RFP/KFW/AP/2026/00028

Annex 1-Term of Reference (TORS)

Procurement of Consultant for Investment Support Consultant

1.     Background

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) in Central and South Asia. It aspires to work towards a society that is powered by innovative and successful young entrepreneurs. Through its services, AP extends tailored training, advice, and technical assistance to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to help them launch or expand their innovative business ventures. It also extends tailored financing to startups and small growing businesses (SGBs) to help them unlock external investments by improving their bankability and investment readiness.

2.     Program Overview

Start-up Pakistan is a project financed by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and implemented by Accelerate Prosperity. The initiative aims to scale up Accelerate Prosperity’s existing model of technical support and financing for businesses. It will expand into new geographies and across exciting sectors such as education, health, tourism, and green economy, prioritizing digitization and environmental sustainability.

3.     About the Position

The Investment Analyst Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of activities and operations within his/her investment portfolio, and business acceleration (pre and post-investment technical assistance and mentorship) of Accelerate Prosperity, Pakistan..

4.     Scope of Work

• Training and Advisory
  • New Ideas & Early-Stage Businesses: Conduct training and advisory for businesses within the domains of business modeling, information memorandum (IM) or pitch deck development, and financial modeling (FM).
  • Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs): Conduct training and advisory for businesses within the domains of business modeling, information memorandum (IM) or pitch deck development, and financial modeling (FM).

• Investment Pipeline Development
  • Engage in AP programs to identify and select businesses with investment potential keeping in view commercial viability, AP’s product offering and AP’s mandate while providing investment readiness advisory to prepare eligible businesses for financing.
  • Engage in headhunting to identify off-cycle investment cases by engaging with ecosystem players and participating in different panels, discussions, events etc

• New Investment into Startups and SGBs
  • Due Diligence: Conduct necessary due diligence on selected businesses for the purpose of investment. This includes undertaking commercial, financial, accounting and any other types of due diligence necessary for investment decision making. The investment analyst Consultant will be responsible for undertaking any other activities that are pre-requisite to structuring of the investment transaction e.g., development of designs, feasibilities, BOQs etc. E&S due diligence wo be undertaken as per AP’s ESMS policy.
  • Transaction Structuring & Investment Case Development: Undertake thorough analysis for optimal investment transaction structure. Develop detailed and robust financial models and information memorandums for presentation to investment committee.
  • Execution: Lead all activities related to execution of the approved investment cases through to disbursement of funds. This can include supporting investees in fulfilling any condition precedent, formalizing approved transaction structures into formal agreements and/or perfecting collateral.
• Portfolio Management
  • Risk Classification: Classify portfolio businesses into risk categories based on PAR and other factors.
  • Monitoring: Undertake frequent monitoring of portfolio under management as per in place mechanism. Flag any risk and non-compliance highlighted during monitoring for action. Undertake E&S monitoring as per AP’s ESMS policy.
  • Post Financing Technical Assistance: Ensure support is extended to businesses post-financing with any issues or requirements e.g., with regards to marketing, strategy, regulation etc.

5.     Deliverables

• Training & Advisory – Number of businesses provided with investment readiness training and advisory.
• Investment Pipeline Development – Number and value of qualified pipeline cases developed.
• Investment Case Development – Number of complete investment case packages submitted, including due diligence reports, financial models, Information Memorandums (IMs) and transaction structures for assigned cases.
• Transaction Execution – Number and value of approved investment transactions successfully executed through fulfilment of conditions precedent, completion of legal documentation, perfection of security, and disbursement of funds.
• Portfolio Management – Timely completion of portfolio monitoring, risk classification, E&S monitoring, post-investment technical assistance and portfolio monitoring reports for the assigned portfolio.

6.     Qualifications and Experience

The Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of a bachelor's in finance, accounting, or business.
• Relevant professional qualifications/certifications such as ACCA, CFA, FMVA, etc. (preferable)
• Minimum 3 years of relevant hands-on experience in investments, investment advisory, due diligence, transaction advisory, or other relevant disciplines.
• The consultant must demonstrate relevant experience in financial modelling skills, technical knowledge of the investment cycle, and Experience in projects related to entrepreneurship, business development, SMEs, etc.
• The applicant must have excellent writing and reporting skills and must be computer-literate (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Soft Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Urdu.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Highly proactive and passionate about work.
• Capable of producing high quality results within often tight deadlines.
• Ability for multitasking and working under pressure.
• Ability to distill large volumes of data in short periods of time.
• Intellectual curiosity and demonstrated record of professional development/growth.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work through complex models to determine the key assumptions, implicit caveats and limitations.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all levels of management.

7.     Contract Duration

The contract duration will be 6 months. The contract can be extended based on performance and budget availability.

8.     Location

The Consultant will be based out of Accelerate Prosperity's office in Gilgit and will be required to undertake travel, as necessary, for due diligence site visits, meetings with founders and management, investment readiness advisory and post-investment monitoring activities.

The duty travel expenses will be covered by Accelerate Prosperity, subject to approval of the reporting manager and the applicable travel policy of AP.

9.     Payment terms

• The payment will be made on a monthly basis, subject to approval of the deliverables.
• Payment shall be made upon satisfactory completion & submission of the agreed deliverables and approval of the designated Investment Manager and CIO.
• Payments will be made within thirty (30) days from the date of submission of a complete and accurate invoice along with approved deliverables.
• All payments shall be subject to applicable taxes, deductions, and withholding requirements under the prevailing laws of Pakistan.

10.  Reporting Line

The consultant will report to the designated Investment Manager with overall oversight by the CIO at Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan

11.  Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested individual consultant must submit the following:

• The individual consultant must provide a copy of their CNIC and an active NTN number.
• The individual consultant must submit a CV and cover letter that demonstrate relevant experience and expertise in the field as mentioned above in point 6.
• The individual consultant is required to sign the RFP document and annexes, and it should be submitted along with the proposal.
• The financial proposal should be submitted using the attached financial proposal format with a valid signature