Call for Applications – Individual Consultants for Training and Coaching on Cooperative Financial Management

Call for Applications-Individual Consultants

SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)

Assignment Title: Training and Coaching on Cooperative Financial Management

Assignment Locations:

1. Eastern Province (Kayonza and Ngoma districts)
2. Western Province (Nyabihu and Rubavu districts)

Intended dates: January – April 2025

Contract type: Fixed price contract

Project Overview

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is implementing the Cooperative Resilience and Equity Activity (CORE) cooperative development program in Rwanda and Zambia, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of the CORE activity is to foster vibrant, sustainable cooperative ecosystems in Rwanda and Zambia, in which self-managed agricultural cooperatives and all their members flourish economically and socially. Through CORE, Venture37 will take a localized and market-responsive approach, engaging market actors, including women and youth, in activity design, implementation and measurement.

CORE will:

1. Inclusively strengthen the capacity of cooperatives by dynamically responding to their unique challenges and market opportunities by adapting existing, tested tools.
2. Improve the cooperative enabling environment by working with private and public service providers to deliver market-responsive and well-coordinated services to cooperatives.
3. Spur innovation, learning and continuous improvement in the local and global development community through embedded applied research.

Background and Rationale

In Rwanda, CORE has selected a total of 25 partner cooperatives operating in diary, maize, Irish potato, rice, and horticulture value chains. The cooperatives are split over two clusters: Eastern cluster comprised of Kayonza & Ngoma districts and Western cluster (Nyabihu & Rubavu).

CORE intends to offer demand driven capacity development interventions to its partner cooperatives responding to their unique challenges hindering their business performance and growth. In 2024, CORE has deployed the Land O’Lakes Venture37 Performance Management Measurement (PM2) tool to assess various performance indicators from all partner cooperatives. The assessment findings indicate that basic financial management capacities are usually lacking, consequently limiting the efficiency and effectiveness of cooperatives while managing and controlling their financial resources. Among others, the assessment findings revealed that many of these cooperatives do not have comprehensive financial plans, do not keep all required resource documents, essential books of accounts are missing or not properly kept, required financial reports are not/rarely produced and the existing ones are not reliable, internal audits are superficially conducted, financial and accounting procedures are missing or not respected, etc.

To address the identified gaps, CORE intend to hire consultants to design the training and coaching program for cooperatives’ staff, members of the Board of Directors and Supervisory Board to increase their knowledge and skills in terms of financial planning, controlling and preparing financial reports.

It is expected that participants to this program will:

• Adopt good financial management practices suitable for running their cooperatives.
• Be able to manage and control cooperatives’ financial resources efficiently and effectively.
• Enforce transparency within their cooperatives.

It is within that background; CORE is looking for four (4) qualified consultants to conduct this assignment. One consultant will support 5 to 7 partner cooperatives either in the Eastern cluster (Kayonza and Ngoma districts) or in the Western cluster (Nyabihu and Rubavu districts).

Objective of the assignment

• Provide a comprehensive, “learn by doing” training focused on essential financial management principles and the roles and responsibilities of board members in financial oversight and decision-making.
• Work with the cooperative to review, design, and introduce key financial management tools, techniques, and practices, ensuring improved transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
• Train and Coach board members and cooperative staff on tailored financial management practices, including budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls, to optimize financial oversight and organizational sustainability.
• Provide actionable recommendations for continuous improvement in financial management and governance, ensuring the cooperative’s sustainable growth and the economic well-being of its members, including youth, and women.

Assignment tasks

Specific activities of the assignment include but not limited to:

• Meet CORE team to discuss the assignment objectives and plan.
• Review the existing project materials including (i) the main project documents; (ii) the PM2 assessment reports.
• Contact target cooperatives to have insights on their current financial management practices.
• Gather comprehensive training materials tailored to the cooperative’s context, focusing on financial management principles and the roles and responsibilities of board members in financial oversight and decision-making.
• Develop the training plan.
• Refine and finalize training methodology and materials based on feedback and observations from the initial meetings and assessment.
• Provide hands-on training to the cooperative’s board members and staff, covering:
  • Orientation and Introduction to Financial Management
  • Budgeting and Forecasting
  • Financial Reporting and Internal Controls
  • Financial Analysis and Cash Flow Management (for few advanced cooperatives)
• Develop (together with target cooperatives) cooperatives individual coaching plans.
• Provide coaching sessions tailored to the Cooperatives unique financial needs requirements and challenges.
• Assist cooperatives to produce the required annual financial reports
• Conduct progress review meetings with CORE team and cooperatives’ leaders.
• Hold a wrap-up debriefing session with the cooperative’s board members, management, staff and CORE to discuss key findings, training outcomes, and next steps.
• Submit the assignment report in English with individual work done with cooperatives in annexes.
• Submit the individual summary reports per cooperative in Kinyarwanda with recommendations.

Activities and deliverables

Consultant qualifications

The desired consultant is expected to have the following skills and qualifications:

• Educational Background: Advanced degree in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting and governance in agricultural cooperatives.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programs on financial management.
• Good track record in developing capacities of farmers/and or farmer groups like cooperatives & unions through formal coaching.
• Experience in using accounting software is preferable.
• Knowledge of the maize, potato, dairy, rice, and horticulture sector in Rwanda is a considerable advantage.
• Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting, with the ability to identify issues and propose solutions for improving financial health and related governance practices.
• Strong facilitation skills, including the ability to engage participants in interactive learning activities and foster collaborative discussions.
• Creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Independence and strong interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Available for assignment as to the indicated period.

Interested consultants are encouraged to send their cover letter explaining their interest and justifying their suitability to this assignment, together with the CV to procurement.cdp@landolakes.com no later than January 6, 2025, at 12:00PM Kigali time. The title of the email must include “Training and Coaching on Cooperative Financial Management.”