Implementation Agreement - Enhancing the Business Capacity of MSMEs and Start-ups through Non-Financial Services and Access to Finance Referral Support under the PROSPECTS Phase II Opportunity Fund

Description

Enhancing the Business Capacity of MSMEs and Start-ups through Non-Financial Services and Access to Finance Referral Support under the PROSPECTS Phase II Opportunity Fund Project “Return and Rebuild: Advancing Voluntary Returns and Sustainable Reintegration for Syrians” Syria's recovery requires a comprehensive approach that combines labour market governance reforms with targeted interventions that enable vulnerable populations to access economic opportunities, strengthen their livelihoods, and contribute to inclusive economic recovery. MSMEs and start-ups remain central to Syria’s economic recovery and job creation; however, many enterprises continue to face challenges related to informality, weak business management capacity, damaged infrastructure, low productivity, limited access to markets and finance, and limited access to quality Business Development Services (BDS). In response, the ILO seeks to partner with a qualified NGO or INGO to enhance the business capacity of MSMEs and start-ups through the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme, Financial Education, and tailored advisory services. The intervention will focus on Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Idleb, and Hama. Objective The overall objective of this TOR is to strengthen sustainable and market-oriented Business Development Service (BDS) provision in Syria that extends beyond short-term subsidized business support interventions by strengthening local service delivery capacities, improving coordination among enterprise support actors, and promoting more sustainable mechanisms for MSME development and economic inclusion. During the implementation period, the selected NGO/INGO will support the entrepreneurial, managerial, and business development capacities of 1,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and start-ups in Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Idleb, and Hama—including returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, youth, and host communities. Major activities under this intervention: Identify, mobilize, and enroll eligible MSMEs and start-ups through inclusive and transparent outreach and selection criteria targeting returnees, IDPs, women, youth, and local communities. Conduct business diagnostics, training needs assessments, and market segmentation exercises to inform the design of tailored business support interventions. Deliver high-quality, gender-responsive business management and entrepreneurship support activities to 1,000 MSMEs and start-ups using ILO tools (SIYB) in coordination with ILO-nominated Syrian trainers. Deliver Financial Education training to 500 selected MSMEs and start-ups to strengthen financial literacy and management practices. Provide post-training coaching, mentoring, and tailored business advisory support to selected MSMEs and start-ups. Support 500 MSMEs and start-ups to open bank accounts or strengthen engagement with formal financial institutions. Assess investment readiness and refer at least 350 eligible entrepreneurs to partner financial institutions for loan consideration. Required Qualifications The project shall be implemented with a non-profit organization/entity that shall satisfy the below requirements: Relevant institutional capacity, presence, and operational experience in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Idleb, and Hama. Previous experience in implementing Business Development Services (BDS), entrepreneurship support, MSME recovery programmes, livelihoods, market systems, or economic inclusion interventions targeting MSMEs, start-ups, returnees, IDPs, women, youth, and vulnerable communities. Detailed description of relevant experience related to the delivery of entrepreneurship and business management support programmes, MSME development, and business advisory services. Previous experience in entrepreneurship coaching, mentoring, market linkages, investment readiness, access to finance referrals, and support to MSMEs to open bank accounts. Qualified and competent human resources and technical