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:

The Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program in Kenya has partnered with a social enterprise that promotes agroforestry practices and sustainable land-use management. They work in harmony with nature and use innovative approaches to mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and uplift communities through inclusive, participatory, and ethically driven programs. Its programs include 1. Agroforestry training programs to farmers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to integrate agroforestry practices into their farms. 2. Tree Planting Campaigns to restore and protect degraded lands, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate climate change. 3.Support farmers to identify and implement diversified, high-value, market-oriented agroforestry systems for income generation and resilience building. 4.. Research and Development to seek or innovate creative solutions that address emerging challenges in agroforestry and land management. 

The organization lacks documented policies, protocols, and procedures in information and communication technology (ICT); this creates challenges that hinder effectiveness and efficiency at the board, management, and staff levels and expose the organization to legal risks. The organization needs support to develop policies and procedures to clarify roles and responsibilities, guide managers in decision making, protect suppliers and buyers, improve employee performance and job satisfaction. Additionally, they will improve overall effectiveness and efficiency, minimize potential liability, protect reputation and brand and provide legal protection. 

F2F A2F is recruiting a U.S. citizen or permanent resident volunteer expert to work alongside the nonprofit organization and support its team in this endeavor. The volunteer expert will support the social enterprise review, revise and/or develop policies, protocols, and procedures with a focus on ICT. The volunteer will also evaluate deployed geo-mapping technology and identify areas of improvement. The assignment aims to improve the organization’s overall effectiveness and efficiency. The outcome of the volunteer assignment is expected to deepen the organization’s market resilience, compliance with regulations, transparency to partners and beneficiaries, and long-term sustainability.  

Objectives:

1. Review, revise and/or develop an ICT policies and procedures manual. 

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: