TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

1.     Introduction/ Background                                                                                                     

Pak Mission Society (PMS), in partnership with Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), is implementing the Oceanpreneurs: Building Blue Economy Start-ups at Lasbela University to Counter Violent Extremism project. The initiative aims to equip 40 university students with practical, market-driven entrepreneurship skills in priority blue economy sectors, leading to the development of at least 8 viable start-ups within a three-month implementation period.

The purpose of this assignment is to engage a qualified entrepreneurship and business development consultant/trainer to design and deliver a structured, hands-on Entrepreneurship and Lean Business Canvas (LBC) training programme. The training will support participants in transforming ideas into feasible business models, validating assumptions, understanding customers, and developing scalable, ethical, and market-responsive enterprises aligned with Countering Violent Extremism CVE objectives.

2.     Purpose of assignment                                                                                                           

The purpose of this assignment is to design and deliver a comprehensive, practical, and learner-centred Entrepreneurship and Lean Business Canvas training programme for university students and early-stage entrepreneurs. The training will equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and mindset required to identify opportunities, develop value propositions, test assumptions, and structure sustainable business models using the Lean Business Canvas approach.

The assignment will strengthen participants’ entrepreneurial competencies, promote innovation and problem-solving, encourage ethical enterprise development, and support youth-led start-ups in progressing from idea generation to validated business concepts.

3.     Objectives                                                                                                                              

The specific objectives of this assignment are to:

1. Design and deliver a structured entrepreneurship curriculum aligned with early-stage start-up development.
2. Build participant understanding of entrepreneurial mindsets, opportunity identification, and value creation.
3. Equip participants with practical skills to develop and apply the Lean Business Canvas to their business ideas.
4. Strengthen capacity for customer discovery, market validation, and evidence-based decision-making.
5. Promote ethical, inclusive, and socially responsible entrepreneurship practices.
6. Enhance future skills including critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, teamwork, and problem solving.
7. Support the development of feasible, market ready startup concepts and pitches.
8. Develop tailored facilitator and participant training materials that enable hands-on learning and real world application.

4.     Scope of work                                                                                                                        

The consultant/firm will undertake the following tasks:

4.1 Review & Analysis

• Review the project documentation, entrepreneurship frameworks, and CVE-related objective of the Oceanpreneurs project.
• Assess the entrepreneurial ecosystem, priority blue economy sectors, and youth startup challenges is Lasbela.
• Identify participant needs, risks, opportunities, and market realities relevant to early stage enterprises.

4.2 Curriculum Design

The consultant/firm will design a modular training curriculum structured around the following seven core themes:

Module 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

• Understand entrepreneurship and its role in economic development.
• Entrepreneurial mind-set, attitudes, and behaviours
• Opportunity recognition and problem identification
• Entrepreneurship in blue economy and local market contexts.

Module 2: Idea Generation Opportunity Validation

• Idea generation tools and techniques
• Identifying customer problems and unmet needs
• Assessing feasibility, desirability and viability
• Introduction to lean and iterative business thinking

Module 3: Introduction to the lean Business Canvas

• Overview of the lean business canvas framework
• Difference between traditional business plans and lean models
• Components of the lean business canvas
• Using the canvas as a decision making and communication tool  

Module 4: Customer Segments, Problems and Value Propositions

• Identifying and defining target customer segments
• Problem statement’s and customer pain points
• Developing strong value propositions
• Linking solutions to real customer needs. 

Module 5: Solution, channels, and customer relationship

• Designing minimum viable solutions (MVPs)
• Distribution channels and customer access strategies
• Customer acquisition, retention, and engagement
• Feedback loops and continuous improvement

Module 6: Revenue Streams and Cost Structure

• Understanding revenue models for startups
• Pricing strategies and assumptions
• Identifying key costs and resources
• Basic financial thinking for early stage enterprises

Module 7: Ethics, CVE, and Responsible Entrepreneurship

• Ethical and inclusive entrepreneurship practices
• Social responsibility and community impact
• Entrepreneurship as a tool for peacebuilding and CVE
• Responsible decision making in fragile context

4.3 Development of Training Materials

Development of training materials

• Detailed session plans and learning objectives
• Facilitator manual with guidance notes, exercises and case studies
• Participant workbook including lean business canvas templates and tools
• Practical exercise and group activities based on local context
• Case studies from local and regional startup, particularly blue economy enterprises
• Pre- and post-training assessment tools
• Start-up idea screening and feasibility assessment matrix
• Lean business canvas evaluation tools
• Group assignments, practical exercises and reflection tools
• Present draft curriculum to PMS and LUAWMS for validation
• Incorporate feedback from faculty, industry mentors, and PMS
• Finalize curriculum and all associated tools

4.4 Assessment & Learning Tools

4.5 Validation & Finalization

5.     Methodology                                                                                                             

The consultant is expected to adopt a participatory and applied approach, including:

• Desk review of relevant entrepreneurship and market studies
• Consultations with PMS, LUAWMS faculty, and industry mentors
• Curriculum benchmarking with recognised entrepreneurship programmes
• Hands on exercise, simulations, group work and cases studies
• Iterative validation and refinement of training content
• ·        Contract Duration: 3 Days
• ·        Start Date: 10^th January 2026
• ·        End Date: 12^th January 2026

6.     Timeframe                                                                                                                             

7.    Deliverables and work plan                                                                                                   

The consultant/firm will deliver following work plan/time line and deliverables.

8.    Reporting and coordination                                                                                                   

The consultant will report to the program lead and project manager of PMS. The consultant will work under their overall technical guidance and supervision and will be responsible for maintaining regular coordination, providing progress updates, and ensuring timely submission of all agreed deliverables in line with PMS standards and project.

9.     Eligibility Criteria                                                                                                                 

B. Financial Evaluation (30 Points)

10. Desired Competencies, Technical Background, and Experience                                         

The consultant/trainer must possess an advanced degree (Master’s level or above) in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, or a closely related discipline, with five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in entrepreneurship training, start-up incubation, or business model development. The consultant/trainer must demonstrate proven experience in the application of the Lean Business Canvas, youth engagement, inclusive and participatory training approaches, and experience working in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.

2. Professional Experience

The consultant/trainer must have a minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in designing and delivering entrepreneurship and business development training or related capacity-building programmes. This experience should include developing structured, learner-centred training curricula; preparing entrepreneurship and business modelling learning materials; facilitating interactive and practical training sessions; mentoring entrepreneurs or youth; and supporting early-stage enterprises in business model development, market validation, start-up planning, and performance improvement.

3. Sectoral Expertise

The consultant/trainer must demonstrate strong technical expertise in entrepreneurship and start-up development for early-stage enterprises, including but not limited to Lean Business Canvas application, business model design, customer discovery, market validation, revenue modeling, cost structuring, and basic financial planning. Evidence of this expertise must be demonstrated through previous assignments, training manuals, curricula, business model frameworks, incubation or acceleration programmes, start-up advisory engagements, or other relevant work samples.

4. Youth, Gender, and Fragile Contexts

The consultant/trainer must demonstrate a solid understanding of youth engagement, gender equality, and programming in fragile or conflict-affected contexts. Proven experience working with university students, youth groups, women, or marginalized populations is required, along with the ability to design and deliver training that is inclusive, culturally appropriate, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with social cohesion and CVE objectives.

5. Facilitation and Curriculum Development Skills

The consultant/trainer must possess excellent facilitation, instructional design, and curriculum development skills, with a proven ability to design and develop learner-centred entrepreneurship and business development curricula, including facilitator manuals, participant workbooks, and assessment tools. The consultant/trainer must demonstrate experience in applying participatory and experiential learning methodologies, including group work, hands-on practical exercises, case studies, simulations, and structured reflection. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are essential.

11. Technical Proposal                                                                                                                

The applicant must submit the following document with the technical proposal.

• Company profile/consultant profile including the proof of relevant experiences.
• CVs of proposed staff who will lead the assignment and involved in assignment.
• Plan of action for the proposed assignment.
• Work plan for the proposed assignment.
• Sample road map of previously completed similar assignments.

12. Financial Proposal                                                                                                                 

• Proposed financial offer with a complete breakdown of activities.
• The financial proposal must be submitted in PKR inclusive of all applicable taxes.

13.  How to Apply                                                                                                                                   

Interested individual consultants/ consulting firms are invited to submit their technical and financial proposals in sealed envelopes, clearly marked the subjected consultancy, via courier service or by hand to House No. 333, Street 29, Sector G14/4, Islamabad, Pakistan on or before 31^st December 2025 before the close of business (COB). Soft copies will be shared through email [email protected]

Late submissions will not be entertained. For inquiries, please contact the Procurement Committee through email at [email protected] or by phone at +92-51-8446166.