infoDev, a donor-funded ICT for development agency hosted by the World Bank, has formed a public/private partnership with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Nokia to undertake a joint program on Creating Sustainable Businesses for the Knowledge Economy that will be implemented from 2010-2012.

This Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) concerns Track 3B of the program on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (ECA), more specifically on assistance to the infoDev-sponsored ECAbit business incubation network. infoDev seeks to hire a firm to carry out an impact assessment on business incubation in the ECA region in order to raise awareness within the network and among policymakers on the importance of enabling entrepreneurship in the region.

The ECA Business Incubation impact assessment should establish a proper segmentation of incubators (e.g., depending on their business model, number of operating years, sources of funding, goals, etc.) in order to evaluate the effect of incubation programs on SMEs incubated by addressing key questions (e.g., the creation of enterprises, of jobs, the increase of income and productivity) into a comprehensive report. The report should include a best practice methodology that infoDev can use to assess the impact of business incubation programs on a regular basis.

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following trust fund(s):
- Creating Sustainable Businesses in the Knowledge Economy Single Donor Trust Fund

INDIVIDUAL / FIRM PROFILE
The consultant will be a firm.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The World Bank now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Interested consultants are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through World Bank Group eConsultant2 (https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html).  The selection number is 1014577.

NOTES
Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 1. Interested consultants should provide information showing that they are qualified in the field of the assignment. *
• 2. Interested consultants should provide information on the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm. *
• 3. Interested consultants should provide information on their core business and years in business. *
• 4. Interested consultants should provide information on the qualifications of key staff. *