Consultancy to Develop a Proposal for the DANIDA Business Partnerships Program

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Background and Rational of the DANIDA Business Partnership
The DANIDA Business Partnerships program supports commercial projects that combine a strong and viable business case with clear, measurable development outcomes. The program seeks to promote responsible and sustainable business ventures that generate inclusive employment and income opportunities, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations, while contributing to broader market development and positive social and environmental outcomes in partner countries.
Business Partnerships recognize that addressing complex development challenges and unlocking inclusive economic opportunities often requires collaboration between private sector businesses and non-commercial actors. Through multi-actor partnerships, businesses can combine their commercial expertise, resources, and market access with the contextual knowledge, technical expertise, and development experience of non-commercial organizations. This approach supports the development of commercially viable and sustainable solutions that deliver tangible social development benefits, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 on partnerships for the goals.
The program places particular emphasis on business ventures that demonstrate a clear pathway to commercial viability while contributing to decent job creation, increased and sustainable incomes, and improved economic opportunities for local communities. Proposals are expected to demonstrate responsible business conduct, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. Additional value is placed on initiatives that contribute to wider market development, climate action, and positive social or environmental change.
In Uganda, the DANIDA Business Partnerships program presents an opportunity for IRC Uganda to explore and develop innovative private sector partnerships that leverage IRC’s development expertise and contextual knowledge alongside the commercial capabilities of businesses. Such partnerships could help address relevant local development challenges while creating sustainable economic opportunities and delivering measurable development outcomes for underserved populations.
To capitalize on this opportunity, IRC Uganda seeks to engage a qualified consultant to develop a compelling, evidence-based, and commercially grounded business case and proposal for submission to the DANIDA Business Partnerships program. The assignment will involve working closely with IRC Uganda, prospective business partners, consortium members, and relevant technical and financial teams to translate the proposed partnership concept into a coherent, feasible, and competitive proposal that meets the program’s requirements.
Objectives of the Consultancy
The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a high-quality, competitive, and submission-ready business case and proposal for the DANIDA Business Partnerships program, demonstrating a clear link between commercial viability, development impact, and the value of the proposed partnership.
The specific objectives are to:
Develop a robust business case that demonstrates the commercial rationale, market opportunity, financial viability, and sustainability of the proposed partnership.
Articulate the development rationale and expected impact of the proposed business venture, including its contribution to inclusive job creation, increased incomes, and wider social, economic, or environmental benefits.
Demonstrate the added value of the partnership between IRC Uganda, private sector actors, and other relevant stakeholders, including why a multi-actor approach is essential to achieving the proposed commercial and development objectives.
Ensure that the proposed intervention is aligned with DANIDA Business Partnerships requirements, relevant Danish strategic priorities in Uganda, IRC Uganda strategic Action Plan and applicable Sustainable Development Goals.
Develop a coherent and evidence-based proposal package, including the project narrative, results framework or log frame, implementation arrangements, risk analysis, sustainability considerations, and other required annexes.
Ensure alignment between the business case, technical design, results framework, implementation plan, and budget, with clear and measurable indicators for both commercial performance and development outcomes.
SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant will lead the development and writing of the business case and full proposal for submission to the DANIDA Business Partnerships program. The consultant will work closely with the IRC Uganda Proposal Leadership Team, relevant technical units, finance staff, prospective business partners, and other consortium members to ensure that the proposal is technically sound, commercially credible, financially realistic, and responsive to the donor’s requirements.
The assignment will include reviewing program guidelines and eligibility requirements, analyzing the proposed business opportunity, consolidating relevant contextual and market evidence, facilitating consultations with key stakeholders, and translating the agreed partnership concept into a compelling business case and proposal.
IRC Uganda will provide the consultant with relevant background information, available research, preliminary project design documents, and access to technical and financial colleagues and prospective partners, as appropriate. The consultant will facilitate the integration of these inputs into a coherent proposal package and ensure that all required documents are prepared to the agreed standard and within the stipulated timeframe.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
Review of Program Requirements and Background Documentation
Review the DANIDA Business Partnerships call for applications, program guidelines, eligibility criteria, assessment and evaluation criteria, proposal templates, and all relevant submission requirements.
Review existing project concepts, contextual analyses, market assessments, partner information, and other background documents provided by IRC Uganda.
Identify information gaps, evidence requirements, and areas requiring further analysis to inform the business case and proposal development.
Develop an agreed work plan and proposal development timeline in consultation with the IRC bid lead.
Business Case Development
Work with IRC Uganda and prospective partners to refine the proposed business concept and establish a clear commercial rationale.
Analyze the relevant market opportunities, including demand, target customers, value proposition, competitive positioning, market access, and potential for growth, drawing on available evidence and additional research where necessary.
Articulate the proposed business model, revenue-generation mechanisms, operational arrangements, and pathway to commercial viability and financial sustainability.
Assess the respective roles, contributions, incentives, and comparative advantages of the participating partners.
Demonstrate how the proposed partnership will address relevant local development challenges while creating a commercially viable business venture.
Identify and analyze key commercial, operational, financial, social, environmental, and partnership risks, together with appropriate mitigation measures.
Develop a clear rationale for the proposed partnership, demonstrating the added value of collaboration between private sector and non-commercial actors.
Proposal Design and Development
Participate in virtual or in-person design workshops and consultations with IRC Uganda, prospective business partners, technical teams, and other relevant stakeholders.
Translate the agreed business concept and project design into a clear, evidence-based, and compelling proposal that responds directly to DANIDA’s requirements and evaluation criteria.