Lead Facilitator for Incubator and Accelerator Streams

Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress

TERMS OF REFERENCE

TRAVEL

Travel in selected districts of province of Sindh and other cities of Pakistan may be required

BACKGROUND

Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP), an European Union (EU) funded project for poverty reduction and sustainable inclusive economic growth in rural Pakistan. Focused on selected districts of Balochistan & Sindh, ITC and its implementing partners are providing technical assistance in horticulture, livestock and dairy sectors for improving commercial viability of MSMEs and for a conducive policy regime. The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). It is fully dedicated to supporting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

This assignment is part of Output 1.3 of the GRASP project: Enhanced capacities of commercially operating SMEs, particularly women owned and farmer organizations in agribusiness management and marketing. Under this Output, the project is providing capacity building and handholding support to startups and existing businesses through incubation and acceleration services and mentorship – this specific work will directly contribute to sub-output 1.3.4 i.e. Number of stakeholders benefitted from agro-entrepreneurship trainings and incubation and accelerator support for businesses (disaggregated by sex, stakeholder, type of support and province).  

This project is a second phase of a specialized training program aimed at strengthening both established agricultural businesses and startups through enhanced market access and export capabilities, fostering a comprehensive agricultural business ecosystem. The program aims to equip MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) and startups with the skills, tools, and strategies they need to thrive in a competitive, innovation-driven economy. Through a hybrid model combining in-person and digital learning and training, the initiative ensures accessibility and engagement while addressing the diverse needs of participants

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The project aims to enhance export readiness and market access capabilities for 35 agricultural enterprises, encompassing both MSMEs and startups. Additionally, the program is aimed to build the capacity of 5 trainers, equipping them to become future domain leaders in the agricultural innovation sector. The project mainly focuses on, but not limited to the following;

1. Develop and adapt training materials with a localised focus.
2. Provide structured and impactful training to 22 MSMEs to prepare them for e-commerce readiness
3. Enhance value addition of 10 startups for incubation stream 3 startups for the acceleration stream employing a hybrid model of training delivery
4. Develop export market readiness and compliance understanding to provide information for establishing new marketing channels and distribution networks
5. Bridge the gap between traditional agricultural businesses and innovative startup approaches by creating awareness and integration into  the agriculture innovation ecosystem
6. Enhance E-commerce preparedness to enable MSMEs to build a strong digital presence, navigate e-commerce platforms effectively, and capitalize on online market opportunities.
7. Support startups for Incubation or Acceleration with tailored resources and guidance to refine business models, develop minimum viable products (MVPs), and prepare for scaling and fundraising.
8. Ensure the sustainability of all training materials by developing reusable, accessible training content that participants can leverage beyond the program to ensure long-term learning and application.

METHODOLOGY AND OVERALL DESIGN

The program is aimed to be delivered by the team of 3 consultants (national and international), who will work together to complement each others activities based on their different required expertise and experience. The consultants will ensure to deliver following deliverables jointly while contributing to their specific deliverables which will be published separately with the respective ToRs.

1.       Deliverable 1: Submit an Integrated Program Blueprint including training delivery and project plan. Onboard 35 participants and 5 trainers.

2.       Deliverable 2: 8 training sessions, 3 masterclasses and 20 coaching are delivered across 3 Streams. Submit the training materials  for the remaining 2 months along with the assessment criteria and learning pathways

3.       Deliverable 3: 15 Training sessions, 3 masterclasses and 20 coaching are delivered to participants across 3 streams

4.       Deliverable 4: Provide complete project completion report for all 3 Streams along with list of participants for ToT program, including photos, attendance sheets and pre and post-assessments

Details of the activities required to contribute to the mentioned deliverables include but not limited to the following;

Develop modular training materials for 3 streams: E-commerce, Incubation program and accelerator program: Create comprehensive and adaptable training materials for the e-commerce stream (covering digital marketing, online storefronts, content creation), the incubation stream (focusing on product-market fit, MVP development, business model validation), and the acceleration stream (addressing investment readiness, operational scaling, and strategic partnerships), with each module including presentation slides, practical worksheets, case studies, and assessment tools.

Delivery of Training for 35 trainees across 3 streams:

E-commerce Stream: Develop participants’ understanding of digital marketing fundamentals, establishing online storefronts, digital content creation, product photography and product presentation

Incubation Stream: Develop participants’ understanding of product-market fit, developing minimal viable products that address real agricultural challenges, problem validation and business model refinement

Acceleration Stream: Develop participants’ understanding of investment readiness, strengthen operational systems, and develop strategic partnerships and processes for scaling and global market entry align with setting up performance metrics

Delivery of Training of Trainers for 5 trainers across 3 streams: Conduct specialized Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions for 5 selected trainers, equipping them with the methodologies, facilitation techniques and content knowledge  required to effectively deliver the e-commerce, incubation, and acceleration programs. This engagement would include hands-on practice sessions, observation opportunities, feedback mechanisms, and certification of their readiness to independently facilitate future cohorts.

Live Interpretation and Translation of core training sessions and materials: All group training and coaching sessions will be transcribed live in Urdu to support participants' understanding of core concepts. Training materials from consultants will also include Urdu translations to ensure comprehension. ITC will separately engage service providers to facilitate this translation process, however the consultants will be required to support these efforts for their respective Streams.

Ecosystem Integration activities: This component will facilitate exploratory visits/sessions with agri-tech innovation hubs and key stakeholders providing participants with practical insights into operational models,  technology applications and fundraising opportunities.

Terms of Reference for Consultant : Curriculum Developer for the Incubator and Accelerator Streams

Consultant 3: Lead Facilitator for Incubator and Accelerator Streams

The consultant will be responsible for program delivery and instruction design while providing dedicated coaching support, will ensure the international coaching best practices around incubation, acceleration and e-commerce are introduced to the participants. Working in tandem with Consultants-1 and 2, the consultant will lead all training sessions to facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences. Through practical, localized content delivery and hands-on coaching, he/she will ensure participants can effectively apply learnings to their businesses. The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Conduct virtual training sessions combining virtual and in-person learning and deliver one-on-one coaching based on needs assessment for startups in Streams 2 and 3
2. Identify and engage domain experts for knowledge sharing sessions to ensure interactive and engaging experiential learning, focused on practical skills with problem solving for real world application
3. Guide the trainers in Streams 2 and 3 in delivering the program’s content and managing the dynamics of a virtual incubator and accelerator
4. Assist startups in applying the training content to their business models, building business sustenance and adaptability.
5. Support the startups to design or refine their pitch decks.
6. Evaluate the trainers' progress in Streams 2 and 3 and provide constructive feedback to improve their learning
7. Engage the international market leaders for quick presentations to the participants for their inspiration and best case studies.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES

Deliverable 1: Submit a training delivery plan with training modules, learning pathways, Masterclasses and coaching sessions

Deliverable 2: Facilitate 2 Training sessions, 2 Masterclasses and 5 coaching sessions for startups in Streams 2 and 3

Deliverable 3: Deliver 2 Training sessions, 2 Masterclasses and 15 coaching sessions for Streams 2 and 3. Facilitate ToT of 1 trainer in Stream 2 (incubator)

Deliverable 4: Deliver 1 Master class for showcase and investment readiness coaching. Submit training completion report for Streams 2 and 3

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

SKILLS

• MS office
• E-commerce platforms

EDUCATION

• Minimum master’s degree in business, Economics, or related discipline

EXPERIENCE

Proven experience of 7 years with business, entrepreneurship trainings and capacity building, program management, agritech, incubation and acceleration support. Other expertise including following will be preferred;

a)       Strong experience in virtual and in person entrepreneurship training delivery  with proven ability to facilitate interactive learning experiences for startups in AgriTech domain

b)      Expertise in providing tailored coaching support to agribusiness startups

c)       Experience with identifying and engaging relevant domain experts, and designing knowledge sharing sessions that focus on practical problem solving.

d)      Demonstrated ability to train and mentor other facilitators in delivering incubation and acceleration programs effectively

e)      Skills in helping entrepreneurs apply theoretical concepts to their business models and develop investor-ready pitch presentations.

f)        Experience in trainer evaluation and performance improvement methodologies within entrepreneurial education contexts

LANGUAGE

• Advance level of English (speaking, writing and listening)