Company Profile

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities, and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental, and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved – and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies, and most importantly, people’s lives.

Project Overview
The goal of the USAID Uzbekistan Business Support Project (BSP) is to enhance sustainable and inclusive economic growth by strengthening businesses and the business-enabling environment in targeted sectors, while addressing the barriers faced by women, youth, and underrepresented groups. This Activity has the following objectives:

• Objective 1: Reduced barriers to private sector growth in the ICT, tourism, and textiles sectors and green economy sub-sectors.
• Objective 2: Increased private sector investment and access to finance in ICT, tourism, and textiles sectors and green economy sub-sectors.

Purpose of the Position

In line with Objective 2, the Activity will support partner Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan to access finance via existing loan and investment facilities at banks, financial institutions, and Government of Uzbekistan- or donor-funded (EBRD, ADB, World Bank/IFC) financing schemes. BSP seeks consultants or consulting firms that can support SMEs to complete loan applications, improve management and operational effectiveness to increase bankability, and procure auditing or accounting services to prepare for investment.

Activities will include building a pipeline of prospective SMEs, conducting first screening and due diligence, identifying opportunities on addressing their investment and advisory needs while assessing their contribution to programmatic goals and objectives, building and maintaining strong SMEs relations, securing access to capital on a Pay for Performance (P4P) basis. A consultant will work directly with banks, financial institutions, and donor programs and support SMEs in receiving investment and/or financing from them. The consultant will receive incentive fees on a pay for results bases for successfully helping SMEs access capital.

Reporting and Supervision

The Financial Facilitator Consultant will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and coordinate their activities with the Investment Facilitation Specialist.

Responsibilities

1. Identify and Evaluate SMEs

• Build a strong pipeline of SME partnerships and facilitate investment.
• Under supervision of the BSP DCOP and Investment Facilitation Specialist, the Financial Facilitator Consultant will:
  • Identify up to ten SMEs with viable growth opportunities and investment needs of over $2,000,000 in selected sectors, discuss them and get an approval with/from BSP, and build relationships.
• Engage SMEs to 1) understand growth potential, plans and strategy; 2) define investment needs to implement growth strategies; 3) determine whether and which type of investment advisory needs to pursue growth strategy; and 4) identify potential areas for related advisory services needed.
• Conduct a rapid situational analysis of a firm’s investability in terms of corporate structures, capacity, profitability, and market prospects and identify whether and/or how to support firms’ investment opportunities. (Note: BSP strongly encourages the facilitation of investment for women-led firms or enterprises whose growth will enable firms to employ more women. Higher BSP cost-share will be considered for investment services with higher impact on women)

2. Provide Investment Advisory/Access to Finance Services to selected SMEs

Within the P4P structure of this agreement, the consultant or investment advisor is encouraged to 1) determine which firms she/he/they are willing to advise with the understanding that a portion of payment of services will depend on successful capital mobilization; and 2) negotiate a services agreement with the client firm to be paid to the consultant in addition to BSP’s agreement.

For each approved client firm, provide the agreed upon investment support services, including:

• Business and/or strategic plan development (where applicable) and activation of loan or equity application processes on behalf of USAID/BSP client firm.
• Help SMEs become more investable by filling the gaps in corporate structures, institutional capacity, profitability factors, innovations, etc.
• Identify and make linkages to financial service providers or investors able and willing to address the client firms’ capital needs.
• Prepare and submit investment or financing proposals to capital sources or FIs interested in the firm.
• Arrange meetings with the CEOs and Credit Officers/Credit Committees, and investment committees, facilitate introductions and negotiate a fair and reasonable deal that is acceptable by the client firm.
• Liaise with other donor programs and private sector initiatives to identify sources of soft-capital to support client firms’ investment plans and identify co-creditor opportunities with other creditors, such as development banks, IFC, and commercial or investment banking institutions;
• Secure financing from investors on behalf of or alongside client firms.
• Follow-through to obtain terms sheets and ensure advancement of credit or equity to the client firm in order to confirm pay-for-performance portion of consultant agreement.

Deliverables

1. A draft pipeline including up to ten investable SMEs. For each firm, upon the BSP approval, a Client Engagement Letter should be presented that the consultant proposes to provide services, along with work plan for services delivery – 1.5 consultant days per each company.
2. A client engagement letter signed by the consultant or advisor and the firms it wishes to support. This includes: name and description of the firm, the sector to be supported, the proposed advisory services to be provided, the proposed timeline of assistance, the estimated size and impact of the investment and the type of financing to be pursued, estimated Level of effort (LOE) required and the details of the arrangement for the client firm’s payment for services, and proposed BSP LOE (no more than 50% cost of services, or $5,000 maximum). USAID/BSP will evaluate and approve or deny the engagement letter within seven days.
3. Business Plan, Gap Report identified as obstacle for a firm to become investable, and/or Debt or Equity Application completed and accepted by financial intermediaries or investors, with proprietary or sensitive information redacted.
4. Confirmation or evidence of a successful ‘transaction event’ in the form of a term sheet, letter of intent, or other binding document from Financial Institutions or Investor.

Level of Effort and P4P Details

1. It is estimated that the Consultant will spend up to 45 consultant days for deliverables 1-3 as identified above. This should constitute no more than 50% of the cost of services, or $5,000 maximum. The difference in the advisory costs above $5,000 the SMEs should cover itself. This amount will be paid upon the approval of the engagement letter.
2. The remaining 50% of the services should be paid from two sources: SMEs and USAID/BSP on a P4P basis. BSP will pay up to $5,000 (equal to the first payment) to a Consultant upon confirmation or evidence of a successful ‘transaction event’ as well as evidence from SMEs on payment of their share of the costs of services. The confirmation of the successful ‘transaction event’ should be in the form of a term sheet, letter of intent, or another binding document from the FI or investor.

Qualifications

• Degree in relevant discipline (business, administration, finance, etc.).
• At least 5 years of experience working in the field of investment facilitation and access to finance.
• Demonstrated skills and understanding of private sector development.
• Experience working with women and youth programs.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet hard deadlines.
• Experience managing several activities at a time.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams with a focus on social inclusion.
• Creativity, agility and team spirit.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluent in verbal and written English and language of country of operation

Application Deadline

This application will close on June 27, 2024

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.