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
• Full set of application forms from Funders

7. 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 30 October, 2015.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

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