Terms of Reference (ToR) for e-commerce and digital financial inclusion

Section 1- Background

CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. We seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. We put women and girls in the center because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. This Core Values Commitment describes who we are, what we do, and how we do it. It reflects our Core Values of TRANSFORMATION, INTEGRITY, DIVERSITY, EXCELLENCE, and EQUALITY, which serve as a foundation for all that we do.

Section 2 - Overview of the project

Advancing Women Enterprises is a 3-year project designed to enhance 3,000 existing early-stage, women-led micro, and small enterprises in the formal and informal sectors in urban Addis Ababa through financial and non-financial services, entrepreneurship, and business skills development, and enabling social and regulatory environment needed to overcome barriers and achieve their business goals. The project targets young women between the age of 18-35 in both the formal and informal sectors, plus a series of strategic partners.

Section 3- Purpose and scope of the consultancy   

The project is looking for an experienced service provider to introduce project targets (800 targets) with e-commerce services and digital financial inclusion. Specifically, the project would like to work with a company that has existing online e-commerce services for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises that will enable them to promote and sell their products. This is deemed to bring positive opportunities to the project targets, such as access to new and sustainable markets, increased sales, and improved quality of products. Simultaneously, the company should also have a platform for mobile banking to do financial transactions, saving and a means to access loans for business. CARE is looking for an experienced company that can provide both services simultaneously. 

Section: 4 Expected deliverables

The service provides is expected to deliver the following products:

• CARE and the service provider will collaborate to enable the targets under the AWE Project to gain access to markets and digital financial technology services through the service provider platforms.
• The service provider will do the necessary activities to register the targets on the platform (market and finance), provide management of the platform and provide training on the use of the platform to the selected targets.
• Create market linkages, including promotion to the selected targets of the project.
• Link users of the digital financial system with different formal financial institutions and facilitate loan to be accessed by the project targets.

 Section 5: Timeframe

One year from Dec 31, 2021 – Dec 31, 2022(Negotiable)   

Section 6: Submission of proposal

Firms who meet the requirements below should submit a proposal, which should include the following:

• Cover letter describing how the firm’s previous experience matches the work objectives as well as the candidate’s interest for providing the services. This letter should not be longer than one page
• Technical proposal containing the interest and motivation of the consultant or firm, clear framework, methodology and approach, timeline/work plan, comments on the Terms of Reference (TOR), brief experience and profile of the consultant or firm, and any other relevant information regarding the specific assignment. A work plan for this assignment should be developed in relation to the methodology suggested by the consultant/firm and the number of days set for this assignment

Copy of the following:-

• Renewed trade license
• TIN
• Tax clearance
• VAT registration
• CVs, including detailed work experience and education
• No other annexes or attachments should be included.
• Financial Proposal. The consultant should estimate the cost and prepare a detailed budget to the key activities or phases in the work plan. This should be presented in a separate envelope and should indicate the breakdown of the proposed cost.

 Section 7: Selection/evaluation criteria

The selection committee will review all applications after the submission deadline. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements that described above. The following are the evaluation/selection criteria for the technical and financial proposals: 

Technical

SN - Criteria - Points (100%)

1. Understanding of ToR - 10%
2. Methodology - 30%
3. Proposal presentation - 10%
4. Relevant experience, organization past performance in relevant job, and team composition - 30%
5. Key personnel interview (if needed) - (+20% if needed)

 Overall assessment - 80%

Financial

SN - Criteria - Points (20%)

1. Budget realism and reasonableness - 15%
2. Bottom line price analysis - 5%

 Overall assessment - 20%

Applicants should submit their technical proposal and financial proposal separately. The technical and financial proposals constitute 80% and 20% of the total evaluation score, respectively. The three firms/consultants with the highest technical points will have their financial proposals evaluated, and the bidder with the highest total of technical and financial scores (with their respective weights) will be selected. CARE Ethiopia has the right to contact short listed and potential candidates to present their proposal to the team and negotiate on terms and conditions if required.

Job Requirements

• Knowledge and experience of team
• Digital company/service provider that specializes in e-commerce with many users and a mobile banking technology
• 3-5 years’ experience

How to Apply

The Deadline to submit the proposal is January 12, 2022.

All applications clearly marked as “Advancing Women Enterprises e-commerce and digital financial inclusion” and submit both technical and financial proposals in a separate sealed envelope as per the attached Term of Reference (ToR) in person at CARE Ethiopia, Procurement Unit, located around 22 Mazoria, behind Lex Plaza building, next to Ha’Geez Cultural Restaurant.

NB: CARE reserves the right to reject all non-responsive or otherwise unacceptable proposals.