REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS 

Consultancy on the development and Piloting the Innovative Financial Products Tailored to Small Livestock Value Chains 

Scope of Work 

The scope of work is to develop and pilot new financial products tailored to Small Livestock Value Chains 

Assignment Locations: Rwanda (7 districts and Kigali)

Category: Livestock 

1. ACTIVITY OVERVIEW 

In 2023, The Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR) signed a scale up partnership agreement with Rwanda Orora wihaze (ROW), a USAID funded project implemented by Land O’Lakes Venture 37. AMIR is tasked to sustainably increase the availability of, access to, and consumption of Animal Sourced Foods (ASF) in Rwanda through the development of an inclusive profitable market. Utilizing a market systems development approach, this Activity will develop partnerships with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the market system to pilot and scale innovations that address the constraints in Rwanda’s market for animal sourced foods, particularly fish, poultry, swine, and goat/sheep. 

2. BACKGROUND TO THIS CALL FOR APPLICATION 

A key to unlocking the potential of ASF market (fish, poultry, swine, and goat/sheep) in Rwanda is increasing MSME’s access to finance. AMIR in partnership with ROW seeks to address a series of constraints that hinder MSME’s access to finance, including limited affordable financial products and services adapted to ASF sector needs; ineffective underwriting of risks related to ASF production, aggregation, and distribution; and lack of familiarity with market dynamics. This intervention intends to strengthen commercial financial institutions and MSMEs to develop sustainable relationships in targeted districts across Rwanda, leading to increased ASF-related financing. 

Mainly this will involve partnership with several microfinance institutions to address some of the constraints mentioned above through product developments for Microfinance Institutions in livestock value chain financing, inclusive finance and its pilot, facilitating financial literacy training, and raising awareness of available financial products and services. 

3. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY AND TERMS OF REFERENCE 

The purpose of this consultancy is to customize/ Develop the already assisting/ new financial products for the 16 Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and 5 Microfinance Limited Companies, piloting them, conduct capacity building to the 21 partner financial institutions on the developed/ customized financial products. These products should be tailored to small livestock value chains financing. The assignment will be done during 30 working days. 

3.1 Key Activities of the Consultant 

1. Undertake a detailed livestock (pigs, poultry, and fish) production cycle and the seasonality in Rwanda
2. New/ revised products for 21 partner financial institutions developed. These products should be approved by AMIR, FIs and Rwanda OroraWihaze.
3. Discuss the good and bad timing in livestock value chain financing - with specific focus on livestock: pigs, poultry, and fish
4. Consider the findings of the financial needs assessment report in the execution of this assignment.
5. Clarifying the required financing needs in livestock value chain with specific focus on small livestock: pigs, poultry, and fish across the 7 districts
6. Provide monitoring and evaluation framework on livestock value chain project
7. Facilitate 21 partner financial Institutions to develop financial products that are tailored to the needs of rural farmers and SMEs engaged in small livestock financing (Pig, Poultry, Fish).
8. Build the capacity of SACCOs’ staff and committees: 10 participants per SACCO trained about the newly developed products and policies in 7 districts and conduct training to the 5 MFI Ltd).
9. Support 21 partner SACCOs to pilot the newly developed financial products with rural farmers and SMEs engaged in small livestock
10. Submit activity reports

3.2 DELIVERABLES

1. Submission of inception report
2. Presentation inception report for the validation.
3. Facilitate the pilot phase on the customized financial products with the 21 MFIs and SACCOs.
4. Submission of the report on pilot phase with the information on number and value of financing accessed by individuals and groups who benefited from the newly developed/ customized financial products.
5. Report on the customized/developed products based on the findings of financial needs assessment
6. Report on onsite training of 21 MFIs on the developed financial products and services in livestock and Agri-financing in general (the content of the training sessions, and the evaluation: pre and post evaluation of the training by the participants themselves).
7. Report on the testing of the developed financial products.
8. Report on the piloting/roll-out of the developed/customized  financial products.
9. Data on access to finance from 21 supported FIs.
10. Completed Investment Log and Access to Finance Log. the format will be shared by AMIR
11. Presentation of developed/customized financial products to AMIR, FIs and ROW for the approval.
12. Summary of developed financial products in a Powerpoint presentation format
13. Submission of attendance list using Orora Wihaze Activity loglist template on the training conducted to staff of 21 partner FIs on the developed financial products.
14. Submission of a consolidated assignment report.

4. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES: 

Interested individual consultants are encouraged to send their applications to info@amir.org.rw not later than 6 January 2024, at 4:00pm Kigali time. The title of the email must include: “Development/ Customize and Piloting the Innovative Financial Products Tailored to Small Livestock Value Chains.” The application email should attach a comprehensive 4-section technical proposal as one (1) document in PDF format: 

A. Technical Proposal that includes: 

• A detailed and clear methodology on how you will approach and complete this assignment, a duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and proof of a similar assignment completed.
• Personal CV indicating education background/ professional qualifications in line with the ToRs, relevant experience, and contact details and professional references

B. Financial Proposal that includes: 

• A financial proposal with a daily rate. 

4.1 Duty Station 

The duty station of the work will be in 7 Orora Wihaze districts (Kayonza, Ngoma, Gakenke, Nyamagabe, Burera, Rutsiro, and Nyamasheke).

4.2 Required Expertise and Qualifications 

Required Qualifications: 

• A degree in Veterinary, Agri-business, finance, accounting, business or economics.  
• At least 8 years of experience livestock financing in the financing sector (microfinance). 
• Deep understanding of the financial market in Rwanda and its constraints  
• Demonstrated strong understanding and knowledge of livestock specifically small livestock value chains (piggery, poultry, fish, goat/sheep) 
• Proven experience in working and engaging with financial institutions especially those operating in rule areas
• Experience in product development tailored to small livestock value chains specifically (piggery, poultry, fish, goat/sheep)  
• Proven experience of having worked on similar assignment in Rwanda 
• Experience in working and engaging with diverse sets of stakeholders, including private sector, public sector and farmers and farmer groups/cooperatives/associations
• Skills in financial forecasting analysis
• Bankable business planning skills specifically in small livestock  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and provide regular feedback on progress  
• Advanced computer literacy, including strong Excel and PowerPoint skills

Language requirement: 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is essential 
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda and French is an advantage

Done at Kigali, on 22^nd December 2023.

Jackson KWIKIRIZA 

Executive Director