CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) for Consultant

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) for Consultant

Heifer Project Nepal (HPN) is a non-profit organization working in Nepal since 1998 with the aim of ending hunger and poverty and caring for the earth through agriculture-based livelihood and market system development programs. With more than two decades of experience of HPN in Nepal, we have realized the need for capital investment (i.e. concessional loans) among the smallholder farmers and women entrepreneurs. Now, HPN program’s focus is on developing a sustainable rural financial ecosystem by strengthening cooperatives and empowering other micro, small, and medium enterprises-MSMEs through financial literacy, skills development and by motivating them to use various financial services from Banks and Financial Institutions-BFIs.

Position: Access to Finance Officer-1

Term: 6 months

Base Station: Gulmi or Palpa

A short-term consultant will work in the field of access to finance and business capacity development of smallholder farmers and other MSMEs located in the Government Partnership Project-GPP areas. The main responsibility of this position will be to work with the groups of smallholder farmers, youth and different occupational ethnicity to start up or expand their enterprises by helping them in bringing interest subsidy concessional loans and the measurement of its performance in the field. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist the cluster team, partner NGOs, local governments (Government Partnership Project-GPP) and SEW Cooperatives in identification of farm entrepreneurs and other MSMEs in the livestock/agriculture sector seeking for affordable and simplified finance.
• Coordinate with the partner BFIs and maintain a functional relationship with the staff of the concerned branch of the bank for affordable finance for farm entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
• Build capacity of selected MSMEs (including the project team) in obtaining investment (including loan) for start-up and growth of MSMEs enterprise operations.
• Develop determinants of the loan utilization and repayment behavior of SEW Cooperatives, farm entrepreneurs and other MSMEs.
• Develop a working modality for SEW Cooperatives to review loan application and to check control over the utilization of the loan.
• Support the SEW Cooperatives, MSMEs and other Value Chain (VC) actors in documentation (business plans, loan processing etc.) utilization and monitoring of loans.
• Compile annual income generated particularly from the use of loan from BFIs.
• Ensure regular reporting incl. case study documentation under this component of the project.
• Coordinate with the cluster team for the implementation of capital deployment program in the project area.
• Work with Project Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) unit in developing monitoring framework and maintain progress reporting and result measurement of the project.

DELIVERABLES:

• A report consisting no of entrepreneurs served for access to finance in the project area, the amount of loan realized during that time and the performance/impact of this initiatives.
• Documents and periodic reports of achievement of all the milestones under capital deployment component of Heifer International.
• Profile of SEW Coops, potential MSMEs, BFIs (incl. its branch and staff), local governments.
• Training manuals and reference materials.
• Review report of business plans.
• Document of working modality for SEW Cooperatives to review loan application and to check control. 
• Establishment of monitoring and reporting systems of capital deployment component.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s Degree in Economics/Finance/Business management or related field, plus minimum 3 years of experience in development sector, especially relevant work experience in the field of agriculture/livestock value chains including access to finance is required.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

• Knowledge and experience working in access to finance programs, partnering with BFIs, community development and business fiancé. 
• Knowledge and experience with or within community organizations
• Competency in both speaking and writing skills on national language/s and English-  
• Good leadership qualities
• Good communication skills
• Have an interest in access to finance/business finance/community development
• Excellent organizational skills including strong attention to detail
• Skills with Microsoft Office package, internet browser, and other appropriate technology.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision - major tasks in field where independent expert decisions have to be made.
• Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner.
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.
• Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability and willingness to work with a flexible schedule.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both locally and internationally.
• Ability to foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork and cooperation.
• Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs, and to gender equity.

Preferred Requirements:

• Proven experience on Private Sector engagement  
• Knowledge on Access to Finance and Financial Inclusion
• Experience on Livestock Economics/Value Chain Development

Interested and experienced individual from the same field is requested to submit application along with the following documents mentioning email subject line “Application for Consultant – Access to Finance Officer” through email to procurement-np@heifer.org

• Letter of interest
• Updated CV
• Financial proposal indicating consultancy fee (per month) 
• Copy of VAT/PAN registration certificate

Deadline for Submission of Expressions of Interest: April 5, 2021, before 5 PM.