Tenders Are Invited For Women Adapt Digital Platform Service Provider

Tenders are invited for Women ADAPT Digital Platform Service Provider 2.0 Description The assignment is part of the Women ADAPT project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF). The project will address structural barriers faced by rural women by developing digital and institutional infrastructure for women-focused adaptation services, supporting the deployment of climate-smart agriculture technologies, providing tailored training and strengthening inclusive financial tools and climate risk management practices. Existing-platform preference. Applicants are expected to propose the adaptation, upgrade, integration or scaling of an existing operational platform wherever feasible. Development of a new platform will only be considered where the applicant provides a documented gap analysis, comparing at least two existing platforms against the mandatory minimum features (Annex, 1.), and demonstrating that none can be cost-effectively adapted to meet the projects gender-responsiveness, localization, offline access, interoperability and sustainability requirements. This gap analysis must be submitted as part of the technical proposal and will be assessed under Criterion 1 (Section 7). Where a proposal includes two platforms (e.g., one per country), each platforms status (adapted vs. newly developed) must be independently justified according to the above criteria. 3.0 Functional scope and implementation procedures This call for proposals aims to select one qualified service provider, either a single company or a consortium, to adapt, pilot, deploy, maintain and support one (for both country) or two (one for each country) mobile-first digital platforms that connect women-led MSMEs, cooperatives, microfinance institutions and women smallholder farmers in Benin and Burkina Faso to climate adaptation services, agroclimatic information, market intelligence and inclusive finance linkages. Project Component (PC1) Alignment: Applicants shall demonstrate how their proposed approach will contribute to the delivery of Outcome 1.1.1 (selection, adaptation and deployment of gender-responsive digital platforms), Outcome 1.1.2 (capacity building of 14 women-led MSMEs and over 4,000 women on the use of digital services for climate-smart agriculture and informed decision-making), and Outcome 1.1.3 (awareness-raising among cooperatives and local stakeholders on the benefits of digital services for enhancing resilience). 3.1 Target beneficiaries and users Primary users: women leaders of MSMEs, cooperative members and smallholder women farmers. The broader Women ADAPT project targets more than 4,600 women. Secondary users: PC1 anchor institutions include 14 womenled MSMEs. These MSMEs will serve as flagship/anchor institutions to support platform dissemination, build local trust, facilitate feedback from women farmers, and encourage broader rural adoption. In addition, cooperatives, MFIs, extension agents, and other local actors may also be engaged as platform users, data partners, or dissemination partners, particularly where they contribute to PC2, PC3, or awareness activities. Other users: agronomists, extension agents, government officials, financial institution officers, market actors and project M&E users. Application The AECF is an equal opportunity employer. The AECF evaluates all interested candidates based on merit, without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Any questions should be sent to the email address designated for procurement:[email protected] by 18th September 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (East African Time). The subject line of the email must be: CLARIFICATION: Women ADAPT Digital Platform Service Provider. Interested companies, or consortia are requested to attend the MANDATORY PRE-BIDDING CONFERENCE slated for 21st September 2026, from 12noon East African Time on this link https://zoom.us/meeting/register/aIl5hFY3QtCVSBazyOR_yQ Bidders who registered and attended the mandatory pre-bidding conference are requested to submit their technical and financial proposals via the procurement portal https://procurement.aecfafrica.org/ by 2nd October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (East African Time). Tender Link : https://www.aecfafrica.org/about-us/opportunities/