Chief Business Development / MSME Specialist

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT Republic of Tajikistan Tajikistan Women's Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP)

Grant No.: TF-D1600

Title: Chief Business Development / MSME Specialist

Reference No.: TWEEP-CS-IC-12

The State Committee on Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan (SCISPM) has received financing from the World Bank toward the preparation and implementation of the Tajikistan Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the engagement of an individual consultant for the full-time position of Chief Business Development / MSME Specialist. The assignment is to provide PIG-side technical coordination, oversight and quality assurance for Component 2, including Subcomponents 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. The Specialist will serve as the PIG’s primary technical counterpart for the Technical Partner for Component 2 (TP2) and, under the Project Coordinator, will monitor the quality, timeliness and results of TP2 implementation; review work plans, diagnostic tools and findings, training and business-advisory methodologies, investment-readiness and access-to-finance support, business plans and investment proposals, grant-process technical documentation, mentoring and advisory support, market and value-chain linkages, business outcomes and key technical deliverables; conduct risk-based field monitoring and spot checks; and advise the Project Coordinator on technical acceptability and corrective measures. Component 2 will provide individualized diagnostics, training and advisory support to up to 100 MSMEs, of which 50 will be competitively selected to receive subgrants. The Specialist will work full-time at the Project Implementation Group (PIG) office at SCISPM in Dushanbe, with regular travel and field visits. The initial contract will be for twelve (12) months, including a three (3)-month probationary period, and may be extended subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funding and Project needs, tentatively until April 2029. The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment are available through the following link:

https: //docs.google.com/document/d/1OXr3fIikauC3xm_sKErj35UNOslYKCi4uOnFgzS7qoA/edit?usp=sharing

SCISPM now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in the position. Interested Consultants shall provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the assignment, including an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) with a description of experience in similar assignments and a brief cover letter. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are: Education A university degree in economics, business, management, finance, marketing, international development, or another relevant field.

Professional experience At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in MSME or enterprise development, entrepreneurship, business advisory services, or private-sector development, including at least three (3) years in Tajikistan or a comparable context; At least three (3) years of experience in Tajikistan in supporting the private sector, MSMEs, and/or entrepreneurship; Experience working with government authorities, the private sector, business associations, financial institutions, and development partners.

Language and computer skills Fluency in Tajik and Russian; knowledge of English will be an advantage; Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and reporting tools.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated September 2025 (the Regulations), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 16:00 local time. Expressions of interest, including CV and cover letter, may be submitted in English, Russian, or Tajik and must be submitted to the e-mail address below on or before 16:00 hours local time on October 26, 2026. The documents submitted by the candidates must fully reflect their qualifications, relevant professional experience, and ability to perform the assignment. The submitted documents, including the CV and cover letter, should be concise and must not exceed ten (10) pages in total. The State Committee on Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan Tajikistan Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Rudaki av. 40

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