EOI: Consultancy for Development of a Framework for Microfinance Bank Establishment to Support Financial Inclusion, Agroecology, and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods in ActionAid Nigeria Programme Communities
ActionAid (AA) Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, which is a global alliance of organizations working towards achieving a world without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys the right to a life with dignity. As a large and visible development organization, we work in over 45 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Our expertise lies in community-led approaches to development and working through partnerships with the poor and other grassroots organizations.
Background
The Strategic Partnerships for Agroecology and Climate Justice in West Africa (SPAC-West Africa) Nigeria Project, funded by ActionAid International’s Transformative Impact Fund (3-year project), aims to improve food and nutrition security and enhance agroecological skills of 120,000 Smallholder Women Farmers (SHWFs) and young people. This is to be achieved by facilitating access to early maturing seeds, seedlings, livestock, and poultry, thus supporting agroecological practices, indigenous seeds, and agrobiodiversity preservation for increased yields.
Through its Local Rights Programmes (LRPs) and other programme interventions, ActionAid Nigeria supports rural communities to strengthen livelihoods, enhance access to productive resources, and promote sustainable agroecological practices and value chains. However, limited access to affordable, inclusive, and farmer-responsive financial services remains a key barrier to scaling agroecology, supporting value chain development, and improving incomes of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth.
Rationale
Smallholder farmers and agroecology enterprises within ActionAid Nigeria’s programme communities face significant financial exclusion due to limited access to affordable credit and savings mechanisms, Weak rural financial infrastructure, high collateral requirements from conventional banks, and lack of tailored financial products for agroecology and climate-resilient agriculture.
To address this gap, there need to develop a comprehensive framework for the establishment of a Microfinance Bank (MFB) that will provide affordable and inclusive financial services to smallholders, especially women and youth. The framework will support agricultural and agroecology-related enterprises across the value chain, while strengthening community-based financing systems. In addition, it will contribute to enhancing women’s economic empowerment and building climate-resilient livelihoods within programme communities.
Furthermore, while ActionAid Nigeria has supported Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and cooperative strengthening initiatives, there is a need to scale financial inclusion through a more structured, sustainable, and institutional financing mechanism.
Objectives
The overall objective is to:
- Develop a comprehensive, practical, and context-specific framework for the establishment of a Microfinance Bank that supports financial inclusion for smallholder farmers and Agricultural enterprises within ActionAid Nigeria’s programme communities.
Specific Objectives
- Design a Microfinance Bank model tailored to rural, agroecology-based economies
- Propose financial products and services suitable for SHWFs, youth, and agroecology enterprises
- Integrate gender-responsive, inclusive, and rights-based approaches into the framework
- Develop an operational, governance, and regulatory compliance structure aligned with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines
- Provide a clear roadmap for the establishment, licensing, and sustainability of the Microfinance Bank
Methodology
The consultant will adopt a participatory and evidence-based approach, including but not limited to:
- Desk review of financial inclusion policies, microfinance regulations (CBN), and rural finance models
- Review of existing AAN interventions (e.g., VSLAs, cooperatives, agroecology)
- Stakeholder mapping and consultations (farmers, cooperatives, financial institutions, regulators, CSOs, private sector actors)
- Field engagements within selected LRPs communities and farmers (if required)
Scope of Work
The consultant will:
- Conduct a situational analysis of financial inclusion gaps within AAN programme communities
- Review existing microfinance models and best practices (national, regional, global) relevant to agroecology and rural finance
- Assess CBN regulatory requirements and licensing pathways for Microfinance Banks in Nigeria
- Design a proposed Microfinance Bank framework, including:
- Institutional structure and governance model
- Ownership structure (community-based, hybrid, etc.)
- Capitalisation requirements and funding options
- Develop tailored financial products, including:
- Agroecology financing products
- Seasonal credit and input financing
- Savings, insurance, and risk-sharing mechanisms
- Integrate VSLAs and cooperatives into the Microfinance Bank ecosystem
- Develop a gender-responsive and youth-inclusive financial access strategy
- Provide a digital and technology integration approach (mobile banking, agent banking, USSD, etc.)
- Develop an implementation roadmap, including:
- Phased establishment plan
- Licensing and compliance steps
- Risk analysis and mitigation strategies
- Produce a draft framework document and facilitate a validation workshop
- Finalise and submit the Microfinance Bank Establishment Framework
Contract Period
The consultancy will last thirty (30) days, inclusive of consultations, drafting, validation, and final submission.
Required profile for consultant:
The consultant (she/he) to be recruited should have the following qualifications and experience:
- Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or related fields
- Minimum of 10–15 years’ experience in financial sector development, microfinance, or rural finance
- Proven experience in designing or supporting the establishment of Microfinance Banks or financial institutions
- Strong knowledge of CBN regulations and financial inclusion frameworks in Nigeria
- Experience working with smallholder farmers, women groups, cooperatives, or rural communities
- Demonstrated experience in inclusive finance, gender, and development programming
- Strong analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills
- Evidence of similar assignments
The following compliance documents submitted with the applications:
· Company profile
· CAC registration (CAC 7)
· Tax clearance certificate
· Evidence of previous jobs, especially with INGOs
· Audited accounts (at least 2025)
Payment
Fifty percent of the total sum shall be paid in advance at the beginning of the consultancy period upon receipt of an inception report. The balance of 50% will be paid when the final reports have been submitted and signed off.
ActionAid will deduct 5% withholding tax from the total sum in accordance with the Nigerian tax law for onward remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Reporting Lines
The consultant will report to the Food Systems Specialist, ActionAid Nigeria, who will confirm satisfactory completion of the assignment before final payment.
Ownership of Output
Outputs of the work done as stipulated in the call for expression of interest belong to ActionAid Nigeria
Submission of expression of interest
Please send your expression of interest (detailing your approach to the assignment), financial budget, evidence of previous work, and profile/CV in one Microsoft Word document to: procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org on or before 30th July 2026.
Women are advised to apply.
Applications & Email should be titled:
Name Consultancy – Development of Framework for Microfinance Bank Establishment
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.