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Financial Inclusion Expert: Pilot Design and Implementa�on Roadmap  for Access to FinanceDanish-Arab Partnership Program (DAPP) Program: Youth Innova�on and Employment Program (YIEP) 

1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council? 

Established in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an interna�onal non-governmental organiza�on  with exper�se in forced displacement. DRC operates in 40 countries with a workforce of 9,000 employees  and 7,500 volunteers. The organiza�on delivers protec�on, advocacy, and sustainable solu�ons for  refugees and communi�es affected by displacement. DRC provides comprehensive support across all  phases of displacement, including emergency response, ongoing assistance, integra�on, and repatria�on.  Services include protec�on ac�vi�es, humanitarian aid, livelihood support, and collabora�on with civil  society and government stakeholders to assist refugees and the displaced, protect their rights, and  empower them to build a beter future and a dignified life. 

Economic Recovery is one of DRC’s five core sectors, aiming to move beyond emergency assistance by  enabling conflict- and displacement-affected popula�ons to regain self-reliance and reduce vulnerability.  Programming is organized around three interlinked areas: (i) promo�ng decent and sustainable  livelihoods, (ii) expanding access to affordable financial services, and (iii) improving food security for the  most vulnerable. 

2. Background and Rationale 

Over the past decade, Tunisia has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurial ini�a�ves driven by young  innovators and a growing network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces. Despite this  na�onal momentum, the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem has remained heavily concentrated in  coastal and urban regions (notably Tunis, Sousse, and Sfax), while Southern Tunisia con�nues to face  persistent structural barriers limi�ng local innova�on dynamics. 

These barriers include fragmented and under-resourced support structures; limited access to seed and  early-stage capital; weak linkages between training ins�tu�ons, incubators, and private investors;  insufficient exposure to market networks, mentors, and diaspora investors; and the low par�cipa�on of  women and marginalized youth in entrepreneurship programs. 

In addi�on, Southern Tunisia lacks consistent ins�tu�onal mechanisms capable of structuring, suppor�ng,  and sustaining early-stage entrepreneurial ini�a�ves. While innova�on poten�al exists, many young  innovators remain disconnected from formal support structures, and exis�ng ini�a�ves are o�en project based, short-term, and insufficiently ins�tu�onalized.

Within this context, the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP), through the Youth Innova�on and  Employment Programme (YIEP) implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), seeks to promote  inclusive economic growth, youth employability, and innova�on in underserved regions of Tunisia. 

The Ready for Tomorrow project (Youth Inclusion and Employment Project) aims to enhance the  employability and entrepreneurial engagement of young women and men aged 18-35 in Tunisia. The  project supports youth entrepreneurs through the development of life skills, integra�on into relevant  business ecosystems, and the acquisi�on of technical and future skills, enabling them to establish and  sustain viable businesses or secure wage employment. The project is implemented by DRC/DAPP. 

Access to finance remains one of the most persistent barriers faced by young entrepreneurs in Tunisia,  par�cularly those opera�ng early-stage or informal businesses. While a range of financial and non financial instruments exist – including bank credit lines, microfinance, public guarantee mechanisms, and  an emerging angel and venture capital ecosystem – many youth-led startups struggle to access  appropriate, affordable, and �mely financing. This is o�en compounded by collateral requirements,  limited financial track records, regulatory constraints, and informa�on asymmetries between youth  entrepreneurs and financial ins�tu�ons. 

These barriers are well documented: a 2025 EIB/EU survey of Tunisian SMEs found that among those  seeking credit, unfavorable interest rates, complex procedures, and excessive collateral requirements  are the main obstacles to borrowing. Underlying causes include a regulated ceiling on lending rates that  discourages banks from pricing for risk on smaller borrowers, leading them to ra�on credit toward  larger, safer clients rather than serve riskier ones; weak collateral and credit-repor�ng infrastructure  that pushes microfinance rates well above bank rates; a “missing middle” gap, whereby many Tunisian  entrepreneurs need loan sizes too large for microfinance ins�tu�ons but too small for banks or venture  capital; and Tunisian MFIs’ near-total dependence on limited refinancing from the state-owned Tunisian Solidarity Bank, which keeps microcredit costly despite serving the popula�on banks exclude. Women led MSMEs face a par�cularly acute financing gap, and financing infrastructure remains concentrated in  Greater Tunis and coastal governorates, leaving Southern, Central, and North-Western Tunisia  structurally underserved. 

To strengthen the project’s ability to support youth entrepreneurs beyond training and mentoring, DRC  wishes to recruit an expert consultant in blended and innova�ve finance to conduct a small, focused  valida�on of the access-to-finance landscape for youth entrepreneurs, building on exis�ng studies rather  than mapping from scratch, iden�fy the key roadblocks limi�ng access, design and support the pilo�ng of  a concrete financing mechanism tailored to the project’s target par�cipants (youth, women, SMEs, and  coopera�ves) – including on how DRC can engage directly with financial ins�tu�ons and other relevant  actors to help overcome these barriers.

3. Objective of the consultancy 

The overall objective of this consultancy is to validate and update existing evidence on access-to-finance  barriers for DRC’s target participants under the Ready for Tomorrow project, and to design a concrete,  pilot-ready financing mechanism – including innovative and blended finance approaches aligned with  DAPP’s objectives, together with a practical implementation and partnership roadmap. 

Building on this overall objective, the consultancy will pursue the following four specific objectives: 

1. Update, through rapid desk review, existing studies and mapping of access-to-finance  instruments relevant to YIEP’s target participants (youth, women, SMEs, and cooperatives),  confirming which instruments remain applicable, accessible, and current for the Ready for  Tomorrow beneficiary profile and geography, including. bank credit, microfinance, public  guarantee schemes, angel/venture capital, crowdfunding, and blended finance mechanisms. 
2. Confirm and refine, through a limited number of key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group  discussions (FGDs) with target participants, the specific barriers most relevant to beneficiary  profile, with emphasis on concrete pathway-oriented insights (i.e., what would need to change,  and for whom, to unlock access) rather than an exhaustive barrier catalogue. 
3. Design practical solutions and at least two financial products or blended finance  mechanism(s), such as a partial credit guarantee, matching grant, or group-lending facility,  tailored to the financing needs, loan-size range, and repayment capacity of DRC’s target  participants (youth entrepreneurs, women, SMEs, and cooperatives) under the Ready for  Tomorrow project, specifying for each: target beneficiary segment and eligibility criteria; loan or  grant size range; risk-sharing or guarantee structure; pricing/cost-to-borrower implications; and  the financial institution partner(s) required to deliver it. 
4. Formulate an implementation roadmap for the mechanism(s) designed under Objective 3,  defining the sequence of steps, partnership or MoU arrangements with financial institutions,  budget and resourcing implications for DRC, and monitoring indicators needed to move from  design to a time-bound pilot within DAPP’s future programming. 
5. Scope of Work and methodology 

The consultancy will be implemented over an estimated nine-week period through four consecutive  phases, each with a clear objective, focused set of activities, expected outputs, and working-day  allocation. The phased structure ensures a progressive deepening of the analysis – from validation of  existing evidence to targeted consultations, to the design of pilot financing mechanisms, and finally to a  practical implementation roadmap and validation. 

Phase 1 – Incep�on and Desk Review (Weeks 1-2) 

The consultant will: 

• Conduct a desk review of Ready for Tomorrow/DAPP project documents, results framework, and  relevant M&E data on youth beneficiaries and startups. 
• Review existing studies, national strategies, and regulatory frameworks relevant to access to  finance and entrepreneurship in Tunisia (e.g. the Startup Act, financial inclusion strategy, 

microfinance regulations and prior ecosystem mapping studies), with a specific focus on  instruments and findings that remain applicable to YIEP/DRC’s target participants and  intervention regions. 

• Develop an inception report including an updated mapping which access-to-finance instruments  (bank credit, microfinance, public guarantee schemes (e.g. SOTUGAR), angel/venture capital,  crowdfunding, blended/innovative finance mechanisms) are currently accessible and relevant for  YIEP/DRC’s beneficiary profile, and where key gaps or outdated elements appear in existing  mappings. 
• Develop and validate an inception report with DRC, including refined methodology, stakeholder  consultation list, and data collection tools (KII/FGD guides) and detailed work plan. 

Phase 2 – Stakeholder Consulta�ons (Weeks 3-5) 

The consultant will: 

• Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) with financial institutions, regulators, and existing  entrepreneurship support actors active in the project’s intervention areas, framed around “what  would need to change for [institution] to serve YIEP/DRC-type beneficiaries?” rather than  open-ended barrier cataloguing. 
• Conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) and/or short interviews with a sample of Ready for  Tomorrow youth beneficiaries, SME, cooperative and startup owners to capture their lived  experience, highlighting the specific barriers and constraints they face in accessing finance, and  to elicit pathway-oriented insights (e.g. acceptable collateral substitutes, preferred loan sizes,  repayment modalities, appetite for group-based mechanisms). 
• Consolidate findings into Barriers and Pathways report” that highlights the most appropriate  financial products, as well a small number of priority bottlenecks and feasible change-levers for  YIEP/DRC’s target groups, 

Phase 3 – Pilot Mechanism Design and DRC Engagement Strategy (Weeks 6-7) 

The consultant will: 

• Using the validated evidence and consultation findings, identify one or two priority mechanism  types (e.g. partial credit guarantee facility, matching grant scheme, group-lending product for  cooperatives) that best fit beneficiary profile, loan-size needs, and risk realities. 
• Engage in focused working sessions with DRC and 2–3 selected financial institution partners (e.g.  bank, MFI, guarantee fund) to co-design the selected mechanism(s), specifying for each: target  beneficiary segment and eligibility criteria; loan or grant size range; risk-sharing or guarantee  structure; pricing/cost-to-borrower implications; operational delivery channel; and basic  monitoring requirements. 
• Develop a Pilot Mechanism Design report for the one or two mechanisms, including a brief  analysis of how DRC can position itself (e.g. as grant provider, risk-sharing partner, pipeline  originator, or technical assistance provider) vis-à-vis the selected financial institutions. 

Phase – 4 Implementation Roadmap and Final Recommenda�ons (Weeks 8-9) 

The consultant will: 

• Formulate a practical implementation roadmap for the mechanism(s) designed under Phase 3,  defining: the sequence of steps to move from design to pilot launch; partnership or MoU  arrangements required with financial institutions and/or guarantee funds; budget and resourcing  implications for DRC (including any loss-reserve or matching-grant envelopes); and key monitoring indicators and decision points (e.g. criteria for scale-up or adaptation after an initial  pilot cycle).

• Consolidate all findings into a Final Report, presenting the revised access-to-finance mapping, the  barriers and pathway analysis, pilot mechanism design, and implementation roadmap, DRC  engagement pathways, and prioritized, actionable recommendations. 
• Facilitate a short validation workshop with /DRC and, where relevant, selected financial  institutions, to present and discuss the findings and recommendations prior to finalization. 5. Expected Deliverables 

The Consultant will submit progressive deliverables from September 2026 to November 2026,  corresponding to each implementa�on phase. The table below outlines, for each phase, the expected  deliverables, a brief descrip�on of the outputs, the key submission deadlines, and the indica�ve number  of working days foreseen for their comple�on.

6. Duration, timeline, and payment 

DRC intends to contract an individual consultant to implement this assignment over an estimated nine week period, in line with the phases and deadlines set out in the deliverables section above. All  deliverables must be submitted according to the agreed timeline, and draft versions of key outputs will  be reviewed and validated by DRC before finalization. 

Payment for the services will be made upon satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables and  submission of an invoice and certificate of completion of services duly signed by DRC.  

The indicative payment schedule is as follows: 

• 20% upon submission and approval of the Inception Report; 
• 30% upon submission and approval of the Pilot Mechanism Design Note (Phase 3) 
• 50% upon submission and approval of the Final Report, including facilitation of the validation  workshop (phase 4). 

In all cases, payments will be made no later than fifteen (15) calendar days following DRC’s written  approval of each deliverable. 

7. Required Expertise  

The consultancy is expected to be carried out by a single individual consultant with the following profile: 

• Minimum 7-10 years of professional experience in finance, blended finance, or innovative finance,  including work related to access to finance for MSMEs, startups, or youth entrepreneurs.

• Demonstrated familiarity with the Tunisian financial sector and regulatory environment, including  relevant instruments such as the Startup Act, SOTUGAR guarantee schemes, microfinance  institutions, and the emerging angel/venture capital ecosystem. 
• Proven experience designing or analyzing blended and innovative finance mechanisms and  specific financial products (e.g. guarantee funds, matching grants, results-based financing,  gender-lens investing). 
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and interviewing skills, with the ability to engage  effectively with both financial institutions and youth entrepreneurs. 
• Experience engaging underserved segments in Tunisia (e.g. youth and women entrepreneurs,  SMEs and cooperatives in Southern, Central, and North-Western regions) will be considered a  strong asset. 
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills, with the ability to translate complex findings into  clear, actionable recommendations. 
• Working proficiency in French and English; Arabic is an asset. 
• Prior experience working with NGOs, development partners, or donor-funded youth  employment/entrepreneurship programs is an advantage. 

8. Coordination, Reporting, and Quality Assurance 

• The consultancy operates under the strategic guidance of the Project Manager, in close  collaboration with the technical team. 
• Bi-weekly check-in meetings will be held throughout the assignment to monitor progress and  address any challenges. 
• DRC will review each deliverable within five (5) working days of submission; the consultant will  have three (3) working days to incorporate feedback before final submission. 
• All deliverables shall be submitted in French, with an executive summary in English. 
• All data, information, tools, and reports produced under this consultancy remain the property of  DRC and shall be treated as strictly confidential; no part may be shared with third parties or  reproduced without prior written approval. 

9. Proposal Submission Requirements 

Interested consultants are invited to submit the following: 

1. Technical Proposal, including understanding of the assignment and context; proposed  methodology and detailed work plan; and a brief risk analysis and mitigation plan. 
2. Financial Proposal, including an itemized budget (professional fees and any applicable  travel/logistics costs) and a proposed payment schedule linked to deliverables. 
3. Curriculum Vitae, highlighting relevant experience and at least two references from comparable  assignments. 
4. A sample of a previous, comparable analytical report or mapping study (if available).

10. Evaluation Criteria 

11. Administrative Information 

• Contract Type: Service contract based on deliverables. 
• Submission Deadline: 17 August 2026 (midnight Tunis �me) 
• Submission Email: tender.tun@drc.ngo 
• Informa�on & Queries: romane.hay@drc.ngo

Request for Proposal Invitation Letter-DRC-ALT-TUN-RFP-2026-003-Financial Inclusion Expert

Annex F Terms of Reference

Annex E Supplier Profile and Registration Form A

Annex D Supplier Code of Conduct

Annex C General Conditions of Contract

Annex B Tender and Contract Award Acknowledge Certificate

Annex A2 Financial Bid Form-DRC-ALT-TUN-RFP-2026-003

Annex A.1 Technical Bid-DRC-ALT-TUN-RFP-2026-003