Business Consultant

The AFRP 60th Annual Convention
Ramallah, Palestine 2018
Market Research, Matchmaking and Business to Business Linkages

Scope of Work:

The American Federation of Ramallah Palestine (AFRP) is planning to conduct its biggest 60th Annual Convention celebration again in Palestine in July 4-7 2018, with a target to bring over 3,000 people to Ramallah from USA and other countries to attend the convention, participants will be involved in different cultural, entertainment, religious and economic development activities. Around 600 from the participants will be young professionals from all different sectors who will be encouraged to come to Palestine to learn more about the Palestinian economy and will be introduced to the Palestinian business environment, explore different business and investment opportunities, and meet with the Palestinian private sector representatives.

AFRP will be introducing a newcomponent within the convention schedulethis year as an innovative approach to facilitate business relationships between US and Palestinian based companies. This component includes and at an early stage researching potential Palestinian sectors ready to grow and gaining an in-depth knowledge of US based companies attending the convention and interested to grow as well. This approach will expose Palestinian companies seeking export opportunities to the US market, also will present different investment opportunities available in Ramallah in specific and Palestine in general.

AFRP and Bank of Palestine for the last 6 years has entered in partnership agreement and will continue to do so during and after the convention in Ramallah.

This assignment is supported by the Palestinian Market Development Programme (PMDP) funded by UK Department for International Development (UKAid) and the European Union (EU) in-cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy.

The programme has been designed to improve private sector competitiveness through technical assistance and matching grants, with the aim to generate employment opportunities especially for women and youth. Additionally, PMDP works on supporting the business enabling environment reforms, strengthening trade and investment linkages as well as linkages with the Palestinian Diaspora to play an active role in economic development in the oPt.

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the convention Chairman and will report to him and PMDP directly.

Objective of this assignment, is to work with two target groups as the following:

American Palestinian Investors and businessmen living and working in USA and members in AFRP. The objective is to encourage them to Invest in the Palestinian economy directly and indirectly.
The consultant will identify businessmen from Palestinian diaspora and who are members of AFRP and engage them with the Palestinian private sector through identification of different trade and investment opportunities in Palestine. This assignment will ensure establishing at least five business deals.

American Palestinian Young Professionals living and working in the USA and members of the AFRP. These young professional will be engaged in knowledge transfer, experience sharing and technical assistance to peer institutions from the private, academia, local government and civil society organizations by working with them in person or by delivering training and technical assistance support during before or after the convention July 4-7th, 2018.

The consultant will be responsible to perform the following activities:

-Identification of around 600 Students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, business people, and potential investors from the Palestinian diaspora in the US and members of the AFRP.
-Identification of these young professionals needs and interests regarding trade and investment opportunities in Palestine.
-Identification of local trade and investment opportunities that matches these young professional needs.
-Preparation of prefeasibility for each trade and investment opportunity.
-Responsible for developing the business content and registration forms placed on the official convention website.
-Develop guidelines and criteria for managing the business to business matching component.
-Responsible for managing profiles of registered companies on-line, understanding their needs, communicating with them and classifying them under the pre-set guidelines based on their readiness to explore such business options.
-Conduct site visits with all relevant Palestinian companies in all relevant sectors to start the process of facilitating linkages between US and Palestinian businesses.
-Preparing list of Palestinian companies in various sectors based on US company needs and plans
-Conduct conference calls at an early stage between identified US and Palestinian companies who express interest, provide technical assistance and support.
The responsibility of the consultant to identify the US and local business counterparts with the support and help of AFRP.
-All American Businessmen targeted are the participants in Ramallah Convention and are part of AFRP clubs.
-Organize and conduct site visits,at least 20, and meetings between US and Palestinian companies during the convention time period and while company owners are visiting, to explore potential investment and trade opportunities.
-As for the knowledge transfer part, the consultant should customize and develop an internship/ partnership programme allowing at least 30 of theyoung professionals to spend a day or two in an organization or company in Palestine that is relevant to their field of expertise, to exchange knowledge and experiences.
-Attend steering committee meetings, present information, project updates and reporting
-Follow up with local service providers before, during and after the convention to get bid offers
-Coordinate different events hosted by different organizations in town during the convention
-Organize, facilitate at least 30 B2B in Ramallah during the Convention between 4-7 July 2018.
-Prepare the content for the promotional material needed for the B2B meetings, this will include preparing profiles for potential investment opportunities that will be presented to potential diaspora investors.
Facilitate the business matching between the professional visitors and local professionals
-Networking opportunities with businesses in Ramallah and throughout the region for possible partnerships with the diaspora community in the US, at least 5 deals will be established.
-Draft agreements, memorandum of understanding between local professional associations and professional visitors
-Any other related matters asked by the chairman of the Convention

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Qualification

-Advanced university degree in business administration, economics or any other relevant field
-At least 10-15 years of combined work experience
-Proven of Minimum (10) years of experience in preparing feasibility studies, market research, business plans, diagnostic studies
-Proven track record in establishing successful linkages between Palestinian companies globally
-Proven experience in managing projects with multi tasks
-Deadlines efficiently.
-Possess strong analytical, communication and management skills, as well as solid mediating and consensus building skills.
-Living in Ramallah and able to work flexible hours and long hours at times with US companies and steering committee members

Deliverables:
As a result of this assignment, the consultant will provide AFRP and PMDP with the following deliverables:

Deliverable #1: Action plan
The consultant shall prepare and provide a detailed action plan that describes the activities that will be implemented during the assignment in addition for a timeframe to accomplish each activity.

Deliverable #2: Identified Diaspora Investors and Local investment opportunities
The consultant shall provide identified lists of diaspora investors, along with their investment needs, in addition for identifying matching investment opportunities in Ramallah in specific and Palestine in general.

Deliverable #3: Prepare investment opportunities Prospectus.
The consultant should prepare business prospectus that includes, but not limited to, the following: Project name, sector, total cost for the project, Internal resources available (amount in USD), Required Investment (amount in USD), Participation of other Stakeholders or local investors, Project full description, Implementation Plan, Industry/ sector highlights, Development Impact, SWOT Analysis, Financial Projections in USD

Deliverable #4: Conduct B2B

Deliverable #5: Follow up plan

Deliverable #6: Completion Report

Duration

The consultant maximum level of effort is 45 days anticipated to start on March 15, 2018 and ends by July 2018.

The consultant is responsible for his computer, equipment’s and any other needed facilities.

Applicant should submit the following no later than Wednesday, March 7, 2018 to

[email protected]

with [Business Consultant_The AFRP 60th Annual Convention] in the subject line

-CV
-Financial Offer for the assignment
-Salary History for the past 3 years