Company Description

1. About SNV

SNV is a global development partner rooted in the African and Asian countries where we operate. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, it is our mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

2. Background and objectives of assignment

Shifting Investment Flows Towards Green Transformation (SHIFT) is a joint project of six organisations that aims to accelerate the deployment of green, climate-friendly technologies and practices to support Vietnam achieve net zero emissions by 2050. SHIFT enhances capacities of relevant public and private stakeholders in the areas of green finance and energy transition. SHIFT is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). The project outcome is the implementation of green policy and investment frameworks for enhanced climate action in Vietnam. SHIFT addresses both supply and demand aspects of green investment, creating a positive feedback loop that will drive the transition towards a low-carbon and climate-smart economy.

Led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the project consortium includes Agora Energiewende (Agora), the Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MOF), particularly its Department of Sectoral Finance and Economics (DSFE), is SHIFT’s in-country political partner

As part of its work to strengthen the pipeline of green investment opportunities in Viet Nam, SHIFT is supporting a portfolio of approximately 15 small and medium enterprises with the potential to contribute to Vietnam’s green transformation.

The companies are at different stages of commercial and investment readiness. While they may have identified an indicative amount of capital they wish to raise, further support is needed to assess their actual financing requirements, determine what type of capital is appropriate to their business model and stage of development, and identify investors and other capital providers with a credible fit.

SNV therefore seeks an experienced individual consultant or boutique advisory firm to provide targeted investment readiness, capital strategies and investor matchmaking support to the portfolio.

The assignment is intended to go beyond generic investor mapping or pitch preparation. The consultant will develop a practical understanding of each company’s business model and financing needs and use this to identify and approach investors or other capital providers that represent a realistic match.

Objective 1: Assess the investment readiness and financing requirements of approximately 15 supported companies;

Objective 2: Assess whether the proposed fundraising amount and use of funds are appropriate to the company’s business model, stage and growth plans;

Objective 3: Advise each company on an appropriate financing strategy, including the type or combination of capital to pursue;

Objective 4: Identify relevant investors and finance providers in Viet Nam, Southeast Asia and internationally based on company-specific fit;

Objective 5: Facilitate targeted introductions and matchmaking between priority companies and relevant investors; and

Objective 6: Support companies to prepare for and follow up on investor discussions, building off work already completed via other capacity building efforts under the programme.

Job Description

3. Assignment overview and scope of work / deliverables

The selected consultant or firm will work closely with SNV and the participating companies. The assignment will include the following tasks:

Company assessment and financing needs: Review available company information and engage directly with each participating company to understand:
- Business model, products/services and target markets;
- Stage of development, commercial traction and growth plans;
- Existing financing and capital structure;
- Proposed fundraising amount and intended use of funds;
- Key assumptions underlying the proposed financing requirement; and
- Current level of investment readiness.

The consultant will assess whether the proposed fundraising amount is appropriate and realistic and identify material issues that should be addressed before investor outreach. This is intended as a focused commercial and financing assessment rather than full financial, legal or technical due diligence. The consultant should review all available relevant information on the participating companies provided by GIGI account managers before their direct company engagement

Capital strategy: Develop a concise financing recommendation for each company covering:
- Recommended amount or range of financing, where adjustments to the company's proposed raise are warranted;
- Purpose and anticipated use of capital;
- Recommended type or mix of finance, including relevant equity, debt, concessional finance, catalytic capital, grants and/or blended structures;
- Appropriate investor/funder profile based on the company’s stage, business model and financing requirement;
- Key investment-readiness gaps that may constrain fundraising; and
- Recommended approach and sequencing for investor engagement.

Recommendations should be practical and tailored to the circumstances of each company rather than based on a standard fundraising approach. The consultant is also expected to provide input into the GIGI portfolio deal book based on this deliverable

Targeted investor mapping: Develop a curated set of potential investors and finance providers for the portfolio. The mapping should focus on quality and fit rather than the size of the investor list and consider:
- Viet Nam-based investors and finance providers;
- Regional investors, particularly those active in Southeast Asia;
- International climate and impact investors where relevant;
- Venture capital and impact investment funds;
- Strategic and corporate investors;
- Debt and other commercial finance providers; and
- Concessional, catalytic or blended-finance providers where appropriate.

For each company, the consultant should identify a prioritized group of prospective investors or funders based on investment mandate, company stage, sector, geography, typical financing instrument and indicative investment size.

Investor outreach and matchmaking: Lead targeted outreach to priority investors and finance providers, including through the consultant’s own networks where appropriate. Activities will include:
- Approaching prioritized investors to assess interest;
- Making direct introductions between interested investors and suitable companies;
- Providing investors with appropriate context on the opportunity;
- Helping companies prepare for investor meetings;
- Supporting initial investor-company discussions where useful; and
- Advising companies on appropriate follow-up and next steps.

The assignment should result in qualified investor engagement, not lists of investor contacts handed to companies. Outreach and matchmaking should focus on the companies with the strongest investment potential and readiness, identified through the company assessments and agreed with SNV, rather than on all 15 companies. Where useful and feasible, the consultant should attend the first meeting between a company and an interested investor.

Portfolio-level recommendations: At the conclusion of the assignment, provide SNV with a short portfolio-level assessment summarizing:
- Financing needs and patterns across the portfolio;
- Types of capital most relevant to participating companies;
- Key recurring investment-readiness constraints;
- Status and outcomes of investor outreach; and
- Recommended next steps for individual companies and for future SHIFT support.

Location and travel: Viet Nam, with remote work as appropriate.

Language of deliverables: Preferably bilingual (English and Vietnamese).

SNV inputs: Introduction to selected companies.

Table 1: Deliverables, quality expectations and timeline

Deliverable D1. Inception and assessment framework

Outputs: A report setting out the proposed methodology, company assessment criteria, engagement plan, prioritization approach, and workplan. SNV and the consultant will agree on the assessment tools and approach to identifying suitable financing opportunities.