Purpose / Project Description:

• AgriFin Digital Farmer I has been operating in Nigeria for over two years. Partners are at various stages of product development for Digital Financial Services (DFS) and Digital Information services (DIS) to smallholder farmers, with an on-the-ground person supporting the Agrifin team based in Nairobi, Kenya, in the engagement and follow-up of partners in-country under ADF II. The consultant will be required to advance Nigeria based partnership relationships, while supporting the Nairobi based technical team in successful implementation and evaluation of ADF engagements. This will include designing engagements, developing new/existing partnerships and facilitating product development initiatives that meet the strategic needs of our core partners.  
• In addition, under the GIZ DAA grant, the consultant will support with the Agrifin Sprout Nigeria Platform expansion, by identifying potential content contributors, content users and Farming Facing Organizations, participating in weekly Sprout Business Development meetings, onboarding new partners from Nigeria into the Sprout Platform, and updating and Sprout Business Development Pipeline.

Consultant Activities:

The consultant will engage with the AgriFin team across the following key activities:

• Support strong partner relationships, project plans and product roadmaps.
• Assist and in some cases lead the development of partner business and work plans, reviewing research, marketing plans, business processes, operational manuals, product and technology specifications, and financial statements to do so. 
• Perform tasks based on project plans, those agreed with ADF II management, and those assigned by program management.
• Monitor project progress, with regular oversight of technical consultants or third-party providers, report and resolve, or assist in resolving issues, under direction of ADF II management
• Prepare project progress reports and status updates.
• Conduct due diligence on prospective partners, compile required legal documents and share reports on the same.
• Keep up to date with the Nigerian agri/fintech ecosystems and participate ongoing learning meetings with program stakeholders related to program focus areas, working in coordination with technical team managers. 
• Assist the program in identifying technical consultants as needed, in preparing terms of reference and scopes of work, and provide support and oversight for consultants as required. 
• Contribute to the Agrifin learning agenda and track partner impact metrics as and when required.
• Support on the Sprout platform and identification of new AgriFin opportunities in Nigeria and partnerships, and other requests provided by the task manager

Consultant Deliverables:

The consultant will work to produce the following deliverables, in close collaboration with the AgriFin Digital Banking lead:

• Partner Prospecting and Project Development: Continue to support partner identification efforts and project development including participating in due diligence exercises, populating partner proposals and participation in pipeline update meetings. A monthly report accounting for activities done and time sheet.
• Project implementation and partner relationship management: Support implementation of identified projects including kick off meetings, internal update meetings and regular updates with the partner and vendors to ensure project success. A monthly report accounting for activities outlined and time sheet. This is for all approved projects and upcoming projects for upcoming partners.
• Project and program learning and reporting: Support when required, end of project and program reporting including documenting lessons learnt and achievements of projects under the advisory of the consultant, support program learning initiatives both internal and external where scheduled. A monthly report specifying support provided to project and program reporting and timesheet. This will also include support for research activities under the ongoing initiative funded by the Gates Foundation and collaboration with development organizations including CGAP. 

Under GIZ DAA, more specific

• Support Nigeria-based engagement deliverables based on AgriFin existing proposals and deliverables contracted through those documents
• Support with Sprout Nigeria Platform expansion, by identifying potential content contributors, content users and Farming Facing Organizations, participating in weekly Sprout Business Development meetings, onboarding new partners from Nigeria into the Sprout Platform and updating and Sprout Business Development Pipeline. 

Payments will be made based on days capped at worked with a maximum number of 30 days within the period of May 15, 2023 to November 15, 2023.

Timeframe / Schedule: 

• The Timeframe will be between May 15, 2023 and November 15, 2023.

The Consultant will report to:

• Task Manager: Senior Digital Banking Manager and Nigeria Lead.
• Final sign-off on deliverables and invoices: Program Director

The Consultant will work closely with:

• The Agrifin technical team

Required Experience & Skills:

The individual consultant must demonstrate significant experience and expertise in:

• 5-10 years of experience in a relevant technical field
• Deep experience with implementation of AgriFin climate programming in learning, processes and partner engagements;
• Deep understanding of the Nigeria Agricultural ecosystem;
• Deep experience with resource development in agriculture
• Demonstrated ability to work in a mentor/advisor capacity across multidisciplinary and multicultural teams to build capacity around application of bundled digital services to promote improved livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Nigeria;
• Demonstrated ability to develop high quality written strategy, synthesis and recommendations on the related subjects;
• Minimum educational qualification is a master’s degree in a related subject.