GGGI recrute un Agriculture financial products and services expert

Introduction to GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

Project background

Senegal’s agricultural sector has faced numerous challenges despite the government’s efforts to prioritize its development. These challenges include soil degradation, reliance on rainfall, population growth, outdated equipment, and limited access to quality fertilizers and seeds. The country’s focus on achieving food autonomy is crucial and the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) recognizes agriculture as a key driver for poverty reduction, job creation, and food security.

In this context, GGGI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Equipment of Senegal and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea, is implementing a “Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable value chains” Project” in the Senegal River Delta. The project is a 39-month and aims to enhance food self-sufficiency and security in Senegal by addressing the critical underlying issues affecting the productivity and resilience of the rice and vegetable value chains.

One of the project outputs is to support existing financial services more accessible and affordable for rice and vegetable farmers in Senegal. Building on experiences like the Agri Cash wallet of the Agricultural Bank of Senegal (LBA), it will facilitate the advancement of financial services and a capacity-building that fosters inclusive agribusiness throughout the value chain of rice and vegetable. By increasing access to innovative financial products and services for smallholder farmers and enhancing the efficiency of financial flows, farmers will be able to access agricultural inputs in time, therefore allowing cropping calendars to be respected.

To this end, this project will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for green financial products and services along the rice and vegetable value chains in Senegal and assess the gaps between the identified demand and the available financial products and services. This assessment will inform the development and improvement of innovative and inclusive financial solutions and capacity-building that promote green financial services to farmers and financial institutions.

Objectives of the assignment and scope of work

The objective of this activity is to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for green financial products and services along the rice and vegetable value chains in Senegal. As well as the assessment will identify the specific requirements and gaps in the existing financial services landscape to support inclusive agribusiness through green financial services. At the end of the assessments, this consultancy will develop strategies and technical guidance to GGGI based on the recommendations. The strategy and technical guidance will provide a specific action plan to GGGI to cooperate with farmers, financial service providers and other stakeholders for addressing the gaps and improve farmers’ accessibility to financial services. This could be developed in consideration of proposing and improving new or existing financial products, as well as capacity building for financial institutions and stakeholders, advocating for policy changes, fostering collaborations between stakeholders, or improving financial literacy programs.

Scope of work

Details

Timeline

Review and analysis of existing financial services

• Develop a comprehensive inventory of the existing financial products and services available to rice and vegetable farmers in Senegal. This inventory should include details such as the type of products/services, providers, eligibility criteria, interest rates, repayment terms, etc.
• Evaluate the extent to which the existing financial products and services align with green and climate-smart practices and technologies considering the accessibility of the financial products and their affordability, accessibility, and effectiveness for farmers.
  Identify key challenges and opportunities within the current financial services landscape related to promoting green and climate-smart practices. Highlight any systemic barriers, gaps in knowledge or awareness, policy limitations, or technological constraints that need to be addressed.
• Identify any noteworthy best practices or success stories within the existing financial services landscape that demonstrate effective support for green and climate-smart practices and technologies. Highlight these examples and extract lessons learned that could be applied to future financial product development
• 1 week after the contract signing

Stakeholder analyze and Data collection

• Identify and analyze stakeholders to understand the relationships and interdependencies among the identified stakeholders by addressing the roles, interests, and influence of each stakeholder group in relation to financial services for rice and vegetable farmers.
• Data collection and conduct consultation meetings with farmers in Saint Louis, Financial Institutions, Government Agencies, and NGOs. This may involve surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and data analysis of relevant financial service documents and reports to gather their perspectives on accessing financial services.
• Discuss their specific needs, challenges, and aspirations related to financial support for green and climate-smart practices.
• 2 weeks after the contract signing

Needs assessment and Gap analysis

• Analyze the collected data to identify needs, challenges for farmers to access to the service, trends, and themes related to the demand for green financial products and services.
• Review the findings from the needs assessment to identify the demand for financial products and services, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the existing financial services and products.
• Document the needs and gaps that exist between the demand for financial products and services for famers’ accessibility. This may include gaps in product features, accessibility, affordability, risk coverage, recommendations including necessary support for farmers and financial institutions.
• Develop strategies and technical guidance for GGGI based on the recommendations. The strategy and technical guidance will provide a specific action plan to GGGI to cooperate with farmers, financial service providers and other stakeholders for addressing the gaps and improve farmers’ accessibility to financial services. This could be developed in consideration of proposing and improving new or existing financial products.
• 4 weeks after the contract signing

Stakeholder Validation

• Development of materials, such as brochures, infographics, or other visual materials to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Presentation to key stakeholders and relevant forums to share the findings, recommendations, and outcomes of the assessment study.
• Validate the identified gaps and proposed strategies with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, and financial institutions.
• 5 weeks after the contract signing

Conduct information dissemination and training to farmers on the financial services.

• Create training materials, including presentations, handouts, and visual aids, to facilitate information dissemination and training to farmers.
• Conduct information dissemination and training sessions for the identified farmer groups.
• Conduct post session survey
• 6 weeks after the contract signing

Deliverales and payment schedule

• All deliverables must be completed and submitted to the Senegal Country Programs Lead/Project Manager for their review and approval.
• All reports must be written in French and English upon request.
• Each report should include a schedule of activities for the past month, the status of implementation, the difficulties encountered, and the recommendations.
• All Payments will be processed after receipt of an invoice and upon validation of each deliverable according to the below schedule:
  Scope of work

Deliverable

Timeline

Payment on acceptance of each deliverable

Review and analysis of Existing Financial Services

• Workplan outlining specific activities with timelines, a list of stakeholders to be consulted, and methodologies for each specific activity.
• A comprehensive inventory of the existing financial products and services.
• A comprehensive report that includes key challenges and opportunities within the current financial services and best practices with extract lessons learned that could be applied to future financial product development
• 1 week after the contract signing
• 30%

Stakeholder analysis and Data collection

• Stakeholder analysis
• Survey questionnaire
• Survey/Consultation reports from stakeholder consultation sessions
• 2 weeks after the contract signing
• 40%

Needs assessment and Gap analysis

• 1st Draft of a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the needs assessment and gap assessment, including an analysis of the gaps identified and the specific requirements for green financial products and services. The report should also include strategies and technical guidance for addressing the identified gaps
• 4 weeks after the contract signing

Stakeholder Validation

• Knowledge sharing materials
• Presentation for the knowledge-sharing session
• Final needs and gap analysis report including strategies and technical guidance
• 5 weeks after the contract signing
• 30%

Conduct information dissemination and training to farmers on the financial services.

• Materials for information dissemination and training sessions.
• Reports of information dissemination and training sessions with results of post session survey
• 6 weeks after the contract signing

Expertise required

• Master´s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Finance, Agriculture, economics or other related fields
• Minimum 8 years of experience in the field of financial services, particularly in the agricultural sector
• At least 3 proven records of the relevant assessment
• Strong knowledge of the Senegalese financial and agricultural sector
• Excellent analytical, research, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and facilitate productive discussions.

Administrative information

The selection process will involve reviewing candidates’ CVs, financial proposals, interviews, and reference checks.

Date to close is July 28, 2023 Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.