Entrepreneurship Development Expert

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 94096.

The consultancy is planned within the Economic Governance for Growth (EGG) project (2018-2021), primarily funded by the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). As part of the UNDP BiH’s Rural and Regional Development Sector’s portfolio, the EGG Project works to improve economic development opportunities in BiH and generate employment in promising industrial sectors. Key project deliverables include creating a governance framework conducive to economic development, improving the current public finance management system, support to start-up generation in advanced technological area and strengthening the capacities of the education system to respond to modern economy labor force needs. Pursuing an integrated approach to generating economic growth opportunities in target localities, the EGG project envisages the following activities:

• Support fast-growing, export-oriented industries via tailor-made assistance to emerging and mature entrepreneurs;
• Nurture entrepreneurs of the future via STEM academies and “fab labs” across the project area, coupled with piloting entrepreneurship curricula in secondary schools;
• Upgrade entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem capabilities and facilitate regional networking and partnership opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and their enablers;
• Upgrade economic infrastructure and increase effectiveness/size of government-to-business incentive programs through better public expenditure management.

This consultancy will take place within the economic governance component of the Project and, as such, the Consultant will be tasked with: 1) identifying critical legal, operational and financial barriers to entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as formulating recommendations to drive policy and programmatic interventions aimed at negotiating and/or depressing said barriers; and, 2) mapping entrepreneurship enabling infrastructure nationwide, to include hubs, financing facilities, training academies and resource centers that aspiring entrepreneurs can gain access to in order to improve the chances of their business’ success.  

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultancy will provide substantive inputs to policy makers and donors alike on how to help create a better enabling environment for entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina by mapping and addressing both deficiencies and opportunities inherent in their current operating context.Within this context, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Identify critical operational, legal and financial barriers to entrepreneurship;
2. Map relevant entrepreneurship support and resource networks and facilities in the country;
3. Produce report with recommendations on how to most effectively remove or depress barriers to entrepreneurship and better utilize available development opportunities.

The consultancy will be based on methodology prepared by the Consultant and approved by the EGG Project Team.Task 1: Map critical barriers to entrepreneurshipTo better understand barriers to increasing entrepreneurial activity, the Consultant will design and administer a survey of no fewer than 50 entrepreneurs from fastest growing, high-revenue industries in the country, respecting their geographical and entity distribution. The survey will, among others, look for barriers in the following areas: support and resource systems; access to finance and markets; cultural and mindset considerations; skills, training and education; policy and regulatory framework; and administrative performance.In addition to quantitative data collection, the mapping exercise will also take in interviews with no fewer than 10 entrepreneurs, as well as policy makers (five each), in an attempt to establish what the prevalent obstacles faced by enterprises are, taking in both perspectives. Based on survey and interview results, the Consultant will evaluate results against relevant regional and global trends and formulate recommendations for how to effectively bypass all the barriers identified. Here the Consultant will also be expected to consider specific examples from EU countries, and the Union’s newest members in particular.  The number of days allocated for this Task will not exceed twenty (20).Task 2: Map relevant entrepreneurship support and resource networksThe Consultant is expected to identify and map entrepreneurship support schemes and resource networks at both regional (provincial) and national levels. The mapping exercise will take in all public and private organisations, corporations, universities, financial institutions, and associations that have a stated mandate, and demonstrated track record, in facilitating and enabling entrepreneurship development. The results of the mapping will be included in an overview document with a brief description of the services on offer for each of the providers surveyed. Here the Consultant will also be expected to compare and contrast the country’s enabling institutional framework with its European counterparts in regards to the scope and quality of services on offer.The number of days allocated for this Task will not exceed ten (10).Task 3: Produce draft report, and presentation, with recommendationsCombining the results of the previous two tasks, the Consultant will draft a report  with findings and recommendations, drawing on relevant EU best practices in entrepreneurship development and support. The draft report will be submitted to the Project Team for review and approval while the length of the documents is not expected to be longer than 30 pages. Once the report is approved, the Consultant will be expected to develop a presentation of key findings and recommendations for public consumption.The number of days allocated for this Task will not exceed five (5).Deliverables/outputsThe Project Team will closely oversee service provision, working in continuous coordination with the Consultant.The service deliverables, including papers and all relevant materials, will be available for future use within the EGG Project and by the relevant stakeholders, as well as by UNDP and other projects in the field of local governance. The entire service will be delivered in official languages of BiH.The Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:Deliverables/outputs

#	Deliverables / Outputs	# of Days per Task	Due Date	Percentage
	Task 1: Map critical barriers to entrepreneurship•              Mapping findings produced and endorsed by Project Team.	20 expert days	05 October 2020	55%
	Task 2: Map relevant entrepreneurship support and resource networks Mapping findings produced and endorsed by Project Team.	10 expert days	20 October 2020	30%
	Task 3: Produce draft report, and presentation, with recommendations Report produced and endorsed by Project Team. Presentation produced and endorsed by Project Team.	5 expert days	15 November 2020	15%

 

 

Competencies

 Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Communication: Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match target audiences;
• Team work: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs and matching them to appropriate solutions.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education 

• Advanced university degree in economics, business administration or other related field. 

Experience 

• 10 years of relevant experience in the field of entrepreneurship, business development, financial management, local development, strategic development or sustainability management;
• Previous experience in performing similar tasks;
• Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly;
• Proven communication, facilitation and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives, donors and other stakeholders.

Languages Requirements

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in in the official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in English.

Other Requirements

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Criteria:	Points
Relevant Education	max 15 points5 points allocated for BA/BSc degree+ 5 points for MSc/MA+ up to 5 points for PhD
Relevant professional experience	max 15 points
Prior work experience with UNDP/UN Agencies	max 10 points
Knowledge of English	max 5 points - will be assessed as:5 points for fluency and the points decrease as per the level mentioned in the CV:good - 4 points;fair/upper intermediate – 3 points;intermediate - 2 points;beginner - 1 point.

 

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria:	Points
Rating based on Qualifications	30%
Knowledge of relevant policies/documents/or other specific criteria	15%
Interview or submitted methodology	55%

 

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, andb) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.•* Technical Criteria weight-70%•* Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal:

• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
• Cover letter
• Personal CV, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.
• Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant

 

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.