Background

The WE4A/WE4D Programme supports women-led MSMEs across Africa to become more competitive, sustainable, and climate-resilient. A key focus is equipping Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) with green, climate-smart, and gender-responsive Business Development Services (BDS). The programme seeks to engage a Green BDS Specialist and a Pool of National Green Experts to develop BDS tools and support MSMEs.

Objectives

• Strengthen ESOs to deliver gender-responsive, green BDS.
• Develop and adapt green BDS tools and training materials.
• Support MSMEs—especially women-led—to adopt circular and climate-smart practices.
• Provide technical advisory and capacity building for green transition.

Scope of Work

A. Green BDS Specialist

• Review, adapt, and create green & gender-responsive BDS tools.
• Develop training materials, guides, and SOPs.
• Facilitate Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for ESOs.
• Provide strategic advisory on gender and green integration.
• Document lessons learned and pilot results.

B. National Green Experts (Pool)

• Conduct MSME assessments for green transition readiness.
• Provide technical advisory on efficiency, waste, and green technologies.
• Train and mentor MSMEs and ESOs on green solutions.
• Support pilots using adapted BDS tools.
• Collect data, monitor progress, and submit field reports.

Deliverables

• Adapted and newly developed green & gender-responsive BDS tools.
• Training materials and ToT sessions.
• MSME assessment reports and technical notes.
• Pilot implementation reports and case studies.
• Final technical progress reports.

Knowledge and Experience

Green BDS Specialist

• Master’s in Business Development, Sustainability, Gender, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• 5+ years of BDS development & gender-responsive programming.
• Experience in curriculum design and tool development.

National Green Experts

• Degree in Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Gender Studies, or related fields.
• 3–7 years technical experience in green transition or environmental management.
• Experience working with MSMEs/ESOs.

• Review, adapt, and create green & gender-responsive BDS tools.
• Develop training materials, guides, and SOPs.
• Facilitate Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for ESOs.
• Provide strategic advisory on gender and green integration.
• Document lessons learned and pilot results.
• Conduct MSME assessments for green transition readiness.
• Provide technical advisory on efficiency, waste, and green technologies.
• Train and mentor MSMEs and ESOs on green solutions.
• Support pilots using adapted BDS tools.
• Collect data, monitor progress, and submit field reports.
• Produce adapted and newly developed green & gender-responsive BDS tools.
• Create training materials and conduct ToT sessions.
• Generate MSME assessment reports and technical notes.
• Write pilot implementation reports and case studies.
• Submit final technical progress reports.

• Business Development Services (BDS) tool development
• Gender-responsive programming
• Curriculum design
• Training of Trainers (ToT) facilitation
• Strategic advisory
• MSME assessment
• Technical advisory on green technologies
• Data collection and monitoring
• Report writing

• Green BDS Specialist: Master’s in Business Development, Sustainability, Gender, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• Green BDS Specialist: 5+ years of BDS development & gender-responsive programming.
• Green BDS Specialist: Experience in curriculum design and tool development.
• National Green Experts: Degree in Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Gender Studies, or related fields.
• National Green Experts: 3–7 years technical experience in green transition or environmental management.
• National Green Experts: Experience working with MSMEs/ESOs.