In order to better reintegrate returnees (according to the Readmission Agreement) in Serbia, the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) is implementing a one-year project (December 1, 2020 - November 30, 2021) within the German Development Cooperation Program.

The project consists of three components: legal support, support for self-employment and support for housing improvement. It is planned that during the project, a minimum of 25 returnees, primarily from the project locations (Sremska Mitrovica, Ruma and Pećinci), but including the territory of Novi Sad and wider Vojvodina, will be supported through this component for self-employment. At the same time, up to 20% of the supported persons can be non-returnees from marginalized groups in the same locations (Roma, internally displaced persons, recipients of social assistance, families living in similar poverty conditions).

The self-employment support component envisages the engagement of a consultant in order to support beneficiaries in improving their socio-economic position by starting or improving their own business, as part of the assistance provided to them with certain tools / equipment for the job.

JOB DESCRIPTION (for the period January-December 2021)

1. A Training in Business Plan Writing - Design, preparation and implementation of up to 6 one-day Business Plan Writing trainings for up to 9 participants per training or alternatively due to COVID 19, telephone training for up to 60 people. In addition to theoretical concepts, the training should provide opportunities for training participants to develop basic skills for planning their own business and writing a business plan. During the training, the consultant should support the participants in preparing applications for obtaining tools / equipment for their work and making business plans.

2. Preparation and participation in the Selection of beneficiaries for a startup grant in the form of support and tools / equipment for starting or improving their own business. Participation in the work of the Commission and tour of candidates with the best business plans who passed the first round of selection (or alternative use of collected images from the tour of candidates conducted by field associates).

3. Expert support to grant beneficiaries for starting or improving their own business (min. 25 to 30 people) - individual consultations (instructions 1: 1 directly when handing over the tool to the beneficiary and by phone): monitoring and support of supported candidates through consultations and advice for business management, additional motivation and recording of the realized monthly income based on the statements of the candidates during the project.

4. Writing periodic reports on the implemented support for self-employment - monthly, quarterly, final, for the needs of the project.

Note: The project envisages the payment of compensation / fees on a monthly basis for consulting services. The consultant must submit a bid for all jobs from the JOB DESCRIPTION and the total price for the entire period of engagement. EHO will pay for travel expenses (ie spent fuel in case of using its own vehicle) and business phone.

NECESSARY COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT

- 5 years of coaching experience in the field of economic empowerment, development and writing business plans;

- Previous experience in working with vulnerable and marginalized groups (Roma, refugees and internally displaced persons, returnees, etc.) in the field of economic empowerment;

- Pronounced analytical and communication skills;

- Knowledge of English;

- Preferably driving test B category (active driver);

- Knowledge of working in MS Office.

TIME FRAME

Intervention period:

January 15, 2021 - November 30, 2021.

The realization of activities is planned as follows:

- Training for Writing a Business Plan (after user applications for the published public call)

- Selection of users for startup grant (immediately after the realized trainings)

- Expert support to grant beneficiaries (continuously, field visit - at least once, by phone - at least once a month)

- Reporting periodically

CONSULTANT SELECTION CRITERIA

- Fulfillment of conditions,

- Previous experience and references of the consultant,

- Proposed training program,

- Offered price,

- Availability, ie the possibility of adjusting the consultant to the requirements of the project - time frame, plan of activities, especially the plan of field visits to grant beneficiaries that will be designed in agreement with the project team.

All applications must contain an Offer with a realization plan and price, with a biography of the consultant (in the case of a team, submit a biography of each consultant separately).

It is obligatory to indicate whether the bidder is a legal entity or a natural person. In the first case, state whether it is in the VAT system. For a natural person, state the status (unemployed, employed, retired). The price in the bid is the net amount paid to the bidder.

Deadline for submission of bids: Wednesday, January 6, 2021. year, 16.00h.

Bids should be sent by e-mail to: konkurs@ehons.org with a note in the Title - Bid for consulting services - GIZ project

All bidders will be notified of the final decision of the Selection Committee.