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 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 this Call for Proposal, NIS is specifically seeking proposals from qualified energy solution providers run/owned by women engineers in both Garowe and Mogadishu 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 each of two TVET Center partners based in Garowe and Mogadishu, The identified trainees , will receive the training in their respective location – meaning one energy solution provider will engaged in each location. .
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 provision 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 be further engaged in the selection, distribution and installation of 200 portable solar lights as well as their maintenance for each location. 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 urban poor nieghbourhoods in Mogadishu and Garowe in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
The portable light systems will be provided by NIS and will be sold at a subsidized price 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 Mogadishu and 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
Another part of this activity is that the two selected women energy solution providers will each engage two female trainees from the TVET institutions 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 each selected women energy solution provider (Garowe/ Mogadishu).

Application procedure.
Interested firms/Institutions who meet the criteria described herein are invited to submit their technical and financial proposals to [email protected] on or before Thursday 15th August 2024. The proposals must be submitted electronically with the subject line “Provision of solar entrepreneurship training and distribution of solar portable kits to women Small scale enterprises in Mogadishu & Garowe.)” - CALL FOR PROPOSALS".