CONSULTANCY REQUIRED

Development of TORs, Operational & Business Model for the Women Economic Empowerment Fund (WEEF)

Sindh Community Foundation (SCF)
Women Economic Empowerment Fund – WEEF
Powering Women-Led Prosperity
Anticipatory Climate Risk & Shock Resilience Fund

1. BACKGROUND

Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) has launched the Women Economic Empowerment Fund (WEEF), positioning it as Pakistan’s first anticipatory climate risk and shock resilience fund dedicated exclusively to women. The Fund is designed to safeguard women’s livelihoods, reduce gender-differentiated climate vulnerability, and enable year-round economic resilience for women in climate-affected districts of Sindh.

By combining anticipatory financing, enterprise development, and rapid post-shock recovery support, WEEF moves beyond short-term relief to build sustainable, climate-smart, and women-led economic systems capable of withstanding recurring climate shocks.

WEEF addresses structural gender inequalities in access to finance, markets, assets, and climate-resilient livelihoods and supports women-led micro and small enterprises through:

• Seed grants and enterprise finance
• Climate-responsive livelihood diversification
• Off-season income security
• Rapid post-disaster recovery financing
• Market linkages and business incubation

To institutionalize and scale WEEF into a self-sustaining, credible, and donor-aligned financial mechanism, SCF seeks to engage a qualified consultant or consulting firm to develop a robust Operational Framework and Business Model.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, scalable, and financially effective operational and business development model for the Women Economic Empowerment Fund (WEEF). The assignment will establish WEEF as a women-led, climate-responsive social investment mechanism by designing a robust operational structure, sustainable financing architecture, and investment-ready business model.

Specifically, the consultancy aims to:

• Develop a clear operational model with defined structures, systems, workflows, and protocols for efficient fund management and implementation
• Design a business development and financial effectiveness model that ensures sustainability, cost efficiency, and responsible use of capital
• Establish a social investment and blended finance model, including grant, revolving capital, and climate shock response windows aligned with impact investment principles
• Strengthen financial accountability, risk management, and compliance mechanisms to enhance credibility and fiduciary integrity
• Align WEEF with international best practices in gender equality, climate finance, inclusive finance, and social investment

Define scalability, growth pathways, and financial projections to support expansion of WEEF to USD 1.5 million within five years

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for the following components:

A. Institutional & Operational Framework

• Assess and propose appropriate legal and institutional structuring options (Fund / Trust / Endowment)
• Design the governance architecture, including Board structure, committees, and management roles
• Define decision-making, oversight, and accountability mechanisms
• Develop policies on transparency, safeguarding, gender equity, ethics, and conflict of interest
• Design fund management workflows and prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for effective and compliant operations

B. Business Model Development

• Develop a fund capitalization strategy, including grants, social investment, and blended finance options
• Design financial products and instruments, including:
• Seed grants
• Revolving enterprise capital
• Climate shock response window
• Develop a cost-recovery and financial sustainability model
• Define revenue generation and reinvestment mechanisms
• Establish risk management frameworks and financial control systems
• Develop a growth and scale-up pathway, including five-year financial projections

C. Implementation Modality

• Develop a clear operational and implementation model with defined structures, systems, workflows, and protocols for efficient fund management and delivery
• Design a business development and financial effectiveness framework to ensure sustainability, cost efficiency, and responsible use of capital
• Establish a social investment and blended finance implementation model, integrating grants, revolving capital, and climate shock response mechanisms aligned with impact investment principles
• Strengthen financial accountability, compliance, and fiduciary management systems to ensure integrity and effective oversight
• Ensure alignment of implementation modalities with international best practices in gender equality, climate finance, inclusive finance, and social investment
• Define scalability and replication pathways, including operational requirements and financial projections to support expansion of WEEF to USD 1.5 million within five years

 D. Market Competitiveness & Innovation

• Conduct a market competitiveness and value chain assessment for women-led enterprises supported by WEEF
• Identify market demand trends, pricing structures, and competitive positioning at local, national, and selected international levels
• Develop market-responsive and innovation-driven enterprise models, including climate-smart, green, and value-added livelihoods
• Propose innovation mechanisms such as digital tools, e-commerce platforms, technology-enabled financing, and alternative market access channels
• Design strategies to improve product quality, branding, packaging, and compliance with market standards
• Recommend innovation pilots and scale-up pathways within WEEF to test and expand high-potential enterprise models
• Ensure market and innovation strategies are inclusive of rural, informal, and climate-affected women entrepreneurs

4. KEY DELIVERABLES

• Inception Report and detailed Work Plan
• Operational Framework Document
• Comprehensive Business Model with Financial Projections
• Climate Risk & Shock Resilience Financing Framework
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance Manual
• Final Consolidated WEEF Operational & Business Model Report
• Final PPT after addressing responses and feedback in final draft

5. DURATION & LEVEL OF EFFORT

• Duration: 1^st Feb to 30^th Feb 2026
• Location: Remote, with limited virtual consultations (field visit optional)

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

The consultant or firm should demonstrate:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in:
• Inclusive finance
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Climate finance and resilience programming
• Proven experience designing:
• Funds, endowments, or financial mechanisms
• Blended finance or revolving fund models
• Strong understanding of:
• Gender-transformative approaches
• Rural livelihoods and informal economies
• South Asian / Pakistan context (preferred)
• Excellent analytical, financial modeling, and report-writing skills

7. REPORTING & COORDINATION

• The consultant will report to the Executive Director of SCF
• Technical oversight will be provided by SCF Senior Management
• Regular progress updates and validation meetings will be required

8. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) SUBMISSION

Interested consultants or firms are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) including:

1. Brief organizational or individual profile
2. Relevant experience (maximum 3 pages)
3. Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach
4. Samples of similar work (if available)
5. Proposed timeline
6. Indicative professional fee ( PKR)

9. EOI DEADLINE

25^th Jan 2025

10. SELECTION PROCESS

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for final discussion and negotiation

CONTACT & ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Attention:

Managing Director – Women Economic Empowerment Fund (WEEF)

Sindh Community Foundation

A-12 Happy Homes Chowk, Qasimabad
Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]
Phone: +92-222-107676