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:

In Kenya, Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) have emerged as a critical financing alternative for smallholder farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing access to affordable, high-quality financial products and services. SACCOs have emerged as the leading – and often the only - providers of these affordable, high-quality financial services in rural Kenya. The majority of previously financially excluded farmers and SMEs rely upon SACCOs for financing working capital, accumulating assets, smoothening income, and protecting against risks. In addition to financial products, SACCOs often also offer non-financial services, such as agricultural and business development skills. These services have spurred growth in productivity and competitiveness of farming businesses and helped strengthen on-farm and household resilience. 

To better provide targeted services in rural areas, SACCOs in Kenya now need to embrace the digital transformation of financial services and develop new innovative products. SACCOs need to develop products that reach demographics, including smallholder farmers, that remain unserved with current models that require collateral such as land. These models exclude women and youth who often do not have access to traditional assets.   

The Farmer to Farmer Access to Finance (F2F A2F) program is seeking an experienced U.S. citizen or permanent resident volunteer expert to support a rural SACCO in Kenya. The volunteer expert will evaluate the effectiveness of its current product offerings and develop at least one loan product tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers that encompasses the unique considerations necessary to serve youth and women smallholders. Additionally, the volunteer expert will provide training to key staff on product testing and roll-out. This will enable the SACCO to expand its offerings and reach more farmers, SMEs, women, and youth. 

Objectives of the Assignment:

1. Analyze the SACCO’s current portfolio of products and assess their effectiveness and impact on smallholder farmers, particularly youth and women, and profitability for the SACCO 

2. Identify gaps in the current product portfolio, map opportunities, and develop or improve at least one loan product 

3. Build the capacity of the SACCO’s staff on product testing and roll out

Deliverables: 

Anticipated In-Country Schedule for Assignment:  

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: