The study has two components related to business development:

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1 Terms of reference Evaluation of the offer for support services to entrepreneurs, support for business development and access to financing in WAGES intervention areas. International Consultant 1. Background The project West Africa Governance and Economic Sustainability in Extractive Areas - (WAGES) aims to ensure the participation of local communities and especially the integration of women and youth in the governance of natural resources, entrepreneurship and the development of the targeted areas. The project is being implemented in three countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana and Guinea) by the WUSC-CECI Consortium, which is funded by Global Affairs Canada. In terms of economic development, the project is based on two strategies: on the one hand, increasing the local content in the mines (mainly jobs and procurement) and, on the other hand, diversifying the local economy so that it does not depend solely on an industry whose life cycle is limited. The project includes an initial study of the socio-economic conditions, studies of promising agro-economic sectors in the different areas and depending on the countries and the companies, information on the procurement requirements of the mining companies. In order to achieve its outcomes, the WAGES project supports the training of youth and women in individual and collective entrepreneurship and supports existing job-generating companies. The project aims to help improve local entrepreneurs' access to business development and entrepreneur support services, especially for youth and women. The project also aims to increase entrepreneurs' access to financing for the development of their business (launch, consolidation, growth). To that end, WAGES collaborates with select mining companies that are willing to invest in improving access to financing. The project also collaborates with select microfinance organizations. It is in this context that the project wishes to identify best practices and mechanisms in the field of entrepreneurship development and corporate finance, particularly in the context of the intervention areas of its three countries of implementation. 2. Objectives of the study The study has two components related to business development: Entrepreneurship - Make an inventory of available business development and entrepreneurs support services in the intervention area. Analyze the adequacy of needs and current service offering to youth and women, identify the causes of shortcomings; - Suggest strategies that will equitably promote the access of women, young women and young men to these services in the intervention areas; 1

2 Financing - Analyze the factors that restrict the access of women, young women and young men to financing and other financial tools / services. - Identify the needs of women, young women and young men, in terms of financing and financial tools / services - Make an inventory based on a gendered analysis and according to the age of the offering of financing and financial tools / services available to women, young women and young men entrepreneurs (start-ups), Collective enterprises (GIEs, cooperatives) and existing SMEs likely to create jobs for youth and women, while analyzing the adequacy between the needs, the identified causes and the current service offering; - Suggest tested and adapted financial access strategies and mechanisms for young women, young men and women and existing businesses, taking into account the possible financial contributions of private investors (mining companies and others); 3. Unfolding of the mandate As this study will be conducted in multiple countries, the international consultant will coordinate the study with each of the 3 selected national consultants and will work closely with the members of the WAGES team in Canada and in each country. The selected consultant will have recognized expertise and experience in both areas of the study, namely women's and youth entrepreneurship and corporate finance. On the business finance aspect, he or she should have specific experience on strategies for increasing access to business finance at different stages. The 25-day mandate has the following components: In Canada: 1- Work planning, coordination (3 days) including: - Initial contact with the three national consultants and the three WAGES country teams; - Drafting of a work plan; 2- A review of the global literature (5 days) concerning: - A review of the literature and scientific evidence in the field of entrepreneurship development and access to financing applicable to an African or West African context; - A detailed description of some of the best practices and approaches to strategies and mechanisms for entrepreneurship development and access to financing, and lessons learned, in contexts similar to those of the project. 2

3 3- Technical support to the inventory of mechanisms and approaches for entrepreneurship development and access to financing in the three WAGES countries (2 days): - Support to country consultants in identifying key aspects to be documented about the main characteristics and operation of business development support services available at the national and local levels; - Support to country consultants in identifying key aspects to be documented about existing Decentralized Financial Systems (DFS) and financial products available nationally and locally for corporate financing (including microfinance). 4- Drafting and coordinating a preliminary and final comprehensive study report (after project feedback), incorporating a gender and age-disaggregated analysis, including the following (10 days): - Review of global literature (see point 2 above); - Review and quality assurance of each chapter on the mechanisms and approaches for entrepreneurship development and access to financing in each of the WAGES countries carried out by country consultants; - Development of recommendations on the most relevant approaches to entrepreneurship development and access to financing for each of the three WAGES countries (in consultation with the country researchers). In West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana and Guinea): 5- A mission in West Africa (5 days) with the objectives of: - Presenting the results of the study to project staff and key stakeholders (potentially at a regional forum scheduled for autumn 2018) - Training project staff on key aspects to consider when implementing entrepreneurship development and access to financing activities. 4. Deliverable products and services A comprehensive study report (and PowerPoint presentation that summarize it) that includes the following: 1- A review of the global literature on entrepreneurship development and access to financing: - A review of scientific evidence (including, if necessary, systematic studies) in the field - A detailed description of some of the best practices and approaches to strategies and mechanisms for successful entrepreneurship development and access to financing; - Identification of potential mechanisms for the sustainability of these approaches. 3

4 2- A detailed inventory for each of the three countries including the following (produced by national consultants): - Entrepreneurship and business development support services containing: - Analysis of the factors restricting the access of women, young women and young men to business development and entrepreneurs support services in the intervention area. - Identification of the needs of women, young women and young men, in terms of business development and entrepreneurs support. - Identification and summary diagnosis of consulting service providers (project idea and pre-feasibility, business plan, market studies, finance and accounting, legal aspects,...) and accessibility in the project area; - Identification of entrepreneurship support resources for young women, young men and women (entrepreneurs' competitions, scholarships, coaching, mentoring, network of entrepreneurs, etc.) and accessibility in the project area; - Access to financing for business development - Analysis of the factors restricting the access of women, young women and young men to financing and other financial tools / services. - Identification of the needs of women, young women and young men, in terms of financing and financial tools / services. - Identification and diagnosis of Decentralized Financial Systems - DFS (including microfinance institutions) present in the project area; - Detailed description of the financial products available for business financing (launch, consolidation, growth phases); - Identification of potential mechanisms for the sustainability of these systems. 3- Detailed recommendations for each of the three countries: - Recommendations on strategies and mechanisms that should be implemented to increase the efficiency and equitable accessibility of services for women, young women and men, and companies established in the project area; - Recommendations on strategies and mechanisms that should be implemented by the project to promote equitable access for women, young women and men to financing for business development; - Recommendations on best practices for monitoring, evaluation and risk management for each of the recommended mechanisms; - Recommendations on the best approaches to promote the sustainability of these mechanisms; - Observations on important considerations in terms of risks and opportunities when implementing these different mechanisms for the WAGES project. 5. Duration of the mandate 4

5 The selected consultant will be asked to submit the preliminary report including the review of the global literature, the different country sections, and the recommendations no later than September 3, The final report must be submitted no later than September 30, The field mission in West Africa will take place on a date to be determined during the second half of October Qualification Criteria - To be a specialist in entrepreneurship, development of micro, small and mediumsized enterprises / industries SMESMIs- (market studies, business plans, financing, coaching, etc.), access to finance: master's degree in economics, development of private sector, business planning / management or equivalent experience (at least 10 years); - Relevant experience in designing and implementing tools for the review of business plans based on technical, financial and strategic considerations; - Relevant experience in the design and implementation of capacity building programs for SMEs / SMIs, entrepreneurs or the benefit of (non-financial) service providers of SMEs / SMIs, and entrepreneurs; - Experience in supporting companies at different stages of their development, particularly through coaching programs; - Have a good knowledge of the context of private sector development in developing countries in general and in West Africa in particular and in particular access to finance; - At least 5 years of experience in reviewing corporate finance files; - Good knowledge of the different financing products available on the market for companies in West Africa; - To speak and write in French and English - Ability to produce high quality work in tight deadlines. - Experience in adult education an asset; 7. Application process A detailed CV showing significant experience in accessing finance and entrepreneurship development in the country; Legal documents confirming the legality of the consultant in Canada if it is a legal person (firm); A technical offer : methodology demonstrating the consultant's understanding of the research topic that describes how the study will be undertaken and delivered (maximum 2 pages) and a work plan; A financial offer : the daily rate and the total number of days requested for the execution of the mandate; Required travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with WAGES policies and confirmed at the beginning of the mandate. 8. Management of the consultation 5

6 The consultation will be administered administratively by Ms Olivia Nasewicz, Program Officer for WUSC. 9. Conditions of contract award The consultant who meets all the requirements and all of the qualification criteria will be selected for the award of the contract. Any offer that does not meet the requirements will be rejected. The two main criteria that will be used by the CECI-EUMC Consortium for the evaluation of the offers are: The number of years of experience of the provider and the relevance of his experience with regard to the objectives and expected results of the service; and his training (40%) The technical and financial offer (60%) The three service providers who obtain the highest rating on the basis of the first two criteria listed above will be called for an interview. The other candidates will not be contacted. Submissions may be sent by until June 15 to 23:59 (ET) to: Olivia Nasewicz, Program Officer World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Submissions received after the above deadline, for whatever reason, will not be considered. All documents must be sent in.pdf format. 6