Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the selection of Implementing Partner for Project Lift Off

CARE Nepal

Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the selection of Implementing Partner for Project Lift Off

Who are we?

CARE has been operational in Nepal since 1978 and works in partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders across the spectrum of humanitarian action and long-term development programs. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis. CARE puts women and girls at the center of everything we do because they have proven to be the best hope for creating lasting change in the world.

About the project:

In 2024, CARE Nepal, together in a consortium with a reputed commercial bank, and other project partners introduced the Kisan Card to strengthen smallholder farmers’ agricultural livelihoods. The initiative aimed to provide integrated access to finance, input and output services, business development support, agricultural technologies, and market linkages through a closed loop model that connects farmers with value chain actors, service providers, and banks. Unlike open-loop systems, this structured model enables targeted investment, close monitoring, and systematic tracking of farmers’ financial behavior to build their credit worthiness. The initial phase deployed the Kisan Card to 6,000 women as a debit-only tool for cash grants targeted at homestead production. The card enabled cashless purchases of agricultural inputs, but broader services such as comprehensive BDS and market linkages were delivered at a reduced scale. CARE recognized that without improved access to finance, these complementary services would have limited impact.

With the new monetary policy now allowing banks to issue collateral free loans based on their own due diligence systems, there is a timely opportunity to upgrade the Kisan Card through Project Lift Off. The enhanced model will enable farmers to receive payments directly onto the card, creating a digital financial history that can support access to collateral free credit in line with Nepal Rastra Bank guidelines. It will also integrate stronger BDS—including business planning, mentorship, and risk management—while working with the bank to address operational barriers and design tailored loan products. This upgraded approach aims to transition farmers from subsistence production to commercial agriculture, advancing digital financial inclusion and driving sustainable rural growth.

Objective of the assignment: 

The objective of this assignment is to support the effective design, enhancement, and implementation of the upgraded Kisan Card model to expand smallholder farmers’ access to digital financial services, collateral free agricultural credit, and improved market opportunities. This includes providing business development services, strengthening the product design and underlying digital ecosystem; building farmers’ digital, financial, and business capacities; improving market linkages and providing mentoring support to farmers; and documenting lessons learned to inform refinement and scaleup of the Kisan Card model.

Scope of Work:

The selected service provider will be responsible for delivering services associated with the following components:

• Technical design & product development: Support CARE Nepal and Bank in designing and upgrading the Kisan Card (including credit features, repayment options, and financial tracking), ensuring alignment with regulations, testing functionality, and contributing to loan risk mitigation (e.g., credit guarantees).
• Ecosystem assessment: Analyze agricultural value chains, input systems, markets, and service providers to identify gaps and strengthen supply chains.
• Capacity building & training: Deliver digital, financial and business literacy training, along with practical guidance on card usage and enterprise management to farmers, in particular women farmers.
• Mentoring & market linkages: Provide ongoing mentoring, connect farmers with markets and ecosystem actors, and facilitate access to credit through partnerships with the bank.
• Implementation support & learning: Offer continuous technical support, address operational challenges, document lessons learned, and recommend improvements for scaling the Kisan Card model.
• Reporting and documentation: Track and report on key performance indicators including total users onboard, number of active users, transaction volume and frequency, performance data of agents, credit uptake and repayment, and farmer and agent income/enterprise growth. Maintain disaggregated data (e.g., by gender and location) and provide concise periodic reports highlighting progress, usage trends, and actionable insights for scaling the Kisan Card model.

TO APPLY:

Interested and eligible firm/company are requested to submit their proposal via email to npl.carenepal@care.org. To download detailed terms of reference, CLICK HERE. The deadline for submission of the proposal is 1 April 2026.

CARE reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or any bidder. Only the successful applicant will be contacted.

CARE places human dignity at the centre of its relief and development work. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is its engagement with marginalized communities, and vulnerable adults and children. Vulnerable adults and children are particularly at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. CARE commits to the protection from sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse (PSHEA) of vulnerable adults, involving CARE Employees and Related Personnel. CARE has a zero tolerance toward sexual exploitation and abuse and child abuse. CARE takes seriously all concerns and complaints about sexual exploitation and abuse and child abuse involving CARE Employees and Related Personnel. CARE initiates rigorous investigation of complaints that indicate a possible violation of this policy and takes appropriate disciplinary action, as warranted.