Request for Expressions of Interest
(Consulting Services – Firms Selection)

Consultancy Services to Provide Business Advisory Services to Beneficiaries (Grantees) of Gender Inclusive Workplace Infrastructure

Reference No.: MGLSD-GROW/CONS/25-26/00071 Issued on: August 13, 2026

The Government of the Republic of Uganda has received financing from
the World Bank towards the cost of implementing the Generating Growth
Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project,
and intends to apply part of the proceeds for Consulting Services.

The Project Development Objective is to increase access to entrepreneurial
services that enable women entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises
in targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. The
Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social
Development (MGLSD) jointly with Private Sector Foundation Uganda
(PSFU) as an implementing Entity.

Under subcomponent three (3A & 3B) the project intends to establish and
Equip Common User Production Facilities (CUPPs) and Enable Access
to Gender-Inclusive Workplace Infrastructure respectively. It will provide
grants to support innovation and business expansion for women-owned
businesses through the establishment of common user production
facilities. The aim is to provide demand-driven infrastructure and facilities
to improve productivity of women as a step towards enterprise growth and
transition. The target beneficiaries include women entrepreneurs who are
managing micro and small businesses. Approximately 25,000 female
entrepreneurs, including from refugee-hosting districts, are expected to
benefit from this intervention for target beneficiary reach projection.

The implementation of this subcomponent will be done by the MGLSD
with technical support from the Business Advisory Services firm.

The Consulting Services (“the Service”) include Consultancy services
to provide Business advisory services to beneficiaries of Gender
Inclusive Workplace Infrastructure and Common User Production
Facilities (CUPPs) beneficiary enterprises for Lot 1 – Central Region,
Lot 2- Northern Region, Lot 3- Western Region, Lot 4- Eastern Region.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at
https://mglsd.go.ug/procurement/

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development now invites eligible
consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing
the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information
demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant
experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria is as follows:

1. At least five (5) years’ proven experience in providing business
   advisory, enterprise development, business incubation, MSME
   support programmes or related consultancy services.
2. Demonstrated experience in business planning, business model
   development, sustainability planning, financial management
   and operational strengthening for MSMEs, cooperatives, shared
   production facilities or similar enterprises.
3. Proven experience in market systems development, value chain
   strengthening, market feasibility assessments and enterprise growth
   strategies in sectors such as agro-processing, dairy, leather, crafts or
   related productive sectors.
4. Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity-
   building, mentoring and technical assistance programmes for
   entrepreneurs, businesses associations, incubators or enterprise
   support institutions.
5. Experience in grants management, financial oversight, operational
   efficiency improvement and support to enterprises funded by
   Government, Development Partners or Donor-funded programmes.
6. At least five (5) years’ experience in implementing and monitoring
   Environmental and Social (E&S) safeguards, including stakeholder
   engagement, grievance redress mechanisms (GRM), occupational
   health and safety, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation.
7. Demonstrated experience working with Government Ministries,
   Development Partners, private sector organizations and multi-
   stakeholdership programmes supporting women’s economic
   empowerment, entrepreneurship and MSME growth.
8. Experience in monitoring, supervision and reporting for donor-
   funded projects, including establishment of performance monitoring
   systems and preparation of analytical and implementation reports.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs,
3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations
for IPF Borrowers” Seventh Edition, September 2025 (“Procurement
Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their
qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the
form of a joint venture and/or a sub-continuity. In case of a joint venture,
all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for
the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants
Qualification selection (CQS) method set out in the World Bank’s
Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016 revised September
2025.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office
hours (0800 to 1700 hrs).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below in a
written form not later than September 2nd, 2026 at 1100hrs. Consultants
may make arrangements to have their Expressions of Interest delivered
by courier services however, no liability will be accepted for loss or late
delivery.

Expressions of Interest should be Addressed to:
The Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development,
P.O. Box 7136, KAMPALA
Expressions of Interest should be delivered/sent to:
7th Floor, Gender and Labour House,
Plot 2, George Street.
Tel: +256 414 347 854
Email: procurement.srw@mglsd.go.ug