Consultancy for Development of a Training Curriculum for the EASETRADE Project

1. Introduction and Background
IIRR is an international non-governmental organization with a long history of empowering rural communities to overcome poverty. Founded in 1960, IIRR's work is guided by the philosophy of participatory and sustainable development, focusing on capacity building for community empowerment through its key pillars: food systems, economic empowerment, education, environment, and health. IIRR operates in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, partnering with communities to develop innovative, practical, and community-led solutions to alleviate poverty and improve quality of life.
The EASETRADE Project
The EASETRADE MSME Digital Infrastructure Lending Project is a three-year inclusive finance and capacity development initiative aimed at empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a specific focus on young women entrepreneurs in rural areas. The project leverages digital infrastructure and lending facilities to enhance access to trade finance, digital literacy, technology adoption, and business skills. EASETRADE is designed to bridge the gap between small-scale entrepreneurs and financial services, enabling them to scale their businesses, improve market access, and ultimately contribute to economic growth and job creation.
2. Objectives
The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, practical, and gender-responsive Training Curriculum specifically focused on the legal and regulatory business environment for MSMEs within the Kenyan context. This module will contribute to the broader EASETRADE Training curriculum, which is being developed collaboratively by a team of consultants focusing on different thematic areas. The selected consultant will therefore work in close coordination with another team responsible for the remaining components of the training curriculum.
Specific Objectives
The consultant will:

• Design a complete and structured legal and regulatory training curriculum tailored to the findings of the EASETRADE Training Needs Assessment (TNA).
• Develop a detailed, user-friendly, and culturally appropriate training module focused exclusively on legal and regulatory requirements affecting MSMEs.
• Outline and recommend suitable training methodologies, adult learning approaches, session durations, and total number of sessions for the legal and regulatory module.
• Ensure the legal and regulatory module aligns seamlessly with other modules being developed by the parallel consultant team.

3. Scope of Work (SoW)
The Consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive training program focusing solely on the business regulatory and legal environment relevant to rural young women entrepreneurs in Kenya.
4. Key Deliverables
The Consultant shall deliver the following to IIRR:
4.1 Inception Report
A detailed inception report outlining:

• Proposed workplan
• Draft curriculum outline specific to the legal and regulatory module
• Methodologies to be used
• Collaboration framework for working with the other module-development team

4.2 Draft Legal & Regulatory Training Curriculum
A structured document covering:

• Module objectives and learning outcomes
• Session structure and sequencing
• Duration per session
• Content flow for the legal and regulatory areas

4.3 Draft Legal & Regulatory Training Manual
A detailed manual including:

• Foundational legal frameworks affecting MSMEs
• Business registration processes
• Tax and compliance requirements
• Employment and labor law considerations
• Intellectual property rights
• Commercial contracts and dispute resolution basics
• Sector-specific regulations (e.g., horticulture, exports)
• Practical tools such as checklists, templates, and case studies

4.4 Draft Facilitator's Guide
A clear and practical guide including:

• Session plans
• Trainer instructions
• Required materials
• Learning objectives and facilitation tips

4.5 Validation Meeting
Participation in a validation meeting with IIRR and coordination with the other consultant to ensure coherence across modules.
4.6 Final Legal & Regulatory Training Package
A fully revised and integrated package (Word and PDF) incorporating:

• All IIRR feedback
• Alignment with other thematic modules
• Final training manual, curriculum, and facilitator guide

4.7 Training of Trainers (TOT) Session
Conduct a comprehensive TOT session with the IIRR team and facilitators to ensure that training delivery methods, sequencing, and facilitation approaches remain fully aligned with the finalized training manual.
5. Timeline Activity Duration (Working Days)Contract Signing & Inception Report Submission5 DaysDevelopment of Draft Curriculum & Content Outline5 DaysDevelopment of Draft Training Manual/Module& Guides10 DaysReview, Feedback & Validation Period (IIRR)5 Days (Internal)Finalization and Submission of Final Comprehensive Package5 DaysTotal Estimated Consulting Period30 Days
6. Roles and Responsibilities
IIRR Responsibilities

•  Provide all necessary project background documents, existing reports, and relevant branding guidelines. 
• Facilitate necessary introductory meetings and access to relevant project staff/stakeholders.
• Sharing of the EASETRADE Training Needs Assessment Report (TNA) report to help in tailoring the training content.
• Review and provide timely feedback on all draft deliverables within the agreed-upon review period.
•  Approve the final deliverables and process payment as per the contract.

Consultant Responsibilities

•  Conduct a desktop review and consultation with IIRR to fully understand the target audience (young women entrepreneurs) and project context.
•  Develop high-quality, professional, and context-specific training materials as per the SoW.
•  Incorporate all feedback from IIRR into the final version of the training package.
• Collaborate closely with the consultant team developing the other thematic components of the Training Manual.
• Ensure the legal/regulatory module integrates well with the wider EASETRADE Training Curriculum.  Deliver technically sound, gender-sensitive, youth-friendly materials.

 
7. Consultant Qualifications
The successful candidate or firm should possess the following minimum qualifications:
● Education: Master's degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, Education, or a related field.
● Experience:
o   Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in developing training manuals, curricula, and capacity building materials for entrepreneurship or MSME development in Kenya.
o   Proven experience in designing content related to gender mainstreaming and regulatory/legal environments for marginalized groups (women/youth).
o   Demonstrable experience with participatory adult learning methodologies and designing modules for diverse or low-literacy audiences.
● Skills: Excellent research, writing, editing, and content design skills. Proficiency in English is mandatory.
8. Management & Reporting
The Consultant will report to the IIRR Project Manager and will be expected to collaborate with the other consultant(s) developing the remaining thematic modules. The Consultant is expected to submit deliverables electronically by the agreed-upon deadlines.
9. Submission Guidelines
Interested consultants are requested to submit the following:

1. Technical Proposal (Maximum 5 pages):
   • Understanding of the TOR and the EASETRADE project.
   • Proposed methodology and work plan for curriculum development.
   • Sample of previous, relevant training materials or curriculum developed (attached as an Annex).
2. Financial Proposal: A detailed budget, including the total professional fee (broken down by daily rate and estimated days) and any anticipated reimbursable expenses.
3. Consultant CV: Highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
4. References: Contact details for at least two (2) organizations/clients from similar assignments.

10. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: CategoryWeight (%)Technical Proposal & Methodology (Clarity, relevance, and feasibility of approach)30%Relevant Experience and Qualifications (CV, Sample Work, Experience)30%Financial Proposal (Cost-effectiveness and reasonableness)40%Total100% 
11. Confidentiality & Copyright
All materials produced under this consultancy will be the exclusive property of IIRR and the EASETRADE Project. The Consultant must treat all information accessed during the assignment as confidential. IIRR will own the full and exclusive intellectual property rights, including all copyrights, to the developed curriculum, modules, and manuals.
12. Duty Station
IIRR will not provide workspace or logistical support needed for the assignment.
13. Submission Deadline
The deadline for the submission of proposals is 5th December 2025.
 
IIRR is an equal opportunity employer.
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