Hinga
Weze Project Background
Weze Project Background
Feed
the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze project is a USAID funded activity implemented by
CNFA. The primary objective of the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze activity
is to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional
status of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of the
agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. This is envisioned to be
achieved through the sustainable increase of agriculture productivity,
improving farmers’ access to market and improving nutrition outcomes of
agriculture interventions. The Activity is being implemented in the
following ten districts of Rwanda: Gatsibo, Kayonza, Bugesera, Ngoma (Eastern
Province); Nyabihu, Rutsiro, Ngororero Nyamasheke, Karongi (Western Province);
and Nyamagabe (Southern Province).
the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze project is a USAID funded activity implemented by
CNFA. The primary objective of the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze activity
is to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional
status of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of the
agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. This is envisioned to be
achieved through the sustainable increase of agriculture productivity,
improving farmers’ access to market and improving nutrition outcomes of
agriculture interventions. The Activity is being implemented in the
following ten districts of Rwanda: Gatsibo, Kayonza, Bugesera, Ngoma (Eastern
Province); Nyabihu, Rutsiro, Ngororero Nyamasheke, Karongi (Western Province);
and Nyamagabe (Southern Province).
To
achieve the goals of the activity, five nutrient-rich value chains will be
specifically targeted: high-iron beans, Orange Flesh Sweet Potato (OFSP), Irish
potato, maize, and horticulture. Recognizing the importance of accessing
affordable financial services for market-oriented smallholder farmers, Hinga
Weze (HW) will collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including financial
service providers and other USAID-funded projects, to facilitate men and women
farmers’ access to credit and markets. Hinga Weze will actively explore
opportunities to leverage private-sector resources to create market
opportunities for beneficiaries.
achieve the goals of the activity, five nutrient-rich value chains will be
specifically targeted: high-iron beans, Orange Flesh Sweet Potato (OFSP), Irish
potato, maize, and horticulture. Recognizing the importance of accessing
affordable financial services for market-oriented smallholder farmers, Hinga
Weze (HW) will collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including financial
service providers and other USAID-funded projects, to facilitate men and women
farmers’ access to credit and markets. Hinga Weze will actively explore
opportunities to leverage private-sector resources to create market
opportunities for beneficiaries.
The
agricultural financing landscape analysis (products and activities in the
market) that Hinga Weze undertook in 2017 has identified the lack of
collateral, the high cost of accessing finance, lack of banking history, high
level of financial illiteracy rate and inadequate credit management skills and
knowledge among other barriers to smallholder farmers financial inclusion. The
same analysis has also identified the promotion of financial services usage
combined with technical assistance as possible solutions to smallholder
farmer’s exclusion to financial services.
agricultural financing landscape analysis (products and activities in the
market) that Hinga Weze undertook in 2017 has identified the lack of
collateral, the high cost of accessing finance, lack of banking history, high
level of financial illiteracy rate and inadequate credit management skills and
knowledge among other barriers to smallholder farmers financial inclusion. The
same analysis has also identified the promotion of financial services usage
combined with technical assistance as possible solutions to smallholder
farmer’s exclusion to financial services.
In
addition to supporting financial service providers in tailoring their products
to the needs of these underserved small holder farmers, the promotion of
solidary groups model, which is one of the focus activity of some of
microfinance institutions and SACCOs in Hinga Weze zone of influence, if
implemented within the cooperatives and farmer groups could be a channel
through which small holder farmers embark into financial transformation journey
where they learn and adopt saving and loan practices with a strategic purpose
to improve either an agricultural productivity (through timely access to
inputs) or nutrition status (animal protein production assets).
addition to supporting financial service providers in tailoring their products
to the needs of these underserved small holder farmers, the promotion of
solidary groups model, which is one of the focus activity of some of
microfinance institutions and SACCOs in Hinga Weze zone of influence, if
implemented within the cooperatives and farmer groups could be a channel
through which small holder farmers embark into financial transformation journey
where they learn and adopt saving and loan practices with a strategic purpose
to improve either an agricultural productivity (through timely access to
inputs) or nutrition status (animal protein production assets).
Objective
of assignment
of assignment
The
objective of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to Hinga Weze to
implement the solidary group model (pilot phase) within the farmers’
cooperatives and provide the capacity building to solidary groups’ members and
Hinga Weze district staff. The pilot phase will focus on four districts
(Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero in Western province and Bugesera in Eastern
province) in Irish potatoes, Maize and Horticulture value chains.
objective of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to Hinga Weze to
implement the solidary group model (pilot phase) within the farmers’
cooperatives and provide the capacity building to solidary groups’ members and
Hinga Weze district staff. The pilot phase will focus on four districts
(Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero in Western province and Bugesera in Eastern
province) in Irish potatoes, Maize and Horticulture value chains.
Scope
of the Short-Term Technical Assistance
of the Short-Term Technical Assistance
The
purpose of Solidary group model is to provide simple savings and loan
facilities in a community that does not have easy access to formal financial
services. The TA will in general, help HW identified beneficiaries to form
solidarity groups.
purpose of Solidary group model is to provide simple savings and loan
facilities in a community that does not have easy access to formal financial
services. The TA will in general, help HW identified beneficiaries to form
solidarity groups.
More
specifically the TA will cover the following assignment:
specifically the TA will cover the following assignment:
a)Conduct
quick financial and business analysis for the selected cooperatives;
quick financial and business analysis for the selected cooperatives;
b)Facilitate
the formation of groups within the cooperatives/ zones. Each group is
composed of 10 self-selected individuals. Groups will meet on a weekly basis,
and members save;
the formation of groups within the cooperatives/ zones. Each group is
composed of 10 self-selected individuals. Groups will meet on a weekly basis,
and members save;
c)Monitor
(Intensive and routine coaching and monitoring) the solidarity groups’
activities and support to put in place the internal rules and regulations;
(Intensive and routine coaching and monitoring) the solidarity groups’
activities and support to put in place the internal rules and regulations;
d)Train
solidarity groups facilitators and leaders cooperatives in financial literacy
and solidarity groups’ model. This activity aims at promoting the savings and
credits culture in the entire cooperative starting with cooperative management;
solidarity groups facilitators and leaders cooperatives in financial literacy
and solidarity groups’ model. This activity aims at promoting the savings and
credits culture in the entire cooperative starting with cooperative management;
e)Facilitate
the linkage of solidarity groups to financial service providers;
the linkage of solidarity groups to financial service providers;
f)Provide
coaching to BMFD and Outreach officers on solidarity groups concepts and
methodology.
coaching to BMFD and Outreach officers on solidarity groups concepts and
methodology.
Deliverables
and expected outcomes
and expected outcomes
Hinga
Weze is expecting the following deliverables
Weze is expecting the following deliverables
1.Financial
and Business Analysis Report produced;
and Business Analysis Report produced;
2.50
Farmers solidarity groups formed in each district with a minimum of 2,000
farmers reached;
Farmers solidarity groups formed in each district with a minimum of 2,000
farmers reached;
3.BMFD
Officers and Outreach officers from the four targeted districts trained in
solidary groups model through coaching process;
Officers and Outreach officers from the four targeted districts trained in
solidary groups model through coaching process;
4.Solidarity
groups facilitators and leaders trained;
groups facilitators and leaders trained;
5.Coaching
(intensive and routine) and monitoring of the formed solidary groups provided
until their maturity;
(intensive and routine) and monitoring of the formed solidary groups provided
until their maturity;
6.Established
linkage of solidarity groups to at least three financial service providers.
linkage of solidarity groups to at least three financial service providers.
Competencies
Required
Required
Applicants
are required to provide profiles for all proposed technicians, clearly stating
their roles and responsibilities, level of effort, and including their
technical expertise and practical experience.
are required to provide profiles for all proposed technicians, clearly stating
their roles and responsibilities, level of effort, and including their
technical expertise and practical experience.
This
assignment expected to carry out by experienced individuals/firm with the
following qualifications:
assignment expected to carry out by experienced individuals/firm with the
following qualifications:
1.
A Bachelor’s degree in management, Business Administration/Agriculture
Economics/Finance/ Agriculture/Agri-business or related field;
A Bachelor’s degree in management, Business Administration/Agriculture
Economics/Finance/ Agriculture/Agri-business or related field;
2.Must
have strong experience in coaching and follow up of the solidary groups in Rwanda;
have strong experience in coaching and follow up of the solidary groups in Rwanda;
3.Expertise
in financial inclusion through linkages of smallholder farmers to
non-financial and financial service providers;
in financial inclusion through linkages of smallholder farmers to
non-financial and financial service providers;
4.
Minimum 5 years’ experience in microfinance business in Rwanda;
Minimum 5 years’ experience in microfinance business in Rwanda;
5.
Must have good knowledge of the Rwandan agricultural finance context,
especially for smallholder farmers;
Must have good knowledge of the Rwandan agricultural finance context,
especially for smallholder farmers;
6.
Strong analytical skills, report writing and ability to triangulate data from
multiple sources;
Strong analytical skills, report writing and ability to triangulate data from
multiple sources;
7.
Strong communication and facilitation skills backed by knowledge of adult
learning techniques and speaking local language speakers where necessary;
Strong communication and facilitation skills backed by knowledge of adult
learning techniques and speaking local language speakers where necessary;
8.
Track record in conducting solitary groups capacity building related activities
in the agriculture sector.
Track record in conducting solitary groups capacity building related activities
in the agriculture sector.
Required
level of effort and time frame
level of effort and time frame
The
required level of effort is 80 working days for the above deliverables.
required level of effort is 80 working days for the above deliverables.
Confidentiality
of information and language
of information and language
All
documents and data will be treated as confidential and used solely to
facilitate the work in this assignment. The deliverables of this work will be
the responsibility of the consultant and will be aligned with all the aspects
as outlined in these terms of reference. Hinga Weze will be responsible
for the coordination role and will be the owner of the deliverables. The reports
will be produced in English and should be simple in expression and easy to
understand.
documents and data will be treated as confidential and used solely to
facilitate the work in this assignment. The deliverables of this work will be
the responsibility of the consultant and will be aligned with all the aspects
as outlined in these terms of reference. Hinga Weze will be responsible
for the coordination role and will be the owner of the deliverables. The reports
will be produced in English and should be simple in expression and easy to
understand.
Instructions
to prospective bidders
to prospective bidders
Preparation
of Proposals: You are requested to submit separate technical and financial
proposal. You are advised to carefully read the complete Scope of Work. Where
an electronic copy of the scope of work is issued, the paper or hard copy is
the original version. In the event of any discrepancy between the two, the hard
copy shall prevail
of Proposals: You are requested to submit separate technical and financial
proposal. You are advised to carefully read the complete Scope of Work. Where
an electronic copy of the scope of work is issued, the paper or hard copy is
the original version. In the event of any discrepancy between the two, the hard
copy shall prevail
Technical
Proposals: Technical proposals should contain the following documents and
information and should not exceed 10 pages (proposals exceeding these pages
will not be considered):
Proposals: Technical proposals should contain the following documents and
information and should not exceed 10 pages (proposals exceeding these pages
will not be considered):
1.
The consultant profile/CV;
The consultant profile/CV;
2.
An approach and methodology for performing the services;
An approach and methodology for performing the services;
3.
A detailed work plan;
A detailed work plan;
4.
Copies of previous contracts;
Copies of previous contracts;
5.
A summary of your experience in similar assignments with supporting documents;
A summary of your experience in similar assignments with supporting documents;
Financial
Proposals: Financial proposals should contain the following document and
information and should not exceed 2 pages:
Proposals: Financial proposals should contain the following document and
information and should not exceed 2 pages:
1.A
copy of the breakdown showing all costs for the assignment, broken down into
fees and reimbursable and miscellaneous costs. The costs associated with the
assignment shall be estimated in US dollars.
copy of the breakdown showing all costs for the assignment, broken down into
fees and reimbursable and miscellaneous costs. The costs associated with the
assignment shall be estimated in US dollars.
Validity
of Proposals: Proposals must remain valid for 30 days.
of Proposals: Proposals must remain valid for 30 days.
Submission
of Proposals: The technical and financial proposals should be submitted
separately in the same email, both marked with “Technical Proposal” or
“Financial Proposal” as appropriate.
of Proposals: The technical and financial proposals should be submitted
separately in the same email, both marked with “Technical Proposal” or
“Financial Proposal” as appropriate.
Proposals
(both technical and financial) should be submitted in Word/Excel or PDF formats
by email to c2.stta@cnfarwanda.org clearly indicating the
subject line: “Call for proposals for Short-Term Technical Assistance for
promotion of farmers’ solidary groups’ model and linkage to financial service
providers”
(both technical and financial) should be submitted in Word/Excel or PDF formats
by email to c2.stta@cnfarwanda.org clearly indicating the
subject line: “Call for proposals for Short-Term Technical Assistance for
promotion of farmers’ solidary groups’ model and linkage to financial service
providers”