Request for Expression of Interests (EOIs) for Consultants at Central Bank of Nigeria
Central Bank of Nigeria
Request for Expression of Interests (EOIs) for Consultants Interested in Collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and State Governments to Operate Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs)
in North-West South-West and South-East Geopolitical Zones
1. Introduction
As part of efforts to support the Federal Government’s initiatives in combating youth unemployment and fostering economic development at the grass-roots, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intends to extend the operations of its first phase Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) in the North-West, South-West and South-East Geo-political Zones under a Tripartite Agreement that comprise the Host State Government, Implementing Agency (lAs) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The first phase of the CBN-EDCs project in the North-West, (Kano), South- West (Lagos) and South-East (Onitsha) operated for five (5) years (April 2008 -April 2013) and the Bank has approved the renewal of the operations of the Centres for another three (3) years under a Tripartite Agreement.
The Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), focuses on skill based entrepreneurship training for tertiary institution graduates, secondary school certificate holders and others desirous of being self-employed.
Training at the Centres will be based on an approved curriculum, vocational skills, mentoring, industrial attachment/internship, enhanced business development services, linkage to finance, systems-driven financial management and other innovative components that will groom trainees to compete favorably in the global market place.
The executing agency tor this initiative is the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Development Finance Department.
2. Objectives of the EDCs
The CBN-supported EDCs which would target those with at least secondary and tertiary education has the following specific objectives among others to:
- Develop entrepreneurship spirit in Nigerian youth and provide insight into the tools, techniques and framework for managing business enterprises.
- Develop skills of potential entrepreneurs to successfully start, expand, diversify and manage business enterprises as well as link them with financial institutions to access capital, especially from the microfinance banks; and
- Create employment opportunities for Nigerians in pursuance of the provisions of Vision 2020 and other relevant government policies.
3. Terms of Reference (TOR) for Intending Consultants/Implementing Agencies
The Consultant or Implementing Agencies (lAs) that wish to submit proposals should be guided by the following:
1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of entrepreneurship requirements and develop a clear procedure, work instructions and approach the organization will adopt in delivering both theoretical and practical training for the trainees.
2. Provide a platform for needs based research and training to meet relevant requirements in entrepreneurship development.
3. Provide evidence of collaboration with incubation centre/existing industrial cluster for the purpose of offering on-site business facilities to aid trainees in session and, enable the trainees have hands-on experiences on their chosen vocations and sharing common resources particularly infrastructure after training respectively.
4. Provide a model for establishing linkage between trainees and financial institutions to enable them access financial services for starting or expanding their business after graduating from the Centre.
5. Provide an appropriate and detailed strategy for mentoring, coaching and monitoring the activities of trainees and graduates of the EDCs.
6. Demonstrate the capability and capacity of providing counter-part funding and prepare exit strategy for continued operation of the EDC after the 3-year CBN support.
7. Have full complement of staff and relevant entrepreneurship background with a minimum of ten years’ experience consulting and skills development for micro, small and medium enterprises.
8. Be ready to operate the Centre in a location that will provide the most impact and accessibility to the beneficiaries in the zone.
9. Develop a wide reaching and comprehensive awareness programme for youths in the geopolitical zone aimed at providing information on the need to attend the training at the EDC.
4. All Applications should cover the following Areas:
1. Curriculum Vitae of principal partners
2. Profile/Experience of Key Consultants
3. Summary of consulting experience in entrepreneurship
4. Description of facilities already available or which the 1A intends to procure and counterpart contribution for the smooth operation of the Center
5. Management and Organizational Structure
6. Registered address of the Consulting Firm
Interested Consultants/Implementing Agencies are hereby invited to submit their bids for the operation of the Entrepreneurship Development Centres in the North-West, South-West and South-East to the Central Bank of Nigeria at the address below not later than 1st April 2014.
The proposal should not be more than 20 pages(A4, single spacing, font 12, Times New Roman).
The Director,
Development Finance Department,
Central Bank of Nigeria,
Corporate Headquarters
Central Business District,
P.M.B 0187, Garki
Abuja-Nigeria.
Signed:
Management
