Terms of Reference for Capacity Strengthening of Nepali IT Companies

Terms of Reference for Capacity Strengthening of Nepali IT Companies

1. BACKGROUND

The UK Nepal – Nepal in Business – Growth Advisors (NiB-GA) programme, launched in July 2024, is a five- year initiative funded by UK International Development and implemented by DAI Global UK. NiB-GA aims to unlock economic prosperity in Nepal by fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), creating new jobs, and driving private sector-led economic growth. NiB-GA consists of two main components:

• Business Support Facility: Providing technical assistance and grants to SMEs to enhance their productivity, competitiveness, and potential for job creation.
• Business Environment Reform Facility: Engaging with government stakeholders to reform business regulations, reduce trade barriers, and improve the overall enabling environment for businesses in Nepal. 

2. INTRODUCTION

Nepal has witnessed a remarkable boom in the ICT sector, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.  In 2022, Nepal exported IT services worth USD 515.4 million, marking a 64.2% increase from the previous year. It contributes 1.4% to Nepal’s GDP and 5.5% of the country’s foreign exchange reserves.  The ICT sector has also emerged as one of the largest employment generators in Nepal, and its growth trajectory indicates greater potential in the future. Even though Nepali IT products and services are of high quality, their limited marketing and communication expertise prevent them from establishing a robust domestic and international presence. This challenge has become a major barrier to access market, generating sufficient jobs and attracting investment in the sector. To achieve this, NiB-GA and Nepal Association for Software and IT services companies (NAS-IT) are looking for an industry expert to provide mentorship support to IT companies to strengthen their investment pitch which includes customised advisories in addition to pitching skills, such as marketing and communication skills.

3. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

After the successful conclusion of the first investment readiness cohort back in March 2026 which resulted in one of the companies who went through the mentorship receiving investment, the second investment readiness cohort will also focus on strengthening the capabilities of selected IT companies by providing mentorship and guidance on developing effective pitch decks, enhancing presentation and communication skills, and grooming companies to confidently pitch their ideas to both national and international investors. The companies will then be provided with an opportunity to pitch their investment requirements to an investor’s meet program, separately designed by NAS-IT and NiB-GA. The specific scope of this assignment entails:

• Mentorship to six to ten selected IT companies to refine their business models that make the company more attractive to investors. 
• Support in developing pitch decks for national and international investors.
• Enhance the companies’ leadership’s presentation and communication skills towards pitch readiness

4. SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

The consultant/firm will be responsible for the following tasks and deliverables:

5. QUALIFICATIONS 

• Minimum of a master’s degree in business administration, Information Technology, Management Economics, Finance, and/or relevant educational qualifications
• Minimum 7 to10 years of professional experience in the IT sector development, business advisory services, marketing, and business development
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring or coaching IT companies, startups, or SMEs, particularly in areas of business strategy, operations, and growth planning.
• Strong understanding of IT and digital services ecosystem, including software development, IT-enabled services, and emerging technologies.
• Experience working with industry associations, government agencies, and private companies.

6. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Interested service providers (individuals/firms) are invited to submit their interest via technical and budget proposals.

6.1. Technical proposal:

The technical proposal shall comprise:

• A two-pager approach on capacity strengthening of IT companies
• Timeline of the assignment 
• Composition of team members for the assignment
• CV of experts reflecting the experience of the expert/s in providing similar services.
• References of the past work.

6.2. Financial proposal:

The budget shall include the cost per company and experts’ days.

The budget shall include the budget notes.

6.3. Regulatory requirements

Interested service provider (firms) shall submit certificates of registration, VAT clearance, and renewal, as applicable, along with their technical and financial proposal.

7. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

The proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

8. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

For queries, the interested companies/individuals can submit their questions to the email address (procurement_NiB@dai.com) by 28 August 2026

The interested companies/individuals can submit the proposal (both technical and financial) via email to procurement_NiB@dai.com by 03 September 2026.

Only the shortlisted companies/individuals will be contacted further.

9. WORKING AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS 

The service provider will work under the supervision of NiB – GA and NAS-IT.