Technical Partner (TP) for project Component 2 — Tajikistan Women's Economic Empowerment Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (Consulting Services – Firms Selection) REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN Tajikistan Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) Grant No.: TF-D1600 (TWEEP, P511398) Assignment Title: Technical Partner (TP) for Component 2 – Business Support for Women-led or Women-managed MSMEs Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): TWEEP-CS-QCBS-02 The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received financing in the amount of US$ 4.73 million from the World Bank toward the cost of the Tajikistan Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) , and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) consist of engaging a Technical Partner (TP) —— to support the implementation of TWEEP Component 2 . The TP will strengthen the growth, competitiveness, and resilience of women-led and women-managed micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Tajikistan. The TP will coordinate, as appropriate, with relevant public and private sector stakeholders, including the State Institution ‘Business Incubator of Tajikistan’ (SIBIT), to support knowledge sharing, alignment of approaches, and sustainability of MSME support services. The implementation of Component 2 is expected to generate practical lessons, methodologies, and good practices in supporting women-led and women-managed MSMEs. The TP will document and share these lessons and tools with relevant stakeholders, including SIBIT, to support broader learning and the continued development of entrepreneurship support services in Tajikistan . The TP role shall remain strictly advisory and technical; the TP shall not approve grants, hold or disburse grant funds, or authorize disbursements. The expected duration of the assignment is 33 months, anticipated to commence in July 2026 and conclude in March 2029. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_kJ6MiSEQFBxtJ0Wpqih2rUr6aT4yFD3RhfjB90lylk/edit?usp=sharing The State Committee for Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan (SCISPM) , through its Project Implementation Group (PIG), 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 Expressions of Interest will be evaluated against criteria that reflect the qualifications required for this assignment, including but not limited to: (i) demonstrates a minimum of 5 years of experience and core competencies in the areas relevant to the assignment, with focus on MSME development, private sector development, entrepreneurship support, business advisory services, acceleration, or grant-based support to enterprises; (ii) demonstrated experience in designing and implementing structured MSME support programs of a scale and scope similar to this assignment, including business diagnostics, training curricula development, mentoring systems, and investment readiness or acceleration programs and (iii) demonstrated experience in gender-responsive and socially inclusive programming, ensuring participation of women entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups in economic development initiatives. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. 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 dated September 2025 (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-consultancy . In the case of a joint venture, all partners shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality- and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers . Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:00 – 17:00. Expressions of interest must be delivered in person, by mail, or by e-mail by June 19, 17:00 (local time) to the address below. Project Implementation Group (PIG) State Committee on Investments and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan (SCISPM) Attn: Temur Mahmadaliev, Procurement Specialist Rudaki 40, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, 734000 – Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan E-mail: mahmadaliev.proc@gmail.com Cc: khurshedai_qodir@mail.ru Web site: investcom.tj