Terms of Reference (TOR): Development and Piloting of an AI-Assisted Digital and Financial Literacy Learning Platform for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)

The service provider will undertake a rapid ecosystem assessment to understand existing initiatives, tools, platforms, and learning resources related to digital literacy and financial literacy. The assessment should include a review of publicly available resources, consultations with key stakeholders, and an analysis of existing solutions in order to identify gaps, avoid duplication, and determine opportunities for collaboration.

Building on the findings of the assessment, the service provider will design and develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of an AI-assisted learning platform. The platform should provide simple, practical, and context-specific learning content focused on digital literacy and financial literacy for women- and youth-led MSEs. The service provider is encouraged to leverage existing learning materials where appropriate and adapt them to local needs rather than developing all content from scratch.

The platform should utilize AI as a learning support mechanism that helps users navigate content, answer questions based on approved learning materials, recommend relevant modules, and guide users through their learning journey. The AI functionality should be designed to support learning and knowledge acquisition and should not provide financial advice or recommendations.

The service provider will pilot the platform with representative users (100 MSEs), including women entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, and individuals with low literacy levels. Feedback gathered during the pilot phase should be used to refine the platform and inform recommendations for future scale-up.

• LIWAY seeks a service provider with a strong combination of technical, educational, and market systems expertise.
• The service provider should demonstrate proven experience in the design and development of digital platforms, mobile learning applications, digital education solutions, or technology-enabled learning systems. Experience developing AI-enabled solutions, conversational interfaces, knowledge assistants, or intelligent learning systems will be considered an advantage.
• The provider should have demonstrated expertise in digital literacy, financial literacy, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, workforce development, or related fields. Experience working with women, youth, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable populations is highly desirable.
• The proposed team should collectively demonstrate experience in user-centered design, instructional design, content development, software development, AI integration, accessibility and inclusive design, qualitative and quantitative research, and pilot testing of digital products.
• Strong understanding of Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem, digital financial services landscape, and local language content development is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in AI Powered software development
• Proven experience and understanding of the financial sector and the MSEs landscape
• Experience in self-supported learning materials.
• Robust ethics, safeguarding, and data protection protocols in prior projects.
• Language: Excellent English (reports, presentations); Amharic for fieldwork.

Please refer the ToR for complete details: >>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1elvQ__Z_5lM5El-Mewk5cHVgDlMZ7Rx0/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100196715550210544788&rtpof=true&sd=true