R&D Group, under the Mastercard Foundation EDGE Program, is seeking qualified firms for a 6-month Non-Exclusive Framework Agreement to identify, recruit, and support 180 IT-enabled micro-enterprises across Ethiopia.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) INVITATION NOTICE

Tender Title: Consulting Assignment: Business Development and Digitalization Support for Technology-Based Micro-Enterprises

• Tender Reference No.: R&D/EDGE/RFP/003/2026
• Issuing Organization: R&D Group (under the Mastercard Foundation EDGE Program)
• Date Issued: August 20, 2026 (5:30 PM)
• Submission Deadline: August 27, 2026 (5:30 PM)

1. Context and Objective

R&D Group invites qualified firms to submit technical and financial proposals to enter into a 6-month Non-Exclusive Framework Agreement. The selected service provider will identify, recruit, and support 180 IT-enabled micro-enterprises across Ethiopia (including Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, Jimma, Jijiga, and Mekelle) through business development, digital presence enablement, and youth job placement facilitation.

2. Key Scope of Work & Deliverables

• Task 1: Recruitment & Mapping: Screen, onboard, and map eligible youth- and women-led micro-enterprises.
• Task 2: Diagnosis & Profiling: Conduct structured diagnostic assessments and generate enterprise profiles.
• Task 3: Capacity Building & BDS: Deploy social enablement packages (SEO, Google Business, Telegram bots), market access tools, access-to-finance due diligence, and mentorship.
• Task 4: Youth Job Placement: Identify and verify a database targeting an average of 5 youth job placements per enterprise.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Interested firms must demonstrate:

• Valid business registration, trade license, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and tax clearance certificate.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience delivering digital support, BDS, or enterprise development programs at scale.
• Proven experience with IT-enabled enterprises, outsourcing, or BPO companies.
• A dedicated team comprising a Team Leader (8+ years exp.), Business Development Experts (min. 3, 5+ years exp.), and Digital Experts (min. 3, 4+ years exp.).

4. Proposal Submission Guidelines

• Format: Technical (PDF, max 12 pages) and Financial proposals must be submitted as separate files.
• Currency: Unit rate quote in Ethiopian Birr (ETB) per micro-enterprise supported, valid for 90 days.
• Submission Email: Send to [email protected].
• Subject Line: RFP: MICRO_RFP/003/2026_[Firm Name].
• Clarifications Deadline: Questions may be emailed before August 25, 2026, 5:30 PM using the subject Question RFP: MICRO_RFP/003/2026_[Firm Name].

Tender details

• Deadline: 2026-08-27
• Bid closing time: 17:30
• Bid opening: 2026-08-27 17:30
• Bid opening (note): No Specific Opening Date and Time
• Region: Addis Ababa
• Publishing entity: R&D Group
• Published on: 2merkato.com (Aug 20, 2026)
• Posted at: 2026-08-20T08:56:34.000Z