Call for Expression of Interest-SPARK Retour vers les opportunités

• About SPARK

SPARK is a Netherlands-based INGO with projects that open pathways for young people, particularly women and refugees, to study, work and grow their own businesses in fragile communities. SPARK’s mission is to” develop higher education and entrepreneurship so that ambitious people can lead their post-conflict societies into prosperity.” The vision of SPARK is to be “a leader within the niche of higher (vocational) education, entrepreneurship and MSME development in fragile and conflict-affected states.” With over 25 years of experience, SPARK has become an expert in key cross-sector services that create pathways to employment for potential entrepreneurs in fragile and conflict-affected regions. 

• Summary:

The programme aims to strengthen business support organisations (BSOs) to act as ecosystem enablers, bridging the gap between policy and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) toward a green and inclusive economy. The action supports innovative green business models and building collaboration between stakeholders to enable the transition to sustainability. It supports innovative green business models and fosters collaboration among stakeholders. This will be achieved through two main outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of regional networks of existing business support organisations and related associations
• Outcome 2: Strengthened knowledge and capacity of BSOs and related associations in the Southern Neighbourhood region in green business and Sustainable Consumption and Production

• Cross-Cutting Green Finance Component

The Green Forward Programme is already under implementation across the Southern Neighbourhood. This Call for Expression of Interest is therefore complementary and aims to strengthen a specific cross-cutting dimension of the programme: green finance and access to financing for green entrepreneurs and enterprises.

The contracted partner(s) will work within the Green Forward framework and in close coordination with SPARK and other programme actors. Their role will be to support and empower financial institutions and investment actors — including commercial banks, microfinance institutions, leasing companies, credit providers, venture capital funds, impact investors, and other financing platforms — to better serve green and circular economy enterprises.

Key responsibilities under this component include:

• Strengthening the capacity of financial institutions to understand green business models, sustainability risks, and green investment opportunities.
• Supporting financial actors to design and pilot tailored financial solutions and products for green entrepreneurs and SMEs (e.g. green credit lines, adapted loan schemes, blended finance instruments, risk-sharing mechanisms, etc.).
• Facilitating linkages between financial institutions and green entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs supported under the programme.
• Contributing to the integration of sustainability and climate considerations into financial decision-making processes.

This component will be implemented in a cross-cutting manner across all programme outcomes and activities, reinforcing the overall objective of strengthening the green business ecosystem while addressing one of its key bottlenecks: access to appropriate and inclusive green financing.

• Outputs and Deliverables:

Outcome 1: Strengthened local and regional networks enabling access to green finance

A1.1 Strengthening BSOs’ capacity to facilitate green finance opportunities

• Organisation of one networking event focused on green finance to include matchmaking activities that would encourage new connections and partnerships among BSOs.
• Public and private institutions, financial actors, and BSOs will exchange on:
  • green investment opportunities
  • barriers to financing green enterprises
  • successful financial instruments from the EU and the region
  • Etc (TBC by the partner and SPARK)
• At least 10 partnership agreements or MoUs will be signed to enhance collaboration between BSOs and financial institutions.

*co-organizing is an option and can be counted as co-funding with sources other than direct European Union funding. 

A1.3 Coaching and tailored support to strengthen BSOs’ role in green finance facilitation

Tailor-made support programme will be delivered to staff members from BSOs through action-oriented coaching, mentoring, and customized short training modules.

The selected partner  should suggest an individualized mentoring and coaching that will help the staff members of the selected BSOs to:

• support SMEs in preparing finance-ready documents
• understand and communicate green business value propositions
• liaise more effectively with banks, MFIs, VCs, impact investors, and other finance providers

* Training modules will be adapted to the financial constraints and opportunities identified in A1.1 and A1.2.

Outcome 2: Increased capacity of BSOs and stakeholders to support SMEs’ access to green finance

A2.1 Green Business Training for BSOs

A- Design and Delivery of Green Finance Capacity-Building Programme

Development of a comprehensive curriculum on green finance, co-created with key ecosystem actors including BSOs, financial institutions, training institutions, and universities.

The selected partner will be responsible for designing and delivering a tailored capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening the ability of a minimum of 3 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) per partner to support green businesses and promote Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices.

The partner should develop of a comprehensive curriculum on green finance, that could be co-created with key ecosystem actors including BSOs, financial institutions, training institutions, and universities. The curriculum shall focus specifically on Green Finance as a strategic lever to accelerate the transition toward a circular and sustainable economy.

The programme will:

• Be tailored to the needs and maturity level of participating BSOs;
• Combine theoretical modules with practical case studies and hands-on exercises;
• Integrate real market examples and contextualized learning relevant to the target country/region.

The curriculum should cover, at minimum, the following thematic areas:

• Green finance instruments and mechanisms (including blended finance, impact investment, and climate finance);
• Strategies to address environmental challenges while unlocking economic opportunities;
• Enabling policy and regulatory frameworks for green and circular economy;
• Circular and sustainable business models;
• Systems thinking and stakeholder mapping for green ecosystems;
• Innovation and financing pathways for circular economy initiatives;
• Tools and methodologies for assessing, selecting, and supporting green entrepreneurs.

In addition, the programme shall equip BSOs with practical tools to:

• Evaluate the green potential and investment readiness of SMEs;
• Structure support services tailored to green entrepreneurs;
• Facilitate access to finance and partnerships for sustainable businesses.

The selected partner is expected to propose a detailed methodology, delivery format (e.g., workshops, coaching, mentoring), and monitoring framework aligned with the objectives of the programme.

B) Development and Piloting of a Green Finance & Sustainability Toolbox

As part of the programme, the selected partner will support participating BSOs in the co-development of a practical Green Finance and Sustainability Toolbox. The toolbox will enable BSOs to:

• Assess the level of integration of sustainability and circular economy principles within the services they provide to entrepreneurs and SMEs;
• Evaluate and screen green start-ups, including criteria for labeling or certification where applicable;
• Facilitate matchmaking between solutions offered by green start-ups and the sustainability needs of existing SMEs;
• Assess SMEs’ green potential, investment readiness, and access-to-finance opportunities.
• Other TBD with SPARK and the selected partner. 

In addition, the programme will strengthen BSOs’ advocacy capacity to contribute to improved regulatory, normative, and institutional frameworks that enable a green and just transition for SMEs and start-ups.

BSOs graduating from the Training will pilot the toolbox with a cohort of 10 MSMEs per BSO (total of 30 SME per partner). The piloting phase will follow a structured and monitored approach to:

• Track implementation progress step by step;
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring;
• Measure performance indicators, including business growth and job creation;
• Evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the toolbox.

The results and lessons learned from the pilot phase will inform the refinement of the toolbox and its replication with additional BSOs and MSME cohorts. The objective is to ensure a context-sensitive, scalable, and risk-mitigated model that can be adapted to different ecosystems while maximizing impact.

A2.2 Awareness-raising campaign on green finance opportunities

• The partner will contribute to a regional campaign highlighting:
  • available green financial instruments
  • success stories of SMEs receiving green finance
  • the role of financial institutions in climate transition
• The campaign will target SMEs, youth, women entrepreneurs, BSOs, and financial actors.

* The budget allocated to this component is limited; therefore, please take this into account.

A2.4 Multi-stakeholder working groups on green finance policy and financial ecosystem strengthening

• Establishment of a national working group bringing together stakeholders including:
  • ministries (Industry, Environment, Economy, Investment)
  • BSOs
  • commercial banks
  • microfinance institutions
  • leasing companies
  • impact investors
  • VCs and private-sector financing actors
  • Etc.
• The group will:
  • identify policy and regulatory barriers preventing SMEs from accessing green finance
  • propose solutions to improve financial inclusion for green and circular sector enterprises

The partner will develop one policy recommendation focused explicitly on improving access to finance for green SMEs.

Target Group:

The action targets the following groups, all of which play a critical role in strengthening access to green finance and supporting the development of green and circular economy enterprises:

• Staff members of Business Support Organisations (BSOs), whose capacity will be strengthened to become active ecosystem players capable of guiding entrepreneurs through green financing processes and promoting investment-readiness among SMEs.
• BSOs trained through the Green Business Training to offer specialised business support services related to green finance, financial modelling, and sustainability-aligned business development.
• SMEs that will apply the Finance & Investment Toolbox developed, enabling them to improve their bankability, structure financing proposals, and engage more effectively with financial institutions.
• policy and decision-makers including representatives from BSOs, financial institutions, ministries, training institutions, and universities who will participate in the national working group on green finance, contributing to regulatory and policy dialogue to unlock financing for green SMEs.
• Financial ecosystem actors reached via traditional and digital media, including commercial banks, microfinance institutions, impact investors, leasing companies, credit providers, and other economic players who influence or participate in green investment flows.

*BSOs may include chambers of commerce, sectoral associations, non-profit organisations, innovation hubs, accelerators, and university-based incubators. These actors are positioned to bridge the gap between green entrepreneurs and financial institutions.

•  Eligibility & preferred application criteria 

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants operating in the public or the private sector on a non-profit basis are welcome to submit a bid. Eligible applicants focusing on the field of BSO Support, Green Business, entrepreneurship and Scaling (SMEs)and Start-Up Support could be incubators, accelerators, Business hubs, etc.

5.1 Eligibility Criteria:

• Have actual operations & registration in the concerned country, by providing the registration documents.
• Minimum 2 years of registration
• The organization needs to be VAT exempt and present proof of VAT exemption
• Provide proof of co-funding ability (a minimum 30% co-funding (From sources other than direct European Union funding)  based on actual financial documents
• Provide samples of at least the 2 years past annual reports, publications, online records, or any other documents/references supporting the application.
• Tax States, by providing a Tax clearance certificate for the previous financial year.
• Provide donor audits report 
• Provide an Annual external audit report.
• Must provide financial statements of the previous fiscal year.
• Should have an active bank account in the name of the organisation.
• Provide proof of grant management experience by providing at least one previous (similar) contract from donors/INGOs 
• Must have a well demonstrated and verifiable financial management system and reporting capacity.
• Provide CVs of key staff: senior general management, project lead, trainers and coaches (if applicable).
• Must have a well established governance structure.
• Have satisfactory past performance references.
• Must have a proven track record in implementing projects in any of the following intervention areas: green economy, sustainable development, climate action, economic empowerment, policy influencing, advocacy, capacity building, and networking at local, state, and/or national levels.

5.2 Applicants must meet the following criteria:

The Implementing Partner must have the following required expertise:

• Previous successful experience in working within multi-stakeholder environments, including collaboration with government institutions, development agencies, and local authorities.
• A thorough understanding of the local market dynamics relevant to the green economy and sustainable development.
• Capacity to effectively engage and reach the target group in a timely manner for project implementation.
• Ability to network and establish connections across various communities and stakeholders.
• Proven track record of excellent reporting, communication, and documentation skills in the English language.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, managing, and implementing initiatives within the green business sector, supporting Business Support Organizations (BSOs), and promoting entrepreneurship.
• Willingness and capability to cooperate closely with SPARK in preparing, managing, and implementing project activities, including collaboration with local partners, institutions, and BSOs.
• Ability to efficiently manage budgets and contribute effectively to the success of project activities.
• Commitment to fulfilling all legal obligations under national law.
• Adherence to SPARK’s General Terms and Conditions for partnership agreements.

How to Apply:

To apply, please send us a full proposal explaining the methodology for the activities mentioned in the outcome annex, along with a full budget including the co-funding part. You can find the templates below:

Annexe: Proposal template to use 

Annexe: Budget template to use 

To know more about the application process and evaluation criterias, please click on the following annexe.