SIYB and Financial Education trainer, MSME linkage and dialogue facilitator, and tracer study data collector supporting MSME access to finance in Bsr

Call for External Collaborator – SIYB and Financial Education trainer, MSME linkage and dialogue facilitator, and tracer study data collector supporting MSME access to finance in Basra.

I. Background and purpose
the International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is implementing a project in Southern Iraq. The project focuses on enhancing private sector development and creating decent jobs, emphasising sustainable green businesses and support for startups. The project operates on three levels: at the macro level, it supports evidence-based policy options for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through business environment assessments. At the meso level, it builds the capacities of financial institutions to better serve their clients' needs and provides training to intermediary organizations. At the micro level, it offers training to youth, small business owners, and startups, focusing on business management and financial literacy, while facilitating their access to financial services. The project collaborates with various ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, and financial institutions, ultimately benefiting vulnerable workers in Iraq. This initiative aligns with the Iraq Decent Work Country Programme and the government's Riyada' initiative for development and employment, with a focus on the green economy, improving MSME capacities, enhancing financial inclusion, and providing essential support to startups. It includes enterprise assessments, identification of constraints in green business development, and training and support for trainers, financial institutions, and businesses.
The project is actively implementing various initiatives in Basra and Muthanna, targeting MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs. These initiatives include Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training, financial education, and green business development. Additionally, the project facilitates connections between entrepreneurs and financial institutions to enhance access to finance, ultimately supporting business growth and sustainability.
The implementation of these activities is carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders in Basra and Muthanna to ensure effective coordination and impact. To further strengthen and support these efforts, the project requires a national consultant to assist in the implementation of activities across both governorates.

The objective of this consultancy is to deliver SIYB and Financial Education training in Basra, supervise the collection of tracer study data from beneficiaries who received training during the project implementation period, and facilitate MSME dialogue sessions to promote business linkages, formalization and registration, access to opportunities, adoption of green practices, and other areas that support MSME development and growth.

II. Scope of work
Under the overall supervision of the project manager, the consultant will be responsible for delivering entrepreneurship and financial literacy support services to project beneficiaries in Basra and facilitating their access to finance. The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
1. Beneficiary Identification and Selection
o Support the selection of eligible beneficiaries in accordance with the project criteria.
o Coordinate with field consultant and relevant stakeholders to ensure transparent and inclusive beneficiary selection.
2. Delivery of SIYB and Financial Education Training
o Organize and deliver four rounds of SIYB (Start and Improve Your Business) and Financial Education training.
o Each training round shall be conducted over four consecutive days using approved training materials and methodologies.
o Ensure active participation, maintain attendance records, and administer pre- and post-training assessments.
o Provide practical guidance on business planning, financial management, loan readiness, and green business opportunities.
3. Post-Training Coaching and Access to Finance Support
o Provide individual and group follow-up support to trained beneficiaries.
o Assist beneficiaries in developing and refining business plans and loan application packages.
o Guide beneficiaries through the financing process and coordinate with participating financial institutions where required.
o Track beneficiary progress and address challenges that may hinder access to finance.
o Maintain regular communication with beneficiaries until completion of the financing process, including loan approval, rejection, or withdrawal.
4. Tracer Study Data Collection (sample 1000)
o Supervise and support the collection of tracer study data from project beneficiaries using approved questionnaires and tools.
o Ensure data quality, completeness, accuracy, and timely submission.
o Coordinate with enumerators and project staff to resolve data collection challenges.
5. MSME Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement
o Facilitate 6 dialogue sessions and networking events for MSMEs and relevant stakeholders.
o Promote business linkages, enterprise formalization and registration, access to opportunities, adoption of green practices, and awareness of available business support services.
6. Reporting
o Submit periodic progress reports and a final report summarizing activities, outputs, beneficiary achievements, tracer study results, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations.

III. Detailed tasks
The consultant will implement the assignment through the following sequential tasks:
1. Inception and Planning
Hold an inception meeting with the project team to confirm work plan, training schedule, tools, and beneficiary selection criteria.
2. Beneficiary Outreach and Selection
Conduct outreach activities in coordination with local stakeholders to identify potential participants.
Screen applicants against eligibility criteria (business status, motivation, sector focus, and vulnerability where applicable).
Prepare a shortlist and final list of beneficiaries ensuring transparency and gender inclusion.
4. Delivery of Trainings (4 cycles, 4 days each)
For each training cycle:
Deliver SIYB and Financial Education training over four consecutive days.

Facilitate interactive sessions on business idea development, business planning, financial literacy, and loan readiness.
Conduct pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge improvement.
Document attendance, participation, and key observations.
5. Post-Training Follow-up and Access to Finance Support
Conduct one-on-one and group follow-up sessions with trained beneficiaries.
Support development/refinement of business plans and financial documents.
Guide beneficiaries through loan application preparation and submission.
Coordinate with participating financial institutions to facilitate access to finance.
Track progress of each beneficiary until completion of financing process.
6. Tracer Study Data Collection (sample 1000)
Train/brief data collectors on tracer study tools and methodology.
Supervise data collection from trained beneficiaries.
Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and timely submission.
Validate and clean collected data in coordination with project staff.
7. MSME Dialogue Facilitation
Develop a concept note and implementation plan for the MSMEs dialogue in Basra with agreed KPIs
Organize and facilitate MSME 6 dialogue sessions with relevant stakeholders.
Promote discussion on business linkages, registration, green practices, and access to opportunities.
Document key outcomes and recommendations.
8. Reporting and Closure
Submit periodic progress updates after each training cycle.
Prepare a final report covering achievements, challenges, beneficiary outcomes, and access to finance results.
Provide recommendations for scaling and sustainability.

IV. Expected deliverables
The assignment holder must prepare two report covering all the activities. All deliverables received are considered drafts and must be revised/refined in line with the consultations and the validation process to be accepted as a final deliverable.
1. Training and Beneficiary Selection
Inception Report and Work Plan
Final list of selected beneficiaries for four training cycles (disaggregated by gender, age, and business type)
Delivery of 4 training cycles (4 days each) on SIYB and Financial Education Two rounds to be conducted within 30 days of contract signature, and two additional rounds during the remaining contract period.
Each cycle includes: attendance sheets (minimum 85% attendance per cycle expected)
Training Completion Report (after each cycle)
2. MSME Dialogue
Concept note and implementation plan for the MSMEs dialogue in Basra with agreed KPIs
Organize and facilitate 6 MSME dialogue sessions with relevant stakeholders
3. Tracer Study and Follow-up
Tracer Study Data Collection Report (data collection progress and challenges with data collectors)
Post-Training Follow-up and Access to Finance Support Report
4. Reporting
Two Progress Report to be submitted (first one: 31st July Second one: 12th September)

V. Reporting arrangements
The consultant will conduct the assignment under the overall supervision of the project manager, and the Sr. Project officer. All the activities should be coordinated with project team to ensure smooth implementation and to leverage on ILO strategic partnership with Government of Iraq. The assignment holder will be onboarded in the context of the other projects involved and relevant to the assignment. The ILO may provide documents to broaden the understanding of the assignment focus and the cross-cutting issues.
The assignment must be implemented in a dynamic approach that considers the feedback and comments in line with the validation process.
VI. Detailed qualifications, experience and skills required

The consultant should meet the following qualifications and possess the necessary expertise:

Proven experience in program planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects.
Certified trainer with the ILO (SIYB and Financial Education) (must)
Strong communication and coordination skills, particularly in engaging with ILO's social partners and MSMEs in Basra. (must)
Professional experience in development programming, with expertise in liaising with government authorities, national/international technical counterparts, NGOs, and building effective partnerships.
Skilled in working and communicating with diverse actors, including government authorities, humanitarian agencies (UN and NGOs), and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Experience in both development and humanitarian programming.
Familiarity with ILO tools and methodologies (desirable).
Familiarity with Decent work country programme in Iraq (desirable)
Fluency in Arabic as the trainings will be delivered in Arabic, and good level in English for reporting.

VII. Indicators for evaluation of outputs

quality of deliverables. All outputs are expected to be submitted in line with the approved work plan, including training cycles, MSME dialogue activities, tracer study, and reporting requirements, without delays.
Achievement will be measured by the completion of four SIYB and Financial Education training cycles, selection and training of targeted beneficiaries, facilitation of six MSME dialogue sessions, and successful implementation of tracer study data collection. All required reports (inception, training completion, follow-up, tracer study, MSME dialogue, and two progress reports) must be fully delivered.
Quality will be assessed through adherence to SIYB standards, minimum 85%

knowledge, and accuracy of tracer study data. Reports should be clear, complete, and include practical recommendations.

development and access to finance, as well as the quality of stakeholder engagement and actionable outcomes from MSME dialogue sessions.
VIII.
IX. Payment terms
1. First Payment (50%)
and accepted by the ILO team.

deliverables:
o Inception Report and Work Plan
o Delivery of the first 2 training cycles (2 out of 4 cycles) on SIYB and Financial Education (each 4 days)
o Training Completion Reports for the first 2 cycles (including attendance sheets and assessments)
o Tracer study data collection 50% of the sample.
o MSME Dialogue: 3 out of 6 sessions organized and facilitated
o Submission of Monthly Progress Report ( 20 June 20 July)

2. Second Payment (50%)
remaining deliverables and acceptance by the ILO team.

deliverables:
o Delivery of the remaining 2 training cycles (2 out of 4 cycles) on SIYB and Financial Education

o Training Completion Reports for the remaining 2 cycles
o Full Post-Training Follow-up and Access to Finance Support Report (100% completion of beneficiaries)
o Tracer Study Data Collection (50% completion, including data cleaning, progress, and challenges)
o MSME Dialogue: remaining 3 out of 6 sessions organized and facilitated (total 6 completed)
o Final MSME Dialogue report and implementation summary against KPIs
o Submission of Second Progress Report (1 August 12 September)
1. In case of progress payments, payment schedule and timeframe shall be based on the number of days corresponding to the deliverables.
2. The daily fee shall be established within the fee range corresponding to the complexity of assignment and the
residence, as per the ILO Daily Fee Range Table.
3. If the external collaboration contract is to be established in local currency, the amount will be converted from USD to local currency using the United Nations Operational Rate of Exchange effective at the time of establishing the contract.

X. Travel arrangements (if applicable)
Not applicable

Additional information on the ToR (for internal use)

Title of advertisement:
(*to appear on UNGM)

Summary of work to be performed:
(*to copy in in Jaggaer for display on UNGM)

Complexity of assignment (as per IGDS 695):

A Projects or technical tasks of a narrow scope and low complexity
Projects or technical tasks of moderate complexity with either broad scope/limited depth or restricted scope/considerable depth
C Projects or technical tasks of broad scope and considerable depth

D Projects or technical tasks of broad scope, high complexity and impact

Projects or technical tasks of exceptionally complex programmatic scope, unusual complexity and/or sensitive nature

Required experience and qualifications (as per IGDS 695):
1 Limited technical skills and less than 3 years of relevant experience
2 Limited technical skills and more than 3 years of relevant experience
Specialized degree or training in the relevant field and more than 5 years of relevant experience
Specialized or technical knowledge and skills and more than 10 years of extensive relevant professional experience
Highly specialized skills and expertise with more than 15 years of extensive relevant experience

Expected contract duration:
Expected start date of assignment: 20 June 2026
Expected end date of assignment / full delivery: 12 September 2026

How to apply

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