UNDP-SWZ - SWAZILAND
Procurement Process
RFP – Request for proposal
Office
UNDP-SWZ – SWAZILAND
Deadline
05-Jun-26 @ 09:59 AM (New York time)
Published on
20-May-26 @ 12:00 AM (New York time)
Reference Number
UNDP-SWZ-00236
Contact
Procurement Unit – [email protected]
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Introduction
SCOPE OF TENDER
UNDP Eswatini seeks to engage qualified firms, training institutions, innovation hubs, creative agencies, or consortiums to design and implement practical, market-oriented, and income-generating youth skills acceleration programmes under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP). The assignment shall focus on equipping out-of-school youth and emerging youth entrepreneurs with practical and monetizable skills linked to the creative economy, enterprise support services, digital livelihoods, AI-enabled productivity, and commercialization pathways. The Request for Proposals (RfP) is divided into three specialized Lots and bidders may apply for one or multiple Lots depending
on demonstrated technical expertise and operational capacity.
- LOT 1: BUSINESS BRANDING, ENTERPRISE SUPPORT, AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION (20 MSMEs
The selected firm shall design and implement a practical and market-facing programme focused on equipping 20 youth-led MSMEs youth with established businesses, startups, informal businesses, and community enterprises in strengthening their branding, customer engagement, operational processes, and business visibility. The programme shall focus on practical enterprise support services including logo and brand development, social media content creation, business profile development, packaging and product presentation, customer communication systems, basic receipting and invoicing systems, inventory organization, introduction to simple accounting and record management systems, digital business presence, and basic business process optimization suitable for MSMEs and informal enterprises. The programme shall further expose participants to live enterprise assignments, client management, pricing and quotations, entrepreneurship, and commercialization pathways that position trainees to provide practical business support services within local enterprise ecosystems.
- LOT 2: DIGITAL SKILLS AND APPLIED AI FOR YOUTH LIVELIHOODS
The selected firm shall design and implement a practical, market-driven, and practice-heavy digital skills and applied AI programme targeting thirty (30) youth with low to medium technology exposure. The programme shall focus on equipping participants with practical digital, creative, and media production skills capable of supporting self-employment, freelancing, entrepreneurship, enterprise support services, content creation, and participation within Eswatini’s growing digital and creative economy. The programme shall prioritize practical Application, live assignments, portfolio development, enterprise-oriented problem solving, and income-generating pathways rather than theoretical instruction.
The programme shall leverage and operationalize existing EYEP-supported iHub infrastructure, the digital studio @ UNESWA and digital workspaces established in partnership with ESCCOM and SEDCO, including facilities in Piggs Peak and Macetjeni, as practical learning, collaboration, production, and innovation spaces for participating youth. The selected firm shall ensure that the training approach actively utilizes available infrastructure, digital equipment, and creative workspaces to support hands-on learning, content production, digital collaboration, experimentation, and practical enterprise support activities. The programme shall cover Digital and Web Foundations including basic computer and internet use, digital communication tools, simple website creation using no-code and low-code platforms, online portfolios, and establishment of professional digital presence. The programme shall further include Creative and Media Production skills focusing on photography, smartphone and basic camera video production, short-form content creation, editing for social media and marketing purposes, storytelling, content planning, and practical digital content workflows linked to enterprise support and creative economy opportunities.
The programme shall also cover Graphic Design and Printing Basics including development of logos, posters, flyers, event materials, social media graphics, print-ready designs for canvas, vinyl, banners, and related materials, as well as introduction to basic printing workflows and creative production systems relevant to local enterprise ecosystems. In addition, the programme shall expose trainees to Basic AI for Low-Tech Users through practical use of AI tools for content writing, editing, design inspiration, workflow support, productivity enhancement, and digital content generation. The programme shall emphasize responsible and ethical use of AI technologies and position AI as a practical productivity enhancement tool capable of supporting youth enterprises, content production, MSME support services, and digital workflows.
The programme shall further support participating youth to apply acquired skills toward development of practical solutions for their enterprises, digital portfolios, content platforms, branding materials, business visibility, and creative production outputs. The selected firm shall further provide mentorship, portfolio development support, practical assignments, post-training linkages, and pathways into freelancing, internships, self-employment, digital service provision, and participation within Eswatini’s emerging digital and creative economy.
- LOT 3: CREATIVE TALENT DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMERCIALIZATION (30 Youth)
The selected firm shall design and implement a six (6) month practical creative talent acceleration, professionalization, and commercialization programme targeting youth with interest or demonstrated potential within the broader creative and entertainment industries. The selected firm shall design and implement a practical creative talent acceleration, professionalization, and commercialization programme targeting youth with interest or demonstrated potential within the broader creative and entertainment industries.
The programme shall focus on developing sustainable livelihood pathways for emerging creatives within sectors such as music, performing arts, comedy, spoken word, podcasting, MCing, dance, digital entertainment, influencing, content creation, acting, media production, and related creative economy ecosystems. The programme shall prioritize practical exposure, commercialization readiness, market linkage, audience development, and professional industry participation rather than purely theoretical artistic training.
The programme shall support a total of 30 anchor youth in identifying, developing, packaging, and professionalizing their creative talents through practical training in creative branding, digital storytelling, audience engagement, digital presence management, content production, creative entrepreneurship, portfolio development, personal brand development, and monetization pathways. The selected firm shall further support participants to establish professional creative identities,improve visibility, strengthen confidence and presentation skills, and position themselves competitively within Eswatini’s emerging creative economy.
The programme shall include practical exposure to creative industry operations including talent management, artist development, client engagement, event participation, freelancing opportunities, performance preparation, digital content monetization, bookings management, professional networking, contract awareness, collaboration opportunities, and management of creative careers as viable economic enterprises. The programme shall further expose trainees to practical industry realities including how to secure gigs, manage bookings, engage promoters and clients, package performances, negotiate opportunities, maintain professional standards, and utilize digital platforms to grow audiences and visibility.
The selected firm shall provide mentorship, live production exposure, practical assignments, portfolio development support, and opportunities for participants to showcase their work through performances, exhibitions, digital platforms, creative showcases, public engagements, and community events where feasible. The programme shall further support participants with pathways into commercialization, freelancing, internships, creative collaborations, and income-generating opportunities linked to Eswatini’s growing creative and entertainment sectors.
The programme shall leverage available EYEP-supported creative infrastructure and partnerships where applicable, while creating practical pathways for youth participation within the broader creative economy ecosystem. Across all Lots, the selected firms shall prioritize hands-on and practice-based learning approaches with strong emphasis on practical assignments, portfolio development, entrepreneurship, mentorship, commercialization, and transition pathways into self-employment, freelancing, internships, enterprise development, and income-generating activities. The selected firms shall further utilize and support existing EYEP-supported infrastructure including iHubs, digital workspaces, and creative production facilities where applicable.
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[UNDP OFFICE ESWATINI
PROCUREMENT UNIT]
Documents :
Negotiation Document(s)
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