Description of the Program:  

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) serves as the lead implementer for the Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program (F2F A2F) to address deficits in the financial ecosystem hindering investment and growth in agriculture for individual farmers, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through the delivery of volunteer technical assistance. IESC has designed a thematic F2F program to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth and create jobs in the agricultural sector with a special focus on assistance to women and youth. Focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, and Liberia, the F2F A2F Program will work with local partner organizations and volunteer hosts to field pro bono experts from the U.S. agriculture, corporate, and banking sectors to address systemic capacity constraints for farmers and lenders in each targeted country and unlock finance for improved agricultural production leading to utilization of agricultural technologies and increased sales and incomes. 

Problem Statement:  

Technology and innovation in the financial sector have helped streamline operations and offer new digital financial products and services to customers at a low cost. Furthermore, many customer-facing services are being replaced with application-based digital processes. Consumers have benefitted from improved access to financial services, increased convenience, and greater selection. However, the increased use of technology creates new risks that could become systemic and question the stability of the global financial system. 

Financial service technology is currently undergoing a profound transformation, and financial institutions must  prepare to modernize their technology and expand digitization of both the front and back ends of their businesses. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and quantum computing, are collectively reshaping financial services, and bringing new opportunities to firms and consumers alike. Most major financial institutions are aware of the imperative for action and have embarked on the necessary transformations. However, many SACCOs and Microfinance banks in Kenya are challenged by lack of funding, increased complexity, and limited talent availability. 

A rural Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) that operates in the central parts of Kenya requires a finance technology expert to train its staff on emerging technology trends in the finance sector and guide it in an opportunity mapping exercise to identify growth areas for innovation and technological advancements. The opportunity mapping exercise will review the current system's use, process goals, cycle time, previous improvement attempts, challenging process segments, pain points, technical constraints, business constraints, process measurement and ideal outcomes. Therefore, F2F A2F is recruiting a U.S. citizen or permanent resident volunteer expert to work alongside the SACCO in Kenya and support its team in this endeavor. This support will enable the SACCO to adapt and become more effective and efficient in a dynamic business environment. 

Objectives:

Deliverables:

Anticipated In-Country Schedule:

Volunteer Outreach:

USAID and IESC encourage all F2F A2F volunteers to participate in public outreach. An important objective of the program is to increase awareness of Americans’ good work in developing countries. Volunteers should select at least one outreach activity from the list below, to be completed within one month of return to the US:  

Requested Expertise of Volunteer Expert:

• A bachelor’s degree in IT, computer Science, computer engineering, banking or a related field