National Helpdesk Scheme: Stimulating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adaptability and recovery in the State Palestine

A. Project Overview

In light of the emerging challenges faced by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with regards to access to adequate financial support, technical tools, adapt and transform business practices to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19, United Nations Development Programme/ Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian people (UNDP/PAPP) is supporting the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in establishing and operationalizing an MSME National Helpdesk Scheme aiming to deliver inclusive and harmonized technical support and enhanced access to funding opportunities for Palestinian MSMEs, which contribute towards achieving collective development outcomes. The National Helpdesk helps to achieve greater system-wide coherence in support of national priorities and MSMEs’ needs.

To this end, the National Helpdesk Scheme will build on partnerships to be strengthened between public, private and civil society actors involved in MSMEs development including the Federation of the Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA) that will oversee the establishment and operationalization of local helpdesks housed at chambers of commerce providing improved access to a unified network of technical and legal assistance and linked to an online platform hosted by the Palestinian Monetary Authority and a roaster of experts in various sectors and sub-sectors. Technical support will help MSMEs adapt and transform business practices, improve their operations including business digitalization and enhance their capacity in crisis management and recovery.

B. National Helpdesk Expert Roster

The National Help Desk Programme will frequently engage experts as individual consultants under short-term assignments to develop and deliver technical trainings/workshops and provide one-on-one coaching and mentoring to MSMEs in various topics including business development and marketing, integration into local supply chain and practical solutions for improved productivity and operations.

The expert is a recognized authority or specialist in a specific field or general business development expert who will be engaged in local helpdesk services through his/her advisory or consultative capacity. The functions of the expert are results-oriented and normally involve diagnosis of business, technical or legal issues concerning MSMEs, design and deliver specialized technical support services to address these issues.

How are candidates selected?

Experts meeting the selection criteria provided below will be informed and listed in the helpdesk roster of experts, where interviews may be conducted for experts in specific sectors. The experts who will make it to the roster will be contacted when opportunities arise to place technical and price offer for training, mentoring and coaching services. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the helpdesk team at local chambers of commerce using the contact information including email address used to fill this application

Where are the assignments?

The specialized technical support services will target MSMEs applying for local helpdesk services at local chambers of commerce in Bethlehem, Nablus, Hebron. Gaza and Jericho   Please indicate below your ability to be available in each location.