Request for Proposals (RFP): Consulting Agency for Identifying High Growth Livelihoods and Market Access Challenges
Position Overview
Position Summary
Summary
Women’s World Banking is seeking a consulting agency to conduct in-depth exploratory and qualitative study to understand the issues related to market linkage for high growth livelihoods for the women entrepreneurs associated with JEEVIKA, Bihar. The study will generate evidence to inform actionable market-oriented solutions and future programmatic interventions.
About the Project
Women micro-entrepreneurs in Bihar play a vital role in local and regional economies, particularly through SHG-based livelihood initiatives. While production capacities and participation in livelihood programs have expanded significantly, enterprise growth and income enhancement remain constrained due to limited and fragmented market integration.
This study constitutes Phase-1 of a potential multi-stage engagement. The immediate focus is on identifying high-growth women-led livelihoods across 3–4 districts in Bihar and assessing the current status of market access and linkages for these livelihoods. The research will examine end-to-end value-chain dynamics—covering input sourcing, production, aggregation, processing, distribution, and final markets—while explicitly mapping women’s participation, bargaining power, and constraints at each stage.
The study will involve consultations with a wide range of value-chain stakeholders, including producers, aggregators, buyers, service providers, and ecosystem actors, to develop a grounded understanding of growth bottlenecks and opportunities.
Findings from this phase are expected to inform subsequent phases, which may include the co-creation of market linkage solutions, pilot interventions, or partnerships with financial institutions, private sector actors, and state-level stakeholders. However, this RfP is strictly limited to the diagnostic and identification phase outlined above.
The study aligns with national and state priorities under NRLM/JEEVIKA, MSME promotion, and broader women’s economic empowerment objectives.
Objectives & Responsibilities
Study Objectives
- Identify a list of high growth women-led livelihoods in the context of Bihar with appropriate rationale and data
- Map livelihood‑specific value chains and identify gaps in market linkages
- Assess market access, finance, skill and policy level constraints in the development of livelihoods to their full potential.
- Conduct a roundtable of experts and stakeholders to brainstorm and seek feedback on the livelihoods, market access and linkage status and needs and constraints
Required Qualifications
The assignment is open to firms with demonstrated experience in working on high-growth livelihoods within NRLM/SRLM or similar livelihood promotion ecosystems, particularly with a focus on market systems, value chains, and women’s economic participation.
Pre-Bid Meeting
A virtual pre-bid meeting will be organized approximately one week prior to the submission deadline to clarify the scope of work, expectations, and procurement process.
Interested applicants must express their interest by emailing the designated contact persons listed below. A Microsoft Teams meeting link will be shared with registered participants ahead of the meeting. Please include “Prebid Meeting: Unlocking Market Pathways for Women-Led High-Growth Livelihoods in Bihar”.
How to Apply
Please submit your proposal including the following components:
- Cover Letter
- Financial proposal (fees and project expenses, separately with rationale for the same)
- A Concise Technical proposal (not exceeding 20 A4 pages), which should include the following four sections:
- Approach and Methodology
- Citations of previous work in relevant areas
- Project Team composition and CVs of key personnel
- Workplan with a detailed timeline
Applicants may submit their question(s) in writing until 30th January to jk@womensworldbanking.org and rr@womensworldbanking.org. Please include in the e-mail subject line “Questions: Consulting Agency for Identifying High Growth Livelihoods and Market Access Challenges”.
This RFP does not guarantee or commit Women’s World Banking to proceeding with the above described work. Due to the overwhelming responses not all candidates will be contacted.
Women’s World Banking is an equal opportunity employer for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
Women’s World Banking will be unable to contract with any individual who is US citizen or resident without an LLC or LP or similar structure.
About Women's World Banking
We believe in being a force for the greater good, devoted to accelerating and growing the financial inclusion of women. With rapidly changing markets, influenced by technology and social behavioral expectations, we are embarking on a new chapter to transform the way we design and implement solutions.
For over 40 years, Women’s World Banking has partnered with financial institutions, showing them the benefit of investing in women as customers. We equip these institutions with in-depth research and data driven insights to develop financial products and educational programs. While our clients are financial service providers, our mission is to engage consumers – women who are marginalized by financial systems.
Women’s World Banking and WWB Asset Management is an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
