USAID-Funded
Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program
Scope of Work
Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Agricultural Finance Volunteer Experts
Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program Background:
The USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program (F2F A2F) is designed to unlock access to finance for smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and micro- small, and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya, Tanzania, and Liberia by addressing agricultural finance market coordination failures. With a particular emphasis on women, youth, and environmental and natural resource management, F2F A2F will create more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural systems while increasing production, profitability, sales, jobs, and income.
Focusing on Kenya, Tanzania and Liberia, F2F A2F will work with local partner organizations and volunteer host organizations to field experts from a variety of sectors in the U.S., including agriculture, banking, technology and academia to address systematic capacity constraints for farmers and lenders in each targeted country and unlock finance for improved agricultural production. F2F A2F runs through September 2028.
To address deficits in the financial ecosystem, the F2F A2F Program seeks to:
1) Address systemic financial constraints and unlock access to finance for smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs; and
2) Increase productivity, profitability, sustainability, and inclusion through improved access to finance.
Currently, we are recruiting U.S. citizens and permanent residents for both in-person and paired remote assignments in Kenya and Tanzania. Assignments in Liberia will begin in early 2025.
Detailed Responsibilities:
Although specific responsibilities vary according to each assignment, volunteer experts will work in conjunction with IESC’s Washington, DC and F2F A2F country program staff to execute the following activities:
Conduct training for rural SACCOs, microfinance institutions, banks and government enablers (such as youth forums and development banks) to catalyze product development, application of technology, and market outreach for agricultural lending.
Train farmers in business plan development, financial management, and improvements in productivity and market access, such as identifying appropriate equipment or technology and how to use it.
Link farmers and agribusinesses to lenders and private sector.
Coach borrowers on managing cash, repayment of loans, and increasing savings.
Train farmers on efficient utilization of inputs, equipment and technology to improve production and sales.
Write recommendations for host organizations to improve their organizational effectiveness, management and sustainability.
Write reports and conduct debriefs post-assignment.
Conduct presentations in the U.S. on experiences and lessons learned through the F2F A2F Program.
Expertise of Volunteer Experts Requested:
U.S. Citizen or U.S. permanent resident (as required by the Farmer-to-Farmer Program).
Extensive experience in areas such as: financial services, investments, agricultural lending, financial management, accounting, marketing, strategic management, supply chain optimization, business development, agricultural production or agribusiness management.
Regional experience (East Africa or West Africa) and language skills a plus, but not required.
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:
Write an entry for the IESC website.
Post a photo, video, or text related to the F2F A2F assignment on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, personal website or other social media site, and send a link to IESC staff.
Send a press release to a local newspaper in the volunteer’s hometown. (IESC can provide a template)
Write something for an alumni or professional association newsletter, or other publication. (IESC can help as needed).
Give a presentation about the F2F A2F assignment to colleagues, students, religious group, rotary club, etc.
Send an email about F2F A2F to friends, family, or colleagues.
Volunteer Expert Support:
IESC provides comprehensive support to volunteer experts before, during and after the anticipated assignment. Support includes:
All travel and logistics arrangements and costs to be provided by IESC including airfare, visas, medical examination, medevac and emergency travel insurance, and transit expenses;
Project management and oversight from the country office and the home office in Washington, DC;
All accommodation, transport, meals and incidental expenses throughout the duration of the assignment in country;
Translation and communications support; and,
Follow up and administrative support for the production and dissemination of the final report and deliverables for the project.