VA #: 104/MISFA
Organization: MISFA
Location: Kabul
Duration: Short Term
No. of Post: 01
Sex: Male/ Female
Nationality: Expatriate
Date Announced: 17 - April -2016
Closing Date: 07 – May – 2016
Terms of Reference
Impact evaluation of the
Rural Microfinance and Livestock Support Program
Of IFAD Project in Afghanistan
1.0 Project background
Rural Microfinance and Livestock Support Program (RMLSP) is a development project of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) with funds from IFAD.
The overall objective of the Programme is to provide sustainable access for smallholders and livestock owners – with a focus on women, women-headed households, the in-creditworthy and the Kuchis – to appropriate microfinance services and technical livestock packages and the skills required to engage in new, more productive or more profitable economic, livestock-based enterprises.
This objective is pursued through the implementation of one of the main program components. The Rural Microfinance Component, the objective of which is to increase access by poor rural households, with a focus on women, to a wider range of microfinance products and services adapted to the specific needs in the agriculture and livestock sectors through the pilot-testing of new, innovative microfinance products and services built around agriculture-based business plans.
2.0 Background of MISFA and the project
The Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) was set up in 2003 at the invitation of the Afghan government — to get donor coordination right from the start and avoid the counter-productive efforts that have emerged from conflicting donor objectives in other post-conflict situations. It was established as a vehicle through which the Afghan Government and international donors could channel technical assistance and funding to build Afghanistan’s microfinance sector. MISFA was the first facility of its kind, pooling diverse donor funding mechanisms and converting them into streamlined, flexible support to microfinance institutions in Afghanistan, tailored to local priorities and accompanied by technical assistance and strong performance monitoring.
MISFA was being entrusted with implementing the Rural Microfinance Component of the IFAD project. MISFA selected two of its partners to carry out the project on behalf of MISFA. The First Microfinance Bank (FMFB) implemented the Rural Agricultural Loan product, while Mutahid offered Shariah-compliant microfinance product to its client.
FMFB implemented the Rural Agricultural Loan product in 12 branches of 4 provinces (Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, and Baghlan). During the project period, few features of the loan product were modified based on inputs from field staff and the modified product has been rolled out at 18 more FMFB-A branches in 8 more provinces. Also FMFB hired 18 agricultural experts (agronomists) to provide continuous advisory support both to the bank and agriculture loan clients. Moreover, informational brochures on wheat, rice, grapes, tomato, potato, cucumber, corn, and melon were developed and 90,000 of them were printed and distributed to branches for onward distribution to agriculture and livestock loan customers.
The Mutahid’s Shariah-compliant product was geared to serve borrowers who are more sensitive to their Islamic beliefs than their financial condition. Shariah-compliant financing, which has a unique feature compared to the conventional financing mechanisms, offers a potential solution to poverty alleviation keeping in mind the borrowers’ moral/spiritual Islamic approach. Based on borrowers’ recent surveys and feedback from both male and female borrowers, utilization of Mutahid’s Murabaha product, resulted in positive progress towards gender equality and empowering of women. Almost all borrowers (male and female) reported reduced levels of poverty and the improved welfare of their households. In particular, there is positive evidence substantiating a beneficial effect on income, family health, nutritional status and increases in schooling attendance of borrower’s children, in addition to improvements in living conditions. Murabaha loans are mainly used by micro and small businesses for a wide range of income generating activities like trading, manufacturing and services. The income increase of 10-15% is based on anecdotal evidence, and is based on informal discussions with the clients who have received loans from Mutahid.
3.0 Objectives of the impact evaluation
The impact evaluation is required by MAIL and MISFA. It will provide the decision-makers in the Government of Afghanistan, MAIL, MISFA and the other relevant stakeholders with sufficient information to:
a) Make an overall independent assessment about the performance of the project, paying particular attention to the impact of the project actions against its objectives;
b) Identify key lessons learnt and propose practical recommendations for follow-up actions, which will be used for future MISFA programs to learn lessons and improve practice for future projects.
c) Study the relevance of the project outputs and outcomes towards achieving the overall impact.
d) Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the loan products.
e) Study the impact of loans on project beneficiaries.
The primary concern of all evaluations is the impact of MISFA’s work on the rights and welfare of poor and marginalized people in Afghanistan. MISFA will strive to develop evaluation methods that contribute to the empowerment of the intended beneficiaries, enabling them to articulate their aspirations and opinions regarding the efficacy of MISFA’s interventions.
MISFA requires a consultant to carry out a qualitative study to investigate the following question – Has MISFA been able to increase the outreach and delivery of innovative products and services for the needs of the rural households, farmers and livestock owners.
In order to answer this question properly, the consultant is required to analyze and present the following finding:
§ The details of all the proposals submitted by the implementing organizations to MISFA.
§ Rationale behind accepting certain proposals and rejecting some proposals.
§ A thorough analysis of the Rural Agricultural Loan product of FMFB and its effectiveness to the beneficiaries.
§ A thorough analysis of the Shairah-complaint loan product of Mutahid and its effectiveness to the beneficiaries.
§ The result of piloting the two new products in the microfinance sector in Afghanistan with facts and figures.
§ Conducting interviews (focus groups or individuals) with randomly selected clients
§ The current scenario of these two products after the pilot stage and its results.
§ A detailed mapping of the beneficiaries for the loan products and an analysis of the need of the products in these regions and provinces.
§ A few case studies providing a detailed description of cases where the loan products have been successful, and cases where the products failed with reasons.
§ Providing a detailed analysis of the loan products through discussion with MISFA, MAIL, FMFB, Mutahid and other stakeholders of the project.
§ Providing a detailed outlook on the loan products from the beneficiaries’ and the communities’ point of view.
· Challenges faced by MISFA, FMFB and Mutahid during design, implemention and scaling up of the new loan products, Recommendations for further development of the products.
4.0 Duties and responsibilities of the consultant
The responsibilities of the consultant will be as follows:
a) Design a research methodology, including key areas of questioning, in agreement with MISFA, FMFB and Mutahid program staffs.
b) Design the selection methodology of sampled beneficiaries, identifying focus groups and key informant interviews and structure/semi-structured questionnaires.
c) Desk review of documents relating to the implementation of the IFAD project.
d) Field based research on the impact of the IFAD project, including strengths, challenges and future sustainability.
e) Analysis of the impact of the IFAD project on the poor households/clients.
f) Final study should include findings, analysis and recommendations. The consult with relevant MISFA project staff throughout the process.
5.0 Expected output
The consultant is supposed to provide a narrative report providing details of the study methodology: whether the objectives of the impact evaluation has been met or not, and a conclusion with some probable recommendations for the future projects. The consultant is expected to present the draft of the final findings through a Power-point presentation with the MISFA management and based on the discussion and evaluation, the final report has to be finalized and shared with MISFA management.
6.0 Timeline
This assignment is supposed to be for 30 days, to be completed by June 2016.
Activities / Expected no. of daysReview of project documents / 03
Meeting with MISFA project staffs and implementing partners / 01
Finalization of the research methodology / 01
Field work in communities / 15
Field work in the offices of MISFA and the implementing partners / 03
Debriefing of findings to MISFA / 01
Draft report / 03
Sharing the draft report for further comments / 01
Finalization of the report and presentation to MISFA / 02
7.0 Experience and qualification of the consultant
This work requires a highly-skilled consultant with substantial professional experience in a relevant field with proven research and analytical skills in measuring the social–economic impact of community-led development projects and microfinance projects. The consultant should have evidence of carrying out similar studies elsewhere in the world and have a good knowledge of conventional and Islamic microfinance products and procedures, with knowledge of agricultural microfinance loan products.
The consultant should be available to take on this assignment as soon as possible. The consultant should be committed to stay in Afghanistan throughout the assignment period. The consultant also should be willing to travel to provinces like Herat, Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan and Kunduz for the assignment. A final presentation of findings and results (first discussed with the project team), will be made at the final project wrap-up meeting, currently scheduled for end of June 2016. All work and invoices must be received by 30th of June 2016.
8.0 Reporting and contracting
The overall study and all contractual arrangements will be managed by MISFA. The consultant will report to Khalil Rahman Baheer, Director Program, at MISFA. MISFA will assist the consultant while in Afghanistan, with logistical arrangements, including facilitating hotel and transport.
The consultant will be paid a daily rate for work undertaken. The daily rate should include all expenses related to the assignment including accommodation, air-fares, local traveling, translation of documents, and other related expenses.
The consultant is requested to contact the below mentioned person for any further clarification.
Masoud Azizi
Human Resource Officer
MISFA
Email:
Contact: 0093 700 685 916
9.0 Application Guidelines:
The application package, acceptable in English language only, should comprise an up-to-date résumé and cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for the position, indicating your daily rate, and the earliest joining date, if selected.
Interested candidates should submit their application package only by e-mail with the subject “Vacancy – Impact evaluation of the Rural Microfinance and Livestock Support Program of IFAD Project in Afghanistan to:
Due to the expected large number of applications, only shortlisted candidates would be contacted.