Background

GREEN Tech4CE (Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy in Zambia) is an EU-funded action with a total budget of EUR 22.7 million, running July 2024 – June 2028, operating nationwide with emphasis on urban areas and key economic corridors in Lusaka, Northwestern and Copperbelt provinces. It sits under the Green Economy Promotion and Diversification (GEPD) programme and supports Zambia’s Green Growth Strategy (launched March 2024). The project promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth by supporting MSMEs and start-ups to adopt green, circular, and digital (GCD) business models, and its overall objective is to accelerate growth in Zambia by creating and sustaining GCD economic opportunities for SMEs, women, men, and youth.

The project’s specific objectives are to attract more investment and facilitate growth of MSMEs in the GCD economy; increase skills and capacities within the GCD economy; expand the range of financial products available to GCD MSMEs; foster private – public engagement to influence standards, policy, and practice; and improve formalisation, consolidation, and management capacities, especially for women- and youth-led MSMEs. To pursue these objectives, the project uses a market systems approach with blended financing and matching grants (project financial support includes EUR 15.7 million in matching grants), combining technical assistance, grants, investor linkages, public-private dialogue, and adaptive management to support inclusion of women and youth and to strengthen value chains and market linkages. Two FabLabs will also be established for design and prototyping.

GREEN Tech4CE is implemented by Self Help Africa in consortium with Imani Development (International) Ltd, Prospero Zambia Ltd, and Tandem Circular Consulting, in collaboration with Zambian ministries (Ministry of Green Economy and Environment; Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development; Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Technology and Science) and private sector actors.

As part of project implementation, GREEN Tech4CE provides technical assistance to businesses to help them adopt and scale green, circular and digital business models. The project seeks the services of a qualified consultant in providing technical assistance (TA) to an approved grant beneficiary, an enterprise engaged in cathode plate refurbishment, a circular-economy activity serving the copper mining sector to assess the commercial, technical and operational viability of establishing a dedicated cathode plate refurbishment facility serving copper processing plants/refineries in Zambia and the DRC Copperbelt.

The Project hereby invites Expressions of Interest / proposals from suitably qualified and experienced consultants (individuals or firms) to deliver this assignment. The selected consultant will be contracted directly by the Project and will work in close collaboration with the Beneficiary, under the institutional arrangements set out in Section 6.

Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of the assignment is to produce a concise, evidence-based Market Study that determines the market size, demand, competitive landscape and commercial viability of a cathode plate refurbishment facility for the Beneficiary, including validated customer demand and market-entry/regulatory considerations and provide clear recommendations on market positioning and steps to inform the Beneficiary’s and the Project on how to proceed toward implementation.

This assignment is being procured by the GREEN Tech4CE project specifically on behalf of an approved grant beneficiary receiving technical assistance support, it is not being procured directly by the beneficiary itself. The consultant’s contractual counterparty is the Project; the beneficiary is the intended user and technical counterpart for the assignment’s substantive content.

Duration and Timeframe of the Assignment

The assignment shall be completed within 10 calendar days from commencement, with commencement defined as one day after contract signature. Applicants must confirm availability to complete the assignment within this timeframe and, where relevant, note any constraints in their proposal.

Duty Station and Travel

The primary duty station is Kitwe, Zambia. The assignment requires site visits to copper refineries/smelters/processing plants and stakeholders across Zambia and, as needed, the DRC Copperbelt to complete the market mapping, competitive analysis and customer validation tasks.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Lead Consultant (Senior Expert)

Responsible for overall market analysis and commercial integration and for the quality and timeliness of all outputs. Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced degree (or equivalent professional experience) in economics, market research, business administration, industrial engineering, or a closely related field;
• Experience: At least 7–10 years of relevant professional experience, including prior delivery of market studies, demand assessments, or commercial viability analyses in industrial/manufacturing sectors;
• Technical competency: Demonstrated experience in market sizing, demand estimation, competitive analysis and customer research methodologies;
• Sector knowledge: Familiarity with mining/metallurgical supply chains and, ideally, cathode/ copper refineries/smelters operations in the Zambia– Northwestern, DRC Copperbelt or comparable copper-belt markets;
• Regulatory knowledge: Working knowledge of regional export and conformity assessment regimes (PVoC, CoC, CAP, PROGEC) is an advantage;
• Language: Excellent written and spoken English is required; fluency in French is an advantage given DRC market coverage.

Supporting Specialists (as required)

The consultant/firm shall propose the composition of the supporting team in the inception note, drawing on the following indicative profiles as needed:

• Market research analyst / enumerator (to support primary customer interviews and data collection);
• Trade & regulatory compliance specialist (export and market-access requirements).

Eligibility (Mandatory) Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements to be considered for technical evaluation:

• Current tax compliance/clearance status;
• No conflict of interest with the Beneficiary or Project staff involved in this procurement.
• Confirmed availability to complete the assignment within the 10-calendar-day programme.

Application Procedure (Submission of Expression of Interest)

Applicants (individuals or firms) wishing to be considered for this assignment must submit the following as a single Expression of Interest package:

• A completed Personal History Form / summary CV of the lead consultant, and brief CVs of any proposed supporting specialists
• A short technical/methodology note (maximum 3–5 pages) explaining the proposed approach to the assignment, including specifically the approach to market sizing/demand estimation and the customer validation (primary research) methodology;
• A completed Financial Proposal Form presenting a fixed, all-inclusive price in EUR within the approved ceiling, with a brief cost breakdown;
• Confirmation of availability to complete the assignment within the 10-calendar-day programme;
• Proof of business/consultant registration and current tax compliance status;
• A signed declaration of independence and absence of conflict of interest with the Beneficiary or project staff;
• Contact details of at least two references from comparable assignments completed in the last five years.

Submission Instructions and Deadline

• Application deadline: 24^th August, 2026, 17:00hrs CAT.
• Applications must be submitted electronically to: [email protected]
• Applications should be clearly marked: “Expression of Interest – Market Study for Cathode Plate Refurbishment Facility (GREEN Tech4CE Grant Beneficiary).
• Click here to access the full terms of reference and here for all other relevant documentation.
• Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
• Clarification questions may be directed, in writing, to the email above up to 17^th August, 2026.

This ToR is issued by Self Help Africa on behalf of the GREEN Tech4CE Project (funded by the European Union), for the benefit of an approved grant beneficiary under the Project’s Technical Assistance facility.