We received funding of the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank: FMO. This is the last essential step needed to start Solvoz’ supporting to the corona virus response in Low and Middle income countries. We are filling the back end of the Solvoz procurement system with curated aid packages. This is the catalogue or data base of solutions, based on expert knowledge. More or less parallel we are working on the front end where procurement officers can find the solutions to their needs. Lots of work, but we are stoked to make this platform work as soon as possible. We plan to launch Solvoz and getting Solvoz to become the one stop shop for responsible procurement in aid. Ready for use by September 2020.   

Why FMO supports the Solvoz platform with funding

FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. Their mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build a better world, through local prosperity. This fits the Solvoz mission, for FMO this project brings a user friendly solution to the market which is currently not available. In the short term, it enhances the availability of COVID-19 response solutions for LMICs [edit: Low and Middle Income Countries], including local solutions while at the same time laying a foundation for adding more categories to offer a broad array of aid solutions on a paid basis post COVID-19. Current practice is a wide array of procurement platforms tied to a buyer and rigid in nature.

Jasper Klapwijk is the Business Development Manager at FMO. Within FMO he works at the NL Business department, focused on supporting Dutch enterprises and organisations in low and middle income countries, with development capital and loans. Jasper explains FMO and why supporting Solvoz in his own words.

Interview with Jasper Klapwijk

Prior to joining FMO Dutch Development Bank, Jasper attended Cass Business School in London and worked for ING and in Private Equity. He acquired skills and relationships that are helping to create impact. Not only through project finance and project development expertise, but also in management of complex projects and managing relationships with public and private stakeholders.

Jasper, can you explain Solvoz?

• For me Solvoz is a user friendly catalogue which will be available digitally and is populated with aid solutions. Those solutions are not only of technical nature but also include elements that are needed for the solution to be operational, like spare parts, training, connectivity, etc. As such it provides insight into the total cost of ownership. When a solution is selected, the buyer, which is generally an NGO or a local authority, can move to the tender platform as the second key element in the Solvoz platform. The NGO or local authority thereby request parties to bid for (parts of) the solution and procure the relevant elements. As such the Solvoz platform helps the buyer to identify the relevant components of a required solution and subsequently facilitates the procurement process, as such enhancing efficiency and transparency.

Could you explain how financial co-development works?

• For me personally, impact within the healthcare sector is very important. Especially achieving universal health coverage through primary healthcare. With the arrival of COVID-19, I was highly motivated to look at how we from the Netherlands could accelerate the COVID-19 response for Africa as FMO with many promising initiatives. Further elaborating on the conversations that were already taking place between FMO and SOLVOZ, we quickly found each other. The current financial support is an important part of that. However, I like to act as financial co-developer, which means that, in addition to money, expertise and contacts are also used to achieve the final goal. So I certainly feel responsible for ensuring that the use of our money actually achieves the set goal.

Is Solvoz something new in the world of procurement? 

• I think Solvoz brings transparency to the market by providing insight into solutions with great relevance for the healthcare sector in a technically friendly way, which can then also be purchased  via the platform.  

What is the strength of Solvoz? 

• The strength of Solvoz is the approachability of the platform for the users and the related solutions, which is a result of the diversity in the Solvoz team and the deep involvement with the target group.

What convinced FMO to contribute to this platform?

• The existing contacts with the team and their enthusiasm were definitely important, on top of  the applicability for COVID-response. It is a way to empower local economies. In the long term Solvoz is laying a foundation for adding more categories to offer a broad array of aid solutions. It is important for us that post COVID 19 Solvoz operates on a self sufficient basis as paid solution, including other aid solutions and domains over time. There is a need for a user friendly solution to the market. Plus, Solvoz includes local solutions.

What impact do you think Solvoz could have?

• Reduced procurement costs, better connection and fit to the end user and therefore better use.  

What was an important breakthrough / decision / moment?

• The prototype is essential as well as the external partners that are connected to the platform for the development.

What’s in this project makes you get up in the morning? 

• It is the Solvoz team and impact of its mission.

Jasper Klapwijk, Business Development Manager at the Dutch Development Bank FMO (Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden)