Business Development Services (BDS) Consultancy Small and Medium Enterprises- Impact SME Development Project, Kenya.

Keywords: Business Development Services (BDS), MSMEs,

1. 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

1. Impact SMEs increase their business performance as well as their social and environmental impact.
2. Impact SMEs’ access to financing is improved.
3. 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.

2. 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:

1. Shortlist applicants
2. Facilitate a pitching session to select 2 winners
3. Offer tailored support to the 2 winners as they implement their winning innovations.
4. 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

3. Deliverables
   1. Needs assessment
   2. Training program agenda
   3. Training session materials
   4. Tailored support plans for each enterprise’, to reflect the personalized nature of support for each enterprise
   5. Map of potential partners
   6. Case studies for superstar winners
   7. Final report

4. Assignment Duration & Schedule

This work is anticipated to start on the 1^st 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:

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 30^th May 2025 to: 

kpconsultancyservices@oxfam.org.uk

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.