Investment readiness support for two local champions in central african republic
Description
SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
Electronic Submissions through
WBGeProcure RFx Now
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Assignment Title: INVESTMENT READINESS SUPPORT FOR TWO LOCAL CHAMPIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Assignment Countries:
Central African Republic
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION
IFC’s Local Champions Initiative(LCI) aims to strengthen promising national companies (“Local Champions”)operating in complex markets in West and Central Africa through technical assistance, coaching, and capacity
‑
building activities, to improve their management practices and investment readiness.
In the Central African Republic, the initiative targets, in particular, companies in the agribusiness, services, and infrastructure sectors. In this context, two companies (hereinafter “the Companies”) have been identified as particularly strategic:
•
Company A (agribusiness): a company specializing in the production and processing of cassava into flour and derivative products for human and animal consumption, with an ambition to expand regionally in Central Africa.
•
Company B (energy): a company specializing in electrical engineering and the development of decentralized electricity generation solutions, transitioning towards a role as an independent power producer through solar and hydro power projects, particularly in rural areas.
Both Companies are developing significant investment projects (expansion of production capacity, development of hybrid mini
‑
grids, rehabilitation of hydro power sites, public
‑
private partnerships, regional commercial expansion) combining equity, debt, and co
‑
financing from development partners. They face similar challenges: structuring their business plans, strengthening their management systems (financial, administrative, operational), improving their understanding of their markets, and preparing to raise capital from impact investors, banks, and development finance institutions.
Objectives of the assignment
The overall objective is to strengthen, for each of the two Companies, a robust and “investable” business plan, management systems adapted to scaling up, and a credible capital
‑
raising strategy.
The assignment should also identify, where relevant, cross
‑
cutting lessons (good practices in management, reporting, governance, investment readiness) that can benefit both Companies.
FUNDING SOURCE
The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:
BB: Bank Budget
TF0D1117: IFC
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility restrictions apply:
A firm or lead consultant with a
master’s degree in economics, management, finance, engineering (agribusiness or
energy) or a related field; an MBA or additional training in corporate finance
or investment is an asset.
•
At
least 10 years of combined experience in:
o
agribusiness
/ agricultural value chains (ideally roots and tubers);
o
and
the energy sector (rural electrification, mini
‑
grids,
renewable energy, electricity distribution) or infrastructure.
o
Proven
experience in developing/strengthening business plans and financial models for
SMEs or project developers, including in fragile contexts.
•
Experience
in value
‑
chain analysis and structuring inclusive sourcing models
(Company A) and in designing/optimizing metering/billing systems and revenue
management (Company B).
•
Solid
experience in market analysis and development of commercial strategies in Sub
‑
Saharan Africa; experience in Central Africa is highly
desirable.
•
Experience
in capital
‑
raising and preparation of investor
‑
facing documents (impact funds, banks, DFIs,
energy/infrastructure funds, agribusiness funds).
•
Excellent
analytical and writing skills in French; strong command of English is highly
desirable.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services.
Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals).
Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through
WBGeProcure RFx Now
NOTES
Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No no
About This Opportunity
This is a consulting contract in the governance and public administration sector. Located in Central African Republic, Africa, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums. Proposals must be submitted before May 8, 2026.
Published through WB eGP - World Bank e-Government Procurement, a multilateral development bank that follows standardized international procurement guidelines. Projects funded by multilateral institutions are generally open to international bidders from eligible member countries for consulting in the governance and public administration sector. Consulting assignments are typically evaluated with a strong emphasis on the technical proposal, including the methodology and qualifications of key experts. Shortlisted firms may be invited to submit financial proposals in a second stage. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.