RURAL FINANCE INSTITUTION
BUILDING PROGRAMME
…Developing Rural Financing to Achieve Food Security
Request for Expression of Interest: Capacity Building for Microfinance Institutions and their Apex Associations
FGN/FAD Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN)
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has received a loan from the international Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) equivalent to USD 27.2 million towards the cost of implementing a Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan in capacity building for apex organizations of microfinance institutions which is part of the programme’s mandate. The FGN and IFAD are collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Department of Cooperatives to implement the programme. RUFIN wishes to call for expression of interest from Training Service Providers (TSP) for Capacity Building for Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and Non-bank Microfinance institutions (Cooperatives/Non-Governmental Organization. Microfinance Institutions NGO-MFls) and their Apexes in twelve (12) participating states of the RUFIN Programme.
A. Introduction
RUFIN is a seven year programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). One of the programme components would be to work in collaboration with the Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to promote targeted capacity building and technical assistance in
favour of eligible Financial Cooperative (FC), NGO-MFIs, MFBs and their apexes in the 12 RUFIN states of Adamawa , Akwa Ibom , Anambara , Bauchi , Benue , Edo , Imo, Katsina , Lagos , Nasarawa , Oyo and Zamfara.
B. Goals and Objectives
The goal of the programme is to address the human and other resource gaps in eligible institutions, improve their systems and service delivery capacities and expand outreach to small rural enterprises that are involved in agribusiness and non-farm enterprises through improved rural financing.
C. Scope of Work
The scope of work is divided into two broad categories;
i) Comprehensive needs assessment, curriculum design, course material development and overall coordination of the project. The training package to be developed should reflect the varying needs of the different categories of participants which cuts across all the categories of MFBs and NBMFIs:
a. Category 1 Microfinance banks
b. Category 2: Cooperatives – MFIs
c. Category 3: NGO – MFIs
d. Category 4: Apex organizations
ii) Delivery of training: The potential TSP would use the already developed course materials to undertake the training for eligible institutions that will be selected in the RUFIN States under the terms and conditions that will be agreed upon at a later date.
B. Procedure of Expression of interest/ Eligibility Criteria
Providers of the training programme should possess track record of success in micro/rural finance institutional training and demonstrate an appropriate mix of faculty members with relevant competencies in delivering the training modules.
Interested applicants should indicate how they will carry out the specific activities in category a to d above by providing the following additional information:
1. Corporate profile and evidence of technical capability and verifiable evidence of similar experience in the past.
2. Brief description of similar project experience
3. In the case of consortia, a formal technical cooperation agreement or MOU
4. List of key resource persons available for this project and copies of their CVs plus letters of consent to be part of the bid.
5. Concise concept note indicating an understanding of the assignment and how they intend to carry it out and achieve the desired impact in not more than three (3) pages of A4 papers
6. Office address, telephone number and e-mail of key contact
7 . Copy of the firm’s certificate of incorporation
8. Reference letter from a reputable bank indicating support for the firm.
Two hard copies and one soft copy of the Expression of Interest and attached documents should be sealed in an envelope and clearly marked on the left side corner “Microfinance Training Service Providers” Each application should be delivered latest by 12.00 noon, on or before 27th May, 2010 to the address below:
Programme Management Unit (PMU)
Rural Finance institution Building Programme Office,
No. 3, Safana Close, off Zaria Street by old CBN.
Garki II Abuja,
Only shortlisted Training Service Providers will be contacted .
