1. Project Information
The “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” project is a four year initiative, launched in July 2012 and funded from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) through the World Bank, Kenya Country office. The project is being implemented by GROOTS Kenya Association.
GROOTS Kenya (GK), which stands for Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood, is a network of community-based organizations and self-help groups that are women led. It was formed in 1995 in response to the near absence of grassroots women in development processes and decision-making forums, which affect them and their communities. GROOTS Kenya’s theory of change is to shift the perception of the role played by grassroots women in rural and urban poor communities from vulnerable victimized recipients of goods and services to empowered and effective leaders mastering development mainly through movement building, leadership and advocacy.
The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to contribute to women’s economic empowerment and improved livelihoods through enhanced agricultural production and access to markets. The target beneficiaries are 3,400 (the project has since exceeded this target) rural women in two counties of Kenya. The project has a value chain approach with a focus on three sectors, namely horticulture, dairy and indigenous poultry. Specifically, in Nakuru County, the selected sectors are horticulture and dairy while in Kitui County, they are horticulture and indigenous poultry farming.

The project has five major components (objectives), namely:
• To organize women farmers to work collectively in order to economically empower and improve their livelihood;
• To enhance women farmers’ lobbying and advocacy capacities for essential services and factors of production;
• To enhance women farmers’ business capacities and facilitate market linkages;
• To empower women to increase access to microfinance facilities to improve enterprise performance;
• Project management, monitoring and evaluation.

In executing component 4 the project entered into an MOU with a financial institution in Kenya to disburse loans to the targeted women farmers through the revolving fund model against a guarantee fund of $744,000.As we approach the closure of the project GROOTS Kenya has initiated steps to establish a financial entity for managing a revolving fund
2. Objectives of the consultancy
1. Examine the structure of the proposed entity and advice on it’s efficiency and effectiveness
2. Access the extent to which the original objective and requirement of the TF 012019 are catered for in the proposed entity
3. Examine the risks and benefit associated with the proposed structure vis a vis the world bank and the Kenya government guidelines
4. Assess and comment on the effectiveness of proposed methodology for mobilizing resources (capital and operating resources) for the entity,
5. Examine the target clientele from a social enterprise angle and submit a report to GROOTS Kenya
6. Using the background information gathered above comment on the financial suitability and sustainability of the proposed entity from two perspective;
i. Capacity to generate enough resources to cater for the founding and running costs in the first 5 years
ii. Potential of the entity to break even in the long run and the financial drivers for considerations to achieve the break-even point
1. Review existing successful entities of similar nature in the country and draw lessons and best practices.
2. Suggest recommendations that would improve the suitability and sustainability of the proposed entity.

Expected Deliverables
1. An inception report outlining how the consultant will approach and conduct this assignment
2. A draft Report containing and not limited to the following sections;
• Efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed structure of the entity
• Extent to which the original objectives and requirements of the TF 012019 are catered for in the proposed entity
• Risks and benefit associated with the proposed entity.
• Effectiveness of proposed methodology for mobilizing resources (capital and operating resources) for the entity,
• A report of the target clientele from a social enterprise angle
• Financial suitability and sustainability of the proposed entity in the short term, medium term and long term
• Lessons and best practice from other successful saving and lending entities in the country
• Recommendations to improve the suitability and sustainability of the proposed entity.
3. A final report approved by the client

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications:
This call is open to Individual consultants. Applicant are required to submit their CV ONLY demonstrating their competence, skills and experience in conducting a similar assignment to the National Coordinator atadmin@grootskenya.org by 28th March 2017 and addressed to the National Coordinator