Expression of Interest (EOI)

Consultancy on Mentorship for thematic Groups

Reference Number: 83489240

Publication date: 26.05.2025

Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

0. Context

Brief Description of the Project

The project “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment” (WEE) was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is being implemented by GIZ Rwanda in cooperation with the Rwanda Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM).  The WEE project, launched in January 2024, aims to enhance the economic participation of women in Rwanda. It focuses on two main areas of activity: (1) improving working conditions for women and employees; (2) enhancing the positioning of women-led companies in the economic and social environment.

1.Background

The digital content creation and publishing industries (currently valued at 44 billion dollars globally) are growing in Rwanda but remain underrepresented by women. In Rwanda and across Africa, women face significant barriers in accessing the digital economy, particularly in fields like content creation and storytelling. While digital platforms offer new opportunities to share ideas and earn income, most women lack the training, resources, and infrastructure needed to succeed in this space.

Many platforms require international bank accounts or digital payment systems like PayPal or Stripe, which aren’t accessible to everyone. This lack of access limits women’s ability to participate fully in the digital economy and contributes to an underrepresentation of African women’s voices and perspectives online. Without targeted support, the gap between those with and without digital access will continue to grow, leaving talented creators excluded from opportunities to earn and be heard on a global scale.

To achieve this, the WEE project has partnered with Imagine We Publishers to create the Women Leading Digital Narratives project. The Women Leading Digital Narratives project is designed to empower 30 Rwandan women to succeed in the digital economy. This initiative provides participants with hands-on training and mentorship to build the skills needed to create and monetize digital content effectively.

The WEE project is seeking a contractor to offer mentorship and guidance on product development for three key thematic groups of trainees: 1) Authors and Bloggers (15 trainees), 2) Illustrators and Digital Painters (13 trainees), and 3) Podcasters and Content Creators (7 trainees). In addition, the contractor will provide training sessions to three groups focused on building confidence, enhancing self-esteem, and developing leadership and negotiation skills.

1. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is responsible for providing specialized expertise across a range of creative and professional domains. Drawing on industry’s best practices, the contractor will support trainees in creating impactful content (written narratives, visual art, audio productions, or personal development work) ensuring it aligns with their intended purpose whether it is creative expression, educational outreach, or thought leadership.

Specifically, the contractor will implement the following work packages.

Work package 1: Curriculum development and training delivery

Under work package 1, the contractor is expected to perform the following tasks:

Curriculum design and development for all three groups

• Analyze the specific needs and goals of each thematic group (Authors & Bloggers, Illustrators & Digital Painters, Podcasters & Content Creators) and design a comprehensive, customized curriculum that includes both foundation content and advanced techniques for each group.
• Develop training modules focusing on key areas for each group, such as content creation strategies, digital marketing, monetization techniques, branding, portfolio development, and audience engagement.
• Create interactive learning materials, including video tutorials, worksheets, reading materials, and case studies that address real-world scenarios and provide hands-on practice.
• Incorporate a blend of theoretical and practical elements in the curriculum to ensure skill-building and the application of knowledge.

Training delivery to all three groups

• Run a 5-day training session for each group, where participants can engage with the curriculum, learn new techniques, and receive real-time feedback.
• Assess participants’ progress through quizzes, practical exercise, or portfolio reviews to ensure the curriculum is effectively imparting the necessary skills.
• Deliver tailored feedback and recommendations after each training session to ensure continued learning and improvement.

Work Package 2: Mentorship on product development

Under work package 2, the contractor is expected to perform the following tasks:

Proposed Topic/Activity	Tasks to be performed
Product development guidance	Individually mentor participants in each group in creating digital products that align with their strengths and target audience (e.g., authors creating e-books or articles, illustrators selling digital prints or designs, podcasters launching premium content or merch). Help define clear product concepts and build roadmaps for product development, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Support the development of prototypes or drafts for digital products (e.g., quality checks and feedback loops for first draft of an e-book, sample podcast episode, or digital artwork for a portfolio). Provide technical guidance on tools, platforms, and software that can be used for product creation, such as blog platforms, digital art tools, podcast hosting services, etc.
Market Research and Audience Insights	Advise on how to conduct market research and identify target audiences for the products being developed. Guide each participant in creating effective strategies to reach and engage their target audiences, using social media, email marketing, SEO, and other digital strategies. Support the development of audience persons and help identify pain points and needs that their products can address.
Ongoing Feedback and Iteration	Hold one-on-one mentorship sessions with each participant to discuss progress, address challenges, and provide personalized advice on product development. Offer regular product reviews, where feedback is provided on drafts, prototypes, or initial launches to fine-tune content and products before finalizing. Assist in tracking product performance (e.g., sales, engagement, audience growth) and adjusting strategies based on feedback and data.
Final Product Launch and Post-Launch Support	Help finalize each participant's product and prepare for the launch, including reviewing marketing materials, setting launch dates, and identifying launch partners. Guide the participants through the launch process, ensuring that all digital assets (e.g., websites, social media posts, promotional emails) are prepared and aligned. Provide post-launch support, helping the participants analyze initial outcomes, refine their products, and continue to market and promote them effectively.

Work Package 3: Training on confidence, self-esteem, leadership and negotiation

Under work package 3, the contractor is expected to perform the following tasks:

Curriculum design and training delivery

1. 1. • Conduct a brief pre-training survey or discussion (if required) with participants or key stakeholders to understand specific challenges and expectations in the four focus areas (Confidence, Self-Esteem, Leadership, Negotiation).
      • Develop comprehensive training materials, including presentations, handouts, and case studies, specifically designed for the participants' industry and work context.

One-on-one advisory support

After the classroom trainings, the contractor will provide on-demand individual advisory sessions to each group’s participants. The advisory sessions will focus on the following:

• Addressing specific challenges and questions related to the training topics.
• Providing personalized guidance and feedback on applying learned skills in real-world situations
• Supporting each group’s participants in developing action plans for continued growth in confidence, self-esteem, leadership, and negotiation.

The consultant will perform all services on-site at Imagine We Publishers’ Kagugu premises and remain based there for the entire duration of the engagement.

GIZ shall hire the contractor for the anticipated contract term, from July 1^st – November 15^th, 2025.

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Milestones	Deadline
Delivery of curriculum and interactive training materials, approved by Imagine and GIZ, for each of the thematic specialization: Authors & Bloggers Illustrators & Digital Painters Podcasters & Content Creators	15.07.2025
Training and mentorships implemented (signed participants lists for each training day in GIZ format are submitted).	30.09.2025
Final report to GIZ (maximum 10 pages excluding annexes)	30.11.2025

Period of assignment: from 01.07.2025 until 30.11.2025

2. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (criteria 1.4.1 in the technical assessment grid) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided.

3. Personnel concept

The tenderer is required to provide personnel who are suited to filling the positions described, based on their CVs (see Chapter 6), the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications.

The below specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.

Short-term Senior Expert Pool 1 (min. 1 and max. 2)

Note: The tenderer may propose 1-2 consultants to fulfil the below requirements. If more than 1 consultant is proposed, an average score per criteria is computed.

Tasks of the Senior Consultants

• Curriculum development & delivery
• Assisting, under the leadership of Imagine We, in the development and implementation of trainings on writing techniques, content creation strategies, digital marketing, monetization methods, branding, and audience engagement, etc.
• Assess participant progress and provide tailored feedback.
• Ensuring the accuracy and quality of participant lists in the GIZ format for each training day and submitting them to GIZ.
• Mentorship on product development
• Guide authors and bloggers in creating e-books, articles, or other written products.
• Support the participants in defining their products’ roadmaps and offer feedback on drafts or prototypes.
• Support market research activities and audience targeting strategies (e.g., social media)
• Assist with finalizing product launches and provide post-launch support.

Qualifications of the Senior Consultants

• Education/training (2.2.1): University degree in Communication, Journalism, Marketing or related fields
• Language (2.2.2): C2-level language proficiency in English; C2-level language proficiency in Kinyarwanda
• General professional experience (2.2.3):
• 8 years of experience in publishing industry as an author, blogger or similar
• Specific professional experience (2.2.4):
• 3 reference projects (with named clients) where the consultant has trained or mentored aspiring authors or bloggers, with a demonstrable outcome (e.g., published works, monetized content, etc.)
• 3 reference projects of successfully published books (must be named in CV) on recognized digital platforms (e.g., Amazon Kindle, Kobo, or similar), with cumulative verified sales of at least 3,000,000 RWF.
• 1 year of experience with branding, portfolio development, and social media engagement.
• Leadership/management experience (2.2.5):
• Regional experience (2.2.6): N/A
• Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.2.7): N/A
• Other (2.2.8): N/A

Short-term Senior Expert Pool 2: Podcasts and Content Creators (min. 1 and max. 2 trainers)

Note: The tenderer may propose 1-2 consultants to fulfil the below requirements. If more than 1 consultant is proposed, an average score per criteria is computed.

Tasks of the Senior Consultants

Curriculum development & delivery:

• • Under the leadership of Imagine We, Assisting, in the development and implementation of trainings on podcast creation, content planning, audience engagement, monetization strategies (e.g., ads, premium content), digital marketing, etc.
  • Assess participants’ progress and provide tailored feedback.
  • Ensuring the accuracy and quality of participant lists in the GIZ format for each training day and submitting them to GIZ.

Mentorship on product development

• • Guide participants in creating and refining podcasts or other digital content (video channels, etc.).
  • Provide technical guidance on relevant tools (podcast hosting, audio editing software, video streaming tools, etc.).
  • Support market research activities and audience targeting strategies (e.g., social media).
  • Assist with finalizing product launches and provide post-launch support.

Qualifications of the Senior Consultants

• Education/training (2.3.1): University degree in Media Production, Communications, Marketing, or related fields
• Language (2.3.2): C2-level language proficiency in English; C2-level language proficiency in Kinyarwanda
• General professional experience (2.3.3):
• 8 years of professional experience in podcasting, content creation or similar

Specific professional experience (2.3.4):

• 2 reference projects of independently produced podcast (must be named in CV) with at least of 25,000 cumulative streams;
• 3 reference project of digital content creation (e.g., YouTube channels, TikTok series, Instagram) with a verified follower base of 5,000+, and consistent output of at least 1 year (link must be provided in CV).
• 3 reference projects involving the design and delivery of a digital media training program or workshop (virtual or in-person), attended by 30 participants, focused on content strategy, audio/video production, or audience growth (clients must be named in CV).
• 1 reference project in which the consultant led a collaborative storytelling, advocacy, or public awareness campaign using digital content or podcasting, achieving a minimum reach of 8,000 views/listens across platforms.
• 1 year providing mentorship or coaching in content creation strategies, digital marketing;
• 1 year of experience with branding, portfolio development, and social media engagement.
• Leadership/management experience (2.3.5): N/A
• Regional experience (2.3.6): N/A
• Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.3.7): N/A
• Other (2.3.8): N/A

Short-term Senior Expert Pool 3: Illustrators and Digital Painters (min. 1 and max. 2 trainers)

Note: The tenderer may propose 1-2 consultants to fulfil the below requirements. If more than 1 consultant is proposed, an average score per criteria is computed.

Tasks of the Senior Consultants

Curriculum development & delivery:

• Assisting, under the leadership of Imagine We, in the development and implementation of trainings on art techniques, portfolio development, branding, and monetization of digital artwork, etc.
• Assess participant progress and provide tailored feedback.
• Ensuring the accuracy and quality of participant lists in the GIZ format for each training day and submitting them to GIZ.

Mentorship on product development

• Guide illustrators in creating digital prints, designs, and online portfolios.
• Support the participants in defining their digital products’ roadmaps and offer feedback on drafts or prototypes.
• Provide technical guidance and on relevant tools (digital art software, online store platforms, etc.).
• Support market research activities and audience targeting strategies (e.g., social media).
• Assist with finalizing product launches and provide post-launch support.

Qualifications of the Senior Consultants

• Education/training (2.4.1): University degree in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Digital Illustration, or related fields
• Language (2.4.2): C2-level language proficiency in English; C2-level language proficiency in Kinyarwanda
• General professional experience (2.4.3):
• 8 years of professional experience in illustration, digital painting or similar.

Specific professional experience (2.4.4):

• 3 reference projects of original illustrations or digital artworks published in books, comics, graphic novels, or major media platforms, with verified distribution or sales of at least 3,000,000 RWF.
• 2 reference projects of commissioned digital art or illustration work for recognized clients (e.g., publishers, brands, NGOs), with signed contracts or portfolio documentation;
• 2 reference projects of commissioned digital art or illustration work for recognized clients (e.g., publishers, brands, NGOs), with signed contracts or portfolio documentation;
• 1 reference project involving the development and delivery of a digital art curriculum, workshop, or masterclass (virtual or in-person), attended by 30 participants, covering techniques, tools, or industry practices in illustration or digital painting.
• 1 years of experience in developing curricula or training materials;
• 1 year providing mentorship or coaching in content creation strategies, digital marketing;
• 1 year of experience with branding, portfolio development, and social media engagement.
• Leadership/management experience (2.4.5): N/A
• Regional experience (2.4.6): N/A
• Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.4.7): N/A
• Other (2.4.8): N/A

Expert 4: Trainings on leadership, self-esteem, and negotiation training (1 trainer)

Tasks of the Consultant

• Curriculum development & delivery:
• Assisting, under the leadership of Imagine We, in the development and implementation of training on leadership, self-esteem, leadership and negotiation training.
• Ensuring the accuracy and quality of participant lists in the GIZ format for each training day and submitting them to GIZ.
• One-on-One Advisory Support
• Provide individual coaching sessions to the participants.
• Guide participants in developing personal action plans to continue personal growth and development.

Qualifications of the Consultant

• Education/training (2.5.1): University degree in Psychology, Human Resources, Leadership, or related fields
• Language (2.5.2): C2-level language proficiency in English; C2-level language proficiency in Kinyarwanda

General professional experience (2.5.3):

• 5 years of experience in training and coaching for personnel development

Specific professional experience (2.5.4):

• 2 reference projects where the contractor designed and implement leadership or personal development curricula for institutions, organization, or community groups resulting in measurable outcomes such as career advancement, business growth, or personal development milestones.
• 1 reference project of public speaking, podcasting, or digital content production (e.g., video series, webinars) on leadership, negotiation, or self-esteem topics.
• 1 year of experience in developing curricula or training materials.
• 21 years in providing one-on-one coaching or advisory support to individuals, particularly in the areas of personal growth and professional development.
• Leadership/management experience (2.5.5): N/A
• Regional experience (2.5.6): N/A
• Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.5.7): N/A
• Other (2.5.8): N/A

Soft skills of Team members

In addition to their specialist qualifications, the following qualifications are required of team members:

• Flexibility and constructive attitude in face of changing circumstances
• Excellent communication skills
• Collaborative working style
• Efficient partner- and client-focused working methods
• Gender sensitive work style and approaches will bring value added

4. Costing requirements

All business travel must be approved in advance by GIZ staff in writing. The amounts below for travel expenses and other costs are compulsory and non-negotiable. 

5.1. Specification of inputs

Fee days	Number of experts	Number of days per expert	Total	Comments
Short-term Senior Expert Pool 1:  Authors and Bloggers	1-2	N/A	49	Estimated breakdown of days: 5.5 days for training preparation 5 days for classroom training 37.5 days for one-on-one in-person coaching for participants (average 2.5 days for each of 15 participants) 1 day of reporting
Short-term Senior Expert Pool 2:  Podcasters and Content Creators	1-2	N/A	29	Estimated breakdown of days: 5.5 days for training preparation 5 days for classroom training 17.5 days for one-on-one in-person coaching for participants (average 2.5 days for each of 7 participants) 1 day for reporting
Short-term Senior Expert Pool 3: Illustrators and Digital Painters	1-2	N/A	44	Estimated breakdown of days: 5.5 days for training preparation 5 days for classroom training 32.5 days for one-on-one in-person coaching for participants (average 2.5 days for each 13 participants) 1 day for reporting
Expert 4: Confidence, Leadership, Self-esteem, Negotiations.	1	6	6	Estimated breakdown of days: 2 days for prep and reporting 1 day for classroom training 4 days one-on-one advisory on demand by participants
Other costs	Classroom days/training	Price (RWF)	Total (RWF)	Comments
Catering costs for in-person training days at Imagine We Publishers office facilities.	6 days x 35 participants per day	5,000 RWF per person	1,050,000 RWF	Catering only for classroom trainings (35 participants, 6 training days for expert pool training + confidence training). The contractor must provide an EBM invoice from the caterer.

Please note that administrative work and any other overhead costs are to be included in the expert fee. However, no transportation, travel or communication related costs should be included.

5. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToR. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organized in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English.

The complete tender must not exceed 7 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 3 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long.

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

Submission of the offer

Technical offer:

Technical offer must include the following documents:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical Proposal (attached template for technical proposal MUST be used)
• Up to date CVs of proposed experts
• Self-declaration of eligibility for the award
• Company administrative documents: registration certificate (RDB), VAT registration certificate and Tax clearance certificate
• Three Company References for the completion of similar assignments fin the last 3 years, as described in the eligibility assessment grid

Financial offer:

Financial offer indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs as described in the specification of inputs. The costs must be in RWF and VAT excluded (Price sheet must be used). The Financial offer will be regarded as exclusive of VAT in the case where there is no information about VAT.

Your EoI has to be submitted in 2 separated emails to RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 09.06.2025:

The technical offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: 83489240 -Technical offer.

The financial offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: 83489240 - Financial offer.

If the emails exceed the default email size of 30MB, offers can be exceptionally submitted through https://filetransfer.giz.de/, as indicated. The subject of recipient notification must be edited with the subject indicated above and the notification message must include the password to access the files.

Offers submitted through any other sharing platform, as google documents or similar will not be considered.

Without the subject mentioned, your offer may not be considered

Offers submitted in hard copy will not be considered.

GIZ reserves all rights.

Annexes:

Annex 1 - Eligibility assessment grid

Annex 2 - Self-declaration of eligibility for the award

Annex 3 - Technical assessment grid

Annex 4 - Technical Proposal template

Annex 5 - Price sheet