Prospect Expert Platform

This Project is now closed

Feasibility study on the Matching Grant component of the

Country Ghana
Sectors Rural development and food security
Language English
Status Framework
CV Deadline 2018-07-08 (Closed Project)
Objectives

Global objective

  • The Global Objective of this assignment is to analyse and document the needed conditions to facilitate investments in agro-processing sector in the area of intervention through access of seed capital in the form of loans and grants (matching grant) to promising private initiative.

Specific objectives

  • The specific objectives of this assignment are to:
    • Evaluate the potential market for a matching grant scheme of at least EUR 20M of investments (including the EU contribution of EUR 10M);
    • Provide a full understanding of the financing of agriculture ecosystem in place in the area of intervention, with a specific focus on post-harvest activities;
    • Based on this understanding, support the design of the Matching Grand scheme, including the mechanism, the different stakeholders and the eligibility criteria for projects.

The expected results of this assignment are:

  • R1 - A Market analysis is conducted and existing gaps and bottlenecks in financing the sector are identified;

  • R2 - Credible local financial institutions which would be able and willing to get involved into the scheme as financial partners are identified;

  • R3 - The main elements of a contractual agreement to be signed between such local financial institutions and International Financial Institutions are known;

  • R4 - Clear recommendations regarding the feasibility of the intended EU Matching Grant Scheme of EUR 20M are proposed:

    • a. Potential eligibility criteria for projects to benefit from the matching grant scheme are proposed: Based on the field work, the Consultant shall define and detail the list of eligibility criteria (type of project, type of sponsor, amount range, maturity range…). The Consultant shall also give an informed opinion on the matching grant ratio (or range) that could best work in the proposed region;
    • b. The options for the setting of the mechanism at the institutional level are analysed in detail: who are the different stakeholders of the scheme and what are their roles (eligibility assessment; technical assessment; financial assessment)? How should the approval mechanism work? How should the fund be administrated?
  • R5 - The technical assistance needs to enable the financial partner (i.e. local financial institution) to perform its role are identified (capacity building, training…?).

Activities

Requested services Based on existing documentation and data, dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders involved in similar projects in Ghana (FINGAP, GROW, OVCF…) and with the MOAP & REACH teams, site visits and meetings with stakeholders having an interest in the project, the Consultant shall carry out the following tasks:

  • Description of the financing of agriculture environment in the intervention area with a focus on post-harvest activities, by identifying the various existing projects and the different stakeholders involved. A full mapping of the different stakeholders (Development partners, financial institutions, NGO…) involved in the financing of the agriculture sector (including agro-businesses) and per type of value chain will be produced in order to better understand the existing environment, identify the gap and justify the complementarity of the EU Matching Grant. In particular, key information on similar (existing and planned) EU Matching Grant Scheme projects, as well as business development services available, will be necessary. Understanding of the key factors of success or failure of previous or ongoing projects will also be needed. The focus of the type of projects to be financed is post-harvesting, however, based on information collected by the Consultant during his/her mission, it could be decided to extend it, if justified (e.g. key investments such as production factors (nursery, etc.), mechanisation or others);

  • Gap analysis of the financing of post-harvest agriculture and identifying specific segments or business activities that are not currently addressed by the other initiatives, in order to justify the intervention of the proposed scheme;

  • Gap analysis of the financing of potential key additional investments identified in the course of the study, such as production factors (nursery, others, etc.) or other like mechanization service provision and identifying specific segments or business activities that are not currently addressed;

  • Elaboration of the envisaged institutional framework: i) by designing a clear mechanism ii) by defining the roles and accountability of the various stakeholders in the MG scheme iii) the management of the MG fund, especially whether it should be delegated to the Financial Institution partner or to a third party;

  • Elaboration and description of the eligibility criteria and conditions for projects to access the resources provided by the EU Matching Grant Scheme: i) analysis of the various options of the MG ratio (50:50; 70:30…) and determination in which case they should apply, ii) list and analysis of eligibility criteria and iii) list and analysis of other potential criteria (VCs, gender, environment…).

  • Characterization of the main “investment-related risks” in order to define the scope of technical & financial assessments (sourcing issue; energy challenge etc.) for the entities involved in the EU Matching Grant Scheme;

  • Identification of potential (and interested) financial partners to the scheme and a detailed analysis on these financial institutions. The capacity of these financial institutions to borrow from International Financial Instructions should be carefully assessed;

  • Assessment of capacity development needs, and associated accompanying tools (training, expertise, peer exchange, coaching etc.) for the financial partners (organizational and operational);

  • Preparation of TORs for the Technical Assistance Programme for the financial partners;

  • Economic and financial analysis of the proposed EU Matching Grant Scheme;

  • Budget estimation to implement the MG Scheme (including capacity development activities –including TA-, Marketing);

  • Drafting project documentation required. Project Fiche to be submitted to the Regional Blending Facility; Delegation agreement between the UE and other development partners;

  • Organisation of a 1-day restitution workshop for 30 participants. The purpose of this workshop is for the Consultant to present the Draft Final Report and collect comments and recommendations from the main institutional stakeholders involved in the implementation of this activity, in view of finalising and validating the report.

Project Position 1

Position Team Leader - finance, financial institutions and micro-finance
Activities

The Team Leader will be responsible for the smooth cohesion, coordination and communication among the team of experts and the other stakeholders. TL will oversee planning, implementing and coordinating the activities related to this project. TL will also make sure the different outputs are delivered. TL will also act as support and complement to the work of the other experts. TL shall be an excellent communicator, trainer and manager, as he/she will need to liaise at government level and might be responsible for a team of experts working in a complex cross-cultural environment. TL will be flexible and responsive to the needs of the Contracting Authority. The Team Leader will be based in Wa, Ghana, with missions in the country when required

Qualification

Qualifications and skills:

  • Education at least up to Masters Degree Academic level or equivalent professional experience.
  • Excellent command and good writing skills in English.
  • Excellent communicator with good facilitation and negotiation skills.
  • Excellent skills and experience in drafting papers/proposals, reports, training materials and guidelines.

Expertise in finance, financial institutions and micro-finance:

  • Experience in financial sector assessment, in particular in:
    • MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) Finance;
    • Economic and financial viability vs. need for grants; financial and economic project sustainability;
    • Rationale for the use of grants as incentives/to fill gaps: investment grants, interest-rate subsidies, technical assistance, fee/premia cost cover subsidy;
    • Blended finance.
  • Experience in developing dedicated credit lines with local financial institutions, banking intermediation or small-scale sustainable agriculture financing schemes;
  • Experience of working with banks in developing countries (training, support to agriculture financing project evaluation), in particular for financial services to Small, medium and micro-enterprises (credit lines, equity, guarantees, micro-credit).
Required Experience

General professional experience:

  • At least 12 years of relevant professional experience related to project implementation, out of which a minimum of 5 years must be at management level.
  • Excellent knowledge of energy policy and international electricity market, especially in the regulatory field.
  • Expertise to manage an international team along with ability to coordinate the process of documentation of lessons learnt and reporting on progress being made. Experience in management, as a TL, of at least two donor-funded (international institutions) technical assistance projects and/or studies.
  • Working experience in developing countries.
  • Working experience in agriculture sector in developing countries.

Specific professional experience:

  • At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture related projects including agriculture policies' formulation and implementation.
  • Experience in management, as a TL, of at least one agricultural development project.
  • Working experience in Africa, in particular in West Africa, will be considered as an asset.
  • Working experience in financing agriculture sector in developing countries will be considered as an asset.
Estimated Manpower 80 working days
Mission Begin 28 August 2018
Mission End Mid- December 2018
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Project Position 2

Position Expert 2 - private sector and SMEs, in particular agro-businesses
Qualification

Qualifications and skills:

  • Education at least up to Masters Degree Academic level or equivalent professional experience.
  • Excellent command and good writing skills in English.

Expertise in private sector and SMEs, in particular agro-businesses:

  • Experience in Value Chain development projects;
  • Expertise in small-scale and medium-scale agriculture projects, especially post-harvest projects;
  • Experience in Small and Medium enterprises (SME) support (inclusive advisory services for management, production, technology, research & development, financing, training, environmental impact, production quality, etc.).
Required Experience

General professional experience:

  • At least 6 years of relevant professional experience.
  • Working experience in developing countries.
  • Working experience in agriculture sector in developing countries.

Specific professional experience:

  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the agriculture sector.
  • Working experience in Africa, in particular in West Africa, will be considered as an asset.
  • Working experience in financing agriculture sector in developing countries will be considered as an asset.
Estimated Manpower 65 working days
Mission Begin 28 August 2018
Mission End mid- December 2018
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Project Position 3

Position Expert 3 - EU Project Cycle Management
Qualification

Qualifications and skills:

  • Education at least up to Masters Degree Academic level or equivalent professional experience.
  • Excellent command and good writing skills in English.

Expertise in EU Project Cycle Management and drafting of programming and contractual documents:

  • Knowledge of PCM and of drafting programming documents;
  • Experience in drafting project documents and in using EU templates for Delegation Agreement (PAGoDA);
  • Experience in Legal documentation and templates of finance products under the EU financial regulation and other EU legislation as used in blended finance;
  • Knowledge of Regional Blending Facilities is considered as an asset.
Required Experience

General professional experience:

  • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
  • Working experience in developing countries.
  • Working experience in agriculture sector in developing countries.

Specific professional experience:

  • Working experience in Africa, in particular in West Africa, will be considered as an asset.
  • Working experience in financing agriculture sector in developing countries will be considered as an asset.
Estimated Manpower 30 working days
Mission Begin 28 August 2018
Mission End Mid- December 2018
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