Call for Consultancy Services for Strengthening SME Coordination Platforms in Manufacturing Sectors in Ethiopia

1. Background

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in Ethiopia’s industrial development, job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic transformation. They contribute significantly across manufacturing sub-sectors including textile and garment, leather and leather products, agro-processing and food manufacturing, handicrafts, and solid waste management.

Despite their importance, SMEs continue to face structural and operational challenges such as weak coordination mechanisms, limited market access, inadequate representation, fragmented support systems, and insufficient platforms for collective engagement and advocacy. These challenges reduce their competitiveness and limit their contribution to national industrialization goals.

To address these gaps, the MABQAT Program, in collaboration with key stakeholders, aims to strengthen SME ecosystems through the establishment and enhancement of inclusive, functional, and sustainable SME coordination platforms. These platforms are expected to improve networking, policy engagement, knowledge sharing, market linkages, and collective problem-solving among SMEs and ecosystem actors.

The initiative aligns with national priorities on industrial development and complements existing efforts such as the Ethiopia Tamirt initiative, which promotes local production and import substitution, and broader ecosystem strengthening efforts under the Mabqat Program.

This Terms of Reference therefore seeks recruiting a qualified consultancy firm to conduct a comprehensive assessment and facilitate the establishment or strengthening of SME platforms within selected manufacturing sub-sectors.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

2.1 General Objective

To support the establishment and strengthening of sustainable, inclusive, and functional SME coordination platforms in selected manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia.

2.2 Specific Objectives

The consultancy aims to:

1. Assess existing SME coordination mechanisms, associations, and platforms in selected manufacturing sectors.
2. Identify institutional, governance, and operational gaps affecting SME platforms.
3. Map key stakeholders within the SME ecosystem, including public, private, and development actors.
4. Review national and international best practices on SME platforms and industrial coordination systems.
5. Design appropriate models for establishing or strengthening SME coordination platforms.
6. Facilitate inclusive stakeholder consultations and consensus-building processes.
7. Develop governance structures, operational frameworks, and sustainability mechanisms for platforms.
8. Support establishment or strengthening of sector-specific SME platforms.
9. Enhance capacity of platform leaders and stakeholders on governance, coordination, and advocacy.
10. Develop strategic and operational plans to ensure long-term platform sustainability.

3. Scope of Work

The consultancy firm will undertake a comprehensive assignment covering assessment, design, facilitation, and institutional strengthening of SME platforms.

The scope includes:

• Review of existing SME associations, clusters, and coordination mechanisms in targeted manufacturing sectors.
• Institutional assessment of platform governance, membership systems, operational capacity, and service delivery functions.
• Stakeholder consultations with SMEs, government institutions, chambers of commerce, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector actors.
• Identification of coordination gaps, representation challenges, and ecosystem weaknesses.
• Benchmarking of best practices from comparable national and international SME platforms.
• Design of tailored SME platform models suitable for Ethiopian manufacturing contexts.
• Facilitation of stakeholder validation workshops and consensus-building sessions.
• Development of governance frameworks including constitutions, bylaws, and operational manuals.
• Support for formal establishment or strengthening of SME platforms.
• Capacity building for platform leadership and members.
• Development of strategic and sustainability plans.
• Facilitation of initial networking and coordination activities among SMEs and stakeholders.

4. Key Activities

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Conducting inception meetings with PETCO Ethiopia and relevant stakeholders.
• Reviewing policies, studies, and existing coordination frameworks.
• Mapping SME associations, networks, and platforms.
• Conducting field assessments and stakeholder consultations.
• Preparing assessment and gap analysis reports.
• Developing platform establishment or strengthening frameworks.
• Facilitating validation workshops and stakeholder engagement forums.
• Designing governance structures, operational guidelines, and membership systems.
• Supporting platform registration and formalization processes where applicable.
• Delivering capacity-building sessions for SMEs and platform leaders.
• Developing strategic and operational plans for platforms.
• Supporting networking and collaboration events.
• Preparing all required reports and documentation.

5. Expected Deliverables

1. Inception Report with methodology and work plan
2. SME Platform Mapping and Assessment Report
3. Stakeholder Mapping and Ecosystem Analysis Report
4. Best Practice and Benchmarking Report
5. SME Platform Development Framework and Recommendations
6. Governance Frameworks (Constitution, Bylaws, Operational Guidelines)
7. Capacity Building Training Materials and Reports
8. Workshop and Consultation Reports
9. Strategic and Operational Plans for SME Platforms
10. Final Consolidated Consultancy Report

6. Methodology

The consultancy shall apply a participatory, inclusive, and evidence-based approach including:

• Desk review and policy analysis
• Field assessments and institutional diagnostics
• Stakeholder consultations and focus group discussions
• Participatory workshops and validation sessions
• Benchmarking of international best practices
• Gender-sensitive and inclusive facilitation approaches
• Continuous feedback and adaptive implementation mechanisms

7. Duration and Locations

• Duration: 45–60 working days
• Locations: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Mekelle, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa, including selected SME clusters and coordination centers

8. Roles and Responsibilities

Consultancy Firm:

• Conduct assessments, stakeholder engagement, and platform design
• Develop governance frameworks and operational tools
• Facilitate consultations, workshops, and capacity building
• Support establishment and strengthening of SME platforms
• Deliver all required outputs and reports

PETCO Ethiopia / MABQAT Program:

• Provide overall coordination and technical guidance
• Facilitate stakeholder access and institutional support
• Review and approve deliverables
• Support validation and dissemination processes

Consultant Qualifications

The consultancy firm should demonstrate:

• Proven experience in SME development and industrial ecosystem strengthening
• Expertise in institutional development and platform facilitation
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and participatory processes
• Capacity in governance system design and organizational development
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills
• Experience working with government, private sector, and development partners

10. Team Composition

The consultancy team should include:

• Team Leader / Institutional Development Expert
• SME and Manufacturing Sector Specialist
• Governance and Organizational Development Expert
• Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation Specialist
• Strategic Planning Expert
• Capacity Building and Training Specialist
• Research and Policy Analysis Expert

11. Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Weight
Relevant Experience in SME & Industrial Development	25%
Technical Approach & Methodology	30%
Qualification of Key Experts	20%
Financial Proposal	15%
Proposal Quality & Presentation	10%
Total	100%

12. Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Technical Proposal (methodology, work plan, approach)
• Financial Proposal (detailed budget breakdown)
• CVs of key experts
• Legal registration and business license