Development of Business Development Hub 116 views

Background

Youth Ensemble with funding from Plan International is implementing a Youth Led Youth Economic Empowerment and Access to SRHR Information Initiative in Stoneridge. The initiative aims to directly impact 200 young people through training, information on business and sexual reproductive health rights and financial support for them to have access to decent work opportunities. The goal of the project is to build resilience of young people by increasing access to decent work opportunities and SRHR information to young people during emergencies.

The project intends to create a Business development hub where young people will have access to business development services. The space will be a youth friendly space that should create awareness and understanding of what enterprise is and what it takes to own and manage a business so that young men and women can consider self-employment realistically as a career option. Then, should a young person decide to explore further, or to start their own business, the second step – the provision of practical support services (e.g., training, advice, access to finance) to expand sustainable enterprises leading to increased employment opportunities for young people. Young women and men share many of the problems the general population experiences in small business development, including a lack of business and management skills and abilities; inadequate, inaccurate or non-existent financial records; an inability to cope effectively with fluctuating costs and prices; and taking too much money from the business for personal use. In addition, many young men and women have limited language and communication skills, as well as poor education which can affect their ability to deal with numbers (e.g., book-keeping and stock-control. The Business Development hub will therefore give free advisory and mentorship support to the start-ups emerging from the project through value chain assessments, innovation challenges and incubation approaches that support identified opportunities and young people’s capacity. The young entrepreneurs will be linked to a youth revolving fund that will be managed by the youth to upscale their innovative ideas.

The project intends to have young people accessing information from the business development hub physically as well as virtually.

Youth Ensemble is seeking to engage the services of a consultant to lead the process of developing the aforementioned business development hub.

Summary

The consultant will conduct the specific activities detailed below, and lead the development of a business development hub for the Youth Led Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) and access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Initiative.

Specific Activities for the Consultancy

The Consultant will develop modules on the following topics to support young people who have started businesses, Entrepreneurship/ Business Resource packs – Financial Management, Record Keeping in business, Marketing, Negotiation and engagement skills, Cash flows in business, Employability skills – Life skills, Digital skills, Confidence building, Business development; Upload content on a digital platform in a youth friendly manner; Validate the hub through a trial; Train Youth Ensemble on how to manage the platform, how to assist beneficiaries to access the platform, how to track services accessed and how to generate reports; Conduct post design and training technical support for the hub to ensure the smooth functioning; Add topics and content which can help young businesses on their business development.

Final Deliverables

A functional business development hub.

Methodology

Applicants will be required to submit a detailed proposed methodology and budget with their application.