Background

UNDP Project “Promoting Sustainable Employments” implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Employment Service Agency aims at supporting the effective implementation of the National Operation Plan (OP) on Active Employment Programmes and Measures, and Labour Market Services. More specifically, the programme provides technical and implementation support to the following active labour market measures: Self-employment, Self-employment for people with disabilities, Support the growth of micro and small enterprises to create new jobs, Community works programme and other activities to increase the readiness of vulnerable groups to engage in ALMMs and the labour market.

As of July 2015, a Self-employment programme for people with disability has been initiated, through an integrated case management model of support, which should provide evidences and lessons learned on how to better and more efficiently support the entrepreneurship among this vulnerable group of people in the future. In order to stimulate the creative and entrepreneurial skills among people with disabilities and foster better quality jobs, the Government has made a decision to support a Self-employment programme that will enable 120 unemployed persons with disabilities to start their own business and create job opportunities for additional 240 unemployed persons.

The successful implementation of the programme will result in better analysis of the self-employment models for people with disability, barriers experienced by the grantees, the achievements of the established start-ups and case studies of several individuals with disabilities who successfully became self-employed. Individualized technical assistance, training on entrepreneurship and business skills development, consulting and mentoring services will be provided to individuals with disabilities and their family members. UNDP together with ESA will handle each inquiry on individual case-management basis, offering business development expertise to programme participants. Each of the components of the entrepreneurship programme for persons with disability will be addressed having in mind the needs of this vulnerable group.

These Terms of reference are related to the needs of the project to engage experienced Business Mentors who will provide mentoring services to the entrepreneurs of the newly established businesses under the Self-employment programme for people with disabilities, operating in different municipalities within the country. In order to provide these services, UNDP will sign Individual Contract Framework agreements with experienced business mentors who are based across the whole country. 

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the assignment is to provide professional counseling on business management, entrepreneurship and other mentoring advices and support to beneficiaries who will establish and start their own business. 

The selected mentors will become part/members of the UNDP Roster (pool) of business mentors who will be engaged and contracted upon given assignments by the UNDP. The maximum number of businesses to mentor under one IC Framework Agreement for each business mentor is 5 (five). 

Duties and Responsibilities

The mentoring services will be provided to the self-employment candidates whose business plans will be selected and approved for further support, starting from the registration of the company, during the disbursement of the grant and launch of business, for a period of 12 months, at an amount of at least 120 hours (10 hours per month). 

Based on the targets set under the Self-employment programme for people with disabilities, it is expected the programme to support the establishment of up to 120 start-ups, which will receive a grant amount of MKD 270,000. Candidates presenting viable Business Plans that clearly indicate the need to employ additional people for the successful operation of the business and that through economic and financial parameters confirm the additional jobs' viability shall have the opportunity to apply for additional grant, supporting the company founder with additional employment for 2 persons at most. The additional grant will amount to MKD 92,000 for one employment or MKD 184,000 for two additional jobs created. In such case, the funds of the total grant shall amount up to MKD 454,000.

The mentoring will involve services aimed at developing the company’s operations, market positioning, contacts with partners locally and nationally, identifying suppliers and sub-contractors, marketing and promotion, facilitating contacts with local authorities and agencies, financing institutions, etc.

 More specifically, the business mentor is expected to provide support:

  •  During the registration process of the legal entity
  •  Financial planning and Execution
  •  Legal requirements and obligations
  •  Production and Operation Management
  •  Strategic Marketing Planning and Execution
  •  Business consulting services 
  •  Risk Management
  •  Liaising with and Reporting to the UNDP Project

The established startups will include businesses in different sectors such as retail and trade, services, manufacturing, agriculture, accommodation and food services, construction, transportation and other activities. Nevertheless, each of these startups will be unique, and may require a custom-tailored approach to consulting due to unique conditions influenced by location, local market conditions, market demand, competition, product/service lines planned, targeted market segments, technical and financial requirements, capacities of the owner of the start-up, and other conditions which make these startups unique.

In more detail, the Business Mentor should support the small business operations during the first year of its establishment. Depending on the start-ups’ unique situations, mentoring services may include, but will not be limited to the following tasks: 

A. Provide support during the registration process of legal entity

The mentor will provide advice to the candidates of the programme on the type of company to register and will support them in obtaining all the necessary documents until registration. The Mentor shall cooperate with the designated UNDP Monitoring Officer and the employee of the Employment Center responsible for employment mediation of people with disabilities and ensure that all procedures are respectively followed, fulfilling the eligibility criteria for additional financial benefits under the special fund for employment of people with disability. 

B. Financial planning and Execution

The mentor will support the start-up to execute the grant within the first month of business operations. Upon signature of the Grant Contract and subsequent employment(s), the Mentor shall provide support to the start-up to purchase all the necessary equipment’s and the raw materials specified in the approved business plan. The procurement of equipment and materials shall be executed in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

The procurement procedure envisages a significant role of the project beneficiary in identifying potential suppliers and collection of offers from the local and national market. Central to this approach is capacity building of the new entrepreneurs in management, market research and establishing business relations with local suppliers. Development of those skills is also part of the business management training that the project provides to all beneficiaries who have presented a viable business plan.

While end beneficiary is asked to research the market and submit the best offer for all purchases below USD 2,500 or minimum two offers for all purchases between USD 2,500 and USD 5,000, UNDP is responsible for quality control and ensuring that the best –value for money is ensured.

C. Legal requirements and obligations

Where applicable, the mentor shall support the candidates in obtaining all the necessary permits, licenses, certificates, tax administration procedures and other approvals by various authorities and institution in order to start their business activity (necessary HTZ equipment, phytosanitary rules, market rules, fiscal regulations, labelling, working hours, labor rights, legal requirements, and other legal obligations).

D. Production and Operational Management

The mentor will support the start-up to prepare the products/services for sale within the first three months of its operations, and will support the purchase of all other additional equipment’s and raw materials required for the production process or service delivery.

E. Strategic Marketing Planning and Execution

The mentor shall review the start-ups’ business plans, will validate the business plans together with the start-up owner, and will assist in defining goals, objectives and keys to success for each startup. If necessary, refocus business plans and suggest course correction when applicable. The mentor shall communicate with the startups continually in the course of 12 months and help them solve potential problems related to marketing and finance.

F. Business consulting services 

Business consulting services needs to be provided on a case-by-case basis focused on entrepreneurship. Mentors need to provide expertise and practical solutions to the candidates running small businesses on how to make simple marketing analysis and strategies. They should provide specific recommendations if businesses are faced with barriers and risks that can jeopardize their sustainability. Mentors should explore the possibilities for e-commerce of the particular business, if applicable.

G. Risk Management

The mentor shall assist the beneficiaries in decision making regarding all aspects of the startups, and when complications arise in the field, he/she will communicate and advise on issue resolution. The Mentor shall remain ready to act accordingly in short notice whenever issues occur within any of the assigned start-ups.

H. Liaising with and Reporting to the UNDP Project – Promoting Sustainable Employments

The mentor shall keep the project team informed of the courses these startups are taking, and what is their success rate at reaching goals and objectives. He/she will report on risk analysis and mitigation strategies employed along with the reasoning used, monitor and report on the expenses, efficiency of the people employed by start-ups, and the new product/service lines launched, as compared to what is specified in the business plan.

The mentor shall report monthly on activities and results achieved, and will propose a feedback mechanism which would measure the satisfaction of the start-up with the services offered.

The mentoring service package will be delivered over a course of 12 months, and will include a total of at least 120 hours of services offered by the mentors to each of the businesses. The activity foresees, but is not limited to: face-to-face meetings; field visits; telephone and online communication and consultations and other manners of communication agreed between the mentor and mentee.

The mentor will prepare and submit a detailed Final Report upon completion of the assignment.

 DELIVERABLES 

Expected deliverables from the assignment are:

  •  Mentoring services to each assigned beneficiary/newly established start-up through the Self-employment programme for people with disability. 
  •  Monthly/Quarterly progress reports against the mentoring service package agreed with the owner of the start-up, including: progress achieved, any issues, challenges and risks arising during implementation, plans for the next monthly reporting period, as well as supporting documents (mentoring schedules signed by the beneficiary, participants’ lists, etc.). The monthly reports shall be submitted latest by the 10th day of the following month.
  •  Final report including information about the status of each business and the challenges encountered during the implementation of the business plans. This report should also include recommendation on how the mentoring services can be sustained in the future and lessons learned which will guide the businesses further on. The final report shall be submitted no later than 20 days upon completion of the assignment. 

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

Each assignment will consist of 12 months of mentoring services. The mentoring service package will include a total of at least 120 hours of mentoring services (10 hours per month) for each business. The consultant shall maintain a time sheet for the spent hours in monitoring. The time sheet should be signed by the consultant and the owner of the company and submitted to UNDP project on a monthly basis (time sheet attached). 

PAYMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The price for one assignment (12 months) is pre-established in amount of 30,000.00 MKD per one start-up.  

The payment will be done in 3 instalments (MKD 10,000.00 each) after submission of the deliverables indicated above and signed time sheets for the quarter.

In addition to the consultancy fee, UNDP might cover accommodation and travel expenses only to the consultants that will have to travel more than 50 km away from their place of residence. In cases where travel is involved, UNDP will request via e-mail to the mentor to provide financial offer clearly indicating the price for travel. 

The individual consultant will need to submit standard UNDP F-10 form for reimbursement of above mentioned expenses. The reimbursement of travel expenses will be done only for one travel per month, upon prior approval.

Competencies

  • Excellent communications and facilitation skills; 
  •  Excellent analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

The business mentor engaged to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following minimum requirements: 

  •  At least University Degree, MA and PhD will be considered as an asset; 
  •  At least 3 years of experience in delivering of business mentoring or consulting services for at least 3 businesses or start-ups; 
  •  Practical business experience in private company/ies either as an employee or a company’s owner;
  •  At least three positive references.

If any of the above listed minimum requirement are not met by any candidate, the evaluation grid shall not be scored and will lead towards disqualification of the proposal.

Language Requirements  

  •  Language proficiency in both written and oral Macedonian, and/or Albanian language for the Albanian speaking owners of small businesses

Note: Government officials shall not be hired by UNDP under Contract for professional services, unless the consultant submits along with the application documents: (i) no objection letter in respect of the individual issued from the Government/employer; and (ii) written confirmation by the Government certifying that the individual is to be on official leave without pay (SLWOP) for the duration of the Contract for professional services.

  APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

   TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  •     The Contractor will be expected to perform the expected tasks as stated under the item 4 above;
  •     The financial compensation for the mentorship services will be according to the UNDP price list indicated in the item 6 above; 
  •     The maximum threshold that individual consultant could be paid under one-year agreement is limited to 5,000.00 USD. 
  •     The selected candidates will be issued with UNDP IC Framework agreement (sample attached). The duration of the initial agreement will be for one year with a possibility for extension of up to three years. 
  •     The contract does not form a financial obligation or commitment from UNDP at the time the IC is signed, and that such an agreement is non-exclusive (i.e., it does not prohibit UNDP from entering into another such framework agreement with another individual or entity). Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of IC, through the agreed triggering document that signals commencement of a given engagement. 

 
.    EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS 

Applicants will be evaluated against qualifications and specific technical experience set bellow:

  •     At least University Degree; 
  •     At least 3 years of experience in delivering mentoring or consulting services to at least 3 businesses (Annex 1: Template List of businesses for which mentoring or consulting services were provided);
  •     Proven practical business experience in private company/ies either as an employee or a company’s owner.

All applicants meeting the established criteria will be contracted through a framework agreement. 

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Applications from candidates residing in other cities than Skopje are particularly encouraged. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.