Access to Finance Market Linkage Consultant

Contracting Authority – SPARK

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to
lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing
international not-for-profit development organization with 100+ staff members in more than 14
offices around the world.

SPARK supports refugees in the Middle East by providing them with scholarships in universities
and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states to start or grow their own businesses.

Summary

SPARK’s RIYADA project aims to enhance resilience and reduce poverty among Palestinian youth
and women. The initiative intends to reach and support young individuals and strengthen the
capacity of over four local Business Support Centers (BSCs) in the Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs). To achieve its objectives, the project focus on Three main activities: Business Support
Centers are supported to increase their capacity to provide business support services to SMEs,
scaling up; high-growth SMEs to generate job opportunities for at-risk youth, particularly women, Start-Up; establishing new businesses to provide sustainable employment for at-risk
youth. This effort targets youth in Palestine (including East Jerusalem, West Bank). The program
aims for a minimum of 40% women's participation in its activities, promoting women's inclusion
in education, training, and formal employment, challenging traditional gender roles, and
providing tailored support to meet the specific needs of women.

As part of the project’s continued support to beneficiaries, SPARK seeks to engage a qualified
consultant to serve as a linkage facilitator between Palestinian startups/SMEs and relevant
ecosystem actors offering access to finance and markets.

For more details, please follow link to Terms of Reference (ToR)