Consulting services: Component B. Business Engineering and Capacity Building (B.E.T.)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTANT SERVICES – SELECTION OF FIRMS) Country: Uzbekistan Project: Strengthening the Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Enterprises (SERVE) Sector: Finance to MSMEs / Economic Empowerment Consulting services: Component B. Business Engineering and Capacity Building (B.E.T.) Mode of Financing: ISFD Loan Financing No.: UZB-1037 The Republic of Uzbekistan has received financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) toward the cost of the Strengthening the Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Enterprises (SERVE) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The objective of the assignment is to support the Executing Agency in promoting the Economic Empowerment approach and Islamic finance by developing practical recovery solutions for selected vulnerable business activities, developing profitable business models for women wishing to start income-generating businesses, designing targeted training programs, providing relevant tools and recommendations for partner financial institutions, and supporting the initial implementation of Business Development Services (BDS). The Consulting Company, acting as the Business Engineering Team (B.E.T.), shall mobilize an appropriately qualified and adequately resourced team. The Consultant shall determine the number, mix and level of input of experts required, based on its proposed methodology, work plan and understanding of the assignment. Collectively, the proposed team should demonstrate adequate expertise in MSME and private sector development, business modelling, market and value-chain analysis, business recovery and growth support, BDS, women’s economic empowerment, Sharia-compliant MSME financing, monitoring and implementation support. The implementation period is up to 12 months, starting upon signature of the consulting contract between the PMU/Executing Agency and the Consultant. The assignment will be implemented in two phases: Phase I, with a duration of up