Tender Description

Call for Expression of interest: Partnership with Finance Institutions and Formal Business Associations
Ref NO: WISOM/JULY/028 /2026
Windle International Somalia (WISOM) strategic priorities in empowering women-led small businesses are centered on building resilience, enhancing skills, and creating sustainable opportunities for economic participation. Through the Empowering Women through Investment and Inclusion Networks in Somalia (e-WINS) project, Windle aims to provide holistic support for
women entrepreneurs.
To increase the impact of the e WINS intervention, WISOM will establish strategic partnerships
with existing service providers, including Financial Institutions, telecommunications companies,
and formal business associations to expand the range and quality of services available to
beneficiaries.
Through these partnerships, WISOM will;
I. Collaborate with Financial institutions to facilitate access to appropriate financial
products such as savings accounts, mobile wallets, micro loans, and grant disbursement
to women entrepreneurs and saving groups in e-WINS project. This will support business
growth, improve financial resilience, and encourage formal financial inclusion.
II. Partner with formal business associations to promote membership drives for e WINS
beneficiaries, linking them to business networks, mentoring opportunities, market
information, and advocacy platforms. These memberships will help women entrepreneurs
gain visibility, credibility, and access to broader markets.
III. Integrate practical digital literacy training into program activities by using real financial
and business applications (e.g., mobile money apps, digital bookkeeping tools, online
marketplaces). Beneficiaries will be trained not only on how to use these tools, but also
on topics such as data privacy, online safety, and basic digital customer service.
By leveraging the existing infrastructure, expertise, and outreach capacity of these service
providers, WISOM aims to ensure that e-WINS beneficiaries have sustainable access to financial
and business services, while simultaneously strengthening their digital skills. This integrated
approach will enhance both the economic empowerment and digital literacy of the population
supported under e WINS, thereby increasing the overall impact and sustainability of the
intervention.
a. Eligibility Criteria
I. Finance Institutions
 Commitment to Women’s Financial Inclusion
 Demonstrated history of serving women-led enterprises or savings groups through
grants/credit/lending.
 Existing gender-responsive policies or willingness to co-develop inclusive financial
products.
 Clear institutional interest in expanding access for underserved populations.
 Technical and operational ability to develop;
o Start-up loans
o Lines of credit
o Group lending schemes
o Business savings accounts
o Digital banking services
 Availability of mobile platforms, SMS services, and digital onboarding systems.
 Capacity to pilot blockchain or other secure technologies for transparency and
traceability.
 Experience with low-literacy user interfaces and simplified application processes.
 Operational presence in target regions (Mogadishu and Kismayo).
 Ability to serve informal businesses and remote communities through mobile or agentbased models.
 Prior involvement in financial literacy, business advisory, or community-based outreach.
 Capacity to collaborate on workshops and training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
 Systems in place for tracking product uptake, user feedback, and service performance.
 Willingness to engage in joint learning reviews and refine services based on real-time data.
II. SACCOs/Formal Business Associations
 Capacity to host outreach events and facilitate membership enrollment.
 Demonstrated inclusion of women entrepreneurs in current membership.
 Willingness to expand membership to women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises.
 Active engagement in promoting women’s financial participation and leadership.
 Strong grassroots presence in target regions (Kismayo, Mogadishu).
 Functional governance structures and financial management systems.
 Ability to host outreach events, trainings, and group-based/Individual enrollment sessions.
 Capacity to collaborate with telecom providers and financial institutions on integrated outreach.
 Ability to deliver services in Somali and adapt materials for low-literacy users.
 Existing connections to online marketplaces, digital trading platforms, or wholesale
buyers that members can access

Skills Required

Attachment

Follow us on social media