81306249-Developing Integrated Management Systems in Women-Led Enterprises Project (DIMS)

Employment promotion for women for the green transformation in Africa" (WE4D) is a regional programme commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and cofinanced by the European Union (EU) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The contractor shall support WE4D with implementing the "Developing Integrated Management Systems in Women-Led Enterprises Project" (DIMS project). The contractor will implement three (3) work packages: - The first work package consists in supporting women-led companies driving the green transformation in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to establish Integrated Management Systems (IMS). The overall objective of this work package is to ensure that 90 women-led enterprises in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania acquire ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 training and certification. - The second work package consists of supporting women-led companies driving the green transformation in Mozambique in adopting ISO 9001. This work package requires that the contractor establishes a team of experts that have extensive knowledge of the SME industry and local context of Mozambique. The overall objective of this work package is to ensure that 20 women-led enterprises in Mozambique acquire ISO 9001 training and certification. - The third work package shall require the contractor to conduct feasibility studies within Malawi and Mozambique to assess the readiness, capacity, and willingness of SMEs within these countries to implement and certify ISO systems. This work package requires that the contractor assigns local experts to conduct this assignment. Within Mozambique, the contractor will assess feasibility for the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Within Malawi, the contractor shall be required to assess feasibility for all three selected standards namely ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001. The results of this study shall determine the consequent course of action within these countries. For work packages 1 and 2, the following activities (among others) are included: - The contractor shall with support from WE4D develop selection criteria as well as a weighting tool that will be used to weight and select beneficiary enterprises. - The contractor will scout for and select women-led companies driving the green transformation through an outreach campaign. - A gap analysis should highlight shortcomings and opportunities for IMS / ISO 9001 certification. - The contractor shall support the establishment of steering committees and selection of ISO resource persons within each participating enterprise. - The contractor shall establish standardised and customized gender-sensitive training modules for each of the countries. - The contractor shall conduct online Lead Implementers and online Lead Auditor"s Trainings for selected employees of the participating enterprises. - The contractor shall support a gender-responsive coaching and a mentorship phase for the enterprises to implement the requirements of the standards. - The contractor shall conduct a certification audit within each participating enterprise and support compliant enterprises to address nonconformities as well as to apply for ISO certification. - The contractor shall through a third party (accredited certification body), ensure that participating enterprises are certified to the standards (ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001). - The contractor shall support matching activities and ensure that participating SMEs are supported to take up at least one intern during the duration of the project. For work package 3, activities include (but are not limited to): - The contractor shall conduct two (2) separate desk reviews on the status of ISO certification and training for SMEs, with a particular focus on women-led SMEs driving the green transformation, within Malawi and Mozambique respectively. - The contractor shall compile findings into a single report. The contractor shall achieve the following results: - 1,660 people have found employment in companies that are driving the green transformation. Of these, 70% are women and 40% are young people. - 3,300 persons, 70% of whom are women and 40% young people, have improved their employment situation. - 450 people, 70% of whom are women and 40% young people, have successfully completed a vocational training measure. - 150 of the start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) supported by the project that contribute to the green transformation, of which 60% are managed by women, have improved their business capacity. - 150 companies and partner organisations participate in designing and implementing active labour market policy measures for job seekers. - 150 beneficiaries, of whom 70% are women, have participated in new or improved offers of active labour market policy (e.g. internship programmes, soft skills training courses, careers guidance and advice, and job placement measures). - 360 out of 450 (75%) of persons trained within the scope of the partnerships with companies, 70% of whom are women, confirm that their economic prospects have improved as a result of the inclusive and green business models supported by the programme. - 150 start-ups and MSMEs have further developed their ecologically sustainable, climate-friendly products, services and business models. Of these, 60% are managed by women. - 120 out of 150 owners (80%) of MSMEs and start-ups, of whom 72 are women (60%), confirm that the new or improved advice and support services from actors in the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem are useful for improving their competitiveness.