Developing an Enabling Financial Policy and Regulatory Environment for Women SMEs in Africa 

Request for Expression of Interest – Firms : Côte d’Ivoire – Gender Inclusive Finance and Women SME Case Studies in Africa

Women Small and Medium Enterprise (WSME) Sector

Project ID No.: G-Z1-ID0-ZZZ-028

This is a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) on behalf of AfDB towards the below scope.

This project aims to develop a series of case studies across 13 countries in Africa, each of which is at a distinct stage in its journey towards financial inclusion. The primary focus will be on improving access to finance for WSMEs, as well as broader financial inclusion initiatives. As of now, seven case studies covering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have already been completed. We are looking to extend this work by developing an additional set of 13 case studies. The services included in this project are:

• Policy and Regulatory Assessment: Analyze the impact of existing policies and regulations on obstacles faced by WSMEs in accessing financial services.
• Challenges and Opportunities: Identify and discuss both the challenges and opportunities encountered in attempts to enhance financial inclusion for WSMEs.
• Key Barriers for WSMEs: Specifically pinpoint the major barriers and opportunities that affect the access of Women’s SMEs to financial resources.
• Effective Regulations and Policies: Research and identify policies and regulations that have successfully furthered financial inclusion for women in the respective jurisdiction. This should have a special focus on WSMEs and should also consider broader women’s financial inclusion policies.
• Milestones, Targets, and Drivers: Outline the key milestones, targets, and influential factors that have shaped or could shape women’s financial inclusion in the countries under study.
• Unique Jurisdictional Considerations: Provide insights into the specific needs, challenges, and objectives related to financial inclusion that each member country faces, particularly concerning WSMEs.

AFI now invited eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations” October 2015 which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.

How to Apply

Interested applicants may follow this Link to the Official site for better reference and revert by email to AFI’s Procurement & Contracts Office at Procurement@afi-global.org by 15 November 2023 at 1700 hours, Côte d’Ivoire local time and mentioned “Gender Inclusive Finance and Women SME Case Studies in Africa“.