Terms of Reference (TOR) Private Business Advisory for Growth (P-BAG) for MSEs and Start-ups

The selected service providers (possibly two) will execute this scale-up assignment within five months through four interrelated pillars designed to assess, scale, and validate commercial viability and sustainability of fee-based business advisory service. The service providers will anchor design based on rapid business advisory service market, LIWAY pilot learning of fee-based service and findings of business diagnosis of start-ups. The current business advisory service branded as Private-Business Advisory for Growth (P-BAG) model targeting MSEs and start-up enterprises in Addis Ababa.

1. Quick Market Assessment: Quickly analyze the local business advisory ecosystem to map out the main challenges holding back MSEs and start-ups. This assessment will focus on specific gaps like weak business management, limited access to finance, low productivity, poor market linkages, and low business resilience. The findings will be used to tailor the advisory support to the exact needs of the enterprises.

2. Advisory Model: Design a practical plan to scale a fee-based, market-driven business advisory model that makes commercial sense for both the service providers and the enterprises. This includes defining clear service packages, delivery channels, quality control systems, pricing structures, and commercial incentives. The final model must ensure private-sector ownership and long-term financial sustainability without relying on donor support.

3. Implementation and Business Linkages: Roll out the advisory model by providing hands-on, customized support to selected MSEs and start-ups. Key activities include conducting business health checks, optimizing daily operations and financial management, and improving investment readiness. Additionally, the provider will actively connect these enterprises with commercial banks, investors, buyers, and broader market opportunities to accelerate their growth.

4. Results Tracking and Sustainability: Track enterprise performance and project outcomes to gather clear evidence on business growth and the enterprises’ willingness to pay for services. The provider will document these lessons learned and build a clear commercial viability roadmap. This final report will show how local market actors can independently run, finance, and expand the advisory services after this specific contract ends.

Required Qualifications.

• Proven experience in designing, delivering, and managing business advisory services for MSMEs, including enterprise development, financial management, market access, digital solutions, and Market Systems Development (MSD).
• Demonstrated experience in developing commercially sustainable, fee-based business advisory or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models with clear scalability, affordability, and reduced reliance on donor funding.
• Experience establishing or strengthening enterprise support platforms, business advisory centers, or digital ecosystems that improve MSMEs’ access to advisory services, finance, markets, and business networks.
• Strong understanding of the Ethiopian MSME ecosystem, including key challenges, support services, and opportunities for sustainable, market-driven solutions.
• Proven experience in developing and delivering MSME business advisory training materials and programs.
• Strong ethics, safeguarding, and data protection practices.
• Excellent English for reports and presentations, and Amharic proficiency for field implementation.

Core Team (Required Roles)

A. Team Led: Business Management Expert

• Education: Master’s degree (preferred) or bachelor’s degree in business administration, Management, Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 7 years (MSc) or 10 years (BSc) in MSME Business Advisory and Development Services (BDS), including enterprise development, financial management, market access, and MSME coaching. Experience with women- and youth-led enterprises and Market Systems Development (MSD) is an advantage. Participation in at least five (5) similar assignments is required.

B. Illustrative Evidence

• 3 relevant assignments in the last 5 years: title, client, year, country, brief objective, role, and outcome.
• References: at least two client referees on relevant assignments.