Please read the detailed instructions below. ከስር የተጠቀመጠውን እያንዳንዱን መረጃ በጥንቃቄ ያንብቡ።

Request For Expressions Of Interest (Reoi)

(Consulting Services-Firms Selection]

Country: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Organization:Agricultural Transformation Institute

IFB Title: Provision of Consultancy service for the development of Shared Service Centre (SSC)

Project Title: Technology and Digital Innovations Program

IFB Number: ATA-NCB-CON-2025-0008

Closing Date: September 30, 2025

1.Background

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery- oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is center on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFS) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions. The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision- making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

Ethiopia’s Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOS) have navigated a complex history, evolving from state-influenced entities into vital, self-starding financial institutions serving a vast rural population since the economic reforms of the 1990s. Today, with over 21,000 SACCOS and 128 Unions, the network’s impressive growth in membership and savings is undeniable.

However, this growth masks a critical vulnerability. The sector faces intense competition from microfinance institutions and commercial banks, struggling with limited market share, outdated operational models, and a heavy reliance on government and donor funding. Without intervention, there is a tangible risk that this essential network could become obsolete, failing to realize its immense potential as a catalyst for rural economic development, financial inclusion, and agricultural finance.

The pivotal solution lies in the establishment of a Shared Service Centre (SSC). This innovative model is designed to transform the RuSACCO network by centralizing key functions. The SSC will operate as an independent business unit, providing specialized services-such as advanced IT systems, credit scoring, and risk management-through formal service-level agreements. This strategic shift unlocks powerful economies of scale, allowing individual SACCOS to access expertise and technologies that would otherwise be unattainable.

By adopting this collaborative approach, the RuSACCO network can achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, product innovation, and service quality. This empowers local SACCOS to focus on their core mission: deepening client relationships, expanding outreach, and strengthening member-centric governance. Ultimately, the SSC is not just an operational upgrade; it is the foundational strategy for building a resilient, self-sustaining, and future-ready financial cooperative network that can truly empower millions of Ethiopians

2.Objective

The general objective of this assignment is to hire a consultancy firm to conduct an assessment and a diagnostic study for the establishment of the SSC and preparations and development of necessary documents, guidelines, requirements, etc. of the details of the shared service centres.

Specific objectives of the consultancy services include

• To conduct review and assessment on existing and newly needed SSC services for RuSACCOS capacity development.
• Prepare and develop a detailed requirement document and procedural manuals for each IT component of the SSC.
• Work closely with the dedicated ATI, ECC, and regional SSC technical working group team throughout the entire consultancy timeframe, by providing regular progress updates, incorporating any comments, gathering feedback, and conducting regular validation sessions
• To provide tailored capacity building training (TOT) on the SSC for the SSC technical and strategic working group members
• Prepared and developed a requirement document and procedural manuals for each the product and services of SSC
• Prepare the full procedural/requirements manuals for the Governance of the SSC including the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder
• Prepared and developed requirement document and procedural manuals for setting up the office the first pilot SSC establishment
• Conduct document reviews and assessments that engaged consultation with SHFS, RuSACCOS (primary RuSACCOS and RuSACCOS unions) and concerned federal and regional (Amhara, Oromia, Sidama and Tigray) cooperative agency staff, Cooperative banks, MFI and other financial institutions.
• Present a draft of review and assessment report in each region described above and at a federal level during the draft phase
• Prepare detailed bio-information of the selected RuSACCOS (primary RuSACCOS and RuSACCOS unions)

3.Scope of the Assignment

To meet the above objectives of the DFS project, ATI is looking to hire a consultancy firm to conduct an assessment and a diagnostic study for the establishment of the SSC and preparations and development of necessary documents, guidelines, requirements, etc. of the details of the shared service centers.

4.Mandatory Legal & Business Documents

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute invites qualified consulting firms to express interest in providing consultancy services for this assignment. Interested consultants must demonstrate their capacity and relevant experience to deliver the required services. Applicants should submit the following documents:

• Only qualified consultants meeting the stated criteria will be invited to participate in the bidding/tender process.
• Consulting firms which would like to participate in association shall indicate the form of association specifically as sub-consultancy or joint Venture.
• Applicants may modify or withdraw submissions in writing before the stated deadline. No changes or withdrawals will be permitted after the closing time. Firms may partner with others (joint venture or sub-consultancy) to strengthen their qualifications; provided they clearly state the nature of the partnership in their Eol.
• All costs related to application preparation and submission are the sole responsibility of the applicants. The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) will not cover or reimburse any expenses incurred.
• Eligible consulting firms must submit two copies of their Eol to ATI, demonstrating their qualifications through:
• Professional Practice License, Valid Business License, Valid Tax Clearance Certificate, VAT registration certificate, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate, online eGP Registration Certificate.
• For joint ventures/sub-consultancies: A signed partnership or joint venture agreement
• Company profile (core business & years in operation)
• Relevant experience in the assignment’s field
• Technical and managerial capabilities
• Profiles of key personnels and CV’s

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below at or before 10:00 AM September 30, 2025. Electronic applications will not be permitted. Late applications will be rejected. Applications will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:30 AM September 30, 2025. Late Application will no longer be considered.

Further information or clarification on REol can be obtained via email to Yohannes.tadesse@ati.gov.et or at the address mentioned below prior to September 27, 2025 during office hours 2:30Am-5:30Pm

ATI reserves the right to accept or reject any Application, and to cancel the procurement process and reject all Applications, at any time without thereby incurring any liability to the affected applicants or any obligation to inform the affected applicants of the ground for ATI’s action.

The Application must be submitted either by hand to ATI tender box with office address given below.

Procurement Director Office, 3rd floor

Bole, off Meskel Flower Road /Behind Mega Building-Across

Commercial Graduates Association, Streeling Building 74th floor

Tel. +251-115-570678/85 or cell phone +251911-646029

Fax +251-115 570668

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute