[Consultancy] Expressions of Interest (EOI): Local Partner Organizations- Pathways to Scale (P2S), Ghana

Expressions of Interest (EOI): Local Partner Organizations- Pathways to Scale (P2S), Ghana

Release Date: 15th June, 2026

Location: Ghana, rural and peri-urban areas across all regions

Contract Term: One-year partnership with potential extension (aligned with P2S program duration and performance)

Deadline for Submission: 10 July, 2026

Background

The Mastercard Foundation Pathways to Scale (P2S) is a five-year young women-focused program, implemented in partnership with WUSC and supported by Seedstars. Operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Rwanda, P2S strengthens women-owned and women-led enterprises through provision of gender-focused business development services and access to finance to unlock 93,000 work opportunities for young women, particularly young rural women.

P2S responds to systemic barriers that limit women’s enterprise growth, including restricted access to finance, weak ecosystem support, and the exclusion of refugees, displaced women, and women with disabilities. The program supports women-owned and women-led enterprises primarily those led by young women (18–35) selected for their enterprise growth potential and capacity to create sustainable employment.

By providing women-owned and women-led enterprises with concessional loans, impact-linked incentives, and tailored business development support, P2S advances the well-being and resilience of young rural women in East and West Africa. This is achieved through increased access to dignified and fulfilling work, resulting from sustainable enterprise growth.

Definition of Local Partner Organizations

For the purposes of P2S, local ESOs are entities registered in Ghana and capable of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises in Ghana. These organizations primarily deliver capacity-building services to entrepreneurs, including, but not limited to, incubators, accelerators, venture studios, development organizations, training providers, and associations. The core focus of local partners in this program in Ghana is to deliver business development services to young rural women entrepreneurs in agriculture, as well as to businesses that generate employment and value chain opportunities for young rural women. Refugee and displaced young women (RDPs) will also be among those supported through this initiative.

We are therefore seeking organizations with a demonstrated track record of scaling businesses, increasing revenue, and creating meaningful employment opportunities for young rural women through their business development services. Ideally, we aim to engage local partners offering both technical and financial readiness support to young rural women entrepreneurs. This support aims to enable companies to scale through targeted business development support and access to finance, and, consequently, to support the creation of jobs for young women across the region, promoting their well-being and economic resilience.

Scope of Work

The selected local partner organizations will be expected to implement specific activities in the following areas:

• a) Outreach and selection of program participants
• b) Data collection and MERL
• c) Provision of business development services
• d) Access to Finance support

Note: On an as-needed basis, the local partners will engage in community buy-in activities to support norm change, to improve young rural women’s participation in P2S programs. These could include engaging and sensitizing community leaders, working with male advocates and holding dialogues with parents.

Minimum Qualifications

• Registered in and operational in Ghana.
• At least 5 years of experience supporting MSMEs with a focus on young women in rural and peri-urban areas.
• Proven track record of mobilization, business development support, and technical assistance. Experience in financial readiness and investment readiness support for entrepreneurs is an added advantage.
• Ability to mobilize in underserved areas and work with diverse stakeholders and gatekeepers (e.g., local leaders, male champions).
• Familiarity with digital reporting and willingness to adopt and use the P2S digital platform for data collection, reporting, and enterprise support.

Expected timeline

Expression of Interest opens

15 June, 2026

Expression of Interest application closes

10 July, 2026

Shortlisting

11 July - 21 July, 2026

Due Diligence

July 25, 2026

Enhancement week

August 4-7, 2026

Partners Onboarding

August 27,2026

Application Instructions

Interested organizations should submit the following:

1. Complete the EOI survey and submit a financial proposal via the Application link.
2. A valid certificate of registration (Attached on the link)
3. A financial proposal based on the attached budget guidelines. The proposed budget should fall within the range of $170,000 to $200,000 (USD) for a two-year period, with light follow-up support in years three and four. Please ensure that payments are indicated in the local currency at the exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction.

Submission Deadline: 10 July, 2026.

For any queries about the application, please email p2s@wusc.ca and dadotey@wusc.ca. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified organizations that meet the minimum criteria. Only shortlisted organizations will be contacted. P2S and its partners will not bear the cost of application or any other costs incurred by the Applicant in putting together their response to the EOI.