81308636-Strengthening the Business Development Service Market in Moldova

The contractor will contribute to the implementation of Output 3 of the "Strong Businesses and Communities for Moldova (SBC)" project in close cooperation with the head of component, guided by the GIZ project manager and selected target indicators on outcome level. The design and methodological concept of SBC follows a multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach. The advisory and support-services include policy advice as well as capacity development for relevant stakeholders on national, but also regional and local level to support the implementation of development strategies and to strengthen their respective capacities. Focus will be placed on strengthening Business Development Service Providers on national, regional, and local level and to support them in promotion, awareness rising, development/improving and implementation of respective business development services. This will be done via advisory related to the existing Business Development Service Providers and the Business Development Services they already provide. In order to strengthen these structures in a sustainable manner, the aim is to institutionally establish the instruments that will contribute to promotion and awareness increasing of Business Development Services, and thus ensure the consolidation of the long-standing TC support. The task of the bidder is to support the implementation of SBC with a pool of experts. Work packages: The contactor will be responsible for providing the following services: - Evaluation of existing studies on BDS and BDS Providers and identification and selection of BDS providers with the highest demand, resulting in: - Conducting an indebt study on BDS that assesses the capacities of current BDS Providers - Assess main BDS tools and methods used by - BDS Providers to provide services to MSMEs - and/or start-ups - Identify and select participating BDS providers with the highest demand based, including BDS Provider brief institutional description and description of actually provided Business Development Services - Review the performed study, assessed BDS tools and methods as well as present and discuss results with GIZ project team - Engage with selected BDSPs to confirm and add capacity building needs - Develop a roadmap for the capacity building of the selected BDSPs

- Supporting providers of Business Development Services in the Program`s target localities to develop or improve services in specified areas aimed to support MSMEs;

- Promoting BDS Services and Increasing Awareness, namely: - Organizing matchmaking events (one in each project region), by involving BDS providers and entrepreneurs and allowing them to establish links between each other; - Develop and implement awareness raising measures on the benefits/opportunities of operating a (full-time) BDS providers, including offering services in the specified areas, but not limited to them.

- Piloting of Business Development Services in the Program`s target localities, by identifying and implementing mechanisms of piloting the developed and/or improved Business Development Services in mainly specified areas and in Program"s selected regions and provide support to BDS providers to pilot the newly created or improved services for entrepreneurs in the regions;

- Ensure communication with relevant stakeholders, policy makers, operators, service providers for appropriate identification of experts and a smooth implementation of proposed measures;

- Ensure that expertise offered is compliant with the overall project performance indicators, indicated above. In performing the tasks, the contractor must maintain current knowledge of relevant political, social, and economic development trends in order to advice project on possible responses. The contractor must also possess necessary expertise and abilities for proper identification of relevant international and local experts, as well as having access and knowledge of wider stakeholders involved in the decision-making process at the local, regional, national, and international level, including other donor organizations and agencies, and maintain necessary relationships.