Business Plan Competition Adjudicators

364

1. BACKGROUND

The Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) is a parastatal of the government of Lesotho that was established by an Act of Parliament: BEDCO Act No.9 of 1980 (as amended) mandated “to promote the development of Basotho-owned enterprises and of Indigenous entrepreneurial skills and for connected purposes.”

BEDCO carries out this mandate through the establishment and growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as follows:

  • Provision of business development services.
  • Promotion and entrenchment of an entrepreneurial culture in Lesotho.
  • Provision of incubation services.
  • Advocacy for an enabling regulatory framework and appropriate licensing regime for MSME.
  • Facilitation of access to finance and markets.

In 2018 BEDCO received support from the African Development Bank through the Government of Lesotho under the “Economic Diversification Support Project” – Promoting Enterprise Development (PED) to support the growth and development of MSMEs in Lesotho”. The project delivered the following: (i) The provision of seed capital through a Business Plan Competition to ten (10) MSMEs, (ii) The development of a business incubation strategy, Business Development Service (BDS) strategy, a virtual incubation system and the incubation of the of the ten (10) MSMEs. and (iii) The development of a business development growth strategy including the capacitation of twenty (20) Basotho Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) for enterprise development.

To build on the success of the PED project and to facilitate the recovery of the Lesotho economy especially post the COVID-19 pandemic BEDCO has initiated a project targeting the Youth which will implement the second round of the BPC. This round will target 50 Basotho Youth enterprises, aged between 18 and 35 whose businesses are at start-up stage in all the ten districts of the country. The sectors to be supported are the four National Development Strategic Plan (NSDP) II productive sectors of enterprises in the priority sectors of manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, ICT and includes renewable energy as an emerging sector.

The Corporate therefore requires the services of adjudicators to assist with the adjudication process of the competition.

2. PURPOSE OF ADJUDICATION

The purpose of the adjudication is to evaluate and score Business Plans submitted by MSMEs and select the best 50 considering the viability of the business plan, vision, and personal qualities of the participant/team to turn the business plan into a successful business.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The responsibilities and tasks of the Adjudication Panel member include:

o Evaluation of 200 business plans and selection of 50 best business that will receive prize money of M100, 000.00 each.

o Attend introspection meetings with the project team and give recommendations for improvement.

o Compile a report after the completion of each stage of the evaluation process.

4. SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

The Adjudication Panel member is expected to have the following skills, experience, and competencies:

  • The Adjudicator should be successful entrepreneurs, loan officers at banks with experience assessing business plans on their feasibility and expected profitability; venture capitalists; and individuals who have experience working for MSME support organizations.
  • Master’s degree / Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or similar field
  • At least 5 years practical experience in Business Administration related job or running a successful business venture.
  • Have at least 3 years’ experience with assessing and appraising business plans or MSMEs projects.
  • Have an adequate knowledge of local and regional markets and business opportunities.
  • Ability to assess applications in an open, fair, and transparent manner.
  • Have carried out at least 5 assignments in the evaluation of Business Plans in local, regional, and international Business Plan Competitions.
  • The adjudicator should demonstrate experience in one of four priority sectors including: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism and Technology including Renewable Energy.
  • Familiarity of the BPC platform will be an added advantage.
  • Evidence of evaluation of Business Plan Competitions or Business Idea Pitching Sessions.

5. TIME-FRAME

BPC consists of two rounds of evaluation sessions and adjudicators are expected to work on the assignment for 15 working days.

6. ADJUDICATION ALLOWANCE

The panel members will invest their time on a voluntary basis however, members will be provided with a token of appreciation per evaluation session as a form of appreciation of the time and input made.

Deadline for applications: 7th January 2022

Applications should be submitted to [email protected]

Comments

Selibeng.com
Whether you are looking for your first job, a better job or just want to manage the direction of your career, explore educational opportunities, and/or pursue entrepreneurship, Selibeng.com offers the resources you need to make it happen.