REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP): Selection of National Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (NESOs) in Ethiopia and Kenya

Issued By: FC Africa

Programme: Green RISE Africa

ABOUT FC AFRICA     

FC Africa is a pan-African economic development organization established in 2006, with offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda. The organization works at the intersection of access to finance, workforce development, MSME support, and blended finance, and increasingly applies data and AI-enabled approaches to improve targeting, efficiency, and accountability.

FC Africa operates across three organizational capabilities, Development, Investment, and Advisory, mobilizing capital, partnerships, and technical expertise in close collaboration with governments, financial institutions, and private-sector partners to strengthen regional markets and expand economic opportunity across East Africa.

FC Africa is currently supporting the implementation design of the Green RISE Africa

and seeks to establish a network of high-performing national Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) capable of delivering enterprise support services at scale.

ABOUT GREEN RISE AFRICA PROGRAM  

Green RISE Africa (Resilient Impact through Sustainable Entrepreneurship) is a five-year initiative implemented by Acumen across sixteen African countries. The programme aims to strengthen Africa’s emerging green economy while expanding dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people, particularly young women living in poverty.

Recognizing that thousands of African entrepreneurs are already developing innovative solutions to address climate change, food security, renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth, Green RISE Africa seeks to unlock the barriers that continue to limit their growth. Through enterprise development, ecosystem strengthening, improved access to finance and markets, leadership development, and business support services, the programme aims to accelerate the growth of sustainable green enterprises across the continent.

As one of the Lead Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (Lead ESOs) under the programme, FC Africa is leading implementation across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Working through a network of National Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (NESOs), financial institutions, governments, and private sector partners, the project will support 26,550 nano and micro enterprises to strengthen their businesses, improve access to finance and markets, and adopt sustainable green business models.

Across the three countries, the programme aims to create and improve 59,000 dignified and fulfilling green jobs, with at least 70% benefiting young women, while strengthening inclusive, resilient, and market-driven green entrepreneurship ecosystems that contribute to long-term economic growth and climate resilience across East Africa.

Core Programme Objectives

The programme seeks to:

• Increase participation of youth and women in green economic opportunities.

Expand access to entrepreneurship, employment, and income-generating opportunities (IGAs) for young people and women, particularly those living in poverty, by reducing barriers to participation and supporting their engagement in high-potential green sectors.

• Support the growth and sustainability of green enterprises.

Strengthen the capacity, competitiveness, and resilience of nano and micro enterprises through business development services, mentorship, technical assistance, and access to ecosystem support that enables long-term growth.

• Expand access to finance and markets.

Improve enterprise readiness for financing and facilitate linkages with financial institutions, investors, buyers, and market actors to unlock opportunities for business expansion and increased revenues.

• Promote climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable business models.

Encourage the adoption of sustainable production practices, resource-efficient technologies, and climate-smart solutions that contribute to environmental protection while improving enterprise performance.

• Create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities at scale.

Support the creation of new jobs, improvement of existing livelihoods, and expansion of income-generating opportunities that provide sustainable earnings, economic security, and pathways for personal and professional growth.

• Strengthen local entrepreneurship support ecosystems.

Build the capacity of Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs), strengthen collaboration among ecosystem actors, and enhance the availability of quality support services that enable entrepreneurs to start, grow, and sustain successful businesses.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

FC Africa is seeking to competitively identify and engage qualified national Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (NESOs) capable of delivering enterprise development services to nano and micro enterprises operating within priority green economy sectors.

Selected NESOs will support the implementation of Green RISE Africa by identifying, mobilizing, strengthening, mentoring, coaching and linking enterprises to finance and markets while contributing to the programme’s Youth in Work (YiW) outcomes.

A maximum of three (3) national ESOs will be selected across the two countries.

Priority Green Economy Sectors for this round:

1.1. Circular Economy

Support will focus on enterprises involved in waste collection, segregation, recycling, such as composting, resource recovery, plastic recycling, and other circular economy business models that promote environmental sustainability and green job creation.

1.2. Renewable Energy

The programme will support enterprises involved in solar energy distribution, solar energy technology system, solar installation and maintenance, clean cooking solutions, productive-use energy technologies, and related renewable energy services.

1.3. Eco-Tourism

Support will target sustainable tourism enterprises, community-based tourism initiatives, eco-lodges, conservation-linked enterprises, and other environmentally responsible tourism businesses.

The programme recognizes that these sectors are interconnected and that enterprises operating within one sector often create opportunities and demand within another.

Target Participants 

The programme primarily targets:

• Nano enterprises.
• Micro enterprises.
• Youth entrepreneurs – from 18-35 years old
• Women-owned and women-led businesses.
• Rural and peri-urban enterprises.
• Green and climate-positive enterprises.
• Underserved and economically vulnerable populations.

A minimum of 70% of programme participants will be women, and special attention will be given to ensuring inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups (7% will be Forcibly Displaced People- FDP and 3%- people with disabilities- PWD)

 

Sector Flexibility for Applicants

Green RISE Africa recognizes that Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) possess varying levels of technical expertise, sector specialization, geographic coverage, and implementation capacity across the programme’s -three priority sectors: – Circular Economy, Renewable Energy, and EcoTourism. To encourage participation from a diverse range of qualified organizations, consulting firms, business associations, applicants may apply based on their demonstrated strengths, sector expertise, and comparative advantages.

Applicants may apply to support:

• A single sector of specialization, where the organization has deep technical expertise, a proven implementation track record, and established partnerships within a specific green economy sector.
• Multiple sectors, where the organization has demonstrated capacity and experience delivering enterprise support services across two or more priority sectors and can effectively manage sector-specific interventions.
• All priority sectors, where the organization can demonstrate comprehensive technical expertise, operational capacity, qualified personnel, and a strong track record of supporting enterprises across the full range of programme sectors.

Organizations are encouraged to apply only for sectors where they can demonstrate credible experience, technical competence, and the ability to achieve programme results at scale.

The final selection of national ESOs will be based on a comprehensive assessment of:

• Demonstrated technical expertise and sector-specific experience.
• Proven track record in enterprise development, youth employment, and women’s economic empowerment.
• Geographic presence and ability to effectively operate within the proposed implementation areas.
• Institutional capacity, staffing, governance, and financial management systems.
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes and achieving measurable results.
• Capacity to implement GESI, safeguarding, monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Ability to contribute to the programme’s Youth in Work targets and broader green economy objectives.

FC Africa reserves the right to select organizations for different sectors and geographic areas based on overall programme needs, sector coverage requirements, and the strength of submitted proposals.

GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

Selected NESOs will operate within designated implementation clusters and demonstrate the ability to effectively serve enterprises within those locations. Ethiopia

 

Kenya

 

TARGET BENEFICIARIES

The programme will support entrepreneurs – with the potential to create sustainable livelihoods, contribute to environmental sustainability, and drive inclusive economic growth. Priority beneficiaries include:

• Nano Enterprises: Early-stage and informal businesses requiring foundational business support and growth opportunities with maximum number of employees of 2
• Micro Enterprises: Small businesses with potential to scale, increase productivity, and create jobs with 3-5 employees
• Youth Entrepreneurs: Young people seeking to start, grow, or strengthen green enterprises with the age of 18-35
• Women-Owned and Women-Led Businesses: Enterprises owned or managed by women, with a strong focus on economic empowerment.
• Rural and Peri-Urban Enterprises: Businesses operating in underserved rural communities, secondary cities, and growth corridors.
• Green and Climate-Positive Enterprises: circular economy, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and other sustainable sectors.
• Underserved and Vulnerable Populations: Including women living in poverty, persons with disabilities (PWDs), forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), and other marginalized groups.

Gender Inclusion Requirement

A minimum of 70% of programme participants must be women. Applicants are expected to demonstrate practical strategies for recruiting, supporting, and retaining women entrepreneurs, while ensuring inclusive participation of persons with disabilities, forcibly displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups throughout programme implementation.

Year 1 PERFORMANCE TARGETS

Year 1 targets are expected to be achieved through the combined efforts of selected NESOs.

Enterprise Portfolio Requirements

Selected NESOs shall ensure that the enterprise portfolio contributes to the programme’s inclusion objectives

• At least 70% of Youth in Work beneficiaries shall be young women.
• At least 7% shall be Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs), including refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons.
• At least 3% shall be Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Enterprise composition is expected to comprise approximately:

• 70% Nano enterprises (maximum of two employees including the owner); and
• 30% Micro enterprises (three to five employees including the owner).

Applicants are expected to demonstrate practical strategies for achieving these portfolio requirements.

Youth in Work (YiW) Performance Categories

For programme reporting purposes, Youth in Work outcomes comprise three categories:

 

New Jobs (50%)

Young people who were not previously engaged in any income-generating activity before programme participation and who are subsequently engaged in selfemployment or wage employment.

Improved Jobs (35%)

Young people whose existing work has measurably improved through programme support, including increased income, improved working conditions, enhanced productivity, greater job security, improved dignity and respect at work, or business growth.

Additional Jobs (15%)

Young people who were already engaged in an income-generating activity, but who establish an additional sustainable source of income following programme support.

SCOPE OF WORK

Selected ESOs will be responsible for the delivery of enterprise development services and job creation within their approved geographic and sectoral areas.

Outreach and Enterprise Mobilization

The ESO will identify, recruit, and onboard eligible enterprises through targeted outreach strategies that leverage local ecosystem actors, community structures, cooperatives, youth networks, business associations, and local government institutions.

Activities will include:

• Community awareness and sensitization campaigns.
• Recruitment and registration of eligible enterprises.
• Targeted outreach to women entrepreneurs and underserved populations.
• Verification of participant eligibility.
• Collection of baseline participant and enterprise data.

Applicants should demonstrate existing networks and relationships that enable efficient access to target enterprises.

 

Enterprise Diagnostics and Segmentation

Selected NESOs will conduct enterprise tailored business diagnostics for each enterprise to assess their business maturity, growth potential, financing needs, market readiness, and green economy opportunities.

Business diagnostic outputs should enable enterprises to be segmented into appropriate support pathways and should inform the development of customized enterprise support plans.

Areas assessed will include:

• Business performance.
• Market access.
• Financial readiness.
• Green business opportunities.
• Management capacity.
• Growth constraints.

Business Development Services (BDS)

NESOs will provide tailored business development support designed to strengthen enterprise performance and increase the likelihood of sustainable growth and job creation for women and youth. NESOs should utilize Business Development Services (BDS) through face-to-face and digital platforms. Support areas may include:

• Entrepreneurship and business management.
• Sustainable business practice with special focus on green practice • Identification of green technologies tailored to specific needs of enterprises
• Financial literacy and record keeping.
• Marketing and sales.
• Customer acquisition and retention.
• Productivity enhancement.
• Business formalization.
• Strategic planning and growth management.

Mentorship and Coaching

Selected ESOs will provide ongoing mentorship, advisory and coaching to participating enterprises throughout the programme lifecycle for a minimum of 3 months with a total of twelve one on one coaching sessions through face-to-face and digital platforms.

This will include:

• Minimum of twelve one-on-one coaching sessions at least 8 sessions should be face to face.
• Group mentoring activities.
• Peer learning opportunities.
• Exposure visits.
• Technical advisory support.

The objective is to help enterprises apply learning, overcome business challenges, and improve performance.

Green Enterprise Development

ESOs will provide sector-specific support to enterprises operating within the selected green economy sectors. Support should focus on improving sustainability, competitiveness, climate resilience, and market opportunities while promoting environmentally responsible business practices.

Applicants should clearly demonstrate sector expertise relevant to the sectors for which they are applying.

Access to Finance Facilitation

Selected ESOs will support enterprises to improve their access to financial services by:

• Conducting finance readiness assessments in general and green finance need assessment in particular.
• Strengthening financial management systems.
• Facilitating and create linkages with banks, SACCOs, MFIs, investors, and other financial institutions to access credit
• Supporting enterprises to prepare financing applications and investment proposals.

The programme is expected to facilitate access as a mandatory requirement to finance but does not provide direct grants to enterprises.

Market Linkages and Ecosystem Integration

The ESO will facilitate connections between participating enterprises and relevant market actors.

Activities may include:

• Buyer-seller forums.
• Business-to-business matchmaking.
• Cooperative engagement.
• Value chain integration.
• Partnership development.
• Market access facilitation.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning

Selected NESOs will collect and submit programme data using FC Africa-approved systems and tools.

Responsibilities include:

• Participant registration and tracking.
• Enterprise performance monitoring.
• Job outcome verification support.
• Submission of monthly and quarterly reports.
• Participation in programme learning and review sessions.

Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Safeguarding

Applicants must demonstrate robust systems and procedures related to:

• Gender-responsive programming.
• Social inclusion.
• Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
• Safeguarding compliance.
• Complaints handling and referral mechanisms.
• Protection of vulnerable participants.

Note: Each enterprise shall only be counted once toward enterprise support targets, irrespective of the number of interventions received.

DELIVERABLES

The selected ESO will be expected to deliver the following outputs:

CONTRACT DURATION 

The initial contract shall cover a period of 10 months. 

WORKING ARRANGEMENT

• Selected National Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (NESOs) will be working under a contract with FC Africa and shall operate under the overall coordination and supervision of FC Africa as the Lead Entrepreneurship Support Organization. Each selected NESO shall:
• Report to the assigned FC Africa Country Programme Director and Country Managers
• Work closely with FC Africa technical specialists, MERL team, GESI team, and Access to Finance specialists.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings convened by FC Africa.
• Submit all reports using FC Africa-approved templates and systems.
• Participate in programme review meetings, learning events, and performance assessments.
• Obtain written approval from FC Africa before implementing significant changes to approved work plans.
• work within the required deadlines and be available by schedule, which can be adapted at any time as deemed necessary.
• A selected NESO may be assigned to one or more implementation clusters, regions, districts, sectors, or beneficiary segments. Final assignments will be determined by FC Africa based on programme requirements and implementation planning.

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS