Mennonite Economic Development Associates is hiring a
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Business Service Provider for SME's and Cooperatives to support the Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA) initiative.
MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.
Background
MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of business professionals, MEDA partners with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.
In the Philippines, MEDA is implementing a five-year initiative Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA). This initiative strives for more resilience and inclusive economic growth for both women and men cacao smallholder farmers (SHFs) in Mindanao focusing on the Davao Region. MEDA through RISSA project work partners such small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, business service providers, government, and other stakeholder in the cacao sector. RIISA responds to multiple challenges in the cacao sector and draws on MEDA’s experience in market systems development, gender lens investing (GLI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and environment and climate change (ECC).
To address the socio-economic challenges within the cacao sector, MEDA piloted an innovative market systems development approach. This include identifying gaps in the cacao market system; mobilizing investments that are focused on Gender, Environment, Social, and Governance (GESG) for SMEs and financial intermediaries (FIs); strengthening the capacity of local FIs and business service providers (BSPs) in areas such as GESI, Human rights (HR), and ECC ; strengthening the capacity of cacao cooperatives and smallholder farmers (SHFs) in environmentally sustainable and inclusive farming and business practices; and improving key enabling environment actors’ awareness of ESG practices in the cacao market system.
To strengthen the capacity of the RIISA partner SMEs and cooperatives, through this engagement with the selected BSPs and their technical assistance, MEDA through RIISA Project anticipate achievement of the following outcomes: i) Increased integration of gendered, environmental, social and governance (G-ESG) considerations into operations of businesses; ii) improved environmentally sustainable and inclusive business performance for SHFs and cooperatives in the cacao market system in Mindanao; and iii) Improved practice of relevant actors to promote best ESG practices in the cacao market system in the Philippines.
Scope of Work
MEDA seeks an experienced business service providers (BSPs) to develop and implement strategies that will strengthen the institutional capacity and business performance of RIISA cooperatives and SMEs in Davao region to contribute to the abovementioned target outcomes. One BSP will be selected and engaged to provide TA and non-financial support to 15 cooperatives and another BSP to cover 14 SMEs and 1 financial institution.
Key Responsibilities
Conduct a thorough review of all data and information generated by the RIISA Project (G-ESG or E-GEM action plans of cooperatives and SMEs, Smart Incentive proposals and contracts, Financial and Admin due diligence results) as inputs and references for formulating strategies and prioritizing activities to be supported.
Engage in discussion with RIISA team to gather further insights and information and refine intervention strategies and activities.
Finalize the proposed strategies/methodologies for implementing the Technical Assistance (TA) and Non-financial support Plan.
Execute the Technical Assistance (TA) strategies and plan to support 15 partner cooperatives and 14 SMEs and 1 financial institution (FI).
Prepare and submit a progress report detailing the achievement of key milestones, such as the completion of the technical assistance provided to cooperatives and SMEs.
Finalize and submit the final report based on the RIISA suggested reporting template upon concluding the engagement.
Deliverables
A. Inception report with the TA Intervention and Non-financial support Matrix and Work Plan
B. Progress report (for the first 7 cooperatives completed or 7 SMEs, with attendance records and photo documentation)
C. Progress report (for the remaining 8 cooperatives or 7 SMEs and 1 FI completed, with attendance records and photo documentation)
D. Final report (consolidated progress reports including attendance records and photo documentations) with the signed release form after the feedback survey)
Qualifications & Selection Criteria
A. Generic and Mandatory:
B. Specific Expertise:
Funding
Application Procedure
Interested BSPs to send application to MEDA via email at RIISA_Submissions@meda.org and cc: darceo@meda.org, with the PROPOSAL as attachment, by 5:00pm on April 30, 2024. Please indicate “BSP TA for Cooperatives or SMEs” in the subject line of your email.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of MEDA staff. Qualified BSPs will be selected and announced by April 30, 2024. Upon selection of BSPs, MEDA will enter a contract for the engagement.
Proponent shall follow the prescribed proposal format below and submit in electronic copy with the following information.
A. Contact Information
B. Proposal Outline