Request For Labor Spring Organization


EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR MSMEs IN Kabul

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR MSMEs IN Kabul

From: LSO in partnership with AAA

Opening Date: 11/ May 2026

  1. Introduction / Background

Labor Spring Organization (LSO) is a national, women-led non-governmental organization registered with the Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan (Registration No. 1678, established May 05, 2010).

LSO works to improve the social, economic, and protection outcomes of vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls, and youth, through integrated, community-based programming across Afghanistan.

  1. Purpose of the EOI

The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to identify and select 25 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kabul province to benefit from targeted support under this program.

Through this call, LSO seeks motivated entrepreneurs who are already operating a business or have one close to becoming operational, and who are interested in improving how they manage, present, and grow their products and services.

This program is designed for Afghan businesses that are open to adopting practical approaches to strengthen operations and improve customer reach.

This EOI does not aim to select “perfect” businesses; rather, it focuses on identifying committed individuals who are willing to learn, test new approaches, and actively engage throughout the program. Selected businesses will receive a combination of training, mentoring, and limited material support to enhance their performance and promote sustainable growth.

  1. Program Overview (Support Package)

Selected businesses will participate in a structured support program designed to strengthen operations and improve income in a practical and realistic manner.

The program combines training, continuous support, and limited financial assistance, focusing on addressing real business challenges.       

    1. Training Sessions

Participants will attend practical training sessions covering key areas such as basic business management, financial literacy, marketing, and customer relations. Sessions will be interactive and based on real-life business scenarios.

    1. Business Mentoring and Follow-Up

Each participant will receive regular mentoring and follow-up support, including individual guidance, check-ins, and tailored advice to help apply learned skills effectively.

    1. Business Support (Cash or In-Kind)

Selected businesses may receive support of up to AUD 700, either in the form of equipment, tools, materials, or other business-related inputs. In some cases, conditional cash assistance may be provided depending on the business needs.

Support will be assessed carefully and provided based on relevance and potential impact.

d) Practical Business Improvement Support

Participants will receive guidance on improving business planning, product quality, packaging, pricing, and overall presentation to better meet market demands.

  1. Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Business must be officially registered
  • Minimum of 1 year of operational experience
  • Business must be currently active in Kabul city
  • Minimum of 4 staff members
  • Clear and ongoing production or service activity
  • Existing products or services are already in the market
  • Demonstrate potential for growth and sustainability
  • Quality and competitiveness of products/services
  • Basic capacity to manage staff and operations
  • Willingness to improve financial management and record-keeping
  • Commitment to participate in all project activities
  • Motivation to apply new skills
  • Interest in expanding market reach
  • Priority will be given to:
  • Women-led businesses
  • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
  • Returnees
  • Economically vulnerable entrepreneurs
  • Businesses in underserved communities
  • Businesses contributing to job creation or supporting vulnerable groups

 

  1. Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a concise but complete business proposal describing their business and current situation.

The submission should include:

  • Filling the application, should be signed and stamped in PDF format
  • Copy of valid business license/registration
  • Copy of national ID (Tazkira)
  • Staff list (names, roles, employment type)
  • Bank account and tax clearance details
  • Business location details
  • Photos of business/products (if available)
  • Motivation statement (5–10 lines)