Business Development Services (BDS) Consultancy Small and Medium Enterprises- Impact SME Development Project, Kenya.
Keywords: Business Development Services (BDS), MSMEs,
- Background, rationale, and purpose of the assignment
About Oxfam
One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.
Read more about Oxfam at https://kenya.oxfam.org/
About the Project
The Impact Small and Medium Enterprise (iSME) Development project in Kenya is funded by Oxfam Novib (Netherlands) with the support of funds from OvO fund (donations from Dutch SMEs that are part of the entrepreneurs’ network of Oxfam Novib) and Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL). The core of the project is to provide Business Development Services (BDS) to small businesses in Kenya, with the aim to help them grow, access finance, and increase their (social) impact. The project targets impact-driven SMEs, those that aim to provide social or environmental impact (e.g., jobs, income, or products for low-income groups, with a focus on women and youth through their core business.
The impact SME development project takes a holistic approach through three interventions; (1) providing business support to impact SMEs with a target of reaching 75-100 impact SMEs in the next 5 years, through direct training and mentorship support, (2) Providing access to finance for impact SMEs by giving tailored investment readiness support and helping them raise capital, and (3) Fostering an enabling environment for women-led impact SMEs through network strengthening and policy advocacy.
This year (2025-2026) the project aims to work with 5 enterprises from an existing database of 260 applications, offering them a blend of support, including trainings on social impact (delivered by Oxfam in Kenya), Circular business models (delivered by Oxfam in Kenya), a Superstar Competition (managed by Oxfam in Kenya with support from a BDS services provider) and tailored enterprise support (supplied by a BDS service provider).
The specific objectives (or outcomes) of the project
- Impact SMEs increase their business performance as well as their social and environmental impact.
- Impact SMEs’ access to financing is improved.
- The ecosystem stakeholders of SMEs are more supportive (E.g., Government Support, increased availability of funds, and public services supporting business development).
Read more about the Impact SME Development Project at: https://www.oxfamnovib.nl/impact-sme-development-programme
Overview of the work
Oxfam in Kenya seeks the services of a BDS service provider to deliver this component of the project, serving 7enterprises (this will include 5 enterprises for year 4, and 2 Superstar Competition winners) The Superstar competition will be open to all the SMEs reached by the project from year 1-4.
- Scope of work
Under the supervision of the Impact SME Development Project Manager, the BDS services provider will execute the following:
-
Conduct a needs assessment on 5 pre-selected enterprises by Oxfam to ascertain gaps within their enterprises to inform tailored support.
-
Develop business skills training modules, guided by the identified needs, to train 2 representatives from each of the 5 selected enterprises, reaching a total of 10 participants (this will be a workshop, with logistics handled by Oxfam in Kenya, and NOT the consultant).
Offer a total of 3 weeks of tailored support ( one- on- one ) per each enterprise. This support will be ***guided by a needs assessment of each SME.***The project will stagger this support over 7 months to allow for other project activities with the enterprises (July 2025 to January 2026)
-
Support Oxfam in Kenya to run a theme-based competition- The Superstar Business Competition. The consultant will work with the Project Manager to:
- Shortlist applicants
- Facilitate a pitching session to select 2 winners
- Offer tailored support to the 2 winners as they implement their winning innovations.
- Draft case-studies based on the 2 winners’ stories
- Work with Oxfam in Kenya to plan for an investment readiness/access to finance talk with potential impact funds investors. The BDS service provider SHOULD have extensive networks in the investment ecosystem in Kenya
- Support us with finding potential partners or co-funders to expand the program and maybe ensure fundraising
- Deliverables
- Needs assessment
- Training program agenda
- Training session materials
- Tailored support plans for each enterprise’, to reflect the personalized nature of support for each enterprise
- Map of potential partners
- Case studies for superstar winners
- Final report
- Assignment Duration & Schedule
This work is anticipated to start on the 1st of July 2025 through January 2026. The BDS services provider will, however, allocate only 3 weeks per enterprise for the 5 enterprises and an equivalent for the 2 Superstar Competition winners and is expected to charge for the business skills workshop with 10 participants (2 from each enterprise).
Proposed days:
Activity
Recommended days (LOE)
Needs assessment for 5 SMEs – 3 days
Training materials development – 3-5 days
Tailored Support – 20 days
Superstar Competition support – 8 days
Financial readiness convening/talk – 2 days
Support with project fundraising, including partner co-founders and partners – 1 day
Total number days – 39
Tax and VAT arrangements
Oxfam in Kenya will deduct a 5% withholding tax from the consultancy fees, which will be in conformity with the prevailing government rates and submit the same to the Government of Kenya. The consultant will be entitled to a copy of the tax submission certificate on request.
Remuneration
A payment schedule will be discussed with the successful BDS services provider, as per Oxfam’s guidelines for such work. Oxfam will retain a 5% withholding tax as a requirement by Kenyan law for consultancy work.
Qualifications of the consultant
- A bachelor’s degree in business, economics or related field
- 5-10 years of experience working with MSMEs, to scale operations at least 3 years providing tailored BDS support services, including financial inclusion, business development and market access
- Strong communication, analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Experience executing a business/ innovative competition targeting MSMEs
- MUST be based in Kenya
- Commitment to adhere to Oxfam’s ethical and safeguarding policies, especially when engaging with women and youth, to reflect Oxfam’s core values and duty of care
Only candidates with the stated qualifications will be considered.
Application process
The consultant will provide:
- Technical proposal indicating suitability for this work, including examples of 3 previously conducted assignments and CVs of the consultants, including the roles on the assignment, if not an individual consultant. Applications without these requirements will be automatically rejected.
- A financial proposal (in Kes.) with clearly broken-down deliverables and costs.
How to Apply:
The BDS services provider is expected to submit their bid by 30th May 2025 to:
