Terms of Reference (ToR): Consultant for Investment Facilitation Support

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultant for Investment Facilitation Support

1. Background

Heifer International Nepal aims to contribute to ending hunger and poverty while caring for the earth through sustainable food system development. By organizing rural communities mainly women into Self-Help Groups and Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperatives (SEWCs), Heifer has empowered over 400,000 families across Nepal, fostering inclusive and resilient agri-food systems.

Heifer has supported over 300 cooperatives and mobilized approximately USD 20 million in affordable finance and catalyzed a broader investment commitment of USD 76 million. These cooperatives operate in diverse commodities (e.g., goats, milk, vegetables, seeds), while also offering savings, credit, and linking members to banks and financial institutions (BFIs).

Despite growing demand, agri-businesses face challenges accessing investment due to lack of investment readiness, collateral, high transaction costs, and limited capacity among them accessing investment from various sources. Many agri-businesses are not yet investment-ready due to gaps in business planning, governance, and impact reporting. Strengthening agribusiness and cooperatives’ internal systems, financial management, and investor communication is crucial to unlocking their full potential.

To address this, Heifer aligns with Nepal's 10-year national campaign (2024/25–2034/35) to mobilize investment in the agriculture sector. 

In this context, Heifer seeks a consultant to support investment facilitation support across the ecosystem—working with SEWCs, private agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners.

2. Objectives

To enhance investment readiness and access to finance for selected cooperatives, SEWA, and Agri-enterprises by:

• Supporting capacity building
• Strengthening governance and systems
• Facilitating investment linkages
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Support Investment Readiness Consultant team in strengthen investee (cooperatives, SEWA, agribusinesses) to attract and manage investments.
• Coordinate joint field visits and stakeholder consultations.
• Assist in identifying and addressing operational, financial, and governance gaps.
• Ensure the development of investment documents (business plans, pitch decks).
• Coordinate with SEWA to assess readiness and strategy for establishing or transforming a "D" class financial institution.
• Facilitate focus group discussions and awareness-raising workshops with key ecosystem actors.
• Engage with consultants, cooperatives, and other partners to design and deliver targeted capacity-building activities.
• Assist in the development and implementation of M&E frameworks to track the progress of cooperative and investment outcomes.
• Support the Access to Finance (A2F) team and consultant in investor matchmaking, strategic planning, and leveraging capital.
• Develop case studies for promoting scalable investment-readiness models and document the best practices.

4. Deliverables

• Monthly reports including assessment reports, plans, workshop reports, documentation of business plans, pitch decks, M&E framework and progress tracking tools
• Stakeholder consultation summary and recommendations.

Heifer International Nepal, serving as a facilitator is seeking a consultant to support in the facilitation of investment to the entire ecosystem. Major Responsibilities include.

5. Consultant Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture or an equivalent field.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s banking industry, women entrepreneurship, agricultural, financial, and cooperative sectors and having some experience in the sector.
• Aware of importance of gender-sensitive financial practices aligning with SEWA Nepal’s objectives.
• Prior experience in stakeholder engagement and management (preference will be given to those who have worked with Heifer).
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

6. Duration of Assignment 

The assignment will span 6 months, from Mid-May 2025 to Mid-October 2025. In addition to this, it will be extended based on the performance of the consultant and need of the program of Heifer.

7. Heifer’s Input 

Heifer shall provide relevant information, project documents and resources to the consultant and facilitate coordination between the consultants and concerned stakeholders/institutions as and when necessary. The Heifer shall provide logistical support (food, accommodation and transport etc. as per Heifer policy) to the consultant during the execution of consultancy service. 

Heifer shall designate a primary contact person who will act as professional and support counterpart personnel to the consultant team for any necessary assistance. The consultant shall work closely with her/him and the team members concerned regarding quality deliverables.

How To Apply

Interested individuals should submit their application including below mentioned documents by 5:00 pm, 13th May 2025 to  hr.nepal@heifer.org with the subject line mentioning “Consultant for Investment Facilitation Support” in Nepal.

• Cover letter highlighting relevant experience and expertise
• CV 
• PAN registration certificate

Any telephone inquiries or other inquiries would not be entertained.

8. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belongingness 

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belongingness. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristics.

9. 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.