1. Introduction

The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) is a Norwegian-registered non-profit organization engaged in stabilization and reconciliation initiatives in conflict and post-conflict locations. Our primary areas of intervention are institutional development, public service delivery and conflict resolution. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, NIS currently implements projects in Somalia, Myanmar and the Sahel.

With funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), NIS is currently implementing a three-year program Public Private Development Partnership (PPDP) for Renewable Energy Skills Training and Women Economic Empowerment Program in Somalia, targeting two locations: Garowe in Puntland & Mogadishu in Banadir regional administrations. The Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) component under the PPDP program aims at increasing the economic empowerment of women in targeted locations in Somalia by addressing some of their socio-economic vulnerabilities: lack of access to skills training and lack of access to affordable energy solutions, both which would enable them to either access the job market or increase their shares within the local business market. Through the activities, the WEE component will benefit 426 individuals, and 2 women owned energy solution providers in the project target locations.

In this Call for Proposal, NIS is specifically seeking proposals from a qualified energy solution provider run/owned by women engineers in Garowe that are expected to implement the two main activities under WEE component.

The first activity is Solar Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Program focusing on solar PV systems design, installation, maintenance, as well as entrepreneurship skills training. The training and mentorship course will support 13 female trainees from a TVET Center partner based in Garowe. The identified trainees will receive the training in Garowe.

Overall, the Solar Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Program aims at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required to establish, operate, and grow a successful solar installation business, covering technical, economic, marketing, operational, and legal aspects of the energy sector – see the detailed proposed course modules in Annex 1. NIS expects that this training will provide women of different ages with the opportunity to secure employment in the renewable energy sector (given the nature of the TVET training) or start their enterprise. Thus, contributing to the economic empowerment of women.

The Second activity is the identification of beneficiaries and distribution of portable solar PV systems to women owned SMEs in IDPs and urban poor areas. The qualified women-owned RE SMEs/energy solution providers will undertake the selection, distribution and installation of 200 portable solar lights as well as their maintenance. The system will consist of two types of lights, one with three lamps and another with two lamps (further information on these is provided in Section 4 below), both with charging points – see system details in Annex 2. 1The portable solar PV system will be used for lighting small businesses at night, which will enable them to run their businesses for more hours, and for the charging mobile phones of residents in the IDPs and urban poor areas, both of which are expected to be sources of increased income. The IDPs and urban poor areas and low-income earners will be identified from the various camps and poor urban neighborhoods in Garowe in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

The portable light systems will be procured and provided by NIS and will be sold at a subsidized price by the selected energy provider of USD 25 for a 2 light portable solar PV system kit (100 Pcs for each location) and USD 35 for a 3 light portable solar PV system kit (100 Pcs for each location) to women who own small businesses in the IDP settlements on the outskirts of Garowe. Payments from women-owned small businesses in the IDPs and urban poor areas will be collected and managed by the training-providing company. These funds will cover the operational and maintenance costs of the portable lights during the warranty period.

1 NIS will procure the portable solar PV systems

Another part of this activity is that the selected women energy solution provider will hire two female trainees from the TVET institution who also participated in the Solar Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Program for 6 months in the operationalization and maintenance of the portable solar PV system kits.

Required deliverables from the selected women energy solution provider (Garowe).