1. Background

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a global initiative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Central and South Asia, which follows guidance from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Board to develop more formal structures to catalyze enterprises within AKDN’s main area development programs, where economic opportunities remain insufficient. Through patient capital and tailored business advisory to startups and businesses, AP complements broader employment-related programs of AKF and draws significantly on technical expertise from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s (AKFED) Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and coordinates efforts with the AKDN’s financial institutions, the University of Central Asia and many other national partners.  

AP’s approach combines financial and non-financial support, recognizing that standalone business development services and traditional bank financing are inadequate to catalyze start-ups, grow small firms, and deliver job creation in fragile and emerging markets, particularly for marginalized groups in rural areas. 

Start-up Pakistan is a project financed by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and implemented by Accelerate Prosperity. The initiative aims to scale up Accelerate Prosperity’s existing model of technical support and financing for businesses. It will expand into new geographies and across exciting sectors such as education, health, tourism and green economy, prioritizing digitization and environmental sustainability. 

To support our marketing and on-ground logistical needs, we aim to engage a qualified firm to provide a dedicated, on-site graphic designer, logistical and event coverage support, and additional services as required for our acceleration programs. 

2. Objectives

The primary objective is to establish a long-term engagement with a firm to provide the following services in relation to AP’s acceleration activities: 

• Graphic design services for acceleration programs and other brand management requirements. 

• Comprehensive event management, including on-ground coverage and logistical support, to ensure the smooth execution of acceleration activities. 

• Public relations services to effectively promote AP’s initiatives under Startup Pakistan, enhance brand recognition, and increase awareness of our offerings. 

• Additional miscellaneous services as required to support and enhance AP’s acceleration programs. 

3. Scope of Work

The scope of the contract is as follows: 

Table 3.1 

4. Eligibility Criteria

The firm must demonstrate the following: 

• Experience in providing marketing, graphic design, and logistical support services. 

• A responsive and collaborative approach to meeting client needs and deadlines. 

• Established financial and operational stability to provide services on a long-term basis. 

• A team of qualified and trained designers with a proven portfolio. 

•  Requirements of the graphic designer recommended by the firm include: 

• Strong expertise in visual storytelling and crafting compelling narratives through design. 

• Proven ability to create impactful infographics and visually represent complex data for diverse audiences. 

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) with familiarity in motion graphics and video editing as a plus. 

• Experience designing marketing materials such as reports, pitch decks, and social media content with a focus on brand consistency. 

• Background in working with impact-driven organizations or understanding of sustainability and social impact narratives. 

• Strong collaboration skills, working effectively with cross-functional teams to align visuals with strategic goals. 

5. Management and Reporting

• Both AP and the firm will nominate one representative each to ensure open communication, with final deliverable approvals handled by AP’s Marketing Lead. 

• The dedicated designers for this assignment will maintain a direct line of communication with the AP Marketing team.   

6. Financial Terms

• Monthly Retainer: Payment to the firm will be made on a monthly retainer basis for all services, including the on-site graphic designer’s salary, and other services delivered during that month.  

• Additional services outside the standard scope will be billed separately, subject to prior approval from AP. 

 7. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested firms must submit the following: 

1. Technical Proposal: 

• Details of the firm’s experience and relevant projects reflected in the company profile. 
• Profile of the executing team including the profile of the proposed dedicated graphic designer (resume, portfolio etc.). 

 2. Financial Proposal: 

• A financial quotation encompassing monthly retainer cost breakdown, including retainer for graphic designer (fixed) and other services as mentioned under “Scope of work” table 3.1. 
• The quotation shall be inclusive of all taxes. 

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on: 

• Technical expertise and experience of the firm (40%) 

• Qualifications and portfolio of proposed graphic designer, to be evaluated in a test if qualified for initial shortlisting (30%) 
• Financial competitiveness (30%) 

 9. Contract Duration

The initial contract will be for a period of 12 months, renewable based on performance and mutual agreement. 

10. Submission Guidelines and Deadline

All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the title ‘Proposal for Marketing Services for Accelerate Prosperity Acceleration Programs‘ clearly written on it. The proposals should be sent via courier by February 28, 2025, to the following address: 

Accelerate Prosperity Office 

Daftarkhwan Vanguard, F-5/1, Islamabad. 

  
For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected]