Position Description

Financial Management and Good Governance Training
Location Tanzania
Department Programs
Employment Type Volunteer
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The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project 

Scope of Work 

Financial Management and Good Governance Training 

 

Program Description: 

The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri Finance Project is an access to finance project working to improve access to finance for smallholders, women, youth, and micro, small, medium (including large) enterprises (MSMiLs) in Tanzania by improving the agri-finance ecosystem and strengthening the capacity of both borrowers and lenders. The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project will prioritize interventions that increase availability and adoption of priority technologies, including climate-smart technology, and create more inclusive agricultural finance ecosystems, enable expanded and sustained lending and investment, and increase productivity and incomes. 

Project interventions will support 20 financial institutions, 15 demand-side institutions including agricultural enterprises and women and youth groups, train 300 financial institution staff, and reach 18,000 borrowers with $21 million in agricultural finance facilitated in Tanzania. The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project will utilize a system-driven, private sector-led approach to target agricultural market coordination failures and develop commercially oriented solutions that will sustain and scale agri-financing. The project includes two interconnected strategic objectives to achieve tangible, positive impact for smallholder farmers, women, youth, agro-enterprises, and financial institutions. 

 

Objective 1: Improve income and bankability of smallholders, women, youth and micro, small and medium (including large) enterprises.  

The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project will deliver targeted technical capacity strengthening and direct training and coaching to smallholders, women, youth, and MSMiLs beneficiaries in financial and money management skills and tools, business planning, finance and investment, development of business funding proposals, records keeping, loan applications, and loan repayment and/or savings strategies.  

 

Objective 2: Strengthen financial institution operational capacity to expand agri- lending. 

The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project will provide targeted support to supply side financial institutions to develop new agri-finance products and improve operational capabilities and efficiencies, build capacity and strengthening their motivation to expand agri-lending to smallholders, women, youth, and MSMiLs – with a focus on priority and climate-smart technologies such as irrigation, inputs, storage, and value addition. The Feed the Future Tanzania Agri Finance Project is an access to finance project working to improve access to finance for smallholders, women, youth, and micro, small, medium (including large) enterprises (MSMiLs) in Tanzania by improving the Agri finance ecosystem and strengthening the capacity of borrowers and lenders. With a particular emphasis on priority technologies, including climate- smart technologies. The Feed the Future project is working to create more inclusive agricultural finance ecosystems, enable expanded and sustained lending and investment, and increase productivity and incomes. The Recipient interventions will increase supported financial institutions from 9 to 20, train 300 financial institution staff, and reach 18,000 borrowers with $21 million in agricultural finance. The project will utilize a system-driven, private sector-led approach to target agricultural market coordination failures and develop commercially oriented solutions that will sustain and scale agri-financing. 

 

Problem Statement:

In Tanzania, cooperatives play a major role in the development strategies of many rural communities. Cooperatives provide a model for pooling limited resources to achieve commonly identified development needs of the group. An irrigators’ cooperative in Dakawa, Morogoro has been facing significant challenges in financial management and governance. A significant portion of board members and staff are new, and they lack the necessary skills and knowledge to oversee financial operations effectively. This has resulted in suboptimal financial oversight and decision-making. Also, the absence of robust governance practices led to issues in transparency, accountability, and organizational efficiency. 

To address these challenges, the Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance Project is recruiting a financial management and governance expert to develop and facilitate a tailored, hands-on training program for the board members and staff of the farmers' cooperative in Mvomero district, Morogoro region. This training will enhance the cooperative's ability to manage its finances effectively, implement good governance practices, and ensure sustainable growth. The program will cover essential financial management principles, governance best practices, and the roles and responsibilities of board members in financial oversight and decision-making. By equipping the board with these skills, the training aims to improve transparency, accountability, and overall organizational efficiency. 

 

Objectives of the Assignment:  

1. Provide a comprehensive, "learn by doing" training focused on essential financial management principles, governance best practices, and the roles and responsibilities of board members in financial oversight and decision-making. 

2. Work with the cooperative to review, design, and introduce key financial management tools, techniques, and governance practices, ensuring improved transparency, accountability, and efficiency. 

3. Educate board members and staff on tailored financial management practices, including budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls, to optimize financial oversight and organizational sustainability. 

4. Provide actionable recommendations for continuous improvement in financial management and governance, ensuring the cooperative's sustainable growth and the economic well-being of its members, including smallholder farmers, youth, and women. 

 

Country Schedule for Assignment:

Day

Activity 

Location 

Estimated Days   

Pre-Assessment Tasks

  • Hold a call with the Feed the Future Tanzania Agri Finance team and the cooperative’s management to discuss the specific needs of the assignment and strategize for execution. 

  • Conduct a detailed assessment to understand the cooperative’s current financial management and governance practices, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. 

  • Conduct desk research to gain an in-depth understanding of financial management and governance best practices relevant to cooperatives. 

  • Develop comprehensive training materials tailored to the cooperative’s context, focusing on financial management principles, governance best practices, and the roles and responsibilities of board members in financial oversight and decision-making.  

TBD 

  

Day 1
  • Travel to Dar 

U.S. 

 

Day 2
  •  Arrive in Dar 

Dar

  

Day 3-4

  • Travel to Morogoro 

  • Attending orientation hosted by the Feed the Future Tanzania Agri-Finance project staff to review assignment objectives, in-country security orientation, and logistics plans. 

  • Meet in person or virtually with representatives from the cooperative to finalize the assignment objectives and assignment execution plan 

  • Conduct a thorough assessment of current financial management and governance practices through meetings and interviews with board members, staff, and other key stakeholders. 

  • Refine and finalize training methodology and materials based on feedback and observations from the initial meetings and assessment. 

Morogoro 

2 

Day 4-8
  • Provide hands-on training to the cooperative’s board members and staff, covering: 

    • Orientation and Introduction to Financial Management 

    • Budgeting and Forecasting 

    • Financial Reporting and Internal Controls 

    • Financial Analysis and Cash Flow Management 

    • Accounting Software Training 

Dakawa-Morogoro 

5 

Day 9-12
  • Provide hands-on training to the cooperative’s board members and staff, covering: 

    • Principles of Good Governance and Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members 

    • Governance Structures, Processes, and Decision-Making 

    • Ethics, Accountability, and Conflict Resolution 

    • Stakeholder Engagement and Review. 

    • Introduce and demonstrate key financial management tools and techniques, ensuring participants understand how to use them effectively in their roles. 

    • Identify and recommend actionable steps and best practices to improve financial management and governance operations, ensuring sustainable growth and organizational effectiveness. 

Dakawa 

4 

Day 13

  • Hold a debriefing session with the cooperative’s board members, management, staff and government district cooperative officers to discuss key findings, training outcomes, and next steps. 

  • Draft final report for assignment.  

Dakawa/Morogoro 

1 

Day 14

  • Travel to Dar 

  • Departure to the US 

Dar 

1 

Total 

 

 

14 

Volunteer Engagement: 

USAID and IESC encourage all volunteers to participate in public outreach. An important objective of the program is to increase awareness of the work of Americans abroad. If you would like to share your experience, IESC can offer support if needed. 

 

Expertise of Volunteer Experts Requested:

  • Advanced degree in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, or a related field.  

  • Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting, or governance roles, preferably in cooperatives or agricultural enterprises.  

  • Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programs on financial management, governance best practices, and board member responsibilities.  

  • Strong understanding of cooperative governance principles, including roles and responsibilities of board members, financial oversight, and accountability mechanisms.  

  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. 

  • Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting, with the ability to identify issues and propose solutions for improving financial health and governance practices. 

  • Ability to work in multicultural environments, adapt to local contexts, and ensure training content is relevant and accessible to participants. 

  • Strong facilitation skills, including the ability to engage participants in interactive learning activities and foster collaborative discussions. 

  • Creativity and problem-solving skills  

  • Independence and strong interpersonal skills 

  • Good written and verbal communication skills.  

  • Writing Skills: reporting requires good computer skills including, but not limited to, working, and generating reports with MS Word. Experience with PowerPoint presentations is desirable.    

  • This is a United States government funded program. Therefore, for the purpose of achieving desired results in accordance with the work plan and submitting requisite reports, written, and spoken fluency in English is required. 

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