Terms of Reference (TOR): Access to Finance Consultant (Officer)

Terms of Reference (TOR) 

Access to Finance Consultant (Officer)

1. Overview

Heifer International Nepal (Heifer) is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth through agriculture-based livelihood and market system development programs. While agriculture and livestock-based micro, small and medium enterprises-MSMEs remains an important source of income for rural people, entrepreneurship has been yet to achieve its true potential in this sector. HPIN has realized that the lack of access to capital for smallholder farmers, SMEs and off-takers for business expansion is one of the major limiting factors. 

Hence, its new program model focuses on developing a sustainable business ecosystem by empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises-MSMEs, off-takers and private sector through investment facilitation, financial literacy, and technical skills development. By partnering with 14 bank and financial institutions-BFIs formally, Heifer has received commitment of loan over NPR 10 billion, out of which NPR 2.75 billion for over 12,000 smallholder farmers, cooperatives and other SMEs. The strong collaboration and coordination among Heifer, BFIs, Cooperatives and rural MSMEs is needed to fill the gaps in efficiency and reaching its true potentials.

To capitalize on this, Heifer is seeking three (3) long-term consultants to support Heifer’s access to finance initiatives in Nepal. 

2. Major Responsibility

The full-time, field-based consultants will support access to finance initiative and strengthen the business capacity of smallholder farmers and MSMEs in Heifer project areas. Their main role is to help smallholder farmers, self-help groups, youth, and diverse communities start or expand enterprises by securing investment and affordable loans from BFIs and tracking their effective use.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and support entrepreneurs, youth, cooperatives, and MSMEs with limited access to credit to develop or grow farm-based enterprises.
• Coordinate with local governments, cooperatives, financial institutions, and Heifer teams to promote access to finance through outreach, training, and joint planning.
• Deliver training on financial literacy, business planning, loan processing, and risk management.
• Link cooperatives to markets and develop strategies to strengthen their market position.
• Prepare and maintain lists of target cooperatives/enterprises, business plans, loans facilitated, and track loan utilization and repayment.
• Support cooperatives and MSMEs in drafting bankable business plans, loan applications, and monitoring agreements with BFIs.
• Collect and document data on income generated through financed enterprises and develop case studies and success stories.
• Assist the PME unit with monitoring frameworks, progress reporting, and results measurement.
• Build capacity of partners through workshops, coaching, and training on business development, loan tracking, and value addition.
• Facilitate connections between cooperatives, farmers, and financial partners to expand access to credit and investment.
• Maintain updated databases on loans disbursed, repayment status, and borrower feedback.
• Engage private sector actors to promote inclusive partnerships, draft agreements, and organize exposure visits and networking events to strengthen business linkages.
• Ensure gender and social inclusion in financial activities and enterprise development.
• Prepare and submit regular reports, reviews, and documentation of all activities, including training records and partnership outcomes.
• Perform other duties as required.

3. Duty Station and Duration

Nepalgunj, Butwal and Janakpur regions (one in each) of Heifer for six months with the possibility of extension based on performance.

4. Deliverables

• Monthly report consisting no of entrepreneurs and cooperatives identified, oriented, and facilitated for loan application in the project area, total amount of loan realized and performance/impact of this initiative and bimonthly reports of achievement of all the milestones under capital deployment component.
• Profile of MSMEs, cooperatives, BFIs (incl. its branch and staff) and local governments.
• Review report of MSMEs and cooperative business plans (monthly).

5. Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, finance, agriculture, management or related field, plus minimum 3 years of experience in the development sector, especially relevant work experience in the field of agriculture/livestock value chains mainly access to finance is required.
• Must have computer knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or similar software to visualize and present the findings. 
• 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.
• The candidate must have a valid license of motorbike and can use own motorbike in the field.

6. Application and Required Documents

Interested and experienced individual from the same field is requested to apply along with the following documents mentioning email subject line “Application for Access to Finance Consultant” through email to hr.nepal@heifer.org. 

Deadline for Submission of Expressions of Interest: 5th August 2025 before 5 : 00 PM. 

• Application letter
• Updated CV
• Expected monthly remuneration (NPR)
• Copy of VAT/PAN registration certificate 
• Copy of Nepali citizenship certificate
• A copy of valid 2 wheelers driving license

7. Culture of Belonging

Heifer Project International Nepal is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially abled.

8. Disclaimer 

Issuance of this notice does not obligate Heifer to hire a consultant, nor will pay any costs associated with the submission of application and participate in the selection process. Furthermore, Heifer reserves the right to reject any and all applications, if such an action is considered to be in the best interest of the project.