Empowering Youth for Climate-Resilient Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in Volcanoes tender at African Wildlife Foundation

1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), in partnership with Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA), is implementing a comprehensive youth empowerment project in the Volcanoes Region of Rwanda. This EU-funded initiative aims to create sustainable livelihoods for youth while promoting conservation-compatible enterprises in the 12 sectors bordering Volcanoes National Park.

As part of the project's economic empowerment component, 12 youth cooperatives have been identified and selected to participate in a comprehensive business incubation program. These cooperatives represent diverse sectors including sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, renewable energy, waste management, and conservation-based enterprises. The cooperatives comprise young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 years, with a focus on gender balance and inclusion of marginalized groups.

The project seeks to engage a qualified local NGO with proven expertise in business development, entrepreneurship training, and cooperative management to serve as the primary business incubation mentor for these youth cooperatives. This partnership will ensure locally-relevant, culturally-appropriate business development support that aligns with Rwanda's economic development priorities and conservation goals.

2. POSITION OVERVIEW

Service Provider: Local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Service Duration: 18 months (with possibility of extension)
Geographic Coverage: Volcanoes Region, Rwanda (Musanze, Nyabihu, and Burera Districts)
Reporting to: Project Manager, AWF
Coordination with: SACOLA Co-applicant team, local government authorities, private sector partners
Contract Type: Institutional Service Agreement

3. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The selected local NGO will design and implement a comprehensive business incubation program for 12 youth cooperatives, providing structured mentorship, training, and coaching support to develop viable, conservation-compatible enterprises that contribute to sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation in the Volcanoes Region.

Primary Objectives:

1. Build entrepreneurial capacity of youth cooperative members
2. Guide development of comprehensive, bankable business plans
3. Demonstrate viable business models for conservation-compatible enterprises
4. Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching throughout business development
5. Strengthen cooperative management and governance structures
6. Facilitate access to markets, financing, and business networks

4. SCOPE OF SERVICES

4.1 Business Incubation Program Design and Implementation

Phase 1: Assessment and Program Design (Months 1-2)

• Conduct comprehensive assessment of the 12 youth cooperatives
• Analyze business potential, market opportunities, and capacity gaps
• Design customized business incubation curriculum and methodology
• Develop training materials and resources in English and Kinyarwanda
• Establish baseline measurements for business development indicators

Phase 2: Intensive Training Phase (Months 3-6)

• Deliver 1-week intensive workshop on business plan development covering:
  • Business idea validation and market research
  • Business model canvas development
  • Value proposition design
  • Competitive analysis and positioning
  • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Conduct specialized workshops on core business functions:
  • Financial Literacy: Budgeting, cash flow management, financial planning, record keeping
  • Marketing: Market analysis, branding, digital marketing, customer acquisition
  • Operations: Supply chain management, quality control, productivity optimization
  • Human Resources: Team management, recruitment, performance management, conflict resolution
  • Legal and Regulatory: Cooperative law, business registration, tax compliance, contracts

Phase 3: Business Plan Development Support (Months 4-9)

• Provide facilitator support for each cooperative to develop comprehensive business plans including:
  • Executive summary and business description
  • Market analysis and marketing strategy
  • Operations plan and management structure
  • Financial projections and funding requirements
  • Implementation timeline and milestones
  • Risk analysis and contingency planning

Phase 4: Implementation Support and Mentorship (Months 6-18)

• Provide personalized coaching for each cooperative through:
  • Monthly one-on-one mentorship sessions
  • Quarterly business review meetings
  • On-site technical assistance visits
  • Problem-solving and troubleshooting support
  • Performance monitoring and adjustment guidance

4.2 Conservation-Compatible Enterprise Development

• Demonstrate viable business models for conservation-compatible enterprises through study tours

4.3 Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

• Strengthen cooperative governance structures and leadership
• Build financial management and accountability systems
• Develop internal monitoring and evaluation capabilities
• Enhance member engagement and participation
• Support development of cooperative policies and procedures

4.4 Market Linkage and Network Development

• Facilitate connections with potential customers and markets
• Support participation in trade fairs and business exhibitions
• Connect cooperatives with financial institutions and investors
• Build partnerships with private sector companies
• Link cooperatives with relevant business development services

5. REQUIRED ORGANIZATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

5.1 Organizational Requirements

• Legal Status: Registered NGO in Rwanda with valid operating license
• Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience in community livelihood development
• Sectoral Expertise: Proven track record in cooperative development and small business incubation
• Geographic Presence: Active operations or strong networks in Northern Rwanda
• Language Capacity: Staff fluency in English and Kinyarwanda

5.4 Required Staff Expertise

The implementing NGO must have access to the following expertise:

Lead Business Development Specialist

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, or related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in business incubation or SME development
• Proven track record in business plan development and mentorship
• Experience with cooperative development

Financial Management Trainer

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field
• Minimum 3 years experience in financial literacy training
• Knowledge of microfinance and cooperative financial management
• Certification in financial training preferred

Marketing and Operations Specialist

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or related field
• Minimum 3 years experience in marketing and business operations
• Knowledge of digital marketing and e-commerce
• Experience with rural and conservation-based enterprises

Training Coordinator

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Training, or related field
• Minimum 3 years experience in adult education and training
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda
• Experience with participatory training methodologies

6. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

6.1 Program Design and Assessment (Months 1-2)

• Comprehensive assessment report of 12 youth cooperatives
• Customized business incubation program design document
• Training curriculum and materials (English and Kinyarwanda)
• Baseline assessment report on business development indicators
• Program implementation workplan and timeline

6.2 Training and Capacity Building (Months 3-6)

• 1-week intensive business plan development workshop delivered to all cooperatives
• Specialized workshop modules on financial literacy, marketing, operations, and HR
• 12 comprehensive business plans developed with facilitator support
• Training evaluation reports and participant feedback
• Capacity assessment reports showing skill improvements

6.3 Business Model Demonstration (Months 6-12)

• Documentation of viable business models for conservation-compatible enterprises
• Case studies of successful cooperative enterprises with replication potential
• Best practices documentation and lessons learned

6.4 Ongoing Mentorship and Support (Months 6-18)

• Monthly personalized coaching sessions for each cooperative (144 sessions total)
• Quarterly business review reports for all cooperatives
• Individual cooperative progress reports (quarterly)
• Market linkage facilitation reports
• Business performance monitoring data

6.5 Final Outcomes and Sustainability (Month 18)

• Final evaluation report on program effectiveness
• Impact assessment of business development outcomes
• Sustainability plans for each cooperative
• Recommendations for program replication and scaling
• Comprehensive documentation of program methodology

7. EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACT INDICATORS

7.1 Immediate Outcomes (6 months)

• 12 youth cooperatives with enhanced business development skills
• 12 comprehensive, bankable business plans developed
• 100% of participants completing core training modules
• Demonstrated improvement in financial literacy scores (minimum 40% increase)
• Established business networks and market connections

7.2 Intermediate Outcomes (12 months)

• At least 8 cooperatives implementing their business plans
• Creation of 150 direct jobs within the cooperatives
• Generated revenue of at least USD 50,000 across all cooperatives
• 6 viable business models documented for replication
• Improved cooperative governance and management systems

8. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

8.1 Technical Proposal (Maximum 15 pages)

1. Understanding of Assignment (2 pages)
   • Interpretation of project objectives and scope
   • Analysis of youth cooperative development challenges
   • Proposed value addition and innovation
2. Methodology and Approach (4 pages)
   • Business incubation program design and methodology
   • Training and mentorship approach
   • Conservation-compatible enterprise development strategy
   • Sustainability and scalability considerations
3. Implementation Plan (3 pages)
   • Detailed work plan with timelines and milestones
   • Resource allocation and management approach
   • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
   • Quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms
4. Team Composition and Management (3 pages)
   • Organizational structure and staff roles
   • Key personnel CVs and qualifications
   • Team management and coordination approach
5. Organizational Capacity (3 pages)
   • Organizational profile and relevant experience
   • Previous similar project implementations
   • Current projects and resource availability
   • References from previous clients

8.2 Financial Proposal

• Detailed budget breakdown by budget categories and time periods
• Unit costs for training sessions, mentorship hours, and other services
• Cost narrative explaining budget assumptions and calculations
• Value for money demonstration showing cost-effectiveness

8.3 Supporting Documents

• Certificate of incorporation and NGO registration documents
• Tax clearance certificate and compliance documents
• CVs of key personnel (maximum 2 pages each)
• References from previous clients (minimum 3 references)
• Sample training materials and business development tools
• Organizational profile and marketing materials

9. EVALUATION CRITERIA

9.1 Technical Evaluation (70% weight)

Minimum technical score to qualify for financial evaluation: 70 points

9.2 Financial Evaluation (30% weight)

• Cost reasonableness and competitiveness
• Value for money and cost-effectiveness
• Budget clarity and justification
• Payment schedule acceptability

9.3 Final Ranking

Final ranking will be based on the combined technical and financial scores using the 70:30 weighting ratio.

10. APPLICATION PROCESS

10.1 Full Proposal Submission

• Submission Deadline: 25 August 2025
• Submission Method: email to rwprocurement@awf.org
• Email Subject: "Business Incubation Mentor - [Organization Name]"
• Format: PDF documents, maximum total size 15MB

Note: This Terms of Reference may be amended or clarified based on stakeholder feedback and donor requirements. All interested organizations are advised to monitor communications for any updates.