HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management is seeking a team/consortium with skills in Digital Platforms and Systems, Entrepreneurship Training, and Community Engagement, based in Botswana. Its purpose is to design, develop, test, and deploy a WhatsApp‑based Digital Business Package platform for women and youth entrepreneurs, with complementary channels to ensure inclusive access.

1. Background

Botswana’s digital economy continues to expand, with internet penetration reaching approximately 81 per cent and widespread adoption of mobile messaging platforms, particularly WhatsApp. Data costs remain a significant barrier for many consumers and small businesses, making low‑bandwidth communication channels essential for inclusive digital transformation.​

Women and youth entrepreneurs, especially those operating outside major urban centres, often face compounded constraints in accessing timely business information, training, and financial services, despite already running businesses in sectors such as retail, services, agriculture, and creative industries. The online focus group discussion held on 5 March 2026 confirmed that many of these entrepreneurs rely heavily on WhatsApp and Facebook for communication and marketing but lack structured, mobile‑friendly support tools to help them formalise, grow, and sustain their businesses.​

This procurement seeks to contract a local consortium that combines technical expertise in WhatsApp chatbot development with direct access to women and youth entrepreneurial communities for testing, feedback, and validation. By involving civil society or training organisations with established relationships to potential end‑users, and by leveraging existing curricula such as UN Women’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and financial literacy modules from banking partners, the project aims to deliver a user‑centred, culturally appropriate, and accessible Digital Business Package.​

The resulting platform will serve as a foundational “blueprint” solution for delivering mobile‑friendly business support content and services to women and youth entrepreneurs, while also allowing future adaptation for additional enterprise and ecosystem use cases.

The activity forms part of the Team Europe programme “EU Support to Digital Transformation in Botswana”. The contract will be established with the HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management. The implementation will be carried out in collaboration with external partners, such as UN Women, utilising their existing programmes, including EntreprenHER. The training content can be utilised in developing the training materials for the solution. The programme also includes over 500 trained women members who can contribute to the piloting of the solution. The national stakeholders include SmartBots, the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH) and the national innovation hub network.

By deploying a WhatsApp‑based application, the project helps SmartBots advance its mandate of taking services closer to people through channels they already use, while offering BDIH and hubs a practical platform for startups and innovators to share training on digital business models targeting women and youth.

2. Objective

The objective of this assignment is to design, develop, test, and pilot a lightweight AI-assisted WhatsApp‑based Digital Business Package that supports women entrepreneurs in accessing practical business guidance, short mobile-friendly learning content, and relevant business support services.

The assignment focuses on developing and testing a pilot solution that combines simple conversational guidance through WhatsApp, curated micro-learning content, and structured links to verified existing services.

The pilot will generate insights into usability, relevance, and the potential for future scale-up of the Digital Business Package.

The platform should initially focus on entrepreneurs who are already operating businesses (rather than only aspiring entrepreneurs) and must enable, at a minimum:​

• Structured access to short, mobile‑optimised business training content (e.g. SIYB‑derived modules and financial literacy content).
• Practical tools and checklists for day‑to‑day business management (e.g. record‑keeping, pricing, marketing basics).
• Information on access to finance and linkages to financial service providers.
• Location‑aware information and referrals (e.g. local support organisations, hubs, markets) where technically feasible.
• Feedback collection from users to inform iterative improvement and future scaling.

3. Consortium Structure

The bidding organisation can be a single organisation or a consortium consisting of two or more organisations, provided that all required roles and responsibilities described below are clearly assigned, demonstrated, and coordinated within a single Botswana‑based team.

3.1 Required Composition

Bidders must form a Botswana‑based multidisciplinary consortium that combines advanced digital product development capabilities with strong grassroots entrepreneurship training and outreach to women and youth entrepreneurs. The consortium must, at a minimum, bring together:

Digital Platform and Systems Lead
An entity with demonstrated technical capacity in software development, API integration, and digital service delivery, including experience with messaging platforms, secure cloud hosting, and analytics.

Responsibilities:

• Technical architecture and development of the Digital Business Package platform, including the WhatsApp‑based solution (potential USSD integration), and content linkages to Facebook/YouTube where appropriate.
• WhatsApp Business API integration and setup.
• Design and implementation of potential USSD access paths to selected core content for low‑connectivity and basic‑phone users, using existing USSD platforms where feasible.
• Platform hosting and security, with cost‑efficient infrastructure choices mindful of hosting and long‑term sustainability.
• System documentation and maintenance protocols.
• Technical training for partner organisations and local trainers.

Entrepreneurship Training and Community Engagement Lead
An entity with established access to women and youth entrepreneurs (including both previously trained and untrained cohorts), and experience in delivering entrepreneurship and/or financial literacy training, community mobilisation, and gender‑responsive outreach in Botswana.

Responsibilities:

• User research and needs assessment with women and youth entrepreneurs in diverse districts, including non‑mining and rural areas.
• Coordination of testing and pilot activities with target user groups, leveraging existing networks, chapters and community structures.
• Content sourcing and adaptation support, including provision and condensation of existing entrepreneurship training modules (e.g. SIYB or similar) into short, mobile‑friendly lessons suitable for WhatsApp and USSD delivery.
• Facilitation of partnerships for financial literacy content with banks (e.g. Stanbic) and other service providers.
• User‑facing documentation, training materials and delivery of training‑of‑trainers (ToT) for local contact persons.
• Community engagement and pilot user recruitment, with particular attention to rural, low‑income and otherwise underserved groups.

3.2 Governance

The bid must include:

• Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between partners.
• Lead partner designation for contract management and reporting.
• Memorandum of Understanding or partnership agreement between consortium members.
• Conflict resolution mechanisms.
• Financial arrangements and budget allocation between partners.​

The consortium should explicitly describe how ecosystem partners’ networks (innovation hubs, women and youth groups, local chapters) will be leveraged for deployment and feedback collection during the pilot phase.​

4. Scope of Work and Methodology

The consortium will be responsible for the following work packages (with estimated effort allocation), adapted to the Digital Business Package focus.

a) Discovery and Requirements Definition (10 days)

• Engage with at least 20 women and youth entrepreneurs, segmented into at least two cohorts:
  • Those who have previously completed entrepreneurship training (e.g. SIYB or equivalent).
  • Those who have not undergone formal training but are already running businesses.​
• Document priority use cases, conversation flows, and functional requirements for both cohorts.​
• Assess connectivity, device constraints and language preferences to guide channel mix (WhatsApp, USSD, Facebook, YouTube) and content formats.​
• Define technical architecture, integration approach, and security framework.
• Develop a project implementation plan and timeline.​

Lead: Both partners (joint workshops and field research).

b) Platform Development and Integration (25 days)

• Set up a WhatsApp Business solution for the Digital Business Package, with AI‑supported and menu‑driven conversation flows in English
• Design and implement a core content engine for structured learning journeys, micro‑lessons and reference materials aligned with agreed key topics (e.g. basic bookkeeping, pricing, marketing, customer care, access to finance).​
• Integrate or link to USSD for critical informational flows where network coverage is limited, using existing USSD platforms where feasible.​
• Configure linkages to external content repositories (e.g., a Facebook page and/or a YouTube channel) to host heavier video content in a data‑efficient manner, and connect them to WhatsApp journeys.​
• Implement analytics and conversation logging to monitor usage patterns, drop‑off points, and content relevance across different user segments.
• Implement data security measures compliant with Botswana’s Data Protection Act.​

Lead: Private IT firm (with civil society partner providing user experience feedback).

c) Training content (8 days)

This work package focuses on identifying, curating, and adapting high‑quality entrepreneurship and financial literacy resources into short, mobile‑friendly learning units suitable for delivery via WhatsApp and linked channels. The HAUS international e‑learning expert will serve as a key resource for the consortium in instructional design and digital pedagogy.​​

Tasks:

• Review and mapping of existing training resources from UN Women (e.g. EntreprenHER, SIYB‑derived materials) and other relevant programmes already active in Botswana, with a focus on women and youth entrepreneurship.​​
• Individual consultations with innovation network partners (SmartBots, BDIH, innovation hubs, and other ecosystem actors) to identify additional relevant and useful materials (guides, toolkits, videos, checklists) to incorporate into the Digital Business Package.​
• Collaborative content design involving the consortium’s Entrepreneurship Training and Community Engagement Lead and the HAUS international e‑learning expert to define the core curriculum structure, priority topics, and learning outcomes for both trained and untrained entrepreneurs.​
• Adaptation and condensation of identified resources into structured micro‑learning units (e.g. short lessons, conversational scripts, tips, exercises, checklists) optimised for chat‑based delivery and low‑bandwidth environments
• Co‑development of multimedia training content (e.g. short explainer videos, audio clips, simple infographics) for hosting on Facebook/YouTube and linking seamlessly into WhatsApp journeys, with the HAUS international e‑learning expert providing guidance on digital learning best practices, pacing, and assessment.​
• Definition of simple in‑platform assessment and feedback mechanisms (quizzes, reflection prompts, quick polls) to track user engagement and learning progress, and to generate data for iterative content improvement.​​

Lead and roles:

• Lead: Entrepreneurship Training and Community Engagement Lead (overall responsibility for content relevance, localisation, and coordination with UN Women and ecosystem partners).​
• Co‑lead: HAUS international e‑learning expert (instructional design lead, quality assurance of digital learning approaches, and co‑facilitation of content design workshops).​​
• Support: Digital Platform and Systems Lead (implementation of content formats and conversation flows within the platform, optimisation for devices and channels).

d) Testing and Validation with Target Users (12 days)

• Recruit at least 30 test users per cohort (trained and untrained entrepreneurs), ensuring diversity in gender, age, location (urban, peri‑urban, rural) and literacy levels.​
• Conduct at least three (3) rounds of user testing with prototype and iterative refinements:
  Initial prototype testing focusing on clarity and accessibility of micro‑lessons and navigation.
  b. Mid‑development testing focusing on channel mix (WhatsApp, USSD, linked Facebook/YouTube content).
  c. Final validation testing focusing on perceived usefulness, accessibility, and willingness to continue using the platform.​
• Document usability findings, accessibility barriers, and differences in needs between trained and untrained users to inform refinements.​
• Validate platform performance, response accuracy, and error handling.​

Lead: Civil society partner (with a private IT firm providing technical support).

e) Pilot Deployment with Women and Youth Entrepreneurs (10 days)

• Deploy the Digital Business Package in at least two (2) districts, including at least one site outside mining areas, using ecosystem partners’ networks to reach a multisectoral group of women and youth entrepreneurs.​
• Coordinate deployment through partner networks (innovation hubs, local chapters, women/youth groups), using local contact persons and mentors where available.​
• Provide setup, configuration and training for local trainers and partner staff, including on user onboarding and basic troubleshooting.​
• Monitor performance for a minimum of a 2‑week pilot period at each site, using simple feedback mechanisms (short surveys, in‑platform prompts, focus group debriefs).​
• Document pilot experiences in a structured “blueprint” format (context, setup, user groups, usage patterns, lessons), to support future replication and scaling.​

Lead: Private IT firm (with civil society partner supporting client communication and feedback collection).

f) Documentation, Training, and Handover (5 days)

• Develop comprehensive technical documentation, including:
  • System architecture and integration guide.
  • API documentation and data models.
  • Security and data protection protocols.
  • Maintenance and troubleshooting procedures.​
• Create user‑facing materials, including:
  • Client and partner onboarding guides.
  • Content management tutorials.
  • End‑user FAQ and support materials (English).
• Develop a training‑of‑trainers package and conduct ToT sessions for partner organisations and local contact persons, covering platform use, content facilitation and basic user support.​
• Prepare a blueprint document summarising pilot models and recommended approaches for scaling across the innovation hub network and beyond.​
• Conduct a training workshop for the key stakeholders (to be defined by HAUS) on platform management and partner onboarding.
• Deliver the final platform with all source code, documentation, and access credentials.​

Lead: Both partners.

5. Deliverables

All deliverables must be submitted in English, and end‑user materials must be provided in English

5.1 Inception Report (Month 1)

• Project work plan with detailed timeline and milestones.
• Stakeholder engagement and user research plan.
• Technical architecture design document.
• Refined problem statement and target group segmentation (trained/untrained entrepreneurs) based on FGD and stakeholder consultations.​
• Channel strategy (WhatsApp, USSD, Facebook/YouTube), including rationale and initial cost considerations.​
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies.​

5.2 User Research and Requirements Report (Month 1)

• Summary of stakeholder consultations and user research findings, including insights on user behaviour, device constraints, data cost sensitivities and content preferences.​
• Documented use cases and conversation flow designs.​
• Functional and technical requirements specification.​
• Pilot cohort definition (trained vs untrained entrepreneurs) and selection criteria aligned with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs and other relevant databases.​

5.3 Developed Platform (Month 2)

• Functional Digital Business Package platform, including:
  • WhatsApp interface with structured content journeys.
  • USSD entry points to selected critical content.
  • Links to hosted video content on Facebook and/or YouTube.​
  • Core content engine for micro‑lessons and reference materials.​
  • Administration interface for partners to manage content and monitor usage.​
  • Analytics dashboard.​
• Platform hosted on secure, accessible infrastructure.​

5.4 Testing and Validation Report (Month 2)

• Summary of user testing sessions, including participant demographics and cohort breakdown (trained/untrained, urban/rural).​
• Documented usability findings and accessibility assessment.
• Performance testing results (response times, accuracy, error rates).​
• Comparative analysis of platform use and feedback across the two main pilot cohorts and different regions.​
• Recommendations for platform improvements.

5.5 Pilot Deployment Report (Month 3)

• Summary of pilot deployments in the selected districts.​
• Client and partner feedback and satisfaction assessment.
• Customer interaction data and analytics.​
• Documented pilot blueprint with recommendations for scaling via innovation hubs and partner networks.​
• Platform refinements implemented based on pilot learnings.​

5.6 Final Platform and Documentation Package (Month 3)

• Complete platform with all requested features and refinements.
• Technical documentation (architecture, API docs, security protocols).​
• User‑facing materials (client guides, training materials, FAQs in English).​
• Training‑of‑trainers materials and session reports.​
• Source code repository with version control.
• Training workshop delivered to the contracting authority.​

5.7 Final Report (Month 5)

• Executive summary of project activities and outcomes.
• Lessons learned and recommendations for scaling.
• Sustainability plan for platform maintenance and enhancement, including indicative cost considerations (hosting, channels, content updates).​
• Proposed pricing model for future client or partner subscriptions, where applicable.​

6. Duration and Location

Duration: Approximately 70 working days distributed over 5 months (May–September 2026).​
Location: Gaborone, Botswana, with field work in additional locations as needed for user testing and pilot deployments, including at least one non‑mining district.

Pilot cohort size: 150–200 entrepreneurs, tested in collaboration with UN Women’s EntreprenHER network (approx. 500 entrepreneurs) and other partners in the following areas: Orapa mining areas (Boteti District), Jwaneng mining area (Mabutsane District, Selibe Phikwe (Bobirwa District)

Remote work is acceptable where appropriate, but key activities (stakeholder consultations, user testing, pilot deployments, training workshops) must be conducted in‑person in Botswana.

7. Reporting and Supervision

The consortium will report to the lead, innovation and entrepreneurship and the project manager at HAUS (contracting authority). A designated Project Manager from the lead consortium partner will serve as the primary point of contact.​

Reporting structure:

• Bi‑weekly progress meetings (in‑person or virtual) with the contracting authority.
• Monthly written progress reports summarising activities, deliverables, challenges, and next steps.
• Immediate notification of any significant risks, delays, or changes to the scope.​

The contracting authority will provide:

• Access to relevant stakeholders and potential partners.
• Review and approval of deliverables within seven (7) working days.
• Guidance on alignment with national digital transformation priorities.​

8. Qualifications and Experience

The bidding organisation (single entity or consortium) must collectively demonstrate the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• At least 3 years of proven experience in designing and implementing digital platforms or mobile‑based solutions (e.g. WhatsApp, SMS/USSD, chatbots) for learning, customer engagement or service delivery in Botswana or the Southern Africa region.​​
• Demonstrated experience in at least two projects that involved WhatsApp Business API or similar messaging integrations, including one where the bidder played a lead technical role.​
• Documented track record in delivering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or business development support programmes for women and/or youth, preferably in partnership with national or international organisations (e.g. UN agencies, financial institutions, innovation hubs).​​
• Experience working with low‑income and rural user groups, including adaptation of content and channels to low‑bandwidth and basic‑phone environments.​
• Familiarity with Botswana’s digital transformation and innovation ecosystem (e.g. SmartBots, BDIH, innovation hubs) and ability to collaborate with ecosystem partners for outreach, piloting, and scaling.​
• Demonstrated capacity to manage donor‑funded projects, including financial management, reporting, and coordination in multi‑partner settings.​​
• Proven ability to apply gender‑responsive and inclusive approaches in programme design and implementation, particularly for women and youth entrepreneurs.​​

8.1 Key skill sets

The proposal must clearly identify and provide CVs showing that the team collectively covers at least the following skill sets:

Digital Platform and Systems Development

• At least 5 years of experience in software development, systems integration, and digital service delivery.
• Hands-on experience with WhatsApp Business API or comparable messaging platforms.
• Experience deploying solutions on secure cloud infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to design or implement at least one chatbot or conversational interface for end-users.Entrepreneurship Training and Community Engagement

• At least 5 years of experience in entrepreneurship development, MSME support, or financial literacy training.
• Proven experience working with women and youth entrepreneurs in Botswana, including in non-mining and rural districts.
• Experience in community mobilisation, facilitation, and training-of-trainers.
• Familiarity with blended or digital training approaches.Gender and Social Inclusion

• At least 3 years of experience integrating gender and social inclusion into economic empowerment or digital skills projects.
• Experience identifying and addressing barriers faced by women and youth in accessing digital services and financial products.
• This skill set may be combined with Entrepreneurship Training and Community Engagement, provided the experience is clearly demonstrated.Project Management

• At least 5 years of experience managing multi-stakeholder development or ICT4D projects.
• Experience in planning, budgeting, reporting, and coordination with international partners.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with results-based project management.Optional Additional Skill Sets

• Instructional design.
• Data protection and privacy.
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Digital learning content development.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership management.

9. Eligibility Criteria and Selection Criteria

Eligibility criteria:

• The service provider/the lead entity of the consortium is required to be a registered company in Botswana
• The service provider/consortium must have relevant experience
• Financial situation must be rated at least “satisfactory A” according to Suomen Asiakastieto Oy classification, or risk class 1-3, or equivalent, based on financial statements
• Must comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ethical business practices
• The Service Provider shall comply with all obligations set out in the Finnish Act on the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability when Work is Contracted Out (1233/2006, as amended). Upon request, the Service Provider shall provide the Client with the documents and certificates required under the Act to demonstrate fulfilment of these statutory obligations throughout the duration of the contract.

10. Budget

The maximum available budget for the initial contract period is EUR 20,000 (excluding VAT), including all costs. Tenderers must submit their financial offer for the initial contract period only, and the total price of the offer must not exceed EUR 20,000.

In addition, the contract may be extended with up to two (2) option periods as defined in the draft contract. The estimated value of each option period is EUR 4,000.

The maximum total value of the contract, including all option periods, is EUR 28,000 (excluding VAT).

11. Payment Terms

Payment shall be made in four instalments upon submission and approval of deliverables:

• 20% upon contract signature and approval of the Inception Report
• 30% upon completion of the stakeholder consultations and summary of the results and analysis
• 30% upon completion of the platform and piloting it with the first cohort of women entrepreneurs
• 20% upon approval of the Final Comprehensive Report and all outstanding deliverables

12. Application Process

Interested tenderers should submit a proposal for this assignment by 26 April 2026, at 23:59 (EET/UTC +2). Proposals should be sent via email to botsprocurement@haus.fi.

Required Submission Documents

Technical Proposal

• Updated CV(s) (maximum 5 pages per CV);
• Workplan and methodology (maximum 10 pages);
• Two relevant work samples or project references in a 1-page summary, including contact information for verification – at least one should include the development of a WhatsApp chatbot or alike, and one should include capacity building of women entrepreneurs. The tenderers role should be specified in each reference. Links to example products are desirable (if operational).

Financial Proposal

• Total budget, including number of days and daily rates for international and national consultants; travel costs; and any other costs.

During the procurement process, all interested parties are encouraged to submit questions or clarifications via email:

• Email address: botsprocurement@haus.fi
• Question period closes: 19 April 2026, 23:59 (EET/UTC +2)

Only communication through the official email address will be considered. The Contracting Authority cannot respond to queries made by telephone or other means.

All questions and answers will be published anonymously to ensure transparency and equal treatment of all potential bidders.

Note: All proposals and CVs received will be shared with the selection panel. The total budget of the winning proposal will be published in the procurement decision.