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: 

When developing their business case, most microfinance institutions (MFI) aim to achieve both financial sustainability and social impact. However, for many, an almost exclusive focus on financial performance overshadows the equally important social mission of microfinance. The provision of financial services and continued demand for these services do not always equate to an improvement in clients’ overall well-being. Therefore, for organizations that aim to lift people and communities out of poverty, monitoring social performance alongside financial performance is imperative. At the same time, there is a growing interest in microfinance by private social investors. It is important that MFIs develop the capacity to simultaneously pursue financial and social objectives, and report on it in a manner that complies with external auditing standards.  This can also help improve understanding of possible trade-offs between economic and social returns on investment. Unfortunately, most MFIs in Kenya lack internal capacity, requisite tools and financial resources to undertake social performance assessments. 

A microfinance institution which operates in the coastal and eastern parts of Kenya requires an expert in social performance measurements to support it in this endeavor. The process will assess how the MFI is reaching low income, underserved clients, how it has adapted its services and products to its target clients, how it is improving the social and political capital of clients and communities, and its corporate social responsibility standing. Therefore, F2F A2F is recruiting a U.S. citizen or permanent resident volunteer expert to work alongside the MFI in Kenya and support its team in developing and piloting a social performance assessment tool. This support will enable the MFI to adapt and become more responsive, effective and efficient in a dynamic business environment. 

Objectives: 

Deliverables:

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: