Background
In 2014, MasterCard Foundation awarded a USD15.5 million grant to AGRA to implement the Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Farmers in Africa Project (FISFAP) over five years with the aim of improving the productivity and incomes of 728,000 smallholder farmers in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Till date, FISFAP has funded 15 partnerships with a budget of USD 7 million to develop, pilot and roll out appropriate and affordable financial and non-financial solutions for smallholder farmers, often by using digital technology to enhance outreach and reduce costs of serving farmers.
FISFAP recognizes the important role played by women farmers and seeks to understand the gender-related social, economic and cultural barriers that women face in relation to access to financial services, including their ability to access digital financial solutions.
One of the hypothesis in the FISFAP program is that if the partners integrate women into their business models and core operations, not only would gender inequalities decline in the communities in which they work, but it would also improve the profitability of their solutions.
There are studies[1] which suggest that being female, less educated, with lower income, or from rural areas is associated with a greater accrual of effects from digital finance programs. The study in Burkina Faso found that individuals living in a rural area were three times more likely to save with mobile money than those in urban areas. Women were six times more likely to save with mobile money than men and less educated individuals were four times more likely than higher educated individuals to save using mobile money. These outcomes should represent a huge opportunity for the FISFAP partners to focus more on serving female clients in rural areas.
The proposed study and learning event will substantiate this hypothesis with case studies from the partners’ solutions. At least 5 of the solutions will be assessed in terms of their suitability for female farmers, on the basis of which suggestions will be made to improve the business case for serving female farmers.
Objective of the study:
The objective of this assignment is to identify costs and benefits of adapting approaches, product features, marketing, delivery channels, etc. that overcome barriers facing women and that will attract female farmers to enrolling and using (digital) financial services.
Scope of Work
Compilation of case studies
The proposed learning study on ‘The business case for serving female smallholder farmers’ includes an in-depth analysis of the different business models funded under FISFAP.
The study should analyse at least 5 business cases for serving female clients derived from the FISFAP partners’ portfolio in each of the 3 countries. If necessary confidential information will be anonymised to avoid that proprietary data becomes publicly available.
Learning event
On the basis of the case studies and the analysis thereof, a targeted learning event for all partners under FISFAP will be organized which shall act as a platform for sharing the lessons learnt and identified opportunities for serving female farmers. The consultant will be tasked with the preparation of an interactive, actionable learning event.
Methodology
The case studies should analyze the current and potential uptake of the financial solutions by women. The consultant will analyze the business case for serving female farmers the issues to be addressed include but are not limited to:
Current uptake by women (in number and volume): assessment and analysis
Current efforts made by partner to address women’s needs: assessment and analysis
Potential enrolment and uptake by women: estimate potential demand and revenue generated if solutions would be more oriented towards serving women
Product features: How can the solution offered by the partner be more oriented towards female farmers’ needs and challenges?
Affordability and accessibility of solutions: How do men and women compare in as far as being able to access the solution? What steps can be taken to enhance the affordability and accessibility of these services and products to women farmers?
Overview of required changes and adaptations and the cost thereof, that need to be implemented in order to make the solutions relevant, affordable and accessible for women
Socio-cultural context and access/control of resources: How does culture, societal law and norms influence uptake and usage of financial solutions by men and women farmers?
Institutional gender skills: what is the level of gender skills amongst staff engaged to inform farmers of the available financial services, and how does this affects how the staff approach men and women farmers? What about the political commitment to be gender sensitive of these institutions?
Instruments to be used during the study include but are not limited to:
Desktop study to understand the solutions offered and to understand landscape of digital finance and gender;
Interviews with partners and AGRA staff to understand business case and sales strategy;
Focus group discussion with (potential) clients to understand uptake and usage of solutions by men and women;
Feedback sessions with solution providers on qualitative interview outcomes.
Deliverables
Inception report comprised of proposed research tools and detailed work plan
Draft report with the 5 case studies
Workshop pre-read and preparation document for participants
Workshop report with outcomes of learning and sharing experiences and practices
Knowledge product for the larger audience that can be distributed through the web.
Budget and timing
The study should start after contracting and take not more than 6 weeks. It is expected that the draft report is finalized by 31st July 2018.
The learning event for around 30 participants will take place in August in a location to be determined. AGRA will take care of the costs of the workshop
Profile of the Firm
Firms to carryout this assignment should have experience in similar studies
Experts Profile
The firm to carry out the study should demonstrate that it has experts with the following profile:
Team Leader:
A relevant university degree and relevant work experience in gender issues in financial services delivery;
Good understanding of digital financial solutions for agriculture: the delivery models, uptake and sustainability and accessibility and affordability for men and women;
Demonstrated experience in managing field based experts at a distance is required.
Relevant experience in either of the 3 countries of operation: Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania;
Strong writing and communication skills;
Language proficiency in English
Second Expert:
A relevant university degree and relevant work experience in gender issues in financial services delivery;
Good understanding of digital financial solutions for agriculture: the delivery models, uptake and sustainability and accessibility and affordability for men and women;
Relevant experience in either of the 3 countries of operation: Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania;
Strong writing and communication skills;
Language proficiency in English
Third Expert:
A relevant university degree and relevant work experience in gender issues in financial services delivery;
Good understanding of digital financial solutions for agriculture: the delivery models, uptake and sustainability and accessibility and affordability for men and women;
Relevant experience in either of the 3 countries of operation: Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania;
Strong writing and communication skills;
Language proficiency in English
The combined experience of the experts mentioned above should cover Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. The consultant may propose extra experts as may be deemed appropriate.
Requirement
The proposal should include:
Technical Proposal
Relevant experience related to the assignment;
Understanding and interpretation of the terms of references;
Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment;
Curriculum Vitae of key personnel;
Time and activity schedule.
Financial Proposal
A breakdown of the financial proposal in USD indicating daily rate for each of the proposed experts, time input and all applicable reimbursable expenses (international and/or local transport, accommodation as applicable);
All applicable taxes (VAT and withholding taxes) shall be quoted separately;
If the financial proposal is silent on taxes, AGRA shall assume that these are inclusive;
Other costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, support staff, printing and other incidental costs will be reimbursed based on the actual costs incurred.
Evaluation Criteria
We shall have a two-step evaluation process. The first step will be on a pass/fail basis and will be based on the following:
STEP ONE:
Demonstrated experience in carrying out similar assignments;
Firm’s profile;
Submission of firm’s statutory documents. Namely; registration documents, tax compliance certificate and certified audited reports for past three years.
Note that firms that do not fulfil above requirements will not be technically assessed.
STEP TWO:
The second step will involve a detailed technical evaluation. The institution shall be selected on the basis of its proven experience, Experience and qualification of the key experts and ability to deliver a quality product in a timely and efficient manner. The proposal shall be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Specific experience of the Consultant (as a firm) relevant to the Assignment: [10%]
Adequacy and quality of the proposed methodology, and work plan in responding to the Terms of Reference (TORs):
Technical approach and methodology: (25%)
Work plan: (5%)
Organization and staffing: (5%)
Total weight for criterion (B): [35%]
Key Experts proposed for the assignment
Team Leader (20%)
Second Expert (12.5%)
Third Expert (12.5%)
Total weight for criterion (C):…………………………………………………………………….[45%]
Experience of the firm in sub-Saharan Africa………………………………………………………[10%]**
TOTAL SCORE…………………………………………………………………………………………………. [100%]
NB:
Only technical proposals with a score of 75% and above shall qualify for opening of the financial proposals
Overall, the technical shall be scored out of 70% while the financial proposal shall be scored out of 30%
[1] Wyche, Simiyu, and Othieno, “Mobile Phones as Amplifiers of Social Inequality among Rural Kenyan Women.
Jack and Suri, “Risk Sharing and Transactions Costs.”
Ky Serge and Rugemintwari, “Does the Adoption of Mobile Money Affect Savings? Evidence from Burkina Faso.”
