Request for Training proposal for conducting the ToT on Entrepreneurship development

A training Proposal for conducting the

TOT ON ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR SMALL AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES (SME) DEVELOPMENT TARGETED TO SELECTED PARTNERS’ STAFF OF THE BELIFE PROGRAM

STROMME FOUNDATION (SF)

COUNTRY OFFICE – NEPAL

G.P.O. BOX 8975 | EPC 1995 | LALITPUR METROPOLITAN CITY WARD NO:2|

SANEPA, LALITPUR | KATHMANDU | NEPAL, OFFICE +977 1 5550428

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

SF is a rights-based development Norwegian NGO that works towards a vision of a world free from poverty. Our most important interventions in the fight against poverty are education, economic inclusion/ job creation, and a strong civil society. SF works to ensure that all, especially those who are most marginalized, excluded, or discriminated against, have equal rights to economic resources, get their basic needs met, and can live a dignified life. Promoting social justice and ending poverty requires the transformation to a sustainable future. SF wants to contribute to a green economy that is socially inclusive, low-carbon, and resource-efficient. In line with SF’s Global Strategy and Theory of Change, SF’s program, Building Empowered and Resilient Communities by Strengthening Livelihoods, Inclusion, Education and Food Security (BELIEF) in Nepal, aims to eradicate poverty by supporting marginalized families to live in dignity through improved access to quality education and increased income generation. 

SF Nepal has been implementing the Samvad Program in partnership with local NGOs and collaborating with the government of Nepal since 2011 to educate and empower adolescent girls and boys in selected districts. More than 61,000 adolescents and youth have graduated from the Samvad Centers and are now engaged in various development sectors in Nepal. These graduates are organized into networks, which serve as platforms to utilize their learning and engage in social transformation through campaigns and advocacy. Most of the Samvad graduates are continuing their education at different levels, and some of the graduates who are between 19 to 25 years old are school dropouts and unemployed. Therefore, SF Nepal plans to provide them with knowledge, skills, and practices in Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) and support for starting their business for their decent work and income.

The SMEs are increasingly affected by climate change and environmental degradation. More frequent extreme weather conditions, increasing heat stress, resource scarcity, and the legislative and regulatory action driving the shift towards a more environmentally sustainable economy have significant implications on the resilience, productivity, and profitability of SMEs, which are vital for economic development and decent work. In this context, SMEs are facing challenges adopting green practices and seizing new green opportunities due to limited access to knowledge, technologies, finance, and market opportunities. This prevents many SMEs from making their full contribution to the transition towards a net-zero future. Thus, SF to ensure that SMEs benefit from and contribute to a Just Transition. This requires a systemic approach and a range of services to not only uplift but empower entrepreneurs and SMEs, in the formal and informal economy to overcome existing barriers and thrive in green and inclusive economies. SF is also planning to strengthen business resilience to climate change and environmental shocks and challenges; and innovating and seizing business opportunities focusing on green sectors and value chains, and the circular economy.

The SMEs play an important role in promoting decent works and incomes and contributing to the economic growth, reducing unemployment, and empowering youth in Nepal. With a large youth population and increasing challenges in the job market, promoting youth-led decent works and incomes is highly essential. This Training of Trainers (TOT) program aims to equip selected staffs of the partner NGOs (future trainers) with the knowledge, skills, behaviours and tools to effectively deliver small and micro-enterprises (SMEs) to targeted youth, enabling them to start, manage, and sustain their businesses.

The TOT program emphasizes practical, participatory, and context-specific approaches to ensure trainers can effectively guide youth in identifying business opportunities, developing business plans, accessing finance, and implementing marketing strategies. By empowering trainers, the program aims to create a ripple effect, enabling Samvad graduates to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the family’s economic and social progress. Through this initiative, SF Nepal is addressing the challenges faced by unemployed youth while promoting a culture of entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES/ EXPECTED RESULTS:

The purpose of this training is to build the capacity of the partners’ staff towards having adequate knowledge and skills to deliver the training and counselling, and facilitation services on business development and management to the targeted youth. Besides, develop a market-led approach to micro-enterprise development combined with the sequenced delivery of an integrated package of training and services, which will be the most effective way to strengthen sustainable SMEs to the targeted families in rural settings.

Objectives of the Training Program

The overall objective of the training is to enhance the knowledge and skills of SF partners on developing sustainable SMEs, business development, and management skills for existing entrepreneurs to operate their business in a more efficient manner through the BELIEF programme. The specific objectives are to;

• Build the capacity of partners in assessing the current capacity and future need for enterprise & entrepreneurship development and enabling them to plan and implement the programs effectively and efficiently.
• Enhance the capacity of partner staff on business management skills to provide better services to existing entrepreneurs to upgrade their businesses.
• Enhance the marketing skills, promote goods and services by advertising, sales promotion, distribution channel, etc.
• Enhance the knowledge and skills of the partner NGOs on promoting sustainable small and micro-enterprises for better employment and income generation for the targeted families.
• Provide trainers with practical tools and methodologies for teaching selected youth about business planning, financial management, marketing, and sustainability.
• Enhance trainers' understanding of the challenges and opportunities for youth-led micro-enterprises in Nepal.
• Create a pool of skilled trainers who can support youth in starting and growing their micro-enterprises

After the training program, participants will be able to learn/accomplish the following services.

• Identification and selection of potential entrepreneurs through community mobilization
• Analyze the market demand, available local resources, and people's demand.
• Facilitate SMEs development training
• Prepare a business plan
• Able to identify the need for skill training of beneficiaries
• Identify the requirements of appropriate technology for beneficiaries
• Analyze the need for promotion of products and services
• Provide basic business counseling to entrepreneurs
• Identify the tools and techniques for business management
• learn about the right model of distribution channel for their product and promotion of products and services
• Able to identify sales strategy
• Identify the method for Cost control of products and services
• Maintain/control quality in service and product
• Maintain basic bookkeeping of micro enterprises
• Manage a better workplace and increase productivity
• Monitoring and Evaluation of the enterprise

SCOPE OF WORK

The trainer/s will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Develop the training curricula and resource materials.
• Conduct Pre-training and post-training assessments of the training participants.
• Provide agreed training to the selected participants as the resource persons/ trainers.
• The TOT should cover the following key areas:

1. Introduction to Micro-Enterprise Development:

• Concepts, types, and importance of micro-enterprises.
• Challenges and opportunities for youth in Nepal.

2. Business Planning and Feasibility Analysis:

• Creativity and Assessing Business Opportunities
• Business Selection (Macro and Micro Screening
• Developing a business plan.
• Conducting market research and feasibility studies.

3. Financial Literacy and Access to Finance:

• Basics of financial management.
• Identifying sources of funding for micro-enterprises.
• Access to microfinance
• Basic Accounting

4. Marketing and Sales Strategies:

• Marketing Concept and Marketing Mix
• Developing marketing plans.
• Costing and Pricing of products and services
• Cost control / Quality control
• Using digital tools for marketing and sales.

5. Business counselling practices and demonstration

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Sustainability:

• Tracking progress and evaluating success.
• Business expansion and growth
• Ensuring long-term sustainability of micro-enterprises.

METHODOLOGY

Participatory action-oriented training methodology will be adopted during the training period. Group discussion, individual exercise, business game exercise, question answer, case stories, plenary discussion, and presentation will be used. Theoretical as well as practical exercise will be conducted during the training sessions. The detail session plan and methodology will be designed and delivered for the effective training.

DELIVERABLES

A technical and financial proposal for conducting the training with the training curriculum, and handout materials, as well as a detailed plan and timeline for the training and follow-up sessions.

Submit the training completion report one week after the training concludes.

TRAINER QUALIFICATIONS

To deliver master's training on youth-led small and micro-enterprise development, trainers should possess a combination of technical expertise, interpersonal skills, and teaching abilities. Here are some essential qualities:

• Trainers must have a deep understanding of small and micro-enterprise development, including business planning, financial management, marketing, and entrepreneurship skills.
• Effective communication is crucial for conveying complex concepts in an understandable way and engaging with participants.
• Trainers should be skilled in facilitating discussions, encouraging participation, and managing group dynamics.
• It is essential to be able to tailor training methods to the needs of diverse participants and respond to unexpected challenges.
• Understanding the unique challenges faced by youth and being sensitive to cultural and social contexts can make training more impactful.
• Trainers need to be well-prepared, organized, and capable of designing structured training programs.
• The ability to assess participants' progress and provide constructive feedback is vital for effective learning.
• Familiarity with digital tools and platforms can enhance the delivery of training.

TIMELINE

The entire process, including assessment, training, and post-training support, is expected to be completed by the first week of July 2025. The proposed dates for the training are July 1-7, 2025.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

The interested and qualified consultant/consulting firm must apply by 17:00 hours dated 15th of June 2025 via Email: sfpostnep@stromme.org The proposal should include the following documents:

• A training proposal, including methodology and curriculum, and references, including the implementation Plan.
• A financial proposal must include an estimate of direct costs related to the consultancy.
• Detailed curriculum vitae of the consultant and all team members
• VAT or PAN registration certificate (for both firms and individual consultants) with tax clearance certificate of FY 2080/81.

All terms and conditions will be included in the consultancy contract agreement. SF reserves the right to select or reject any Statement of Work (SoW) with its judgment, as well as cancel/terminate at any stage if a situation arises.