Government of Lesotho

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION SUPPORT PROJECT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)

(CONSULTING FIRM)

MSME CAPACITY BUILDING AND EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Financing Agreement Reference: 2100150036596

Sector: Enterprise Development

Project ID No.: P-LS-KF0-002

 

 

 

The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho has received financing from the African Development Fund towards implementation of the Economic Diversification Support Project and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this loan to payments under the contract for MSME Capacity Building and Effectiveness Improvement Program for the government of Lesotho.

The aim of the project is to build on the success of the PED project and to facilitate the recovery of the Lesotho economy especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, BEDCO intends to develop and grow 1350 MSMEs from their current stage to their next stage of growth through a variety of business development services.

The overall objective of the assignment is to engage the consultancy firm to assist BEDCO in providing capacity building, business development support services and market access services to identified MSMEs in line with their requirements.

The scope of the consultancy services include : provide capacity building to 200 business plan applicants in line with the business plan competition requirements; (b) carry out a diagnostic of the identified 1,300 existing MSMEs to identify their individual needs; (c) develop and implement a capacity building program for the 1,300 existing MSMEs in line with the diagnosis; (d) deliver business development support services to 1,300 existing MSMEs in line with their requirements; (e) develop and implement of a market access program for the 1,300 existing MSME in line with their requirements; (f) identify and Assist 50 MSMEs to adopt quality standards to meet local, regional, and international markets; and (g) transfer skills to identified BEDCO staff.

The estimated duration of this assignment is nine (9) months from the date of signing the contract.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultancy firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, appropriate skills among staff, etc …). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the Procurement Policy and Methodology for Bank Group Funded Operations, dated October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org using the Selection Based on the Consultants’ Qualifications (CQS) procurement method.

Interested consultancy firms may obtain further information and the Terms of Reference for the assignment at the address provided below during the office hours of 08.00 hours to 16.30 hours.

Expressions of Interests must be delivered to the address below by 27th April 2021 at 16:30, and electronic submissions should mention as the subject message “MSME Capacity Building and Effectiveness Improvement Program” and should be sent to the address below.

The Project Manager

Economic Diversification Support Project

1st Floor, Matanki House

Corner Kingsway and Balfour Road

P.O. Box 747, Maseru 100, Lesotho

Email : [email protected]  with a copy to [email protected]

Tel. : (+266) 22 315 100