CONSULTANCY FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERT FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLIMATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME AT THE 3ZERO HOUSE NAIROBI – Kenya 6 views

ACTED is legally registered in the Republic of Kenya under section 10 of the Non-Governmental Organizations Act, registration number OP.218/051/2004/0367/3373.

Acted is an international NGO, who has supported vulnerable communities worldwide, addressing the impacts of climate change, conflicts, and socio-economic challenges for over 30 years. Acted’s 3ZERO strategy, launched in 2015, is aligned with the SDGs and aims to achieve a “3ZERO” world: of Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty. In Kenya, Acted has worked for 20 years on building climate resilience and addressing natural disasters, particularly with agropastoral communities in ASAL regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as severe droughts and flooding. In 2023, Acted reached over 222,000 individuals in Kenya, with a strong focus on empowering rural women through agriculture, livelihoods, health, and WASH initiatives. Acted’s approach prioritizes community collaboration to improve living conditions, enhance economic opportunities, and build resilience.

The 3ZERO House, established by Acted, is a collaborative hub located in Nairobi dedicated to achieving three core objectives: zero exclusion, zero carbon, and zero poverty in Kenya. It serves as a vital platform for fostering connections among communities, organizations, and innovators focused on sustainable development and social equity. The Nairobi-based 3ZERO House emphasizes building local and regional partnerships to address critical challenges, including climate change, social inclusion, and economic empowerment.

Inclusive Climate Entrepreneurship Program 2025-2026

The 3ZERO House, with funding from Climate KIC, is implementing an 11-month programme supporting 30 entrepreneurs to create and scale inclusive climate solutions, embedding DEI principles across the climate innovation ecosystem. The programme will: (1) Equip start-ups and Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs) with practical knowledge and tools to integrate DEI into their work, (2) Support climate start-ups and ESOs with inclusive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) tools to drive continuous improvement, and (3) Enhance investment readiness through targeted capacity building. Under the third objective, 3ZERO House will deliver a 3-day Investor Readiness Bootcamp followed by a Pitching Day with investors and ecosystem actors. To support this activity, 3ZERO House seeks to engage a Business Development Expert to design and deliver a tailored incubation-level curriculum and support participating start-ups through the pitching process.

ACTED is soliciting proposals from a qualified Business Development Expert to support the Inclusive Climate Entrepreneurship Programme. As part of its Inclusive Climate Entrepreneurship Programme, 3ZERO House is implementing targeted capacity-building interventions to strengthen the financial readiness, business viability, and investment preparedness of climate-focused start-ups.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to strengthen the investment readiness of selected inclusive climate start-ups by:

• Building their financial literacy and confidence;
• Strengthening business and revenue models;
• Supporting clear articulation of value propositions; and
• Enhancing preparedness to engage investors, partners, and ecosystem actors.

The consultant will lead the development of a practical curriculum for the Investor Readiness Bootcamp and provide support during the Pitching Day.

Scope of Work

The Business Development Consultant will work closely with the 3ZERO House team to deliver the following:

1. Design of Investor Readiness Bootcamp Curriculum

• Develop a comprehensive, context-appropriate curriculum tailored for climate start-ups.
• Ensure the curriculum covers key areas including:
  • Financial planning and budgeting;
  • Revenue and business model development;
  • Value proposition and market positioning;
  • Fundraising strategy and investor engagement;
  • Pitch structuring and storytelling.
• Integrate practical tools, templates, case studies, and exercises suitable for early- to growth-stage start-ups.

2. Delivery of Investor Readiness Bootcamp

• Co-Create and Co-facilitate the 3-day in-person bootcamp for up to 20 selected start-ups.
• Support entrepreneurs through hands-on sessions, peer learning, and real-time feedback.
• Adapt content delivery to accommodate diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds and levels of business maturity.

3. Support to Pitching Day with Investors and Ecosystem Actors

• Support preparation of 10 selected start-ups for the Pitching Day.
• Provide guidance on refining pitch decks and investment narratives.
• Participate in the Pitching Day by offering technical input, moderation support, or structured feedback to entrepreneurs.

Duration and Timeline

The Business Development Expert’s services will be spread over roughly 9 days through March to April 2026, aligned with key programme milestones and activities.Refer to the Terms of Reference(Tor).

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal expert should have the following qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in business strategy, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Proven experience in business development, investment readiness, or start-up incubation/acceleration, preferably within climate, sustainability, or impact-driven sectors.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering investor readiness or pitching programmes for early-stage enterprises.
• Strong understanding of fundraising mechanisms, investor expectations, and start-up financing landscapes.
• Excellent facilitation, mentoring, and communication skills, with experience working with diverse and inclusive entrepreneur cohorts.
• Familiarity with the Kenyan or regional entrepreneurship ecosystem is an added advantage.

Reporting and Supervision

The expert will report to the Project Facilitator at the 3ZERO House and Programme & Impact Coordinator (Green Economy). Regular progress updates and feedback sessions will be scheduled throughout the duration of the consultancy.