Create Business Assessment Tool BAT and conduct baseline survey with

							                                  Terms of Reference (TOR)
                                  for the Business Consultant


Background:

Save the Children Azerbaijan in partnership with the NGO Bridge to the Future Youth
Organization is implementing the Special Economic Action for the Blind (SEAB)
project. The project is funded by the European Union under NSA facility and managed by the
Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The overall goal of this action is to reduce poverty among a specific vulnerable population – the sight-
impaired – by helping to create sustainable income generation capabilities for group members and their
families. The specific objective is to “create access to production, sales/marketing and financial
literacy training leading to improved economic opportunities for two Associations of Blind Persons and
their members in Azerbaijan.”

The SEAB target groups are the 172 members of the 2 Associations for Blind Persons (ABPs)
in Ganja and final beneficiaries are the members of the Central Association for Blind Persons
and their family members.

Objectives:

Bridge to the Future (BtF) Youth Organization under the SEAB project is to recruit
Business Consultant based in Ganja region of Azerbaijan for the short-term consultancy work
for the period of 3 months (June, July, August), 2012.

Business Consultant is responsible to:

(1) Create a business development model for the ABPs;
(2) Develop a complete training package for use of the model;
(3) Guide BtF in conducting market research to assess existing market, competitors, realistic
grown opportunities and identifying as well as establish potential business clients for ABPs for
further linkages.

The Business Consultant is to implement the following works:

   Develop Plan of Action for market research;
   Create Business Assessment Tool (BAT) and conduct baseline survey with 2 ABPs in Ganja;
   Assess current and future business opportunities for the enterprises of ABPs and assist
    them to develop and implement their marketing and sales strategy with client specific
    production and sales plans;
   Identify gaps between supply and demand to point to potential customers;
   Work with both Enterprises #1 and #2 to develop their marketing and sales capacity;
   Identify specific education and training needs of Enterprises employees and leaders
   Conduct a series of trainings and workshops aimed at addressing production, marketing and
    sales improvement needs;
   Assist the Enterprises to prepare business plan to be able to apply for a micro-loan from
    microfinance institutions;
   Guide ABPs to develop communication and visibility materials, including customized logo on
    their products;
   Meet individually with identified potential clients in Ganja;
   Create business development model of enterprises and present it to all relevant
    stakeholders;
   Conduct the Market Research and develop recommendations on marketing and sales
    strategy
   Participate and present the results at close-out event.

1   Develop Market Research Methodology with program staff to assure the
    relevancy with project. It is expected that Consultant will work particularly on:

    1.1 Questionnaires/Focus Group Guides to collect the relevant, required data that would
        be utilized to learn about what kind of skills, knowledge and attitudes are in demand by
        businesses; in addition, be able to capture relevant information from customers on
        their attitudes and needs as relates to the market and Associations.
    1.2 Project staff will review and comment on the forms and ensure all relevant questions
        are put in a comprehensive, logical and realistic way materials should be relevant to the
        members and families.
    1.3 Materials should be prepared in English and Azeri.
    1.4 Detailed implementation plan for the study will be prepared in coordination with
        relevant SC project staff, BtF and Azeristar Microfinance (ASM) staff
    1.5 Conduct a training and testing of questionnaires to guide BtF who will conduct the
        study

2   Field Work

Coordinate field teams gathering data in Ganja region and its surrounding areas, including the
following:

    2.1 Conduct in-depth interviews with relevant (for example, HR) personnel representing
        employers and with small entrepreneurs and/or microfinance institutions (eg. ASM) on
        business start-up and growth;
    2.2 Conduct focus group discussions with employers and small entrepreneurs about
        qualities they seek for business partnership;
    2.3 Conduct focus group discussions with members of the Enterprises and their families
        on attitudes, skills and knowledge needed for business development and business
        productivity

3   Create data base on market opportunities:

    3.1 Provide with the list of businesses and market opportunities in Ganja region.
    3.2 Develop and design data base templates from the questionnaire that can be customized
        by the program personnel data base should be designed in an accessible way, where
        information and data gathered from the field are all classified and entered into the soft
        data base:
    3.3 Instruct and train staff on use of data base developed from the questionnaire

4   Provide analysis and report.
     4.1 Submit a draft report to BtF that will be based on outline agreed by BtF and Consultant
         that includes analysis and recommendations for programming.
     4.2 Submit a final report, after the above mentioned meeting, which highlights the key
         findings and recommendations.

REPORTING STRUCTURE WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN

The Consultant will report to SEAB Program Manager and BtF Chairman. S/he will work closely
with SC’s SEAB Program Manager and BtF Chairman on development of questionnaires and final
report. S/he will interact daily with BtF, SC SEAB project team and ASM Director and relevant
staff.

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables expected are outlined below together with deadlines to be agreed with the
selected candidate: All this deliverables should be finalized in three months period.

Deliverables                                                                       Due Date
Development of Survey Objectives and Methodology
     Desktop research review
     First draft of questionnaires/focus group guides
     Final draft of survey incorporating comments from the program team
     Testing and Modifying Materials
     Pre testing of Questionnaire and Guides
     Modify material based on feedback
Survey Process
     In-depth Interviews
     Focus Group Discussions

Development of Data Base
    Ensure that information to be collected in study is sufficient for database
    Design tables for data base and implementation
    Enter data

Submission of the Plan of action for market research
Submission of the list of potential business entities and clients in Ganja
to BtF
Submission of Report and Recommendations to BtF
Submission of documented business model
Submission of training package on business model
Submission of business plans developed for/by ABPs


    Please send your CVs to both office@bf-az.org and baku@savechildren.org no later than,
    17:00 on June 18th, 2012. Do not forget to mention the position you apply for,
    otherwise CVs won’t be taken into consideration. Only short listed candidates will be
    called for an interview and informed of their application status. Please do not follow up
    with phone calls.