Evaluation of Microfinance Services and Potential to Finance Forest Land Restoration (FLR) Investments

REDD+ in Rwanda for Scaling up in Africa”. The
overarching project goal/outcome is: “Demonstrated and verified enhancement of
carbon stocks and other ecosystem services delivered through landscape scale
restoration in two Rwandan districts with the institutional and investment
means in place to upscale nationally and promote regionally”.   The
project aims to promote the restoration of a mosaic landscapes and enhance
carbon stocks in Rwanda as well as deepen commitments to FLR across Eastern
Africa.

1. To
   gain deep understanding of the Microfinance service sector in Rwanda and
   the financial environment in general.
2. To
   evaluate the existing microfinance products and services, community
   financing schemes/services (formal and informal), and their adaptability
   to individual small holder farmers and community based groups.
3. To
   develop practicable recommendations on unlocking access to finance for
   individual and groups  that aim to invest in FLR

1. Microfinance
   and Policy Environment

1. Identify
   the micro level financial services providers operating in Rwanda, for
   example, MFIs, Financial Cooperatives, NGOs, Commercial Banks etc.and
   assess their proximity and accessibility to rural small holders farmers as
   well the potential to finance Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) projects.
2. Review
   related policies and laws and how they affect provision of microfinance
   services to individual farmers and community based groups such as saving
   groups, youth groups, woman groups etc

1. Microfinance
   Products and Services

1. Evaluate
   the types, structure and delivery of microfinance products, and their
   relevance to farmers including, but not limited to, micro credit, micro
   savings, micro insurance, leasing, and financial literacy training.
2. Asses
   the appropriateness of microfinance products and services to the needs of
   rural households, farmers and suitability to financing FLR initiatives.
3. Identify
   financial and non-financial barriers that limit access to microfinance for
   small holder farmers and community based groups.
4. Community
   Financing Review and Recommendations
5. Review
   the target clientele for microfinance providers and assess their readiness
   to offer services to community based formal and informal groups such as
   Village Loans and Saving Associations (VSLAs), youth or women groups and
   other community groups.
6. Evaluate
   thebusiness skills of community groups to access and manage loans and
   identify any present and potential barriers to accessing finance.
7. Give
   recommendations to enhance access to finance for farmers, especially small
   holders.

1. An
   inception report highlighting understanding of the ToRs for Microfinance
   review, proposed methodology and plan of execution including the tools for
   data collection and a detailed work plan.
2. A
   draft report according to the ToRs.
3. A
   PowerPoint presentation of the findings to two validation workshops in
   Gatsibo and Gicumbi districts.
4. A
   final report (soft and hard copy) incorporating the recommendations from
   the validation workshop

• At
  least five years’ experience in the Microfinance sector with specific
  experience in group based microfinance.
• Knowledge
  and experience in Microfinance Policy and regulation.
• Master’s
  degree in a related discipline (Finance, Economics, Banking etc.).
• Strong
  analytical, research and reporting skills with evidence of undertaking
  similar assignments in the past.
• Practical
  experience in the Rwandan context.