Building Financial Capacity of Agro-Food SMEs With Focus on Cash Flow Management

Tender Description

Terms of References (ToRs) for Building Financial Capacity of Agro-Food SMEs

With Focus on Cash Flow Management

1.0 Background:

Small Enterprise Center (SEC) Association is a Palestinian non-profit organization that started in 2002 as a project within the framework of a former GIZ Private Sector Development Program. In 2008, SEC has been officially registered as an independent non-profit organization governed by the Palestinian Law of Charitable Associations and Community Organizations No.1 for the year 2000. SEC began with an office in Ramallah and has grown to be a leading national organization serving Palestinian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and social enterprises (including cooperatives). Currently SEC is implementing phase-II of the project “Agro-processing in Palestine -Supporting SMEs and Entrepreneurship for Youth” in partnership with DROSOS FOUNDATION. Under this project scope, SEC is looking forward to support selected participating SMEs operating in agro-food sector in developing their skills in cash flow management. The professional expert task includes: assessing the current capacity of SMEs and startups capacity in financial matters with focus on cash flow management, delivering training for selected SMEs in cash flow management, and delivering individual coaching for each SMEs and startups (total 10 entities) to develop their own cash flow management tool.

Developing the cash flow management skills of the SMEs and startups is considered as a necessary step to build internal financial capacity and enable both the SMEs and startups to strengthening their competitiveness in the local market. Consequently, this will reflect positively on the company’s sales, purchase strategies, cash management, and thus profit.

2.0 Purpose:

SEC and DROSOS FOUCNDATION are seeking offers from suitably qualified resource person/s to assist selected SMEs to solve the problems encountered in cash liquidity problems, this problem appeared as a result of the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Therefore, solving this problem becomes a priority for majority of SMEs than ever.

The specific objectives of this assignment are:

Assessing the current capacity of selected SMEs and startups in managing the cash flow
Identifying gaps in the financial management, with focus on the cash flow management for SMEs and startups
Online Training: design and deliver customized training for SMEs and startups for enhancing their skills with regards to the cash flow to overcome the identified gaps
Delivering individual coaching for each SME and start up in cash flow management, and make sure that they adapted adequate tool to manage the cash flow in an effective manner.
Develop a simple cash flow management toolkit (Arabic language) for non-financial persons. Would be an advantage to develop a very simple cash flow computerized tool.

3.0 Scope of work:

The expert will work closely with SEC staff and SMEs and startups to develop the financial capacity with focus on the cash flow of during the assignment period.

The expert/s shall support the SMEs and startup to develop their cash flow management skills and capacity to increase their financial management capacity in general. The consultancy shall cover, but not limited to the following aspects:

Assessment of the current cash flow capacity of the selected SMEs and startups aiming to identify the current knowledge, application of financial management and the applied cash flow practices as well as the identification of gaps that could hinder the SMEs’ financial and business performance.
Deliver training course in cash flow management. The training program will be designed to respond and address the gaps identified in the assessment phase and to enhance the knowledge of the participants of the good practices in financial and cash flow management for SMEs and startups. This will include the development of the training materials – to be approved by SEC- and the delivery of the online group training envisaged to be of 2 training days.
Develop a customized cash flow management toolkit /simple computerized tool that are suitable to the targeted SMEs and startups.
Deliver individual coaching sessions for each targeted SME. This will include familiarization of the SMEs representative to the developed tool and supporting the SMES to adopt the gained in knowledge into their specific context. This coaching will be delivered onsite – at the SMEs premises- and envisaged to allocate 1 day per each SME.

4.0 Deliverables:

The contract will be signed between SEC and startups and the expert(s). The followings are the expected deliverables from the expert/s:

Meetings with SEC, startups staff and startups
Develop an activity plan including the methodology and approach for each activity
Develop an assessment report for each SME and start up, including main key issues that are needed to be solved
Deliver a training course in cash flow management, including a training materials and report.
Deliver individual coaching sessions based on the identified needs, and report on coaching for each SME and start up including all interventions and services provided
Develop a simple toolkit in Arabic language on cash flow (max 10 pages)
Develop a simple computerized cash flow tool (could be excel)
Receive a written approval from each SME and start up that they are satisfied of the consultancy
Develop a final narrative report (English language)

5.0 Qualifications and Work Experience of the Expert

It is expected that the expert that will develop the product development shall provide the following expertise:

At least a master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or a related discipline
At least 8 year working experience in technical or research position
At least 3 years of experience in providing such services to beneficiaries
Provide list of references for similar assignments

7.0 Duration of Appointment:

The expected level of effort of the expert is around 20 working days, within two months’ time are foreseen from signing the contract to finalize the assignment.

8.0 Logistic Support for The Expert by SEC

SEC will provide information, and documents on participating SMEs and startups. The expert will be responsible for covering the transportation costs, coordinating with SMEs & startups, other costs might occur due to the assignment.

9.0 Deadlines for Submitting CVs and Technical and Financial Offers

The deadline for submitting CVs, and Technical and Financial offers by latest Dec. 30, 2020 at 16:00 PM.

Kindly send the offers to SEC email: [email protected]

Location Ramallah

Deadline 30, Dec, 2020

Share This Tender