RFP/EP/AP/2026/00002

Annex 1-Terms of Reference (TOR)

Procurement of Consulting Firm/Individual Consultant for Acceleration Advisory Sessions for U.Solve: Power Chapter, Chitral

1. Background

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) in Central and South Asia. It aspires to work towards a society that is powered by innovative and successful young entrepreneurs. Through its services, AP extends tailored training, advice, and technical assistance to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to help them launch or expand their innovative business ventures. It also extends tailored financing to start-ups and SGBs to help them unlock external investments by improving their bankability and investment readiness.

2. Program Overview

AP is implementing the U-Solve Power Chapter Program to strengthen the operational and financial sustainability of micro hydropower Utility companies operating in the Chitral region. This program is funded by the European Union under Energy Plus, a programme that seeks to promote renewable energy solutions, enhance natural resources management, and support rural communities to build climate resilience.

The Utility companies in the Chitral region play a critical role in providing decentralized electricity to communities where grid access remains limited. However, many of them face operational inefficiencies, limited electricity demand relative to installed capacity, and weak financial management practices that affect long-term sustainability.

The program has been designed to provide targeted capacity building and advisory support to improve plant performance, strengthen governance practices, expand electricity demand, and improve financial management systems

3. Program Context

Accelerate Prosperity intends to engage a qualified Technical Advisory firm/ individual consultant to support the on-ground team with the implementation of the program. The consulting firm/Consultant will conduct structured needs assessments with participating Utility companies, support in delivering a three-day in-person training workshop and provide follow-up advisory support to the attendees after the training.

The overall structure and content of the program have been developed by Accelerate Prosperity. The role of the consulting firm/Consultant is therefore to implement the program and deliver the sessions and advisory support described in these Terms of Reference.

The intended in-person training session of the program is scheduled to take place from April 22nd- April 24th 2026 (tentative)

The program will include up to 12-15 micro hydropower utility companies operating in the Chitral region. All participating utility companies will take part in both in person activities as well as any virtual sessions planned during the course of the program.

4. Scope of Work

The assignment will be implemented through three main phases: a needs assessment phase, an in-person training workshop, and a post-training advisory phase.

The contracting firm/individual consultant will be required to conduct needs assessments with each of the participating utility companies, deliver the training workshop attended by representatives from these companies, and provide advisory support following the training to assist them in implementing improvements.

a)    Needs Assessment Phase

Prior to the in-person training workshop, the consulting firm/individual consultant will conduct structured virtual needs assessment discussions with AP for each of the selected companies. The purpose of these discussions is to develop a clear understanding of the operational context of each utility company and identify key challenges that should be addressed during the training and follow-up advisory support.

The discussions would primarily review plant operational performance, maintenance practices, governance arrangements, electricity demand patterns, and financial management practices, including tariff structures and billing systems.

Following completion of these discussions, the consultant will prepare a summary outlining the key issues observed across the Utility companies. This summary will help in the delivery of the training sessions, customize content, and identify areas that require additional advisory support.

b)    In-Person Capacity Building Workshop

The consultant will support in delivering an in-person workshop conducted over three consecutive days. The workshop will focus on strengthening the technical and managerial capacity of Utility companies to improve plant operations and financial sustainability.

The training will be co-created with AP, with certain technical sessions delivered by a consultant using practical examples and interactive discussions that reflect the operational realities of small-scale hydropower Utility companies. The following 3 sessions are to be delivered using a combined approach of case study presentation and one-on-one advisory sessions for each company over the 3 days.

Session 1: Technical Performance Optimization & System Efficiency

• Focus Areas: Plant operational diagnostics, reducing technical losses, and load management practices.
• Learning Outcomes: Participants will diagnose plant performance gaps and identify priority technical improvements.

Session 2: Governance and Utility Management

• Focus Areas: Roles and responsibilities of management vs. governing bodies; accountability in decision-making; and strategies for increasing community electricity demand.
• Learning Outcomes: Participants will develop integrated 6–12 month technical, financial, and governance action plans.

Session 3: Financial Management and Revenue Systems

• Focus Areas: Designing tariff structures, billing and collection strategies, and operational budgeting for cost recovery.
• Learning Outcomes: Participants will develop a practical financial management plan and a basic budget.

c)     Post-Training Advisory Support

Following the completion of the workshop, the consulting firm/individual consultant will provide virtual advisory support to the top 5 selected utility companies for approximately one additional month to make them investment-ready. The purpose of this support is to assist them in implementing the improvements discussed during the in-person workshop and moving towards the practical implementation of the learnings.

Advisory sessions are to be conducted individually and should focus on addressing operational challenges identified during the needs assessment phase and the training workshop.

The consultant is expected to respond to specific technical or management questions and provide practical guidance related to plant operations, maintenance planning, governance practices, and financial management systems.

The advisory phase should also include data collection, which will help the consulting firm/individual consultant to create more investment-focused financial models for the selected businesses.

5. Contract Duration

 2 months

6. Location

Chitral (Post program advisory sessions can be held online)

You are responsible for covering your travel expenses and miscellaneous expenses.

7. Deliverables

Consistent with AP’s reporting standards, the following deliverables are outlined:

1. Needs Assessment Summary: A short report outlining the key technical and financial challenges observed across the 12-15 Utility companies.
2. Training Content & Delivery Plan: Submission of detailed session slides, case studies, and interactive frameworks for approval at least 3 working days prior to the workshop.
3. In-Person Training Delivery: Successful execution of the three-day training workshop in Chitral.
4. Action Plan Review & Financial Models: Review and feedback on the 6–12 month action plans developed by Utility companies and the creation of financial models for selected businesses.
5. Final Post-Activity Report: A comprehensive report describing activities, key observations, and data-driven recommendations for long-term sustainability.

8. Payment Terms

30% on completion of needs assessments; 50% on training delivery; 20% on final report approval.

9. Qualifications and Experience

To meet the standards of the program, the firm and its individual trainers/ individual consultant must meet these minimum benchmarks:

• Firm Experience: Minimum 3+ years of demonstrable experience in providing training or advisory services to energy Utility companies or decentralized systems.
• Legal for firms: Must be a duly registered entity, such as SECP or an equivalent regulatory body, and maintain an active NTN.
• Legal for individual consultants: Must share a copy of CNIC and an active NTN number (where applicable)
• Individual Consultant Requirements: Degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, Business, or a related field with 5+ years of experience in MHP operations, utility management, and financial sustainability, including tariff design, revenue systems, and strategic planning for small utilities or enterprises.
• Context: Preference for firms and/or consultant with experience in rural or community-managed energy systems.

10. Reporting Line

The consulting firm/Consultant will report to the Program & Technical Assistance Manager at Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan.

11. Application Requirements

This RFP is open to:

a) Consulting Firm

b) Individual Consultant

Interested consulting firms/individual consultant must submit the following:

Technical Proposal

• The applicant firm must provide a certificate of company/firm registration with SECP/relevant regulatory authority and an active NTN number. The individual consultant must provide a copy of their CNIC and an active NTN number.
• The applicant firm must submit the company profile that outlines that it has 3 years of experience in the provision of services as mentioned above. Enlist the relevant assignments completed. The individual consultant must submit a CV and cover letter that demonstrate relevant 5 years of experience and expertise in the field as mentioned above in point 9.
• The applicant firm/ individual consultant is required to sign the RFP document, and it should be submitted along with the proposal.
• The applicant firm should provide complete profiles/CVs of the team. The individual consultant should provide a list of completed assignments.
• The applicant firms/ individual consultant must prepare at least a 2-to 3-page description of the proposed methodology and work plan to execute the assignment.

Financial Proposal

• The financial proposal should be submitted using the attached financial proposal format with a valid signature.

12. Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated based on (Quality and Cost-Based Selection):

• Technical expertise and experience of the firm/ individual consultant (60%)
• Financial competitiveness (40%)