RFP/BW/AP/2025/00006: Procurement of Service Provider for Women Techpreneurs , Skardu 2025

1) Background

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) in Central and South Asia. It aspires to work towards a society that is powered by innovative and successful young entrepreneurs. Through its services, AP extends tailored training, advice, and technical assistance to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to help them launch or expand their innovative business ventures. It also extends tailored financing to start-ups and SGBs to help them unlock external investments by improving their bankability and investment readiness. 

2) Program Overview

Women Techpreneurs is an initiative of Accelerate Prosperity, aimed at providing incubation support to aspiring women entrepreneurs with promising business ideas in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. This cohort is specifically designed to support businesses from the idea stage to pre-revenue stage rough AP’s comprehensive incubation services. 

This program is supported under the BEST4WEER project which aims to improve women’s social and economic empowerment during the process of COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding in Gilgit-Baltistan province and the Chitral district in Pakistan. 

3)  About the Position

Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan seeks to engage an entrepreneurial ecosystem enabler to provide direct support for the Women Techpreneurs 2025 program in Skardu. The selected partner will be responsible for program outreach as well as managing logistics for participating entrepreneurs, including transport, accommodation, and food and refreshments during the four-day in-person sessions.

4) Scope of work

The selected service provider will be responsible for providing direct services in the following areas: 

1. Venue Provision: 
   The service provider will provide a suitable venue for all four days of the training sessions, accommodating approximately 6–7 hours of activities each day in Skardu. The venue should be accessible, adequately equipped, and conducive to learning for the participating women entrepreneurs. 

2. Outreach and Marketing: 
   The service provider will lead the outreach and marketing efforts for the Women Techpreneurs program through both social media and on-ground engagement and will bring 80-100  relevant applications. While all marketing and promotional content will be designed and provided by Accelerate Prosperity (AP), the partner is expected to: 

1. Disseminate content across relevant social media channels and networks. 
2. Arrange information sessions for effective outreach. 
3. Ensure the outreach efforts are aligned with the program’s defined problem statements and target audience. 

3. Logistical Support: 
   The service provider will be responsible for arranging accommodation and transportation for about 40 participating entrepreneurs traveling from various districts of Baltistan region. This logistical support will cover the full duration of the four-day training program. 

4. Food and Refreshment: 
   The service provider will manage and provide meals and refreshments for approximately 80-85 participants and facilitators throughout the four days of training. 

5. Communication and Coordination: 
   The service provider will serve as the primary point of contact for participating entrepreneurs, providing support with travel and accommodation arrangements. 

5) Deliverables

1. Venue Arrangement: Provision of a suitable training venue in Skardu city for 6–7 hours daily, over four consecutive days.
2. Outreach and Applications: Mobilize and bring in 80–100 relevant applications from women-led and co-led businesses through rigorous outreach activities.
3. Logistics Support: Arrange accommodation and transportation for approximately 40 participating entrepreneurs traveling from various districts of the Baltistan region to Skardu City.
4. Catering Services: Manage and provide meals and refreshments for approximately 80-85 participants and facilitators throughout the four days of training.

7) Contract Duration

September – October 2025 

8) Location

   Skardu

9) Payment terms

• 20% upon the signing of the contract 

• 30% upon the receiving 80 – 100 relevant women business applications. 

• 50% upon the completion of in-person sessions. 

10) Reporting Line

The company will be reporting to the Programs Team at Accelerate Prosperity, Pakistan.

11) Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical expertise and experience of the applicants (50%)
• Financial competitiveness (50%)

12) Proposal Submission Requirements

The bids are to be evaluated on the following grounds, meeting the mandatory criteria outlined below.

Interested applicants must submit the following:

A. Technical Proposal:

• The firm must provide a certificate of company/firm registration with SECP and an active NTN number.
• The company must submit the company profile that outlines that it has relevant experience in event management, outreach campaigns, and logistics in Gilgit and similar regions.
• The company must prepare at least a 1-2 pages description of the proposed methodology and work plan for performing the assignment. 
• Potential companies are required to sign the RFP document along with annexes, and it should be submitted along with the proposal. 

 B. Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal should be submitted using the attached financial proposal format with a valid signature and stamp.