Rural Financial Institution
Building programme
…Developing Rural Financing to Achieve Food Security
Request for Expression of Interest to participate in capacity building programme for Apex organizations of microfinance institutions
This 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 (RUFSN) 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 state and national apexes associations of Cooperatives/Non-Governmental Organization-Microfinance Institutions (NGO-MFIs), and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) to participate in the capacity building exercise for apex development programme in twelve (12) participating states of the RUFIN Programme.
A, Introduction:
RUFIN is a seven (7) 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 (DFD) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to promote targeted capacity building and technical assistance in favour of eligible apexes of MFIs, NGO-MFIs, MFBs in the twelve (12) RUFIN states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Edo, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo and Zamfara
RUFIN aims to support, develop and strengthen the apex organisations for the Cooperatives/Non-Governmental Organization-Microfinance Institutions (NGO MFIs), Non-Bank Microfinance Institutions (NBMFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) to promote improved membership services, as well as improve legal, policy and regulatory framework for their operations. The benefits to be enjoyed by eligible apexes include i) ex-ante financial institutional, and risk assessment, ii) hare and software support, iii) training and on-site technical assistance and coaching
B. Goals and Objectives
The goal of the programme is to improve the human and institutional capacities of the apexes to develop their members, define and enforce compliance with standards and supervise/regulate their activities in line with international best practices,
C. Procedure of Expression of interest/Eligibility Criteria
Expression of interest is required from interested national and state apexes currently operating in the twelve (12) listed states. This should be accompanied with a written application and documentary evidence in support of the following eligibility criteria.
- Copy of certificate of incorporation or registration with appropriate authority
- Functioning secretariat: Contact Persons/Address and Telephone
- Elected and functional organs
- List of names and addresses of affiliated members
- Evidence of services to members
- Commitment to collection of membership fees
- Evidence of Annual General Meeting (AGM) held over the past two (2) years
- Copy of action plan
- Copy of minutes of Annual General Meeting (AGM) held over the past two (2) years
- Copy of articles and memorandum of association or Bye laws and constitution
Two hard copies and one soft copy of the Expression of Interest and required documents should be sealed in an envelope and clearly marked on the left side corner “Apex Credit organisations and Networks”. Each application should be delivered on or before 12, 00 noon, 28th 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. rufin_nig@yahoo.com
Only shortlisted Apexes will be contacted.