Business and Financial Analyst

TITLE:  Business and Financial Analyst

LOCATION:  Kathmandu, Nepal

REPORTS TO:  Senior Business Opportunities Manager

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

KISAN II is a seven-year project that contributes to the Government of Nepal (GON)’s Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS). KISAN II facilitates systemic change in the agricultural sector, including: (1) greater climate-smart intensification of staple crops and diversification into higher value commodities; (2) strengthening of local market systems to support more competitive and resilient value chains and agricultural-related businesses; (3) improving the enabling environment for agricultural and market systems development; and (4) equipping selected households with the necessary business literacy skills to sustainably integrate into the market system. As part of a 24-month supplemental scope (extension), KISAN II is supporting the GON’s response to the impact of COVID-19 in agriculture and is promoting transformation in the rice and maize sub-sectors. The project coordinates closely with the private sector and the GON’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. KISAN II currently works in 10 districts and intends to narrow its focus to 8 districts in Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces during the extension phase (beginning mid-2022).

KISAN II follows a market systems development approach to strengthen and improve agriculture markets, improve value chain efficiency, and manage unexpected shocks. To ensure that, it is necessary to identify demands, opportunities, and constraints to understand the market and intervene to provide efficient market system for all the actors to benefit from.

INTRODUCTION:

KISAN II has partnered with more than 150 various market actors working in KISAN II’s agriculture value chains namely rice, lentil, goat, maize, and vegetables. KISAN II is supporting partners extensively to strengthen their businesses and services in their current working zone by adding value to their products and services. 

In rice value chain, KISAN II envisions rice mills as an important cog in the market system that can drive efficiency up and down the value chain. To that end, the project is supporting rice mills to establish strong linkages with farmers through specialized extension service and other key intermediary actors in the supply chain for inputs, machines, and leverages (“rice mill model”). At the same time, the rice mill model (RMM) improves the production efficiency of the rice mills through upgrading of milling infrastructure and managerial capacity.

Lastly, the model (as illustrated in the figure below) supports rice mills to improve branding and marketing strategies to increase domestic market share. The rice millers act as the key to unlock the potential of the rice sector in Nepal as they transmit market signals from the consumer to the right market actors – like farmers – encouraging them to make sustainable changes in behavior.

After the successful piloting of RMM, a jointly-funded program was developed in the 2020 main rice season, the “Joint Rice Intervention Program (JRIP)”, between Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD)/Ministry of Land Management Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOLMAC), Feed the Future Nepal Knowledge-Based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN II) and KISAN II’s rice mill partners to improve and scale up fine rice production systems in Nepal. This endeavor was of particular importance and priority for the GoN due to the rising imports of finished rice from India.

KISAN II realizes that a financial analysis from a private sector and farmer perspective needs to be conducted to appropriately scale up the RMM across Nepal. The study seeks to validate the economic and financial merit for rice mills in investing in activities associated with the RMM, which will be critical in convincing other rice mills to independently invest under the model. This information would also encourage other development sector actors and GoN to invest in RMM to increase fine rice production, thereby reducing imports.

ASSIGNMENT:

The primary purpose of this assignment is to conduct a financial analysis to objectively measure economic feasibility of the Rice Mill Model. The details of the assignment are as follows:

• Conduct a detailed financial analysis of the Rice Mill Model with focus on fine rice processing with embedded with extension services, and its impact on mill's business growth and farmers’ sustainable production system.
• Conduct data collection for analysis from major stakeholders - 10 Rice Mills and farmers linked with those rice mills.
• Examine the sustainability potential of the model under the current rate of return on investment for each value chain function – production, processing, and marketing.

The consultant must clearly propose the methodology of the proposed analysis – both qualitative and quantitative. For the analysis, use of simple econometric tools may be required.

DELIVERABLES FOR ASSIGNMENT:

Over a 90-day period, the consultant should deliver the following:

1. A framework of how the analysis will be conducted including questionnaire or other tools to gather data. 
2. Travel to the field to meet stakeholders to gather primary data from the field. In case of restricted travel, KISAN II field staff may be asked to assist.
3. A draft report for KISAN II comments and suggestions. (Max 20 pages)
4. A final report incorporating comments and suggestions.
5. A presentation summarizing the major findings and two-page executive summary of the report.
6. A presentation of findings of the financial analysis to major stakeholders during a one-day virtual or in-person workshop.

LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The assignment will be in Kathmandu (or may be virtual) with possible travel to the KISAN II project sites. KISAN II will provide costs incurred in travel within project sites as per the project's norms and standards.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

To implement the task, KISAN II solicits to hire a consultant with deep experience in conducting financial analyses of businesses and/or project interventions. The consultant must have specialized skills in use of econometric tools for data analysis to produce empirical evidence to demonstrate the financial viability of Rice Mill Model. Given this, the consultant must meet the following criteria:

• Master's in business, finance or economics and other similar degrees.
• At least 6 years of work experience in conducting financial and or economic assessments. 
• Experience in working on similar assignments in agriculture sector.
• Extensive experience in developing high quality reports.
• Sound written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali.
• Previous experience of working with the USAID-funded projects is a plus.

LEVEL OF EFFORT (LoE):

The LoE (billable days) of this assignment is maximum 60 days. Consultant is allowed to bill a 6-day work week.

SELECTION CRITERIA AND WEIGHTAGE: 

Consultant will be selected based on the following weightage value for technical and financial proposal.

Application procedure:

Consultant should submit:

• A letter of interest, stating why you are suitable for the assignment.
• Propose daily gross rate along with copy of contract/agreement, or other proof of two latest assignments.  
• For official field visit outside Kathmandu Valley, transportation cost (travel, DSA, Accommodation) will be paid separately as per KISAN II norms.
• Updated CV. 
• PAN registration certificate (copy of VAT certificate is must if the total consultancy value exceeds or equal to NRs. 500,000).

Disclaimer:

Issuance of this notice does not obligate Winrock International to award a Consultancy Service, nor will Winrock International pay any costs associated with the preparation or submission of application. Furthermore, Winrock International reserves the right to reject any and all applications, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of Winrock International. The consultancy service is contingent upon donor approval.