Call for expression of interest

IMBARAGA Farmers’ Organization intends to hire consultancy services for conducting the following study.

Lot 1: ToR for conducting a Rapid Assessment on farmer Cooperatives Members (especially women and youths) Access to financial services, involved in potatoes value chain development in two districts of Western Province within the “Program FO4ACP- Rwanda”

1. Background

IMBARAGA is a Non-governmental National Farmer Organization that works with farmers to improve the socio-economic conditions of more than 32,400 members located in 26 out of 30 districts throughout the country. It is structured from the village to the national level and governed by the vision stated as “A professional farmer, the trigger of development” through “lobby and advocacy”; “increase in productivity and competitiveness” and “environmental protection”.

With the co-financial support from the EU Commission and IFAD through EAFF Federation, IMBARAGA is implementing the “FO4ACP program” in two (2) districts of Rwanda, namely Nyabihu and Rubavu districts.

The overall objective of the programme is to increase income and to improve livelihoods, food and nutrition security and safety of organized smallholder and family farmers in the target areas of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. 

Specifically, the project aims to build capacity of women farmers and youth in addressing the challenges faced in relation to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) towards access to finance in agriculture sector; identify and suggest actionable recommendation to address the gaps and issues raised through capacity building (training workshops, exchange and learning visits, coaching), linkages with the markets and networking, and advocacy.

Specifically, the assessment in relation to access to finance for SHFs will allow to reach the key project results stipulated as follows: enhanced delivery of economic services along potatoes value chain and creating an enabling business environment at the local and national level.

2. Assignment

For the purpose aforementioned, IMBARAGA would like to hire a consulting firm or an individual consultant to carry out an in-depth rapid assessment on Access to finance for organized SHFs involved in potatoes value chain development in the districts covered by FO4ACP project interventions.

During the field work and discussions with different stakeholders, data will be collected in relation to mapping existing financial services (savings and credit/loans, interest rates, collateral, repayment schedule, insurance facilities, guarantee funds if any, information system for lending, kind of formal products and services available used or not by the farmers;…) provided by the existing banks and micro-finance institutions operating in Rubavu and Nyabihu districts with focus on gender equity and social inclusion, women and young people benefitting financial services (age, marital status, level of education, financial literacy skills, business plan, solidarity group lending, contract farming with off-takers, collective marketing, record keeping, quality assurance and standards, profile of borrowers vs small-scale or large farmers, market information system;…).

3. Scope of work

The consultant is expected to:

• Undertake desktop research and visit relevant institutions to collect more information on the subject of concern. The consultant/firm is required to use a consultative and inclusive approach to ensure that all key stakeholders are actively involved during the process of this study;
• Analyze the local context and opportunities for smallholder farmers to access agricultural finance services at the farmer cooperatives, seed multipliers and aggregators level across the districts covered by the study;
• Identify smallholder farmers’ needs, and expectations from the existing financial institutions operating in their areas of interventions;
• Conduct SWOT analysis of the existing financial institutions in order to have a clear image of what they do and challenges they are facing in terms of products and financial services delivery;
• Define the small-scale farmers opportunities to access agricultural finance allowing them to modernize their farms and promote potatoes farming as a business;
• Analyze the mechanisms that can help SHFs and financial institutions to raise awareness on existing financial opportunities to address the issue of insufficient collateral at the community level;
• Financial Institutions to be more involved in building capacity of women farmers and youths to utilize opportunities that have been put in place to facilitate them to access finance;
• Increase the penetration of the agricultural insurance services at the grass-root level and create awareness, and sensitization programs that build the capacity of women farmers and youth on programs that offer loans or financial services;
• Collect relevant information from key actors and other service providers operating at the district level such as the private companies, farmer cooperatives, local NGOs, etc. and provide actionable recommendations based on the main findings of the study;
• Increase women’s knowledge of the loan process and their ability to negotiate regarding loans;
• Encourage bank and non-bank financial institutions to innovatively package appropriate products that suit women farmers and youth needs.

4. Consultant/s qualification, skills and experience

The consultant/s will possess the following minimum qualification and skills:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Agri-finance, Agricultural Economics, Finance, and or Business Administration;
• At least five (5) years of professional experience in agri-banking, micro-finance, rural and agriculture investment finance; for donor-funded projects, non-profit organizations, and private sector banking for donor-funded projects;
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing;
• Effective at collaboration; willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically;
• Proven experience in managing multiple and competing tasks while maintaining the quality of deliverables within deadlines;
• A fluent speaker of English, Kinyarwanda, and French;
• Experience in inclusive finance (youth and women) will be an advantage.

5. Criteria of selection

The selection will mainly be based on the following elements:

• Relevance of the proposed approach and methodology;
• Qualification and experience in carrying out similar work;
• Other required documents such as registration number in RDB, tax registration in RRA, and certificate of completion of similar consultancy work;
• Working calendar and detailed financial proposal.

6. How to apply?

Interested candidates are required to submit the following documents:

• A technical proposal should outline an indicative methodology (sampling methodology, data collection, and analysis techniques), timeline, and delivery dates and proofs of previous similar work experience, detailed CVs; and an application letter including contact information of references;
• A financial proposal (financial bids) quoted in Rwandan Francs (RWF).

All bids need to be addressed to the Legal Representative and submitted to IMBARAGA Head Office (KK18 Av214, Rubilizi Road, P.O.Box 1462 Kigali- Rwanda) no later than January 22, 2024 at 1:00 pm.

Done at Kigali, on 4^th January, 2024

Jean Paul MUNYAKAZI,

Legal Representative