SEED · Request for Proposals
Women-Led Entrepreneurship Training and Business Development Support
SEED is seeking a qualified local service provider to help 35 aspiring women entrepreneurs in Sulaimani, Halabja, and Raparin turn their ideas into income-generating businesses.
- Locations
- Sulaimani, Halabja, and RaparinKurdistan Region of Iraq
- Contract Type
- Service Contract
- Duration
- Six MonthsJanuary 1 – June 30, 2027
- Application Deadline
- November 26, 20264:00 PM local time
Background
SEED is a non-governmental organization working to protect, empower, and support vulnerable individuals and communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As part of its work on women’s economic empowerment, SEED is seeking a qualified local service provider to deliver a practical entrepreneurship training and business development initiative. Content used must already be tried and tested in the KRI.
The initiative will support 35 women to develop viable business ideas and entrepreneurial skills, with the goal of enabling at least 25 to establish their own micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Following successful graduation, SEED will provide microfunding support to participants.
Scope of Work
Planning, Outreach, and Selection
- Develop an implementation plan and adapt an existing entrepreneurship curriculum to the local context.
- Co-develop monitoring and evaluation tools with SEED.
- Support outreach, screening, and selection of 35 women using criteria agreed with SEED, prioritizing motivation, commitment, and existing business ideas.
Training and Business Development
- Deliver a practical, interactive, multi-week entrepreneurship program: market research, business models, pricing, financial feasibility, legal requirements, branding, marketing, and business planning.
- Provide individualized mentoring on business plans, financial projections, and 90-day implementation plans.
- Manage attendance records and MEAL tools.
Pitching and MSME Establishment
- Organize a final business pitching event.
- Support the assessment of business proposals against agreed criteria.
- Provide technical assistance on using microfunding and support the launch of at least 25 women-led MSMEs, with initial post-launch mentoring.
Graduation, Follow-Up, and Networking
- Organize a graduation event with SEED (SEED covers direct event costs).
- Follow up on business establishment, operational challenges, and initial income.
- Facilitate networking and peer-learning, including possible participant-led entrepreneurship clubs.
- Document progress, achievements, and lessons learned.
SEED retains final approval of microfunding recipients and oversight of funding arrangements. Any further microfunding responsibilities will be defined during contracting.
Expected Results
35 Women participating in entrepreneurship training
25 Women-led MSMEs established with microfunding
70%+ Participants showing improved entrepreneurial skills
25%+ Participants reporting income from their business
Deliverables
- Inception and Implementation Plan
- Training methodology, curriculum, timeline, staffing, MEAL tools, and participant selection approach.
- Participant Selection and Training
- Enrollment of 35 women and delivery of the training program, with attendance records and pre/post assessments.
- Business Plans and Pitching
- Individual business plans, financial projections, and a final pitching event.
- MSME Establishment Support
- Technical assistance and follow-up for at least 25 women-led businesses.
- Graduation and Final Report
- Graduation event and a final report on implementation, results, initial income, challenges, and lessons learned.
Who Should Apply
- Proven experience in entrepreneurship training, business development, or incubation, preferably focused on women’s economic empowerment.
- Experience delivering practical entrepreneurship curricula and individualized business mentoring.
- Knowledge of the local economy and the challenges women entrepreneurs face in the KRI.
- Operational capacity in Sulaimani, Halabja, and Raparin.
- Qualified trainers and mentors able to deliver in Sorani Kurdish without simultaneous translation.
- Experience supporting small business establishment, monitoring results, and post-training follow-up.
Preference will be given to applicants with an established entrepreneurship curriculum and a track record of helping women launch income-generating businesses.
What to Submit
A combined technical and financial proposal including:
- Organizational profile and relevant experience.
- Training methodology, curriculum outline, and business launch approach.
- Implementation plan and timeline covering outreach, training, mentoring, pitching, and post-launch support.
- Team composition, qualifications, and experience.
- Examples of similar assignments.
- Approach to monitoring results and business sustainability.
- An itemized budget (personnel, training, materials, outreach, mentoring, pitching, graduation, follow-up, and operations). Keep participant microfunding separate from service fees and operational costs.
Evaluation Criteria
- Experience in entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment 25%
- Quality and practicality of training methodology and curriculum 25%
- Geographic coverage and implementation capacity 15%
- Mentoring, launch support, and sustainability approach 15%
- Qualifications and experience of proposed personnel 10%
- Financial proposal and value for money 10%
Submit Your Proposal
How to Apply
- Subject Line
- Women-Led Entrepreneurship Training and Business Development Services / [Applicant Name]
- Deadline
- November 26, 2026, at 4:00 PM local time
The contract runs January 1 – June 30, 2027, subject to funding confirmation and completion of procurement and contracting. Review, selection, and contracting are contingent on funding and internal approvals. SEED may request clarifications and reserves the right to amend, postpone, or cancel this process. Proposal preparation costs will not be reimbursed. The selected provider must comply with SEED’s procurement, safeguarding, confidentiality, and contractual requirements.