RFP for Training Content Development and Grassroot Entrepreneurship Training

Organization: SwitchON Foundation
Apply By: 30 November 2024 (Extended deadline)
First Deadline: 24th November 2024 (Early applications encouraged)

Overview

SwitchON Foundation is seeking consultants or an agency to develop high-quality training materials for face-to-face workshops. These workshops are targeted at non-English-speaking grassroots actors, including communities and small businesses that face challenges in securing funds for climate adaptation projects due to limited financial support, technical knowledge, and complex funding processes.

SwitchON supports green entrepreneurs and early-stage startups focused on climate and environmental solutions through its Climate Fellowship, offering business skills and networking opportunities for impactful change.

Target Audience

• Early-stage social startups
• Social entrepreneurs
• Non-profits
• Farmer clusters (FPS)
• Rural women entrepreneurs
• Focus Areas:
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Waste Management
  • Distributed Renewable Energy

Objective of the Consultancy/RFP

To develop and deliver a hands-on, interactive training program for the target group, with a focus on building essential skills in organizational development and business management. The program should emphasize practical learning using games, activities, multimedia, and case studies, with no more than 30% theory.

Consultant Profile

Required Expertise:

• Expertise in training and organizational development for small and early-stage enterprises.
• Experience in teaching entrepreneurship and business management to early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Knowledge of sustainable practices or climate policy with a focus on community-level action.
• Ability to design and adapt training for participants from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Experience in iterative pilot testing and refining content based on participant feedback.

Required Skills:

• Experience in organizational or program development in the nonprofit sector, particularly in underserved communities or low-resource settings.
• Hands-on training facilitation and delivering capacity-building programs.
• Consulting experience with startups, social enterprises, or small organizations.
• Familiarity with grassroots entrepreneurship development and institution building.
• Strong skills in training and capacity building, with prior experience in developing educational materials for startups and budding entrepreneurs.
• Proven track record of successful startup and enterprise ecosystem building.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams and guide project execution effectively.

Languages Required:

• Proficiency in Hindi, English, or Bengali is essential.

Educational Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Rural Management, Rural Development, Social Entrepreneurship, Organizational Development, or a related field with 15+ years of experience.
• Alternatively, Relevant bachelor’s degrees with 18+ years of experience may also be considered.

Desirable Qualifications

• Training or instructional design for adult learning and/or experiential education.
• Experience in creating experiential and interactive learning content using games, role-playing, multimedia, and hands-on activities.
• Certification in Training and Organizational Development.
• Experience in applying human-centered or participant-centered design approaches.

Application Requirements

Interested agencies, organizations, consultants, or trainers are invited to submit the following:

1. Expression of Interest/Proposal, including all expenses related to the assignment, to apply@switchon.org.in with the subject line “Proposal for Grassroot Entrepreneurship Training”.
2. An organizational or personal profile highlighting experience with grassroots capacity building and training.
3. Samples of previous training materials that emphasize interactive learning (e.g., activities, games, case studies). You can:
   • Share links to documents available online.
   • Provide a link to an online folder containing relevant documents.
4. References and videos from similar projects, if available. Please share the links.
5. Technical proposal that includes:
   • Tentative methodology for developing and delivering the training.
   • Timelines for completion (preferably in a Google Excel sheet).

Important Dates

• First Deadline: 24th November 2024
• Extended Deadline: 30th November 2024 (Early applications encouraged)

How to Apply

Submit the required documents to apply@switchon.org.in with the subject: “Proposal for Grassroot Entrepreneurship Training”.

Download the Full RFP

For further details and to download the complete RFP, please visit the SwitchON Foundation website or reach out to the provided contact.