EOI for the Recruitment of a consultant firm to train Cooperative Leaders/Members on Business and Market Skill Development

ActionAid (AA) Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, which is a global alliance of organizations working towards achieving a world without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys the right to a life with dignity. As a large and visible development organization, we work in 45 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Our expertise lies in community-led approaches to development and working through partnerships with the poor and other grassroot organizations. 

Background 

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), is implementing the "Reintegration and Empowerment for Connecting and Nurturing Opportunities of Vulnerable Populations and Returning Migrants (RECONNECT)" project across Edo, Lagos, and Abuja. The RECONNECT project seeks to support the sustainable reintegration and empowerment of vulnerable groups, including returning migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities (PWDs), and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The intervention is structured around four key pillars: economic stability, social stability, psychosocial support, and capacity building all aimed at fostering self-reliance, reducing irregular migration, and promoting long-term resilience.

Cooperatives remain one of the most effective community-driven mechanism for sustained reintegration and for promoting economic inclusion, enterprise growth, and long‑term livelihood sustainability. In many of the project’s target communities, cooperatives not only function as business entities but also serve as platforms for collective learning, mutual support, and shared innovation. However, despite their central role in community economic structures, many cooperative leaders lack the formal business, financial, and market‑oriented skills required to effectively guide their members, expand market access, and strengthen the cooperative’s long‑term viability.

As part of the project’s broader strategy to enhance the sustainability of beneficiaries who have been integrated into existing cooperatives, there is a critical need to strengthen the capacity of cooperative leaders and key members. Building their competence in entrepreneurship, marketing, and cooperative management directly contributes to improved enterprise performance and stronger organisational governance. It also ensures that newly integrated beneficiaries receive consistent mentorship, access to functioning business systems, and support networks capable of promoting stability and growth.

To address these needs, the project will conduct targeted training sessions using the Micro Enterprise Fundamentals (MEF) curriculum developed by Making Cents International. The MEF curriculum is widely recognised for its effectiveness among vulnerable and low‑literacy groups due to its practical, learner‑centered methodology and emphasis on simple, actionable skills. By equipping cooperative leaders with these tools, the project aims to ensure that cooperatives become stronger, more competitive, and better positioned to support member enterprises.

A total of 100 cooperative leaders and members across the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos State, and Edo State will participate in the training. Sessions will be delivered at the state level to maximise participation, contextual relevance, and accessibility. Ultimately, this training seeks to foster stronger, more resilient cooperatives capable of driving inclusive economic development, supporting integrated beneficiaries, and contributing to broader community growth.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to strengthen the business, marketing, and cooperative management capacities of cooperative leaders and members, ensuring they can effectively manage group and personal enterprises, support integrated beneficiaries, and contribute to cooperative sustainability.

The training will specifically achieve the following:

• Equip members with practical knowledge on micro‑enterprise management using the MEF curriculum.
• Enhance the marketing and business planning skills of cooperative members to improve productivity and profitability.
• Strengthen the capacity of cooperative leaders to mentor newly integrated beneficiaries.
• Improve cooperative governance, record‑keeping, and decision‑making practices.
• Promote cooperative sustainability through improved business practices and market‑oriented strategies.

Methodology

The consultant/firm will deliver in-person training to cooperatives members in the three targeted states. The training will follow a participatory and interactive approach, including:

• Practical, context-based examples.
• Group discussions
• Role plays and scenario-based exercises
• Visual aids suitable for low-literate audiences
• Business simulation activities
• Coaching and mentoring techniques

The training will be facilitated using MEF’s learner‑centered modules to ensure understanding, retention, and application. 

Scope of Work

The consultant/firm will 

1. Prepare training materials aligned with the MEF curriculum and tailored to cooperative structures.
2. Design state‑level training schedules for FCT, Lagos, and Edo.
3. Deliver in-person training with a co-facilitator using the MEF curriculum.
4. Conduct pre‑training and post‑training assessments.
5. Provide individualised coaching or group exercises during sessions.
6. Submit training reports for each state, including attendance, outcomes, challenges, and recommendations.

Required profile for consultant:

The consultant (She/he) / firm to be recruited should have the following experiences:

• Proven experience in training on micro enterprise development, cooperative management, or related fields.
• Prior experience delivering the Micro Enterprise Fundamentals (MEF) curriculum (necessary).
• Strong facilitation skills suitable for low-literacy or mixed literacy audiences.
• Experience working with cooperatives, vulnerable populations, or livelihood programs.
• Strong reporting and documentation skills.
• The ability to run the training concurrently by deploying two facilitators to each state.  

This job will be delivered within 5 working days for each state. 

Submission of expression of interest

Interested applicants are requested to submit an Expression of Interest, with supporting evidence or links to relevant similar or related assignments (detailing how you intend to accomplish this assignment) and profile to: procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org. on or before 10th April 2026. 

Applications should be sent in one Microsoft word document. Only the selected applicant will be contacted.