Developing women's economic potential in Cameroon: call for interest
The British High Commission in Cameroon has announced an open call for interest from organisations to implement the 2024 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Cameroon programme.
A. Programme description
The British High Commission is inviting proposals to design and implement an innovative training program to enhance capacity of women entrepreneurs across Cameroon. This initiative is geared to support women’s economic potential in business leadership by promoting women’s economic opportunities and giving enterprising women access to the knowledge, networks, and platforms they need to launch and scale successful businesses.
Successful project proposals will harness the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships, and UK alumni networks to help participating women and their business grow, driving localised prosperity.
Programme objectives
The High Commission would particularly welcome proposals for innovative ways to achieve these objectives with the widest possible impact:
- upskilling and knowledge transfer: equip participants with knowledge and skills to build and scale up sustainable businesses
- expand business networking: facilitate the development of a network of female entrepreneurs and investors to grow and support women-owned businesses to drive local partnerships
- networking and platforms for opportunity: matching women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and industry champions who offer guidance and support. Access to funding opportunities, business incubation programs, and other valuable resources that can help participants launch and grow their businesses
Project outcomes
- enhance capacity and upskilling of women to deliver their economic potential
- facilitate access to finance for women entrepreneurs
This project will run until 31 March 2025 and will focus on providing women entrepreneurs with access to vital resources and support, including 3 main phases.
Project phases
Phase 1: Develop and recruit beneficiaries
- develop a recruitment strategy, criteria and identify eligible beneficiaries, facilitators, and mentors
- proposals should provide a recruitment strategy for recruiting target participants and specify how the British High Commission would be involved
Phase 2: Upskilling and capability building
- provide technical support, training, curriculum and establish monthly support networks and platforms
- provide possible session topics that address unique challenges, needs and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in accessing investment, markets, and funding
- proposals are encouraged to incorporate a variety of interactive activities, workshops, field trips, networking events, mentorship sessions, case studies, and other learning experiences to help participants develop their entrepreneurship skills
Phase 3: Monitoring and evaluation
- organise a final gathering to showcase beneficiaries’ businesses, connect them with potential investors, and increase their access to business opportunities
- outline your communication strategy
- proposals are encouraged to include ideas for follow-up activities after programme implementation. Please note that this award would not cover the costs of any such follow-up activity, which would be subject to additional funding resources
B. Project information
- number of awards anticipated: One award
- length of performance period: Activities must end by 31st March 2025
- project budget: max £25,000
C. Eligibility information
The British High Commission encourages applications from Cameroon and specifies the following eligibility criteria for applicants:
- A Cameroonian organisation with a strong track record of working with women entrepreneurs and promoting their economic potential.
- Registered not-for-profit organisations or governmental educational institutions, including think tanks, community associations, and civil society/non-governmental organisations with programming experience.
- Relevant experience in working with women entrepreneurs in Cameroon, demonstrating a proven understanding of the local context and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Cameroon.
- Experience in successfully delivering projects related to business development, training, and mentorship.
- A strong network within the Cameroonian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Commitment to providing high-quality support and resources to beneficiaries.
Applicants may only submit one bid per organisation. If an organisation submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that institution will be ineligible for funding.
D. Application and submission information
The following criteria must be met. Bids must have:
- a brief overview of your organisation and its mission
- a proposed approach for implementing the project including specific activities and timelines, potential impact (including the scope of the project and the likelihood of achieving that impact as outlined in the 3 phases in section A)
- a proposed outline that clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity as outlined in section A
- proper presentation of project objectives and budget breakdown
- sustainability, including the potential for the project to be scaled up or replicated elsewhere
- all documents in English
Email completed and to the British High Commission at Yaounde.Projects@fcdo.gov.uk by Monday, 29 July 2024 with subject line ‘EOI: Developing Women Economic Potential in Cameroon’.
Project bids received after this date or that do not meet the requirements of this announcement will not be considered.
| Criteria | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Change | Does the project purpose describe the intended change (not just a list of activities)? | 25% |
| Impact | Is there a logical flow from the project’s aim through the indicators and activities to the desired – and lasting – change? | |
| Realism | Is it too ambitious or promise change without sound reasoning and a solid base of evidence? Is it something HMG should be funding at all? Are other donors doing similar activities? Do the activities look like they will deliver the outputs/project purpose? | |
| Sustainability | Are the stated assumptions on sustainability too optimistic? How realistic is it that the impact will be sustained and women will continue to benefit from this intervention following the funding running out? | 15% |
| Speed and Flexibility | How well does the proposal demonstrate the ability to deploy quickly, and flex and respond to changing and challenging circumstances in the business climate? Is the proposal able to leverage existing platforms/ and or co-funding opportunities? | 15% |
| Cost | How well the proposal demonstrates the: Detailed and costed budget proposal demonstrating a breakdown of all costs including supply chain costs; detailing & linked to the Outputs & Deliverables in the Statement of Requirements; Delivery of value for money using the ‘4e’s’ framework (economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity); Proposed Payment Plan with supporting explanations/justification for the timing, payment value and need for each payment proposed. | 15% |
| Compliance | How well the proposal demonstrates: Evidence/assurance of the following 3 policies: Safeguarding (for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse), Whistleblowing, and Bullying & Harassment; Approach to risk management (including, but not limited to, anti-corruption, fraud and safeguarding strategies)? | 15% |
| Working with others | Does the organisation demonstrate an approach to work with others, including key stakeholders listed above? | 15% |
| Total Weighting | 100% |
Contractual obligations
1. Duty of Care
The implementer is responsible for the safety and well-being of their personnel and third parties affected by their activities under this contract, including appropriate security arrangements.
The implementer must confirm in their response that:
- they fully accept responsibility for Security and Duty of Care
- they understand the potential risks and have the knowledge and experience to develop an effective risk plan
- they have the capability to manage their Duty of Care responsibilities throughout the life of the contract
2. Conflict of Interest
As part of bid submission, suppliers should provide evidence that they have adequate processes and procedures in place for the identification and mitigation of potential conflicts of interest. This includes transparent identification of individuals who may be politically exposed persons.
3. Reporting
The implementing organisation will report to and work closely with the British High Commission in Yaounde. The implementer will be expected to submit a formal narrative progress and financial reports at the end of the project on or before 31 March 2025.