Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Organizing a Demo Day for ATVET Students under the ACTIVATE Project
 

Background
About WUSC The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading non-profit international development organization dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable world. We envision a world where all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to achieve a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our diverse network of students, volunteers, institutions, governments, and businesses aims to improve education, economic opportunities, and empowerment for youth globally.

Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE) Project.
The ACTIVATE Project, implemented by WUSC in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is a 5-year initiative designed to enhance the well-being and resilience of young women and men in Ghana by strengthening an industry-led Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) system. This program focuses on improving educational quality and skills training while fostering collaboration among key stakeholders in agriculture and adjacent sectors.

The project addresses significant challenges facing the ATVET system, such as low-quality instruction, misalignment with industry needs, and insufficient entrepreneurship support. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the resilience and well-being of youth through quality education and relevant skills training, with an emphasis on inclusivity, particularly for women and marginalized groups.

To foster innovation and entrepreneurship, the ACTIVATE Project is organizing a Demo Day. This event will empower ATVET students and recent (2022/23 and 2023/24) graduates to showcase their innovative agricultural products and services. It will also provide an invaluable opportunity to connect with potential investors, mentors, and industry stakeholders, enhancing their prospects for success in the agricultural sector.

Objective of the Consultancy
The demonstration day serves as a critical platform for showcasing the innovative products developed by ATVET students and institutions. This event is vital for several reasons:

First, it allows participants to present their new products and technologies in a tangible way, highlighting their unique features and benefits. This not only engages potential investors and mentors but also fosters meaningful connections between creators and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Additionally, the demonstration day provides an opportunity for immediate feedback from the audience, which is invaluable for refining products before wider market introduction. Successful demonstrations can validate the effectiveness of the showcased innovations, serving as proof of concept for both students and institutions.

Furthermore, this event acts as an educational platform, helping stakeholders understand complex agricultural technologies and innovations, thereby enhancing awareness within the industry. By witnessing products in action, potential investors and customers can develop greater confidence in the solutions presented, increasing the likelihood of engagement and investment.

Moreover, the demonstration day creates networking opportunities, bringing together diverse stakeholders that can lead to partnerships, collaborations, or additional investment. It also offers insights into market demand and preferences, allowing innovators to better align their products with customer needs and industry trends.

In summary, the demonstration day is a pivotal component of the consultancy's objectives, as it not only showcases innovation but also plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between new ideas and market readiness. This alignment with the goals of the ACTIVATE project underscores the significance of organizing a well-structured and impactful event.

Specific Objectives Include:

• Develop a comprehensive plan for the Demo Day, including timelines and logistics, by November 20th 2024, ensuring all necessary elements are detailed and approved by key stakeholders.
• Facilitate the participation of at least 10 ATVET institutions, including undergraduates and recent graduates from Universities by November 28th, 2024, through targeted outreach and engagement strategies.
• Secure sponsorships from investors, industry players, and donor programs as part of our efforts to co-finance the event. This will involve targeted outreach to potential participants and stakeholders, actively seeking additional sponsorships, and promoting the event to maximize engagement and support.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders, including industry representatives, government officials, and community members, by November 30, 2024, to ensure diverse representation at the event.
• Promote at least 10 innovative solutions and products relevant to the agricultural sub-sector by creating a marketing campaign and securing commitments from featured presenters by December 10, 2024.
• Design a program that includes product demonstrations, panel discussions, and networking sessions by December 10, 2024, to facilitate meaningful interactions among participants.
• Organize pitch sessions for participants to present their innovative solutions and products to a panel of judges and potential investors, ensuring that participants have the opportunity to pitch by December 10, 2024.
• Closely work with the project to oversee event logistics (for BDS workshops, community engagement, marketing campaign, judges’ allowances, event venues and associated cost, etc.) and manage day-of activities, ensure a smooth operation on the event day and implement a feedback mechanism to gather responses assessing the event's impact within one-week post-event.
• Integrate a Business Development Services (BDS) component into the Demo Day by featuring at least 3 workshops on business strategies and funding opportunities for agricultural innovations, to be scheduled for January 2025, ensuring that at least a total 400 participants engage in these sessions.
• Facilitate access to investors and funding organizations during the Demo Day by organizing a dedicated session on funding opportunities, ensuring that the core DEMO DAY participants have the chance to network and discuss potential investments.

Scope of Work
Objective Overview: The consulting firm/team will lead the planning and execution of a comprehensive Demo Day focused on showcasing innovative solutions in the agricultural sub-sector. The event aims to facilitate stakeholder engagement, promote products, provide business development services, and connect participants with investors.

Key Responsibilities
Comprehensive Planning

• Develop a detailed project plan with timelines and logistics by November 20, 2024.
• Ensure the plan includes all necessary elements, such as venue selection, catering, technology requirements, and participant accommodations.
• Obtain approvals from key stakeholders on the finalized plan.

Facilitating Participation

• Design and implement outreach strategies to engage at least 10 ATVET institutions and their undergraduates by November 28, 2024.
• Coordinate with institutions to ensure participation from recent graduates and facilitate registration.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify and engage key stakeholders, including at least 60 industry players, government officials, and community members by November 30, 2024.
• Develop a stakeholder engagement plan to ensure diverse representation at the event.

Securing Sponsorship

• Conduct market research to identify potential sponsors within relevant industries and donor programs, assessing their interests and past sponsorship activities.
• Develop a targeted outreach plan to engage potential sponsors, including customized sponsorship proposals and packages.
• Initiate contact with key decision-makers at target organizations and arrange meetings or presentations to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
• Design sponsorship tiers that clearly outline benefits for sponsors, highlighting the event’s objectives, audience, and expected outcomes.
• Create a marketing plan to promote the event and its sponsors, utilizing various channels to enhance visibility for both.
• Track outreach efforts and responses from potential sponsors, providing regular progress updates and a final report summarizing outcomes.

Promotion of Innovations

• Create and execute a marketing campaign to promote at least 10 innovative agricultural solutions and products by December 10, 2024.
• Secure commitments from featured presenters and ensure their participation.

Program Design

• Design a comprehensive event program that includes product demonstrations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities by December 10, 2024.
• Collaborate with presenters to ensure the program meets participant interests and objectives.

Logistics Management

• Support to oversee all event logistics, including venue setup, registration processes, and day-of activities.
• Ensure smooth operations on the event day (January 15, 2025), including troubleshooting any issues that arise.
• Implement a feedback mechanism to gather responses assessing the event's impact within one-week post-event.

Integration of BDS Component

• Develop and facilitate at least 8 zonal workshops (2 per each of the 4 zones) focused on business strategies and funding opportunities for agricultural innovations by January 2025. Ensure that at least a total of 400 project participants engage in these sessions, providing materials and resources to support learning.

Access to Investors

• Organize a dedicated session during the Demo Day for networking with at least 5 investors and funding organizations.
• Facilitate discussions and networking opportunities to connect participants with potential investment opportunities.

Expected Deliverables
The consultant/firm is expected to deliver the following:

• Comprehensive Demo Day plan by November 20, 2024.
• Engagement report detailing participation of ATVET institutions and stakeholders by November 30, 2024.
• Marketing campaign materials and commitments from presenters by December 10, 2024.
• Finalized program schedule by December 10, 2024.
• BDS workshop materials and participant engagement report by January 2025.
• Logistics and operations report post-event, including feedback analysis within one week after the event.

Duration of Consultancy

• The consultancy will last for approximately 45 working days, starting from the date of contract signing and concluding with the submission of the final report.

Required Skills or Experience

The ideal consultant or firm should have the following qualifications:

• Proven experience in organizing Demo Days, product showcases, or similar events.
• Expertise in entrepreneurship development, business coaching, and mentorship.
• Knowledge of the ATVET landscape and agricultural innovations is an asset.
• Strong network with industry representatives, government officials, and investors.
• Strong organizational and event management skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the agricultural and TVET education sectors in Ghana or Africa.
• Proficiency in using social media and digital marketing strategies for promotion.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and engage a range of stakeholders, including educational institutions and industry representatives.
• Creative problem-solving skills and adaptability during planning and execution.
• Experience in developing promotional materials and marketing strategies.