Call for Consultancy Services: Development of a Special Target Enterprise (STE) Regulation for the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA)

Business development - Consulting / Research Job Overview DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPECIAL TARGET ENTERPRISE (STE) REGULATION CONSULTANT SCOPE OF WORK Project: Cultivating Resilient and Optimal Production – Horticulture (CROP-H) Proposal No.: 5502/FY26/01 Funded by: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) Implemented by: Shelter For Life International Salameh Complex Sukuta Highway, Brusubi, West Coast Region, The Gambia. • (+220) 7720949 • 1. BACKGROUND/CONTEXT Shelter For Life International (SFL) is implementing the CROP-H Project using a market-based approach in partnership with multiple stakeholders across the horticulture value chain. This five-year United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) Project in The Gambia aims to increase food security by strengthening the agricultural sector through: Increasing horticultural productivity and sales Expanding and improving quality of exports Increasing employment of sector stakeholders Improving incomes and standards of living for smallholder farmers The CROP-H Project, in line with its objective of expanding trade in the horticultural value chain, is collaborating with Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) to develop a Special Target Enterprise (STE) Regulation for Micro, Small and Medium-Size Enterprise (MSMEs). The GIEPA Act of 2015 provided categories of investment promotions such as the Special Investment Certificate holders investment thresholds (US$100,000 for domestic investors and US$250,000 for foreign investors); of Export Processing Zones Enterprises, and MSMEs. However, it does not define or provide for identifying and supporting Special Target Enterprises. The GIEPA Act 2015 instead recommended the development of additional regulations that will define the eligibility criteria for MSMEs to be categorized as STEs. In the absence of these regulations, GIEPA cannot systematically identify and prioritize the STE enterprises, causing facilitation of STEs to become inconsistent and reactive. For example, high-potential start-up MSMEs may face avoidable challenges such as bureaucratic delays and a lack of structured support. Currently, the GIEPA Act contains provisions that allow MSMEs to benefit from a three-year tax exemption and a 10% reduction in turnover taxes. However, MSMEs are unable to benefit from these incentives because no regulations have been developed to implement these provisions or ensure compliance. To address this gap, CROP-H is collaborating with GIEPA to hire a consultant to develop the Special Target Enterprise Regulation for MSMEs. This regulation is expected to target enterprises with investment levels ranging from US$15,000 to US$90,000, making them eligible for domestic investment incentives. It is expectedthat this investment bracket will adequately cover MSMEs as per the priority sectors defined in the GIEPA Act 2015. 2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The main purpose of the consultancy is to assist GIEPA in developing neffective STE regulation, which defines Special Target Enterprises (STEs); establishes clear MSME eligibility criteria, andthe methodology and procedures for application, approval,, monitoring, and evaluating implementation of the STE regulation. The consultant will ensure that the STE regulations providea transparent, predictable, and accountable framework to support MSMEs in accessing local and regional markets and in exporting to international markets. Goals to develop and implement the Regulation,include: Operationalizing Sections 74 and 75 of the GIEPA Act 2015; Establishing clear criteria for identifying and classifying Special Target Enterprises; Addressing the barriers faced by smaller domestic enterprises in accessing investment incentives; Establishing appropriate investment thresholds and eligibility criteria of the thresholds; Defining t…