Danish Refugee Council
Terms of Reference (ToR) for Private Sector Mapping & Development of Private Sector Engagement Strategy
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Who is the Danish Refugee Council?
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO with a specific expertise in forced displacement. It was founded in 1956 and today it is operating in 40 countries around the world, where it protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities.
DRC has been active across Iraq since 2003 and plays a crucial role in addressing the complex humanitarian needs of displaced populations and conflict-affected communities. Operating in collaboration with local partners and authorities and adopting humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding (HDP) approaches, DRC focuses on providing a wide range of services to enhance the resilience and well-being of vulnerable individuals.
DRC’s work in Iraq has been focused on implementing multi-sectoral programming through an area-based approaches, integrating protection, economic recovery, humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding programming as well as advocacy. By implementing context-specific solutions, DRC contributes to the stability and recovery of communities in Iraq, striving to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for those affected by displacement and conflict.
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Purpose of the consultancy
The primary purpose of this consultancy is to understand and evaluate and analyse the existing private sector context in Iraq and support DRC through developing a detailed and comprehensive private sector engagement strategy that can help DRC Iraq programming improved.
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Background
DRC recognizes the important role that the private sector plays in long-term response. As a market actor, the private sector can contribute to both emergency response and preparedness at many levels and can offer innovative solutions for medium to long-term recovery.
The private sector in Iraq has faced numerous challenges over the past decades due to conflict, economic instability, and limited infrastructure. However, in recent years, there has been a push toward diversification and resilience, with growing interest in sectors like agriculture, construction, renewable energy, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). Despite ongoing challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles and access to financing, Iraq’s private sector holds potential for growth and innovation, especially with increased support for local businesses and efforts to engage in sustainable practices. This presents opportunities for partnerships aimed at enhancing livelihoods and economic recovery in vulnerable communities.
DRC Iraq plans to strengthen its private sector engagement by facilitating the development of business models where businesses can have their own shared-value – helping meet humanitarian needs and reduce vulnerability to future shocks while receiving at the same time the commercial benefits (increase productivity, income, expansion of businesses). DRC Iraq will also engage the private sector in influencing policy decisions that affects the economic recovery of the affected displaced households, communities and markets. Through shared-value partnerships, DRC and private sector partners will have deeper engagement leading to mutual benefits and increased impact through strategic collaboration.
DRC Iraq is therefore seeking an external consultant who will identify key market players mainly in the following governorates, but not limited to KRI (Erbil and Duhok), Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, Diyala, Anbar, and Basra to understand market perceptions, and establish initial engagement with the private sector.
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Specific objective of the consultancy
The objective of the consultancy is to identify and map potential private sector partners in Iraq with focus on shared value partnerships that can increase income generation and improve community access to private sector goods and services. Explore opportunities for collaboration and address challenges of effective partnerships.
To draft and develop a detailed and comprehensive private sector engagement strategy for DRC Iraq with the guide of the implementing the strategy by DRC to build sustainable partnerships with the potential private sectors.
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Scope of work and methodology
The consultant will be responsible to conduct private sector mapping and strategy development to support DRC Iraq program engagement with private sectors, including.
Private sector mapping: identify and map private sectors who can be potential shared value partners, potential partners for DRC Iraq to facilitate income generation opportunities for DRC beneficiaries and enable them access to products and services that meet their needs.
Stakeholder consultation and analyses: has networks and understanding of Iraq private sector landscape to conduct consultations with private sector actors, government actors, NGOs and community representatives to identify opportunities, challenges and capacity of potential private sector partners to collaborate with DRC.
Private sector engagement strategy development: the consultant is responsible to develop private sector engagement strategy for DRC Iraq which supports DRC in on-going engagement with private sectors and provides recommendations for potential functional partnerships with private sectors.
The Consultant is required to prepare a detailed methodology, starting with a desk review of existing data, reports, and past private sector engagement initiatives in Iraq. This will be followed by private sector mapping to categorize them and identify potential shared value partnerships. Use their networks and understanding of Iraq’s private sector to gather information that will help in conducting a SWOT analysis to prioritize partners based on feasibility and alignment with DRC program objectives. Develop a private sector engagement based on the findings and with a report and a presentation of the key recommendations. Based on these findings, a draft private sector engagement strategy will be developed, validated with key stakeholders, and finalized alongside a comprehensive report and presentation of key recommendations.
6.Deliverables
The Consultant will submit the following deliverables:
Phase
Expected deliverables
Indicative description tasks
Maximum expected timeframe
Phase 1:
Preparation
Inception Report
(in English)
Prepare an Inception Report to set out a detailed approach and methodology for mapping and engaging the private sector. The Inception Report will explain how key players will be identified and prioritised, how insights on businesses’ perceptions will be diagnosed, how new and existing relationships will be tracked, how actions will be pro-actively followed up, and how the Consultant will work with DRC.
As part of the preparation of the Inception Report, prepare an initial market and sector analysis to identify where relationships can be quickly established.
5 calendar days
Phase 2:
Working on deliverables
Mapping Exercise – deliverables include the following:
a) Mapping plan
b) Mapping tools
c) Written report on the findings (including business matrix and proposed potential partnerships)
Detailed mapping of the private sector in the project implementation areas related to DRC’s key sectors for private sector engagement i.e. financial services, clean energy, and agriculture- as well as exploring additional sectors that can contribute to sustainable impact in vulnerable communities. The Consultancy should seek to utilise contacts at senior levels within these sectors. The mapping exercise aims to:
a) identify sectors and enterprises with high potential for outreach and cooperation for DRC’s current/future economic recovery programmes;
b) identify businesses currently supporting returnees/refugees/vulnerable host communities in Iraq;
c) identify opportunities to cultivate high value partnership with private sector.
The consultant must submit to DRC the mapping plan and tools to be used prior the mapping exercise.
f) submit a written report (max of 15-20 pages) consolidating work performed including gap analysis of the findings of the mapping exercise, information gathered and analysis of outcomes (focusing on how DRC will operationalize private sector engagement). As part of the report, the following must be included either as an Annex or as part of the report:
1) develop a matrix of corporations by business sector and expertise, who can support DRC’s economic recovery programming.
2) propose potential partnerships (examples of shared-value partnership) for each business/corporation identified during the mapping in KRI, Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, Diyala, Anbar, and Basra.
16 calendar days
Private Sector Partnership Engagement Strategy (in English)
Develop and deliver a written viable private sector engagement strategy based on the mapping and gap analysis.
The strategy will include:
a) key “selling points” for engagement including investment cases for the Private Sector;
b) communication mechanisms for engagement including activities that facilitate discussion between the private sector and project implementers;
c) concise checklist of activities that businesses can support.
d) graphic design embodied in the strategy document, inclusive of gaps, opportunities, checklist, communication mechanisms, keys selling points.
The strategy must not exceed 15-20 pages (exclusive of Annexes).
The final products will be reviewed for quality. DRC will have a maximum of three (3) reviews/revision processes for each deliverable/tool submitted before the service provider’s finalisation and usage. All deliverables will be submitted in English. DRC Iraq Country Office has sole ownership of all the final data and documents.
16 calendar days
Phase 3:
Briefing to DRC staff
Presentation of final product
Presentation of final strategy, works done and recommendations to relevant DRC staff.
5 calendar day
7.Duration, timeline, and payment
The total expected duration to complete the assignment is six weeks, from approximately mid-December 2024 until end of January 2025. The consultant will submit a detailed work plan including a timeline for the achievement of the various tasks involved in the consultancy and the delivery of the expected outputs, as well as a price proposal that is inclusive of all costs in USD.
The payment will be made in three instalments as follow:
1) 30% of contract value upon delivery and acceptance of the inception report (Deliverable 1) and mapping plan and tools (Deliverables 2.A and 2.B).
2) 50% of contract value upon delivery and acceptance of 70% of the total deliverables (deliverable 1, Deliverables 2.A, 2.B and 2.C).
3) 20% upon delivery and acceptance of all remaining deliverables (Deliverables 1, 2.A, 2.B 2.C, 3). Final payment will be made upon submission of satisfactory deliverables.
8.Proposed Composition of Team
The consultant is expected to be a company (or individuals with proper proven registration documents within Iraqi government of tax registration office and/or chamber of commerce of Iraq) with the appropriate experience to deliver the objectives and the team composition should include professionals with different expertise at least as of below:
- A Lead consultant: overall lead of the coordination ensuring the scope of work is met and is the main focal point of contact with DRC with experience in private sector engagement, project management or strategic planning within humanitarian context in Iraq.
- A Private sector engagement specialist: responsible in mapping private sector actors, conduct stakeholder analyses, and develops the private sector engagement strategy. The specialist has knowledge of Iraq’s private sector, market systems and economic development with proven experience in stakeholder engagement and strategy development.
9.Eligibility, qualification, and experience required
Technical requirements:
- Ability to travel and work inside Iraq.
- The lead consultants/team members should have minimum masters’ degree in development or humanitarian studies, political science, business management, economics, or other relevant fields.
- Previous high-profile work experience of attracting private sector investments in emerging markets and Iraq or the Middle East for humanitarian and development agencies.
- Extensive experience and engagement with private sectors particularly the business sectors.
- Experience developing operational recommendations and identifying best practices for private sector engagement.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the local business environment/context and have networks and understanding of the private sector landscape particularly in Iraq.
- Familiarity with and access to businesses/corporations/chambers of commerce preferably with strong contacts at senior levels with investors, blue chip firms and industry bodies in relevant sectors.
- Good understanding of displacement issues and the humanitarian programs to support refugee populations.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.
- Advanced skills in research design and methods, including data collection, analysis and mapping techniques.
Language requirements:
- Written and spoken fluency in Arabic and English.
10.Technical supervision
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:
- Economic Recovery Technical Coordinator, Danish Refugee Council, Iraq Office.
11.Location and support
- This consultancy should be carried out in Iraq, the consultancy company should be based in Iraq or any other country with the presence of the local team in Iraq.
- The consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone.
12.Travel
This consultancy company and the team are responsible to cover all the related costs to travel to the field if required and they will be responsible of the administrative process of their travels.
How to apply
Interested bidders may send email to [email protected] to get the full tender package.
Email submission
Bids can be submitted by email to the following dedicated, controlled, & secure email address:
When Bids are emailed, the following conditions shall be complied with:
- The RFP number shall be inserted in the Subject Heading of the email.
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Separate emails shall be used for the ‘Financial Bid’ and ‘Technical Bid’, and the Subject Heading of the email shall indicate which type of the email contains.
- The financial bid shall only contain the financial bid form, Annex A
- The technical bid shall contain all other documents required by the tender but excluding all pricing information.
- Bid documents required, shall be included as an attachment to the email in PDF, JPEG, TIF format, or the same type of files provided as a ZIP file. Documents in MS Word or excel formats, will result in the bid being disqualified.
- Email attachments shall not exceed 4MB; otherwise, the bidder shall send his/her bid in multiple emails.
Failure to comply with the above may disqualify the Bid.
DRC is not responsible for the failure of the Internet, network, server, or any other hardware, or software, used by either the Bidder or DRC in the processing of emails.
DRC is not responsible for the non-receipt of Bids submitted by email as part of the e-Tendering process