1. Introduction and Background:
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward its vision by building strength, stability, and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity formally launched the Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter (The Terwilliger Centre) in 2016 consolidating more than a decade of experience in developing market-based solutions for housing. The Terwilliger Centre in India has been actively collaborating with various ecosystem partners to identify and support startups in the housing and construction sector. To further its impact and strengthen its influence in the South Asian startup ecosystem, particularly in the affordable housing and construction sector, the Terwilliger Centre seeks to partner with key ecosystem players such as academic institutions, incubators and accelerators in three regions – Srilanka, Nepal and Bangladesh And understand the potential in these markets.
2. Objectives:
2.1Market Research: Assess the market potential for ShelterTech in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh by identifying demand for affordable housing solutions, key stakeholders, regulatory landscapes, and innovation ecosystems. This analysis will inform strategic engagement with startups, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive impact and adoption in the region.
2.2.Startup Support: The primary goal of the program is identify and nurture 3-4 high potential startups in the three countries – Srilanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in the housing and construction sector with a focus on sustainability by offering support by providing grant for a demonstratable pilot, mentorship, access to market, access to funding opportunities, business development, and technical assistance.
2.3 Ecosystem outreach and Influence: Engage with the affordable housing and impact innovation in Srilanka, Nepal and Bangladesh to promote the idea of low-income housing as an area of opportunity and identify entrepreneurs with market-based solutions for the low-income households (target segment).The program also aims to drive ecosystem collaboration in new markets by engaging with relevant startup stakeholders, academia, investors, incubators, accelerators, to create a sustainable and
supportive in the ShelterTech sector.
3. Scope of work:
The Program Management Partner (PMP) will be primarily responsible on behalf of HFHI/The Terwilliger Centre for the end to end program facilitation, management and reporting across Srilanka, Nepal and Bangaldesh ensuring that startups receive tailored support to scale and thrive
Market Research: Assess the market potential for ShelterTech in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh by identifying demand for affordable housing solutions, key stakeholders, regulatory landscapes, and innovation ecosystems.
Program Design and Implementation: The selected organization must develop and execute a comprehensive incubation program, considering the local context in each country
Startup Call for Applications and Outreach: To attract high-potential startups in the niche area of ‘Housing and Construction’ it’s crucial to have a clear outreach plan for maximum visibility.
Startup Due Diligence: Understand the regulatory compliances of each country and, based on this, must conduct due diligence on startups to assess their compliance and eligibility before they are selected.
Pilot Identification, Implementation and Validation Support to the Startups: PMP will be responsible for working with the selected startups to better understand and evaluate their pilot proposal to support them.
Communication & Promotion of Startups: The selected organization must actively promote participating startups to enhance their visibility and credibility.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): The PMP must establish a comprehensive Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework to track startup progress and measure key performance indicators. This framework should include agreed-upon monitoring metrics for each pilot, ensuring continuous assessment throughout the contract period (as mentioned in the contract).
Financials: Catalytic Grants, historically provided by The Terwilliger Centre, offer up to USD 20,000 to startups under previous catalytic grant initiatives. The Program Management Partner (PMP) will receive a program management fee and travel reimbursement for overseeing the end-to-end execution of the program across three countries. Payment will be disbursed in three tranches, upon the achievement of predefined milestones.
How to apply
Interested participants should submit a proposal to Priya Mohan (Manager – Entrepreneurship & Innovation – India) at pmohan@habitat.org / slowrence@habitat.org by February 21, 2025.
Detailed Terms of Reference to be accessed here: TOR_ShelterTech_SouthAsia_Final_1.docx
Proposal format
• Corporate Overview
• Business Registration details and all the required supporting documents.
• Experience: Description of past programs and impact metrics
• Biodata of the key personnel who will handle the project and details of any new resource
• Estimated Budget including travel expenses (estimate)
• Project schedule & work breakdown structure with timelines, key milestones, project phases, or other project plan information.
• Any other relevant documents required for program execution and compliance.
How to apply
How to apply
Interested participants should submit a proposal to Priya Mohan (Manager – Entrepreneurship & Innovation – India) at pmohan@habitat.org / slowrence@habitat.org by February 21, 2025.
Detailed Terms of Reference to be accessed here: TOR_ShelterTech_SouthAsia_Final_1.docx