Duties and Responsibilities
1. Background The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium sized enterprise (SMEs) in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the framework within the frameworks of the Aid for Trade agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ITC is implementing the Strengthening Agribusiness Resilience and Competitiveness (STAR) project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) from 2022 – 2026. The project aims to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in 10 districts across Northern and North-Eastern Uganda with a focus on increasing the competitiveness and natural disaster resilience of SMEs and farming households. The project targets 10,000 agricultural/agro-pastoral households and 60 SMEs, in the cassava, shea and oilseed value chains. The project also works with Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to help capacitate them to execute specific functions, in line with their mandates, to better support SMEs and producer organizations to increase their resilience to natural disasters. ITC implements STAR in collaboration with World Vision Uganda and coordinates closely with relevant government bodies (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Ministry of Water and Environment), development partners and the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) committees in the 10 district local governments. The following outputs are expected upon implementation of the project: • Output 1: Capacity of producers and SMEs to become more competitive and resilient to natural disaster risks increase; through awareness raising, capacity building measures, coaching, connection with service providers and to grant schemes. • Output 2: Enhanced structures of community-based disaster risk management • Output 3: Improved service offering of BSOs and other service providers to build SMEs’ natural disaster risk resilience and competitiveness. • Output 4: Strengthened national strategies and policies to improve natural disaster risk resilience and competitiveness of the target agricultural value chain. The project launched a call for expression of interest for matching grants ranging from USD 5,000 – 15,000 for SMEs as part of the STAR cohort in the oilseed, shea and cassava sector. The goal of the matching grant is to enhance SME competitiveness, resilience, innovation and sustainability while at the same time improving livelihoods of farming households within their supply chain. A total of 10 SMEs who expressed interest in the matching grants have been screened and selected based on the eligibility criteria. These selected SMEs will be required to undergo a due diligence exercise and submit business cases to guide implementation, ensure effective use of the funds and to ensure business competitiveness and viability. Based on the outcome of the due diligence exercise, the total amount of SMEs may be slightly smaller for this assignment. 2. Objectives of the assignment The objective of this assignment is to support the selected 11 SMEs to refine their applications and develop high-quality, feasible, and realistic business cases. The business cases should include details on the enterprise’s vision, mission, market analysis, operations, marketing and sales strategies, risks and mitigation strategies, implementation plan (includes key milestones, activities, timelines and budget) based on the matching grant submissions to ITC so far. These business cases will serve as a framework for the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the enterprises and will also be used to guide implementation and monitoring of the matching grants. Specifically, the purpose of the assignment is to: • Support SMEs identify key areas for innovation, including technological adaptation, product diversification, and value addition. • Provide a detailed market analysis to identify growth opportunities, new markets, and customer segments. • Develop realistic implementation plans with clear milestones, activities and budget that support business competitiveness as the matching grant application, ensuring that each SME meets the 1:1 matching requirement. 3. Scope of Work The consultant will co-create with SMEs to develop viable business cases of the matching grant applications. In order to improve the existing matching grant applications and develop viable business cases, the following are the key tasks to be undertaken: • Conduct consultations with each SME to understand their business, market position, goals, and needs. • Analyze the current business environment and market opportunities relevant to each SME. • Provide an overview of the business, including its vision, mission, and objectives. • Detail the SME’s business structure, products or services, and business model. • Analyze the market to identify target markets, customer segments, competition, and industry trends. • Outline how the business operates, including supply chain, production processes, staffing, and facilities. • Define marketing and sales strategies to promote the business and attract customers. • Identify potential risks and mitigation strategies related to the business and its environment. • Provide technical guidance to the SMEs during the development of the business cases ensuring that proposed interventions are relevant, effective and achievable. • Offer advice or resources for business case development. • Develop a clear implementation plan that includes key milestones, activities, timelines, and budget outlay for the use of the matching grant. Ensure that these plans align with the matching grants objectives. • Conduct feedback sessions with the SMEs to review the drafts of the business cases and ensure alignment with business goals. • Revise and finalize the business cases based on feedback received. Reporting and Coordination • The consultant will work closely with the Programme Officer under the overall supervision of the STAR Project Manager. • All relevant project documentation will be made available to the consultant(s). • Regular progress meetings will be held to discuss updates, challenges, and any additional support required. Confidentiality and Ownership • All documents, business cases, and materials developed as part of this assignment are the property of the STAR Project and must not be shared with third parties without prior consent. • The consultant will sign a confidentiality agreement before starting the work.
Qualifications/special skills
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agricultural value chain development, international economics, business administration, finance, development studies or related field. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree. At least 8 years working experience as a business development expert. A proven track record in developing business cases for SMEs, preferably in the agricultural or agribusiness sector. Strong understanding of implementation plans and budget development Experience working with small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in emerging markets. Strong communication and consultation skills Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple SME projects simultaneously