UNDP-SLE-00290 - RFP - Business Development Services Provider to provide Technical Assistance - UNDP - SIERRA LEONE

Description

Introduction RFP-007/26 - Business Development services Provider to Provide Technical Assistance, Business Support and Training for Sierra Leone SMEs for their readiness to trade with Japanese Companies. Sierra Leone’s economy is largely driven by agriculture, extractive industries, and a growing services sector, with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) playing a central role in employment creation and inclusive economic growth. Despite their importance, SMEs continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to finance, low productivity, weak business management capacities, and limited participation in international markets. The Government of Sierra Leone is prioritizing private sector development and economic diversification, working closely with partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through initiatives such as the Growth Accelerator Programme, UNDP has been supporting SMEs with business development services, technical assistance, and access to finance, with a particular focus on women- and youth-led enterprises. Against the backdrop of global economic shocks, declining development financing, and changing international trade dynamics, expanding into new and untapped markets such as Japan has become increasingly important for Sierra Leonean businesses. With support from the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, a new project has been initiated to strengthen trade and business linkages between Sierra Leonean SMEs and Japanese enterprises by improving SME competitiveness, export readiness, product sophistication, and market access. The project also aims to promote business-to-business engagements, knowledge exchange, and trade facilitation in alignment with opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). One of the key activities under the project is the provision of technical assistance to Sierra Leonean SMEs to enhance their readiness to trade with Japanese enterprises. In this regard, UNDP, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is seeking the services of a competent and experienced Business Development Services (BDS) provider to deliver technical assistance, business support, and targeted training to SMEs in Sierra Leone. The assignment will focus on strengthening the capacity and readiness of SMEs to engage effectively in trade and business partnerships with Japanese enterprises and to access emerging regional and global market opportuni ties. The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen the competitiveness, export readiness, and market integration capacity of selected Sierra Leonean SMEs to effectively engage in trade and business partnerships with Japanese enterprises and access emerging regional and global market opportunities. Specific objectives include: Diagnosis analysis of selected Sierra Leone SMEs utilizing the Growth Accelerator Technical Assessment, expanded to include other viable SMEs on their operational, technical, and commercial readiness to participate in international trade and business partnerships with Japanese enterprises. To strengthen the capacities of Sierra Leone SMEs in areas including export readiness, quality assurance, product standards and certification, packaging and branding, business management, financial management, and market intelligence. To provide tailored business development and technical advisory services that enhance SMEs’ competitiveness and compliance with Japanese and international market requirements. To support SMEs in identifying and leveraging market opportunities, trade partnerships, and investment linkages with Japanese enterprises and other regional and global value chains. To enhance capacities for Sierra Leone SMEs’ understanding of international trade procedures, cross-cultural business engagement, and trade facilitation mechanisms relev